Successful Business Project Management Report for Marks and Spencer

This report examines the management of a successful business project, using Marks and Spencer's CSR initiative as a case study. It begins with an introduction to project management and outlines clear aims and objectives, focusing on CSR implementation. The report details the project management plan, including scope, cost, time, quality, communication, risk, and resource management. It then explores the use of work breakdown structures and Gantt charts as essential project management tools. The report includes a small-scale market research study, analyzing the market and using data with effective tools to provide appropriate recommendations and suggestions for the project. The report concludes by reflecting on the gained value of the project and its impact on Marks and Spencer's business objectives. The report is a comprehensive overview of project management principles and their practical application in a real-world business context, designed to provide valuable insights for students of business development.

MANAGING
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
PROJECT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK1.............................................................................................................................................3
P1) Clear aims and objectives of the project...............................................................................3
P2) Project management plan by the firm...................................................................................5
P3) Work break Down Structure and Gantt Charts.....................................................................6
TASK2.............................................................................................................................................9
P4 Small scale research study of the market by Marks and Spencer..........................................9
TASK3...........................................................................................................................................14
P5 Analysis of research and usage of data with effective tools................................................14
P6 Appropriate recommendations and suggestions of the research study................................15
P7) Reflecting the gained value by the project.........................................................................17
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................17
REFRENCES.................................................................................................................................19
Books and Journals........................................................................................................................19

INTRODUCTION
Managing a business in a successful manner means to implement all the management
functions into the operation of the organisation. The higher authority and the top level
management have to manage the business in the effective manner so that the goals and the
objectives of firm can be attained in appropriate way and on desired time tenure (Ajmal, Helo
and Kekäle, 2010). The management has to properly arrange all the resources required for the
activities and functions of the business. This will help the firm to reduce the cost and wastage
and can be able to enhance the productivity and performance of the employees. The work
allotment is also an important aspect that has to be considered by the management as to
accomplish the project's aim.
Marks and Spencer is one of the multinational retailer in London. It is been listed in the
London stock exchange. It mostly deals in the clothes, home products and luxurious food items.
It is now willing to introduce the CSR activity in the operations of the firm. Its products are
served worldwide hence the responsibility of the firm towards the society increases. The
Corporate social responsibility is the act which helps in the fulfilment of the organisational goals
effectively.
TASK1
P1) Clear aims and objectives of the project.
Corporate social responsibility is the commitment that the organisation does to itself and
the society to to continuously behave in the operations of the firm in the ethical manner and also
it contributes in the development of the nation in the economical manner. This tools helps the
firm to enhance and improve the quality of the services of the products and the services that are
availed by the firm to the customers. This is the concept which is used worldwide by different
organisation as to survive and sustain in the market of such big competition (Anderson and
Anderson, 2010). The Corporate social responsibility is the aspect which the firm implements to
innovate the ides and the plans of the current running business and also it will help in the solving
of various business problems. The social welfare are the major concern by Marks and
Spencer through the implementation of the CSR activity in the firm. The working environment
has to be improved by the management of the firm which will motivate the employees to perform
in the best and effective manner in the activities that are allotted to them. This project if

implemented appropriately then the firm can be able to sustain and grow itself in the
international market properly and it can also capture the market shares of the untapped market.
The long term retention of the customers and the attraction of the new prospects as the customers
are carried out through the CSR activity. This project includes various activities that are
concerning the customer's will and are favourable for the society. It helps in the important
aspects that is maintaining and developing a positive and healthy relationship with the customers
as well as the employees of the firm (Beverland and Lindgreen, 2010). As to provide the services
it must be noticed that the customers will not be facing any kind of problems in the products and
the services and also the firm has to consider the availability of the products to the customers.
There are some aspects that has to be focused by the firm while carrying out the CSR activity
such as-
1. Responsible investment in the favour of the society.
2. Working with the local communities.
3. Safety of the natural and environmental factors.
4. Effective building of relationship with customers.
Topic
Marks and Spencer is going to implement the Corporate social responsibility project as to
accomplish the its objectives and aims.
Aims
The aim that the firm is having is to avail the best services to the customers. The quality
of the products and the services that the firm is providing to the customers must be satisfying and
it must not affect the behaviour of buying of the customers in negative manner. The organisation
must provide the actual needs and the demand that the customers have made.
Objectives
The organisation is having various objectives as to carry out the CSR activities. The
manpower of the firm must be well trained and the working environment should be appropriate
so that employees can be able to deliver the services to the customers in the effective manner
(Grönroos, 2011).
 The revenue of the firm has to be generated in maximum rates.
 The business has to be expanded by the firm in the untapped market.
 The opportunities have to be equally provided to the employees.

