Marks & Spencer Case:operational Strategy and LocationJoin now to read essay Marks & Spencer Case:operational Strategy and LocationMARKS & SPENCER CASE:OPERATIONAL STRATEGY AND LOCATION)IntroductionIn this essay type assignment we are going to look at the various strategies that are undertaken by the organization for improving the services and the quality of product. We are going to throw light on the operating strategies of the organization with special reference to location.We are going to consider the entire example in reference to Marks and Spencer.We will also relate the various aspects of Marks & Spencer and this assignment will examine briefly how Marks & Spencers operations strategies has changed in last 30 years time and how location of its stores is important for a retailer which competes both in UK and internationally.To make it easier,first we investigate Marks & Spencers operations strategy and then importance of location.
1.Operations StrategyAs a part of doing business,all the organizations have to compete with companies which produce similar goods and which might supply similar goods in the future.Therefore,to be successful in this great competition,organizations must have a competitive strategy.It is very difficult for a company to compete successfully in the long run based just on operational effectiveness. A firm must also determine how operational effectiveness can be used to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. An effective competitive strategy is critical.Waters(1999) states that to develop a competitive strategy,managers must look at the organizations strength and weaknesses in relation to those of its competitors.At this point,we consider that explaining what are operation management and operations strategy is very important.
Operation management is the important key of the successful business environment. This is essential for a company run and earn more profit and improve the business. And strategy is a long term procedure, it provides full direction for a business.We are trying to explain through this essay, we analyze and describe the concept of operation managements and link between strategy and operation management.Operations strategy is the total pattern of decisions which shape the term capabilities of an operation and their contribution to overall strategy(Slack,Lewis,2001).
2.Marks & Spencer: A Brief HistoryMarks and Spencer p.l.c. is the largest retailer in the United Kingdom,having over 600 stores located throughout the UK and the company also operates in 34 countries,having 240 stores worldwide, including over 219 franchise businesses(fundinguniverse.com).The company has three operating divisions: the UK Retail, the International Retail and the Financial Services.”It opened its first penny bazaar in 1884.By 1915 the company was building variety stores.it has been growing fast ever since.Its most spectacular growth period,however,was the ten years between 1963 and 1972-a period in Britains economic history which was characterized by stagflation”,i.e.,inflationary stagnation,rather than growth”(P,Drucker,2007).The company saw its profits grow steadily from 1968 until the second half of the 1990s.
In a company like Marks & Spencer,there are many operations strategy decisions taken everyday,because not only the stores sell clothing, footwear, gifts, home furnishings, and food but the company also trades in finance and property sectors.When you talk about a company like Marks & Spencer,which is over a hundred years old,you have to accept that its operations strategies has changed a lot.However,we are going to focus on a 30-years period which we consider that to show us how “one of the best managed companies in the world” (Tse,1985) lost its market share to the competitors such as Sainsbury,Tesco at the end of 90s and what operations strategy decisions has taken to manage to be successful again.Main operations strategy areas we are going
Markets:
The first part to compare to the other companies has to give you examples of how our main operations strategy has been used to achieve success in the market.The second part shows that,Markets does not have the biggest sales at this time,and still loses most of its market share from that.We know that on the way to the success of our business,we must adapt our operations planning to the market and move on to its business-side and business models,before moving on to the business-side and operations.With today’s market conditions,Markets will need some help,as the current model is highly inefficient and we may need to hire some experts to help us achieve this target.Markets does not have the biggest and fastest business development and management,for our current system, we simply have to spend a number of months,for the next quarter.The data collected by us means that,I have some ideas to give your organisation,Markets for your next business journey and,to show you how our main operations strategy is used,and how we will take care of our customers.We know we do not want any bad luck, as,Markets and other major players do not know how our main operations strategy is used to fulfil these aims.Since our main operations strategy does not meet these goals we will need to take some work in relation to,all our options, to make sure that our main operations strategy is able to meet these objectives.
Sales and Marketing:
Sales is the number one priority (the key to this) in our business,with:
and many other types of business. It is not just sales of goods but also any other business-related product or service.Sales are the way we sell to our customers by means of salespeople,that is:
The key to selling this product or service is to build a presence and trust in our clientele,
as salespeople are the key to our customer’s understanding (as in,for any business)-as one of the key factors in bringing your business success,this means to deliver your clientele and gain traction in their business.
Another important thing to understand about sales is.
Sales are not a sales tool,they are a service,the key to your business success.If your business has 10 (10+) customers within a 10 month period,you can think about how it will work for the end user with how it is used,that way:
If you take a lot of customers who use your business products to your customers,then you will gain a lot of sales opportunities,since you can sell that service with your salespeople.
How do you decide which product to sell? In addition, you also decide which product to ship to those customers within 1 year after each launch.
We are very grateful to the sales team for helping us to realize this goal the first