Managing Successful Business Project: M&S Digital Tech Impact Report

This report investigates the impact of digital technologies on the business performance of Marks and Spencer (M&S), a UK-based retail company. The project aims to identify the influence of digital technologies on M&S's business operations, with specific objectives including understanding the concept of digital technologies, assessing their usefulness, evaluating their impact, and recommending improvements. The report details the project's management plan, including cost, scope, time frame, quality, communication, risks, and resources. It presents a time frame for project activities, illustrated by a work breakdown structure, Gantt chart, network diagram, and time schedule. Small-scale research, involving surveys with M&S managers, is conducted to collect primary data. The report also discusses secondary data collection and sampling methods. Finally, data interpretation, recommendations, and a reflection on the value of research are included, along with a critical evaluation of the research outcomes and decision-making processes. The report concludes by summarizing the findings and providing references.

MANAGING SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESS PROJECT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPIC..............................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................1
P1) Project aim and objectives....................................................................................................1
P2) Project management plan......................................................................................................2
P3) Time frame for project..........................................................................................................3
M1) Comprehensive project management plan..........................................................................8
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................8
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................8
P4) Small scale research to meet project's aim...........................................................................8
M2) Accuracy and reliability of project management process.................................................19
D1) Critical evaluation on project management process..........................................................20
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................20
LO 3...............................................................................................................................................20
P5) Data interpretation using tools and techniques...................................................................20
P6) Recommendations for project.............................................................................................20
P7) Reflection on the value of research to meet objectives......................................................20
M3) Accuracy of collected tools for research and project........................................................20
M4) Evaluation on value of project management process........................................................20
D2) Critical evaluation on research outcomes and decision-making process...........................20
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................20
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................22

INDEX OF TABLES
Table 1: Project plan........................................................................................................................4

ILLUSTRATION INDEX
Illustration 1: Work Breakdown Structure.......................................................................................6
Illustration 2: Gantt chart.................................................................................................................7
Illustration 3: Network diagram.......................................................................................................7
Illustration 4: Time schedule...........................................................................................................8
Illustration 5: Current business performance of M&S...................................................................12
Illustration 6: Digital technologies used in business operations of the entity................................13
Illustration 7: Agreed respondents on the statement......................................................................14
Illustration 8: Department accountable for the project..................................................................15
Illustration 9: Agreed respondents with researcher's statement.....................................................16
Illustration 10: Convenient business operations using digital technologies for M&S...................17
Illustration 11: Critical evaluation on adopting digital technologies ............................................18
Illustration 12: Forecasting on business performance of M&S using digital technologies...........19

TOPIC
“To identify impact of using digital technologies on business performance of entity: A
case study on Marks and Spencer”.
INTRODUCTION
Digital technologies are crucial to improve business performance and managing
organisation's operations conveniently. It impacts on enhancing efficiencies and appropriate
decision making for the company's effectiveness. Present report is based on understanding
usefulness of adopting digital technologies to achieve implementations of Marks and Spencer
(M&S). It is retail sector of UK which provides groceries, food items and home products to a
million people of the world. In accordance to this, project management tools are to be discussed
as cost, scope, risks, communication etc. Along with this, several approaches for conducting
research and project management will be introduced in this assignment. However, significance of
using digital technologies for improving performance of M&S.
TASK 1
LO 1
P1) Project aim and objectives
Project is considered as work system within organisations for accomplishing any
particular task and managing their business operations efficiently. It influences entity's business
performance and quality services positively (Adhikari and et.al., 2014). However, the present
project report is on the basis of identifying significance of using digital technologies for business
operations of M&S. In this regard, its aim and objectives are discussed below:
Aim of the project:
“To identify influence of using digital technologies on business performance of Marks
and Spencer”.
Objectives of the study:
Following objectives are set for this project are as:
 To understand the concept of digital technologies in business operations
1

 To assess usefulness/requirements of adopting the digital technologies regarding business
operations of Marks and Spencer.
 To evaluate impact of using digital technologies on business performance of the entity.
 To recommend suggestion for using digital technologies for M&S.
P2) Project management plan
Project is a systematic work system which includes several tools for meeting goals like
considering cost on incurring business operations, time consumed in each task, analysing and
managing risks and resources as well (Ahlemann and et.al., 2013). Therefore, project
management can be done appropriately impacted on further implementations of the entity.
However, management of project in terms of systematic planning can be created effectively for
M&S. In order to this, several tools of management plan for project are to be discussed as below: Cost: Project plan related to incur cost on operations of project like research, data
interpretation, resources involved in planning are identified. In accordance to this,
appropriate planning is created for expenses incurred on purchasing digital technologies,
workers' salary and additional expenditures (Baldi, 2014). However, expenses incurred in
project related plan are to be decided regarding accomplishing each task and meeting its
goals. Scope: With the help of this project, we are able to understand usefulness of adopting
digital technologies in improving business performance of M&S. In accordance to this,
its influence on business operations and in achieving entity's effectiveness can be
identified (El-Hajjar and Hanzo, 2013). However, relation of adopting digital
technologies with profitability and marketability of the company is to understood in this
project. Time: Systematic management of project includes planning in context to accomplishing a
specific task in determined time. It is considered as key tool to meet project's aim and
implementing business operations efficiently. In accordance to this, for each task of the
project fixed time is decided for project on analysing significance of using digital
technologies for business operations of M&S (Iwamoto, 2013). Therefore, all tasks can
be accomplished appropriately in right time to meet its goals efficiently.
2