 The environments safety has to be concerned the most by the firm.
P2) Project management plan by the firm.
The top level management as make plans and strategies therefore it is very necessary for
the firm to manage all the operations of the different departments of the organisation. Basically
the project management plan is the document in which the planning, execution, monitoring and
controlling of the project is well defined. Project management plan describes the aims and goals
of the project, the required aspect is been well defined by the top level management. The plan
will help the management to carry out the activities of the CSR project in effective manner. The
task and the time and all the related work that the project includes are mentioned in the document
of the plan (Iles, Chuai and Preece, 2010). There are many factors that are very important in the
project management plan they are as follows-
1. Scope management planning- The scope management planning is the component of the
project management plan which defines the task and the work that the employees has to
perform to accomplish the goals and the objectives of the drawn project. It in details
specifies the activities that each and every employees have to perform in the implemented
project. The required things are also mentioned in the plan so that the project can be
carried out effectively.
2. Cost management planning- It is the most important factors that the firm has to
considered very carefully and properly. The cost management is related to the estimation
of the cost, allocation of cost and the controlling of it. The requirements related to the
cash and the fund can be know and understand by the firm with the help of the cost
management planning. The budget planning and the management related to the inflows
and outflows can be prepared by the top level management of Marks and Spencer. The
management related to the cost has and must be done before the execution of the project.
This is the technique through which the firm can be able to reduce and minimise the cost
and can maximise the ratio of profit in the firm.
3. Time management planning- It is the crucial aspect of the firm as because the project
which is to be implemented by the firm is a complex nature and it has to be managed very
carefully. The time constraints are always there in the project (Keller, Parameswaran and
Jacob, 2011). The task has to be attained on time as to accomplish the desired objectives
of the firm. The operations and the activities has to be planned in such a manner that the

work get completed on time. Every part of the project is interlinked therefore it is very
essential for the firm and its management to carry out the operations on time so that the
smooth flow of the functions can be carried out in the organisation. The time constraints
if not focused then there are chances that the project get failed due to not functioning the
operations of the planned time (Malhotra and Temponi, 2010). The result can be
negative.
4. Quality management planning- The top level management team has to focus upon the
facts quality of the project. The CSR activity is introduced by the firm as to attract the
customers, sustain in the market, safeguard the environment and to do welfare of the
society. Hence it is very necessary for the firm to provide the services in the effective and
qualitative manner to the people of society.
5. Communication management planning- It is also an important part of project
management plan as because the plans and the strategies the the firm is implementing in
the organisation has to be conveyed to the related people of the firm. The stakeholders,
customers, shareholder and the public has to be communicated all the information and
message about the CSR activities that the firm is introducing in the market in upcoming
time.
6. Risk management planning- Risk is the factor that do present in the operations of the
firm that has to be managed by the employees of the organisation. But as high the rate of
risk is higher the return the firm get as profit.
7. Resources management planning- The resources are the vital element of the firm. Their
proper allocation and management has to be done so that crucial situation can be
managed and handled if in case occurs in the firm. The raw materials, manpower,
machinery and equipments needed in the firm are to be allocated and managed effectively
by the project manager.
P3) Work break Down Structure and Gantt Charts.
The work break down structure and the Gantt charts are the tools that the firm needs to
perform the project in appropriate and effective manner (Meskendahl, 2010). The organisation
must prepare this two major things as to execute the project. These are the method through which
the project's task and work are planned and implemented several strategies to attain the ultimate
objectives and goals. These both help in effectively carrying out the management functions in the

