Analyzing Globalization's Impact on M&S's HR Practices: A Study

This report analyzes the impact of globalization on Marks & Spencer's (M&S) human resource practices, focusing on recruitment, selection, and training. The project aims to identify how globalization influences these areas to meet international requirements. The report includes a project management plan, work breakdown structure, and Gantt chart. It utilizes both qualitative and quantitative research methods to analyze data and provide recommendations for improving training methods to enhance M&S's competitive advantage. The research employs an interpretivist research philosophy and a deductive research approach, using both primary and secondary data collection methods. Ethical considerations are also addressed. The report concludes with reflections on the research process and its findings, offering insights into how M&S can adapt its HR strategies in a globalized business environment.

Managing a successful
business project

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
P1 Project aims and Objectives...................................................................................................2
P2 Project management plan that covers all the key element.....................................................2
P3 Work breakdown structure and Gantt Chart with time frame and stages of completion.......4
P4 Carry out the small scale research using qualitative and quantitative research methods......6
P5 Analyse the research and data using appropriate tools and techniques.................................9
P6 Communicate appropriate recommendation as a result of research and data analysis........19
P7 Reflection.............................................................................................................................19
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................19
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................20

INTRODUCTION
Globalization Is the simple process of interaction and an integration among people and
companies at worldwide level. Therefore, it is the process by which the business and some other
organization are developing international influences and to start operating on international scale.
The entire report is also based upon the impact of globalization on activities of a company. In
addition to this, globalization also leads to increase in the transfer of some capital which further
includes the expansion of Foreign Direct Investment. Overall, globalization also results in
bringing the positivity in a businesses (Tomlinson, 2019). The chosen firm for this report is
Marks and Spencer which is one of the best leading brand in UK. For the same reason, report
will describe the project management plan that consist of many key element such as scope,
quality, cost etc. further, the study will recommended different ways through which the quoted
firm will improve its training policies, recruitment and selection procedures. Lastly, using Gibbs
model, researcher will reflect the values of undertaking the research.
Overview of the company: Marks and Spencer is one of the leading multinational brand
in UK and it provides better quality of products such as clothes, grocery and furniture at
reasonable rates. Currently the company has ore than 950 stores across UK in which 615 only
sell with food products only. The company became the first British Retail company with the
profit of £1 billion in 1998. In addition to this, it also has strong customer base and it has its
global presence because of high quality of products with reasonable rates.
Rationale: There have been many researches are done on the impact of globalisation on
business. This present study is based upon the impact of globalisation on training and
recruitment procedure of HR of the firm and the rational behind this topic is that globalisation is
the vast topic and by researching on this particular topic will help researcher to enhance own
knowledge and research skills as well. Further another reason for choosing this topic such that
researcher have their own interest to study on the impact of some training and selection methods
upon business performance and this study will help to learn various terms that will further help in
their future. In addition to this, through the report, scholar will also learn some ways through
which the business can easily improve their performance and gain high competitive advantages
in market.
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P1 Project aims and Objectives
Aim: “To identify the impact of Globalization on recruitment, selection and training of
employees to meet international requirement in UK- A case study on Marks and Spencer”
Objectives:
 To determine the concept of globalization.
 To analyse the recruitment, selection and training policies of M&S meet interactional
requirement.
 To assess the impact of globalization on Recruitment, selection and training policies.
 To recommend ways to improve training methods in M&S to gain high competitive
advantages.
P2 Project management plan that covers all the key element
Project management plan is a formal and approved document that clearly defines how
the project is executed, monitored and controlled. Therefore it may be summary and a detailed
document which further includes baselines, subsidiary management plans and some other
planning documents. There are main some key element that are as mentioned below:
Scope: the scope of this project is broad such that using best recruitment and training
selection methods the HR policies of the quoted firm will be easily related to this, thus it helps
the firm for its smooth functioning and better operational activities as well. Further the project
will also help to determine the competitive advantages in a market.
Cost: It is the overall amount that is spend during project. For this purpose, the total
estimated cost that is required is around £2500.
Time: It is the total time taken for the completion of the project and for this study, around
2 months are taken.
Quality: The quality of project should meet the standard. Such that every item should be
itemized and listed and it is the duty of project manager to check the quality of standard and if
not then develop the strategy to meet the standard i.e. quality assurance and then measure quality
as well (De Brentani and Kleinschmidt, 2015).
Communication: An effective communication should be there so that it will help to
deliver the project. Therefore, by building best communication plan which will assist to pass
each and every necessary details to the stakeholders so that the project will delivered
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successfully. And even at the time of issue arises, it is the duty of project manager to contact
other that concern their interest in the project.
Risk: There may be chances of risk such that taking fast and decisive action, when things
are goes wrong at that time, there are increase chances of risk. Thus, the proper way to manage
risk to prepare risk register that will help to overcome risk of finance, performance risk and cost
risk.
Resources: To deliver the effective project, there is a need to have sufficient resources so
that the project is completed successfully. That is why, for this project, human Resource,
Financial resources and technological resources are required (Levitt, 2019).
3

