Marks & Spencer: A Strategic Report on Workplace Communication Issues

This report identifies and addresses the complex problem of ineffective communication within Marks & Spencer (M&S), a major British multinational retailer. The report details the scope and impact of poor communication, including decreased productivity, employee dissatisfaction, and potential damage to customer relations. It analyzes the problem using a decision-making process, proposing alternative solutions such as open communication, organized meetings, and feedback mechanisms. The report advocates for an open communication strategy to foster trust and engagement. An implementation plan is developed, outlining the steps for executing the chosen solution, including requirement analysis, testing, and ongoing support. Furthermore, the report emphasizes the importance of stakeholder communication, identifying key stakeholders and defining communication objectives. Finally, it suggests monitoring and review techniques to ensure the successful implementation of the solutions. This document provides valuable insights into improving workplace communication within a large retail organization.

Individual Report

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................1
Define a complex problem in the workplace including scope and impact..................................1
Analyse information on the identified problem to assist inform the decision making process...2
Propose a range of alternative solutions to the problem..............................................................3
Use decision making technique to measure variety of solutions to find out the appropriate
option...........................................................................................................................................3
Develop a plan for implementing the solution............................................................................4
Communicate the plan to stakeholders........................................................................................4
Assess appropriate monitoring and review techniques to assure successful implementation of
the solution...................................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Workplace problem refers to those complexities that arise in a working environment and
create impact all over business activities and operations of the enterprise. It can lead to decreased
execution and productivity, loss of job termination, less satisfaction, stress and a wide range of
mental health problems. This document is based on Marks & Spencer which a major British
multinational retail sector organisation (Koropets, 2019). This firm was incorporated in 1884 and
is headquartered in to London, England, UK. It specialise in selling garments, home appliances
and food items etc. This written report will consider information about workplace problem, its
impact and alternative solutions to the issue. Further, will explain about decision making
techniques, develop a plan for executing the solution, communication the plan to stakeholders
and monitoring or review techniques to assure successful implementation of the solutions.
TASK 2
Define a complex problem in the workplace including scope and impact
M&S is a large UK based retail sector organisation which operates its business
internationally in different nation of the world. It operates its business with the help of its rage of
goods and services and its number of employees make their effective communication in running
its business in global business environment in effective manner. But now it faces the problem of
ineffective and poor communication that creates negative impact over its business and its growth
or success. Ineffective communication is an activity and action of improper interaction among
management and employees. It can be frustrating to workers, framing a breeding ground of
distrust and confusion (Billett, 2020). If employees do not have good lines of communication
with each other and administration and don not feel like they are being heard, their faithfulness
and commitment to the firm may suffer.
Poor and ineffective communication unfavourably impact the workplace and the working
environment can result in friction, frustration, confusion and an extremely tense atmosphere
where individuals are not encouraged to be productive and are not motivated to work together.
This lack of inspiration cans the spill over to how staff members connect to customer and
potential consumers. Due to poor communication at workplace, there is lack of enthusiasm,
interrupting, lack of conciseness and clarity. It affects the productivity and working ability of
employees which affect the business productivity in negative manner. This problem also
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influence innovation capability of firm because when teams are assembled with the right tools to
communication and are united to work together to identify a solution, innovation is occur. Due to
this problem, employee turnover can also be arisen that unfavourably influence the productivity
and performance of M&S in negative manner (MacCurtain and et. al., 2018). This not only
impact the working environment by cant spill over to the target audiences which means that the
firm actually are entering into dangerous region.
Analyse information on the identified problem to assist inform the decision making process
Ineffective and poor communication is a process of lack and improper communication
among management and manpower of the firm. In M&S, the management of the firm can
consider decision making process to analyse the information in the identified problem and the
description of it is as below in reference to particular issue:
Identify the decision- To make any kind of decision in reference to particular problem,
firstly, the management must find out the issue that need to solve. Clearly explain determination
and try to identify the causes of this poor communication issue. If the firm require to accomplish
a specific aim from its decision then make it measurable and timely so the administration know
for certain that they attain the objective of the process.
Collect relevant information- In this phase, the management of M&S can gather reliable
data related to particular issues in term of occurring it and resolutions. The administrator can
easily become bogged down by too much data and information that appears appropriate to the
circumstance might only obscure the process.
Indentify the alternatives- Under this step, the administration can analysed and
determined variety of solutions to deal and handle the problem of ineffective communication. In
context of M&S, the firm can consider open communication, meetings and many more
alternatives to solve this workplace issue.
Weigh the evidence- It is an effective stage, in which, the management monitor all the
solutions that they are able to resolve the respective problem of poor communication (Jeong and
Kim, 2018). They also analyse the results of each alternative.
Choose among alternatives- It is next phase, in it, the management select on strategy and
alter native after analysing all issues and complexities. After choosing one solution, the
administration determines the abilities in term of resolving problem in more effective manner.
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Take action- Within this step, the management of M&S can implement the solution and
alternative in reference to resolve the problem. By following a systematic problem, they
implement the solution in term of handling complexity of ineffective communication.