project. The goals can be attained by the firm in desired time with the help of these tools and it
plays as the catalyst in the functions. Both are very essential in the business to perform the
assigned task in effective and appropriate way.
Work break down structure
Work break down structure is an instrument that Marks and Spencer is using for the
Corporate social responsibility project that it need to implement to manage all the activities and
task of the program (Müller and Turner, 2010). It is a structure which is used to divide the load
of an individual work to different parts. The project's task will be subdivided into various parts as
to reduce the complexity and difficulty of the work. The structure of work break down will help
in improving the employees performances as well as equal opportunities are provided to the
work force of the firm.
It is also very necessary to divide the work as because the project has big aims and
responsibilities that can not be attained by a single person and on time hence work break down
structure plays important role in the effectiveness of the project. As the project is focusing upon
the society's welfare therefore the firm has to be very conscious and goal oriented and also the
quality must be effective in the project which can be obtained by this structure. The risk is also
very high in the project because the main concern is related to customer's welfare and the safety
and protection of natural and environmental factors. The complexity can be reduced with its help
and appropriate result can also be attained through this.
Gantt chart
Gantt charts are a form of bar charts which are used to present the starting and the end
dates and time of the particular projects (Philip, 2010). It is basically prepared to represent the

framework of the time. It provides benefits and advantage to the company in its operations and
working. It is used by Marks and Spencer as to forecast the time that will be needed to complete
the tasks of the projects and the objectives can be attained through them in effective manner. It is
the graphical representation of the various activities, tasks, process and the times of the several
works that are included in the project. It help the organisation in the motivation of the employees
to perform their individual tasks in the effective way (Porter and Kramer, 2011).
The scheduling of the time is been done with the help of the Gantt chart which will help
in finishing the assigned task on the desired time limit. The effectiveness of the project can only
attained with the help of this tool. It is presented in the horizontal line manner which help to
know the time and the task accomplished weekly and monthly basis.
Activities/
Week
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5
Problem
identification
Choosing
issues
Collection of
data
Implementing
Corrective
actions.
TASK2
P4 Small scale research study of the market by Marks and Spencer.
As the organisation is implemented the new project related to the Corporate social
responsibility, it is the project that is concerning the society's welfare. Therefore it is necessary
for the firm to carry out a market research so that the firm will able to know current market status
of the firm and how and what all aspects of the society has to be fulfilled by the firm in the future
time (Smith, Binns and Tushman, 2010). With the help of questionnaire survey study the market

can be able to analysed and studied properly, which will help in the proper functioning of the act
ivies of firm.
Name :-
Age:-
Gender:-
1) Do you believe the CSR activity implemented in Marks and Spencer will help in its
development?
 Yes No
2) Do you think there is relationship between competitive advantage and CSR activities?
 Yes No
3) Do you Agree upon the fact that implementation of CSR activity is the main responsibility of
Marks and Spencer?
 Agreed.
 Strongly agreed.
 Disagreed. Strongly disagreed
4)What were the issues that faced by the firm?
 Child labour.
 Employees safety. Women's right.
5) What are the initiative taken by the organisation supporting CSR activities?
 Environmental measures
 Health measures. Women empowerment.
6) How to enforce feasible CSR initiatives?
 Voluntary organisation.
 Community based business entity.