P3 Work breakdown structure and Gantt Chart with time frame and stages of completion
Illustration 1: Time plan
Work breakdown Structure Is the method that that breakdown the project into smaller
components. Therefore, it is the tool that helps to organize the team work into manageable
sections as well.
4

Illustration 2: WBS
Gantt Chart is that type of bar chart that illustrate project schedule and this list the task
in the form of proper time interval that shows the duration of each and every activity.
5

Illustration 3: Gantt Chart
P4 Carry out the small scale research using qualitative and quantitative research methods
Research methodology is the process that is used to collect the information and some
data for a purpose of making better decisions.
Research philosophy: It Is the belief about the way through which the data are collected
and analysed. It also deals with the source, nature and development of some knowledge. Using
research philosophy, the researcher will easily reflect own assumption and these are further serve
as a base for a research strategy. There are four main types of research philosophy such as
Pragmatism, which shows different ways of interpreting but no single point of view can provide
exact answer because there may be number of multiple realities. Positivism, it is difficult to be
explained in a precise manner and does not provide exact answers as well (Nash and Browne,
2016). Next is Realism, that only relies on the idea of independence of the reality from the
researcher mind and last is Interpretivism, in which the researcher can interpret the data and it
also includes human interest into a study.
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Therefore, researcher chooses interpretivism research philosophy that helps to attain the
defined aim that is To identify the impact of Globalization on recruitment, selection and training
of employees to meet international requirement
Research Design: it is the set of methods as well as procedures that is used in collecting
and analysing measures of some variables which specified in the problem research. Therefore, it
is the framework that has been created in order to find the answers of many research questions.
There are many ways to classify the research design such as descriptive, correlational, Semi-
experimental, review and meta- analytic. Among all, researcher chooses Descriptive research
design methods because it is based upon the case study and survey methods that is why it helps
researcher to collect the exact information and attain the aim To assess the impact of
Globalization on recruitment, selection and training of employees in precise manner (Davies and
Hughes, 2014).
Research Approach: it is the plan and a procedure that consist of some steps of broad
assumptions in order to collect the data and then analyse it. There are three types of research
approach, deductive research approach which is based upon true conclusion and data collection
are used to evaluate the proposition and hypotheses are also related to an existing theory (Bell,
2014). Next is, Inductive Approach that generate untested conclusion and it is used to explore the
data collection and also identify theme to creates conceptual framework. Lastly, Abduction,
which is based upon exact results and draw testable conclusion as well.
Among all, research chooses Deductive research approach because it helps to provide
exact outcomes so that researcher will attain the aim while on the other side, other approaches
are not.
Data Collection: It is the process of collecting and gathering the information on
variables that further helps researcher to answer the relevant question and also evaluate outcomes
as well. Fro the project, researcher chooses both primary and secondary data in order to collect
the information and attain the objectives as well. In primary data collection methods, there are
different sources through which the information is collected such as interviews, surveys and
questionnaire. Therefore, researcher will ask question to the manager of quoted firm in order to
collect or gather information. While on the other side, secondary data refers to those data which
is already published in articles, newspaper, Books and to identify the impact of Globalization on
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recruitment, selection and training of employees to meet international requirement researcher
also uses this method as a data collection form (Saunders and Lewis, 2018).
Data Analysis: it is the process of inspecting, cleansing and transforming the data with
an aim of discovering some usBell, J., 2014eful information and also assist to support decision
making. There are two types of data analysis such that qualitative and quantitate data analysis. In
qualitative research, it uses interviews, focus groups and experiments to identify some common
pattern and even critically analyse them in order to achieve research aim as well as objectives.
On the other side, in quantitative data analysis, which based upon facts and figures where exact
conclusion is required.
Among all, researcher chooses Thematic data analysis which helps to draw conclusion
using questionnaire so that the scholar will easily attain to exact results and accomplish aims and
objectives as well.
Sampling: It is the process that that is used in statistical analysis in which the
predetermined number of observation are taken from a large number of group. Therefore, to
reach conclusion about the project aim, researcher choose some due to large size of target
population (Verschuren, Doorewaard and Mellion, 2018). There are two types of sampling such
that probability and non- probability sampling. In probability sampling each member of the
population has a known chance in order to participate in the study while on the other side, in
non- probability sampling, group members are selected on non- random manner so that not each
member has a chance to be a part of a study.
Therefore, research chooses simple random sampling In which 20 managers of Marks
and Spencer are selected randomly for questionnaire so that the researcher will conclude the
result in order to determine the viability of the aim i.e.
Ethical Consideration: It is one of the most important part of the research in which
researcher should follow the principles related to this which are as mentioned below:
 The participant should not be subjected to harm in any ways and even the respect for
dignity of the research participants should also be prioritised.
 Researcher should take full consent from the participants prior to the study and there
should be an adequate level of confidentiality should be maintained (Burgess, 2018).
 All the data should be maintain in confidential such that the protection of privacy os the
research participants should be make sure.
8