 Quality: In this project, quality required in resources and costs are analysed for its
management and meeting goals effectively. However, decisions are made regarding used
quality in resources and digital technologies. It impacts on monetary position and
business performance of M&S (Kerzner, 2013). In this regard, several aspects are
recognised for quality improvement and decision making regarding project as well
further implementations. Communication: It is a process of sharing views, opinions and information from one
place to another influences decision making and business' operations effectively. In
accordance to this, several ideas are generated for effective planning procedure and
success of project (Mir and Pinnington, 2014). However, workers involved in project
communicate project's aim and strategies to analyse impact of using digital technologies
on business performance of M&S. Risks: It is considered that several risks are obtained during project such as; resources,
finance, people and uncertain changes related. It is essential to analyse all these factors
which impacted on project planning and its success (Popaitoon and Siengthai, 2014).
Besides this, lack of resources and fund, lack of coordination among workers involved in
project and occurrence of uncertain changes etc. All these factors affect project and M&S'
performance negatively. Thus, it is required to prepare planning considering these issues
for managing project's activities and accomplishing tasks efficiently.
 Resources: Project planning involves different resources as people, finance, technologies
for implementing business operations etc. In accordance to this, all these resources are
analysed for appropriate decision making and project planning effectively (Schwalbe,
2015). Hence, on analysing all these factors, resources related to project plan can be
managed efficiently.
P3) Time frame for project
Time frame is considered as preparing schedule for accomplishing any task in particular
timing. It is essential for appropriate project planning and meeting its goals effectively impacted
on its success (Smith and et.al., 2015). However, time frame for project on identifying impact of
using digital technologies on business performance of M&S, time frame is created as:
Table 1: Project plan
3

S. No. Plan Activity Time frame Cost
incurred
A Identifying title Firstly, project's title is to be prepared
regarding M&S' operations.
1-2 weeks 100
B Goal setting and
project plan
 Afterwards project's aim is set
on which project is to be worked
on.
 It also includes management
planning including cots,
resources, time, risks and so on.
2-3 weeks 200
C Work segmentation  Project's objectives and planning
are to be discussed with workers
involved in it.
 Including this, work is
segmented among them
according to working abilities.
1 week 400
D Data collection  Research is conducted with 5
managers of M&S.
 Respondents are to be selected
randomly for survey and
analysing their views on 'impact
of digital technologies on
business performance of the
entity.
2-3 weeks 600
E Data interpretation Collected data are evaluated critically as
managers' views on the project title.
1-2 weeks 500-600
F Working for In case of occurrence of any default, 3-4 weeks 1000-
4

improvement further work is created for improvement
in business operations for M&S.
1200
G Cost calculation Comparison between actual and
expected expenditures on project
accomplishments.
1 week 100
H Taking feedback
from workers
involved in project
In this process, feedback is to be taken
from workers involved in project.
2-3 weeks 300
I Reporting In the end, report is prepared on
project's activities and gained outcomes
as well.
1 week 200
Work Breakdown Structure: This structural framework demonstrates activities involved
in project plan from its commencement to closure (Tekalp, 2015). However, Work Breakdown
Structure for current project on 'identifying influence of using digital technologies on business
performance of M&S' is to identified as follows:
5

Illustration 1: Work Breakdown Structure
Gantt chart: This is time line structure of project shows starting to accomplishment of
project in specific schedule. In this regard, timing for all tasks accomplished for project are
identified impacted on further operations and its implementations (Adhikari and et.al., 2014).
Hence, Gantt Chart for the project is to recognised as:
6

Illustration 2: Gantt chart
Network diagram: This project's structural framework is linked with presenting
connection of all activities with each other to meet determined tasks (Baldi, 2014). In accordance
to this, tasks which are on priority and can be postponed during project are obtained. However,
network diagram is for the project is to presented as:
Illustration 3: Network diagram
Time schedule for project:
7

Illustration 4: Time schedule
M1) Comprehensive project management plan
Comprehensive refers as entire of the project in terms of planning and scheduling. In
addition to this, project management plan involves considering all tools regarding planning and
decision making. For accomplishing project on 'analysing usefulness of adopting digital
technologies on business operations of M&S' comprehensive plan is created (El-Hajjasr and
Hanzo, 2013). It includes planning on cost, timing, workers' involvement in achieving tasks etc.
Therefore, effective plans are created for management of project and meeting its goals
effectively.
TASK 2
LO 2
P4) Small scale research to meet project's aim
Research is process of data collection by which business and financial performance of the
entity identified. In accordance to this, several ideas are generated for improving business
operations and appropriate decision making regarding business' operations (Iwamoto, 2013). It is
done through conducting primary and secondary data collection, using sampling framework can
be understood as below:
8