 Charity events.
7) Who according to you is most responsible for the implementation of CSR project?
 Administration.
 Managers.
 HR department.
1. Frequency Percentage
 Yes 4 80
 No 2 20
Interpretations- The 80% of the respondent has agreed that the CSR activity that the firm has
implemented will help the firm to develop itself and to growth in the competitive market.
2. Frequency Percentage
 Yes 5 90
 No 1 10
Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Frequency
Percentage

Interpretations- According to the study it is been analysed that there is a very strong relationship
between the competitive advantage and the CSR activity.
3. Frequency Percentage
 Agreed. 1 10
 Strongly agreed. 3 70
 Disagreed. 1 10
 Strongly disagreed 1 10
Yes No
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Frequency
Percentage
Agreed Strongly agreed Disagreed Strongly agreed
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Frequency
Percentage

Interpretations- 70% of the respondent believes that the basic and the prime function of the
organisation is to implement the CSR activity.
4. Frequency Percentage
 Child labour. 2 20
 Employees safety. 3 70 Women's right. 1 10
Interpretations- Employee's safety is the most important aspect that the organisation must have
to follow.
5. Frequency Percentage
 Environmental measures 2 20
 Health measures. 3 70
 Women empowerment. 1 10
Child labour Employees safety Women's right
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Frequency
Percentage
Environmental measures
Health measures
Women Empowerment
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Frequency
Percentage

Interpretations- Organisation must take measures related to the environment as the study of the
research says this.
6. Frequency Percentage
 Voluntary organisation. 2 20
 Community based business entity. 1 10
 Charity events. 3 70
Interpretations- Charity events can be carried out by the organisation so that the customers can
be attracted and information can be availed to them through this strategy.
7. Frequency Percentage
 Administration. 3 70
 Managers. 2 20 HR department. 1 10
Voluntary organisation
Community based business entity
Charity events
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Frequency
Percentage
Administration Managers HR department
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Frequency
Percentage

Interpretations- The administration, the top level management is most responsible for the
implementation of the CSR program in the organisation.
TASK3
P5 Analysis of research and usage of data with effective tools.
Marks and Spencer has to opt the best strategies related to the research study so that the
market study can be carried out effectively. The tools and the techniques that the firm uses must
be relevant to attain the objectives of the organisations and the project (Spieth, Schneckenberg
and Ricart, 2014). The accurate and feasible informations and data can be gathered with the help
of the data collected by the correct tools and techniques. The market examination and evaluation
can be carried out with the help of the research study effectively. There are different methods
which can be used by the organisation, they are as follows-
1. Research design- This is the important part that the firm has to focus upon as because it
will help the researchers of the firm to design the related things in the research. The
research design must be reliable and should aim the targets of the organisation. Basically
it is the combination of strategies that are used to integrate the several elements of the
study to address the problems of the research. The research design should be correct so
that the proper study of the market can be done by the researchers and the informative
data can be able to collect by them. It should be effective so that the management of the
firm can get proper guidance related to the research study of the defined problems.
2. Research approach- It is the approach through which the inductive and the deductive
hypothesis study can be done. The deductive approach of research defines the validity of
the various assumptions and theories. And the inductive approach defines the
contributions of the new theories and hypothesis of the data. This is the approach used for
the effective collection of the information (Wheelen and Hunger, 2011). It is helpful for
the organisation in the formulation of the things tat are required to carry out the small
scale research.
3. Data collections- This is the approach of the research where the researchers goes directly
in the market to those selected survey sample and the questionnaires and the survey will
be carried out. The data and the information are collected by them which can be relevant
for the defined problems of the organisation. The data that get collected is the primary

data as because it is been gather for the first time by the researchers of Marks and
Spencer company.
4. Data analysis- It is the method through which all the data which has been collected are
analysed and evaluated. It is very important for the firm to evaluate and analyse the
gathered informations as because these informations are used for the process of decision
making and further planning of the project's operations (Yadoo and Cruickshank, 2010).
The organisations will get help by the gathered information in the execution of the plans
in effective manner.
Tools and the techniques used for the research of the market.
 Focus group.
 Survey method.
 Interview method.
 Observation.
P6 Appropriate recommendations and suggestions of the research study.
The members of the organisation has to effectively carry out the research of the market as
because it is helpful in the decision making process and the proper execution of the operations of
Corporate social responsibility process. They have to implement the appropriate policies and
rules that are related to the implemented project. The employees and the managers have to focus
upon the performances of theirs and they have to be informed every aspects of the plans and the
strategies. On the behalf of the research study that has been carried out by Marks and Spencer
there are various aspects that the firm has to consider about and many things which are doing the
operations effectively (Yeoh and Koronios, 2010).
The study has helped the firm to make new policies and strategies that can be helpful for
the growth and the development of the organisation in the competitive market. The research of
the market is done through the questionnaire survey methodology of the selected sample size of
the respondents. There are certain recommendations and suggestions that the firm can inculcate
as the strategies in its operations to improve the performance and the productivity of the
activities of the firm. They are as follows-
 The organisation has to choose the appropriate tools and techniques for the effective
performance of the employees in the assigned project of CSR activities.