 There should not be any type of misleading the information and representation of primary
data findings in biased way should be avoided.
P5 Analyse the research and data using appropriate tools and techniques
QUESTIONNAIRE
Name of Organisation:
Name of Respondents:
Gender:
Age:
1. How long you are working in Mark and Spencer?
 1 years
 3 years
 1 to 5 years
 5 to 10 years
2. Do you know the actual and detail concept of Globalization?
 Yes
 No
3. How long did Marks and Spencer provide training session to employees?
 Monthly
 Weekly
 Quarterly
4. Are you satisfied with the recruitment and selection procedure of Marks and Spencer?
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Strongly Disagree
 Disagree
5. According to you, what opportunities did globalization give to company?
 Increases sales
9

 Raise profitability
 Global presence
 All of the above
6. Does HR provides an adequate pool of quality applicants?
 Yes
 No
7. What kind of selection procedure employed while in your appointments?
 By advertising
 By Introduction
 By application
 By group discussion
8. Are you satisfied with the training provided by the company?
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Strongly Disagree
 Disagree
9. What kind of ideas d you suggest about effective training?
 Use advance technologies
 Organization of workshops
 Financial Help
 Convenient time
Theme 1: Maximum managers are working for more than 5 to 10 years.
1. How long you are working in Mark and Spencer? Frequency
10

1 years 2
3 years 5
1 to 5 years 6
5 to 10 years 7
Interpretation: from the above graph, it has been interpreted that maximum manager of
Marks and Spencer are working from last 5 to 10 years and even they are senior most of the
company. While on the other side, 6 manager out of 20 are employed from 1 to 5 years and 5 of
them are working from last 3 years. Thus it shows that the company's have good employees
retention because maximum managers are indulge from last many years.
Theme 2: Maximum Manager know the meaning of globalization
2. Do you know the actual and detail concept of Globalization? Frequency
Yes 15
No 5
11
1 years 3 years 1 to 5 years 5 to 10 years
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
2
5
6
7
Column B

Interpretation: From the above survey conducted from the manager of Marks and
Spencer, it has been identified that 15 managers out of 20 know the actual meaning of
globalization. They even said that this is so because they have studied the impact, advantages
and some barriers as well in very detailed manner. That is why they know the concept, while on
the other side, only 5 manager said that they do not know the detail meaning of globalization
such that they only know that is it is the free movement of goods and service.
Theme 3: Company provided weekly training sessions to employees
3. How long did Marks and Spencer provide training session to
employees? Frequency
Monthly 6
Weekly 11
Quarterly 3
12
15
5
Yes
No

Interpretation: from the above, it has been interpreted that maximum managers said that
company conduct training session on weekly basis which helps to improve the efficiency and
skills of the employees. Such that out of 20, 11 managers said that quoted firm provide training
session in weekly basis while 6 from them said that Marks and Spencer conduct training
programs on monthly basis. Only 3 out of 20 managers state that the company provide quarterly
training sessions to their employees to raise their skills and performance.
Theme 4: Maximum managers are satisfied with recruitment and selection procedure fo a
company
4. Are you satisfied with the recruitment and selection procedure
of Marks and Spencer? Frequency
Strongly Agree 11
Agree 5
Strongly Disagree 3
Disagree 1
13
Monthly Weekly Quarterly
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
6
11
3
Column B