Review the decision- It is the final phase, in which the administrator can analyse and
review the decision that are taken in context of solving issue and implementing alternative that it
is effectively execute and provide desired outcomes in limited time frame (Shapiro, Boyle and
McKenna, 2018).
Propose a range of alternative solutions to the problem
To deal with the problem of poor and ineffective communication, there are several kinds of
strategies, tools, techniques and alternative solution which can be used and implemented by the
management of company. In reference to M&S, the administration of respective firm can
consider diverse alternative solutions; some of them are defined as under:
Open communication- It is process of making effective communication and without
hesitation employees can share their issues with their seniors and get effective solution on time.
In it, they can also share their ideas and thoughts with the superior and if they are good then they
can consider by management within their operations. With the help of this option, managers of
M&S can make good employee relation and motivate workers. It also assists in offering accurate
information to each other without any kind of hurdles.
Organise meeting- It is another effective strategy and solution which can also consider
dealing with the problem of ineffective communication. By organising meeting after a particular
time period, management of M&S can form effective communication among workforce and
management.
Seek out feedback and take action- Employee feedback is fundamental and tool to deal
with the problem of poor communication. By offering this option to workers the administration
can aware with the problem and unhappiness within the working environment (Schoepp and
Danaher, 2020). In M&S, the management can provide this option to employees where they can
share the issues that they face at workplace so that they can resolve on time.
Use decision making technique to measure variety of solutions to find out the appropriate option
From the above mentioned a range of solution in context of solving poor and ineffective
communication problem, the management can consider an effective one that help in
appropriately resolve this conflict. The firm can consider open communication option and
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strategy that is crucial to make good relation and better communication between management
and workforce. This strategy is crucial as it build trust, arise feelings ownership, surfaces
problems faster and offers useful response. It permits manpower of company to be more engaged
and acknowledge that what they so matters in the growth and development of the business of
M&S (Björnström and Lindvall, 2020). Along with this, by adopting this option, the manager
can also clearly understand the aims and goals of the firm to employees and the people execute
their duties in effective manner in term of attaining the set visions and objectives.
Develop a plan for implementing the solution
Implementation plan is basically a planning process in which the administration follows
some stages and steps to execute solution of issue and complexity in effective manner (Lombardi
and Rodriguez, 2019). In context of problem of M&S, the plan for solution is as under:
Implementation solution or strategy- In this phase, the manager of the firm will decide
to implement an effective strategy and solution in context of proposed problem. In M&S, the
administrator can implement solution of open communication. It will make good employee
relation among workforce and management of respective establishment.
Requirement and analysis- Under this phase, the person analyse the solution that the
proposed strategies are effective to handle the complexity. In M&S. the manager determine the
solution which they are proposed to deal with problem of poor and ineffective communication
that it will assist in minimising the issue.
Test-This is the next phase, in which, the person test that how much degree this solution is
able to deal the issue and determine the level of employee turnover of company. If there is
improvement in it then they conduct different development programmes for workforce. If there is
not improvement then they make innovation in their techniques and solution regarding particular
problem.
Ongoing support- It is the final phase, when the administrator proposed an effective
solution and it is able to deal specific issue (Hershcovis and et. al., 2018). Then, the manager of
firm provides their constant support these kinds of solution and activities so that the poor
communication workplace issue will not affect more to the business venture.
Communicate the plan to stakeholders
Stakeholder communication basically grows out of the information and findings in the
management plan (Yao and et. al., 2019). It should list the key stakeholders who require
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receiving communications, considering type, frequency and detail etc. In reference to M&S, it is
explained as under:
Identify stakeholders- It is the first phase, in which the administration find out its
stakeholders by using important and range of techniques like independent analysis and collective
brainstorming sessions. They can make segmentation of their stakeholder groups like user,
beneficiary, suppliers, partners, employees, governance, influencer and many more.
Create an analyse stakeholder profiles- In this phase; the management prioritise
stakeholder in form of their virtual influence, interest and attitude regarding firm (Furlan,
Galeazzo and Paggiaro, 2019). For example, the main stakeholder of M&S can be customers and
employees as a stakeholder found out as high power and high interest.
Define the objective- Within it, the venture incorporate the purpose of the communication.
Alternatively, they may want to move on found out stakeholder from low to high interest in order
to gain commitment. Effective involvement by the right channels like one to one briefing can
assist to make easy the change in context of resolving workplace problem.
Measure outcomes- It is the final phase, in it, the administration determine the result of
communication that main stakeholder of company are agreed with the solution activities and
practices that are proposed by firm in reference to handle issues (Nevado, Pehkonen and
Salminen, 2020). If they are agreed then it offers favourable outcomes.
Assess appropriate monitoring and review techniques to assure successful implementation of the
solution
The implemented techniques and alternatives solutions are crucial to deal with the
workplace problem of poor and ineffective communication. By adopting open communication,
seek out feedback and organise meetings are crucial solutions that help in getting over this
particular issue (Yunus, Musiat and Brown, 2018). Along with this effective implementation of
solution plan and stakeholder communication plan are beneficial to offer effective outcomes to
overcome the poor communication issue.
CONCLUSION
It has been summarised that workplace issue is a critical problem which affect the business
of company, its performance and brand image as well market position in negative manner. By
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adopting and implementing effective solution and decision making techniques regarding
workplace problem, the administration can deal with it in most crucial manner.
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REFERENCES
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