 The employees of the organisation have to trained in well and effective manner so that
they can handle the critical situation of the firm. They are the front face of the
organisation they meets the customers of the society hence they know each and every
needs and demands of the customers. They plans and the strategies that the firm is doing
has to be conveyed to the employees so that with their efforts and hard work they can
inform them to the customers, which will help in the growth of the firm (Dahan and et.al,
2010). It also help the organisation to attract the present customers and also the prospects
of the society as the future customers of the firm. They are the presentor of the firms
operations and activities as is they did not get any information then it become difficult for
the firm to tackle the crucial situations that the customers are facing.
 The research study of Marks and Spencer company helps to know that the customers can
be attracted with the help of the charity shows and the events where the promotion of the
CSR project can be done by the organisation of the firm. These shows will motivate the
customers to buy the products form the firm.
 The management of the employees are also very important, as because if the manpower
of the firm are well managed then the performance of the firm will also be seen effective.
 The communication is also one of the major factor that the firm has to focus upon as
because the strategies and the related plans of the projects can be beneficial for every
individual person of the firm. The stakeholders and the shareholders of the organisation
also needed to be informed so that they can recommend and suggest their views and
opinions in the decision making and the planning process.
 It is very necessary for the firm to take care of the environmental factors where the firm
is carrying out its operations.
 The most important factors the social welfare is the prior duty and responsibility of the
firm which it has to accomplish as to attain the objectives and to sustain in the market.
P7) Reflecting the gained value by the project.
There are various methods through which the research study can be carried out by the
organisation. The research that the firm carries out are effective enough so that the goals of the
project and the firm can be obtained (Kerzner, 2013). Being a manager in the organisation its my
duty and responsibility to manage all the related aspect of the business especially the recently
implemented CSR program. The activities are to be executed in well manner so that the firm can

enhance its performance level and productivity. The research study carried out by the firm was
very effective in the smooth functioning of the operations of the firm (Seddon, Calvert and Yang,
2010).
I have to effectively apply the tools and the proper techniques for more information
gathering as because the study must be biased due to non communication system were present.
The project of corporate social responsibility related plan and strategies are also to be made well
so that the customers can be attracted towards the products and services of the firm. The
monitoring of the collected data has to be done also they are to be evaluated and analysed so that
the information can be sorted according to the problem. The new techniques are to be developed
so as to run the business in successful manner. I also need to prepare the work break down
structure and the Gantt charts which will help me to plan the activities of the project according to
the deadlines (Sparrow, 2012). The employees of the firm must be provided equal opportunities
so that they can put their efforts in the development of the assigned projects.
CONCLUSION
This assignment report has been carried out to understand the need of management in
running the operations of the firm in the successful manner. The requirement of the effective
tools and techniques of the management in the proper functioning of the operations in the firm is
been concluded. Marks and Spencer has to delegate the work and the task of the project with the
help of work break down structure and Gantt charts. This will help in successfully attaining the
objectives and the goals of the organisation. The small scale research has also been drawn in this
assignment as to know the market conditions and the current position of the firm related to the
aspect of CSR activities.

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Online
Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods. 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.skillsyouneed.com/learn/quantitative-and-qualitative.html>. [Accessed on
18th May 2017].