Interpretation: from the above, it has been interpreted that the company's recruitment
and selection procedure is quite effective such that all managers are strongly agreed on this. Such
that out of 20 managers 11 managers are strongly agreed that they are satisfied with the
company's recruitment and selection procedure, while 5 from them said that they are agreed
because they want that company should use advance technology in the working place to make
effective selection procedure. While on the other side, 3 respondents are strongly disagreed from
the recruitment procedure of the company.
Theme 5: Globalisation helps to raise business financial performance
5. According to you, what opportunities did globalization give to
company? Frequency
Increases sales 5
Raise profitability 4
Global presence 3
All of the above 8
14
Strongly Agree
Agree
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
11
5
3
1
Column B

Interpretation: from the above, it has been interpreted that globalization creates positive
impact upon the business performance. Such that majority of the managers are in favour that it
helps to raise financial performance of the firm in which out of 20 managers, 8 respondents said
that globalization helps to raise profitability by increasing sales and also helps to establish firm's
global presence as well.
Theme 6: Maximum manager are agreed that HR is capable of pooling quality applicants
6. Does HR provides an adequate pool of quality applicants? Frequency
Yes 18
No 2
15
Increases sales
Raise profitability
Global presence
All of the above
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
5
4
3
8
Column B

Interpretation: From the above, it has been interpreted that HR provides an adequate
pool of quality applicants. Such as majority of manager favour that HR provide adequate pool of
quality applicants in which out of 20, 18 respondents said that HR provide adequate pool of
quality applicants and only 2 respondents has said HR doesn't provide adequate pool of quality
applicants.
Theme 7: maximum managers are attracted through advertisment
7. What kind of selection procedure employed while in your
appointments? Frequency
By advertising 11
By Introduction 5
By application 2
By group discussion 2
16
18
2
Yes
No

Interpretation: From the above, it has been interpreted that selection procedure
employed while in appointment is through advertisement. Such as majority of managers are in
favour of advertisement in which out of 20, 11 respondents has said selection procedure
employed while in appointment is through advertisement. While 5 respondents are favour of
introduction, and 2 respondents are in favour of application and group discussion.
Theme 8: Maximum Managers are satisfied with the training procedure of the company
8. Are you satisfied with the training provided by the company? Frequency
Strongly Agree 11
Agree 5
Strongly Disagree 2
Disagree 2
17
By advertising
By Introduction
By application
By group discussion
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
11
5
2 2
Column B

Interpretation: From the above, it is interpreted that maximum manager are satisfied by
the training which is provided by the company. Such as out of 20, 11 respondent are strongly
agreed with that they are satisfied by the training which is provided by the company . While 5
are agreed about it and 2 are strongly disagreed about that they are not satisfied by the training
which is provided by the company.
Theme 9: Managers wants to use advance technologies during training session.
9. What kind of ideas do you suggest about effective training? Frequency
Use advance technologies 13
Organization of workshops 4
Financial Help 2
Convenient time 1
18
Strongly Agree
Agree
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
0
2
4
6
8
10
12 11
5
2 2
Column B

Interpretation: From the above study, it is interpreted that use of advance technology in
the training session is the effective mode of training. Such as out of 20, 13 respondent to advance
technology is effective way and while 4 respondent to organisational workshop is more effective
and 2 respondent for financial help while 1 respondent for convenient time is the effective way
of training.
P6 Communicate appropriate recommendation as a result of research and data analysis
From the above primary analysis of the data, researcher has recommended various things
that is very effective for the company for enhancing training and recruitment department. Here
are some suggestion from researcher which are as follows -
Marks and Spensers should identify the skill that employees need to do their job, and also
identify the gap between where they and what they need and company should focus on resolving
the gap. Training should start from the task and work backgrounds to be sure that training is
targeted to improved the skills of the employees. This will enhance the training session and
improve the skills of the training. The company should also use off the job training method this
will help in many ways as this method is adopted for the development of employees away from
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13
4
2
1
Use advance technologies
Organization of workshops
Financial Help
Convenient time

