The Decline of Marks and Spencer: A Problem-Solving Report

Upon the successful completion of this module, the student will be able to:

• Describe a problem, it’s nature, scope and impact
• Gather and interpret information to solve a problem
• Evaluate options to make a decision
• Plan, monitor and review the implementation and communication of decisions

TASK DESCRIPTION

Problem solving is vital for organisations going forward by identifying existing or potential problems through analytical techniques using relevant tools to help in the decision-making process.

Problems take many different forms and are resolved in a number of ways.

Throughout this module, you will be involved in a number of assessed Problem-Solving activities which will help develop your problem solving skills, both as part of a team and individually.

You are asked to write a professionally written 2000 word report on ‘The Decline of Marks and Spencer.’ Please read the corresponding article on Marks and Spencer issued to you.

The report should include the following;

What is the nature, scope and impact of the problem faced by Marks and Spencer (choose 1 problem to discuss)

Conduct a SWOT analysis on Marks and Spencer, linking this to the problem that you have identified.

Conduct a PESTLE analysis on the Macro environment, linking this to the problem that you have identified where possible.

Conclude on your findings.

Remember to use Harvard Referencing when writing your report and include at least 10 references to support your writing. Structure your report professionally (see separate structure guidance) and ensure that you include all required elements.

Submission for this will be through Turnitin before: 3pm on Friday 4th June 2021.

Recommend potential solutions for the problem that you identified in component 1 (ensure that these are also linked to the SWOT and PESTLE)

Suggest how these solutions will be monitored and reviewed and discuss how these will be communicated

You will be presenting your PowerPoint slides during lectures on Week beginning 21st June 2021.

Please email your PowerPoint slides to your lecturer by 12pm on the date of your presentation.

You are also required to write 500 words Speaker notes to support your presentation. These are to be submitted to Turnitin by 12pm on the day of presenting.

Your work must be informed and supported by scholarly material that is relevant to and focused on the task(s) set.    You should provide evidence that you have accessed an appropriate range of sources, which may be academic, governmental and industrial; these sources may include academic journal articles, textbooks, current news articles, organisational documents, and websites.  You should consider the credibility of your sources; academic journals are normally highly credible sources while websites require careful consideration/selection and should be used sparingly.   Any sources you use should be current and up-to-date, mostly published within the last five years or so, though seminal/important works in the field may be older.  You must provide evidence of your research/own reading throughout your work, using a suitable referencing system, including in-text citations in the main body of your work and a reference list at the end of your work.

SWOT Analysis on Marks and Spencer

Guidance specific to this assessment: you should include at least ten references within your report. These should be taken form appropriate journals, textbooks and reliable websites. A reference list should be provided using Harvard referencing convention. You should also include at least 5 references within your PowerPoint.

At level 4, you should be able to demonstrate knowledge of the underlying concepts and principles associated with your area(s) of study.  Knowledge relates to the facts, information and skills you have acquired through your learning.  You demonstrate your understanding by interpreting the meaning of the facts and information (knowledge). This means that you need to select and include in your work the concepts, techniques, models, theories, etc. appropriate to the task(s) set.  You should be able to explain the theories, concepts, etc. to show your understanding.  Your mark/grade will also depend upon the extent to which you demonstrate your knowledge and understanding.

Guidance specific to this assessment: demonstrate your knowledge of the relevant models and theories such as SWOT, PESTLE etc throughout the activities and use the correct terminology during your discussions whether in writing or in your presentation.

You should be able to present, evaluate and interpret qualitative and quantitative data, in order to develop lines of argument and make sound judgements in accordance with basic theories and concepts of your subject(s) of study. You should be able to evaluate the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems related to your area(s) of study and/or work. Your work must contain evidence of logical, analytical thinking. For example, to examine and break information down into parts, make inferences, compile, compare and contrast information.  This means not just describing what! But also justifying: Why? How? When? Who? Where? At what cost? You should provide justification for your arguments and judgements using evidence that you have reflected upon the ideas of others within the subject area and that you are able to make sound judgements and arguments using data and concepts.  Where relevant, alternative solutions and recommendations may be proposed.

Guidance specific to this assessment: Have you considered all aspects of the problem at Marks and Spencer? Have you shown a deep level of analysis and used this to support your decisions? Is there evidence of critical analysis in your writing within your report and presentation?

At level 4, you should be able to apply the basic underlying concepts and principles to evaluate and interpret these within the context of your area of study. You should be able to demonstrate how the subject-related concepts and ideas relate to real world situations and/or a particular context.  How do they work in practice?  You will deploy models, methods, techniques, and/or theories, in that context, to assess current situations, perhaps to formulate plans or solutions to solve problems, or to create artefacts.  This is likely to involve, for instance, the use of real world artefacts, examples and cases, the application of a model within an organisation and/or benchmarking one theory or organisation against others based on stated criteria.  

Guidance specific to this assessment: Apply the SWOT and PESTLE to Marks and Specer thoroughly evidencing research to support where needed. Have you demonstrated that you can apply these tools to help you identify a problem and reach a decision? Have you made an academically informed decision to resolve the problem?

Your work must provide evidence of the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of some personal responsibility.  This includes demonstrating: that you can communicate the results of your study/work accurately and reliably, and with structured and coherent arguments; that you can initiate and complete tasks and procedures, whether individually and/or collaboratively; fluency of expression; clarity and effectiveness in presentation and organisation. Work should be coherent and well-structured in presentation and organisation.

Guidance specific to this assessment: Demonstrate good communication skills within the activity and effective formal report writing skills. Demonstrates good PowerPoint skills and professional delivery/time management skills.