the fields . From this method the employees can get wide range of skills or qualification can be
obtain , this can enhance their personality also the employees can learn from outside specialists
or experts which will improve their skills . By using this method employees will feel more
confident when they start job. Off the job training methods are very effective method as it
include various methods and by using this all method company can increase its productivity. The
first method is case study in which the trainee are given the opportunities to analyse the case and
the trainee come out with all possible solution . This will enhance their way of thinking and can
solve critical cases easily. Second method is incident method in which it prepares on the basis of
actual situations which happen in the organisation and employees are give a chance to make a
decision on particular situations. Here the entire group will discuss the situation and make a
relevant decision. This will help the trainee to work in the team. The third method in which the
researcher recommended is role play in which employees has to assume the role of a particular
person in the situation . In which one training interact with other assuming different roles. And
also the trainee get a chance to see the performance and to examine and improve it. The forth
method of off the training method is In basket method in which employees are given information
about the imaginary company, its activities and products, in which the trainee has to delegate
tasks, make decisions and prepare schedule. This will help to improve the decision making
process of the employees. Marks and Spenser can also use business games in which trainee are
divided into groups and has to discuss about the situations. This will improve cooperative
decision making. Company can also use grid training which is continuous program. It includes
planning development, implementation and evaluation. By all the above mention suggestions
Marks and Spensers can improve its training department. And also its employees works in more
effective way and can gain practical knowledge and also well trained employees work in more
confident way and also it increases the morale of the employees . And also they bring innovative
and creative ideas which will help Marks and Spensers for expansion and diversification.
By improving the recruitment process there are many recommendations which company
can adapt to improve the process and recruit high qualified employees in much easy methods.
The company should promote itself very well that everyone will aware about it and also mention
clear roles for hiring the candidates. The company can also use external recruitment along with
internal recruitment. As by the help of external recruitment outside people bring new ideas and
also people have a wider range of experience. And also larger pool of worker from which to find
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the best candidate. There are many methods which are use in external recruitment are the first
method is employment exchange is an office set up by the government in which it brings the
candidates who are in search of the employment. It registers unemployed people and maintain
their records and qualification. This will help to recruit outsiders easily. The second method is
educational institutions in which the recruiters are sent to educational institutions where they
meet the members of the faculty and persons in charge of placement services who recommend
suitable candidates. This will help the company to recruit high qualified person and also it will
make the company easy way to recruit candidates. Also, by using this method the company can
save the time and also it encourages student to study hard. Also, the company can recruit through
direct employment method in which placing a notice on the notice board of the enterprise and
also specifying the details of the jobs will make easy for the company as well as for workers.
These methods will help the company to work in the effective manner
The above recommendation concluded the various methods to be use in the company to
improve its working in a better direction . And also employees work in more effective way by
providing them advance training so that the performance of the employees increases . Off the jib
training methods are the most effective method and commonly use by all the company . As it
helps the employees to gain practical knowledge and expands their way of thinking by solving
critical case study and also it helps the trainee to work in the team so that it increase the
productivity of the company also it gives fewer chances of conflict. And trainee will enhance
their decision making skills. And also it is concluded that external recruitment process will save
the time and cost of the company and also allow fresh blood to enter in the company. And also it
makes recruitment process very easy and it gives chance to the company to recruit from large
pool of people.
P7 Reflection
In this present research, I have learned many things which will helpful for me to raised
my skills and knowledge. I was feeling very pleasure in conducting this research because I have
learned so much on the organisation and its training and recruitment process. Firstly in this
section the research was very good before starting the research I was very nervous. In
formulating aims and objective research, I was thinking very broadly but after that I understood
that the best result is obtained by narrowing the research plan. In this research I have talk to
many people and take their opinion. Also, I have applied many research methodologies I have
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evaluated all types of research methodology and selected the best and appropriate one. And also
by conducting the research the feeling was great as all the people gave their point of view
honestly and they were very supportive. Also, I gain knowledge and experience by conducting
this research and also it was one of my best experience and these research study is very helpful in
conducting further any research studies. In addition, the best part of the study is data analyses in
which I meant many new people and they supported me in honest manner. This study was very
time consuming but I schedule my time in such a way that research completed on time as per the
schedule. Also, there was a financial issue but I have make budget for the research and also
elected the effective medium of communication and further I have identified the potential risk
and gather the resources so that I reached the best conclusion of the study. Further, in this report
I have studied both bad and good experience and that was a great lesson for me. As it has
improved me as a researcher. Also, I have learned the best training and recruitment methods
which are helpful in the research. Also, by interacting with lot of people I have learned many
ways and it helps me to know the different type of languages which helps me in many ways and
also it helps me to known their point of view.
CONCLUSION
By summing up above report it has been concluded that globalization creates positive
impact upon the recruitment, selection and training policies of the company. Such that it has
been further concluded by taking interview that Marks and Spencer should use advance
technologies into the working area in order to improve the training session of the company. Even
the majority of managers states that the company's recruitment and selection procedure is quite
effective and satisfied as compared to others. Moreover, from the report it has been concluded
through research methodology that by using appropriate tools, researcher will easily attain the
aim of the report and the questionnaire also supporting globalization as it leads to positive impact
on the performance of a company.
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REFERENCES
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