Business Strategy and SWOT Analysis

This report contains detailed facts related to study of macro and micro environment in which M&S is operating its business with various frameworks namely PESTEL, SWOT and VRIO. Further, there is discussion over industry analysis through Porter's five forces model in context with following organisation. At last, it throws light on various strategic direction which can be choose by firm analyst with aim of enhancing profitability level of organisation (Anwar Shah and Hasnu, 2016).

Analyse the impact and influence of the macro -environment in a organisation

Macro-environment- It refers to the external environment that influences an organisation's decision making and also affects on performance and strategies. It consist of all the impact that includes opportunities but also pose threats to the business enterprise. The business environment is very dynamic in nature and to understand this, Marks & Spenser use PESTLE analysis (Bentley-Goode and et. al., 2017). Ask for assignment help from our experts!

Mission- Overall mission of Marks & Spenser is to make pretension quality that is available and recognisable to everyone, through the depth and range of its product offerings. Because of dynamic environment in today's nature mission can be decided. To make and find more opportunities in the external and macro factor manager of Marks and Spencer develops the product on the basis of recognisable quality and range of the goods.

Objective - Main objective of Marks & Spenser is to longer sustainability through consonant, profitability and maximum market share. And the company is accountable to shareholders and wide stakeholders. This objective can be decided after analysing the external environment so they make product according to the society need and wants to earn more profits and increse market share.

Vision- company provide the standard against its rival firm by customer satisfaction, care of environment and society and provide the working environment. The vision of the company is very much in favour of macro - environment. Because it will satisfy the customer needs beat the competitors make use of innovative techniques and follow the government legal laws that was stated for the welfare of the employees.

PESTLE Analysis

It refers to the external factors that includes political, economical, sociocultural,technological,legal and environmental analysis that affects the Marks & Spenser in implementing their strategies. It is an important tool to identify what the organisation needs to compete in the market(Bentley-Goode and et. al., 2017).

In the present macro- environment, Marks & Spenser faces and reduce the threats and find opportunity that would help in for longer survival of business. Brexit, is the major threats that the organisation follow as many euro- countries are restricted to free trade this will impact the economy of the UK and the company. On the other hand industry provide ready meals to their customers by using self- checkout service as a unique techno- factor and push towards the environmental friendly products (Kitsios and Kamariotou,2016). want to get Assignment Samples?Talk to our Experts!

Shareholders matrix

It refers to that matrix that identifies the people before the task start, grouping them according to their levels of participation, interest and influence in the goals. And analyse how to best transfer the information to these stakeholders group. Below the matrix mentioned by the company that influence decisions making.

• Community- It is an essential part of stakeholder matrix that influence the decisions of the organisation due to the legal factors that was develop by the company.
• Shareholders - In M&S, shareholders have the major rights and authority to take all the decisions related to firm.
• Suppliers - These are the important stakeholders of M&S who supply raw material to firm to make a finished output. They provide company raw materials, technologies because of this company earn more profits.
• Employees- These are also essential part of stakeholders because they are the human resource of M&S . Every decisions are affected the employees performance.

Stakeholder management

It is based on above recommendations that play a vital role for a company. These are as follows.

• Working employees- In context of M&S, if there is changes occur in any activities that was helpful in completing the task it would affect the employees performance for this firm can provide training session to familiarise themselves and their employees towards the changes. For this they recommend meeting and seminars.
• Suppliers- In M&S, research and development department involve with the suppliers and they decide what a company can buy to earn more profits and share. They involve in suppliers decisions making process for this, this report using e-mail.

Evaluation of internal environment in context with organisation capabilities.

Internal or micro environment are those surroundings which are incorporated within business enterprise. These are elements which influence the organisation decisions, choices and different activities internally besides it can be controlled by management unlike macro environment. This includes existing workforce, corporate culture, physical resources, vision and mission and value system. M&S internal climate can examine through two models SWOT and VRIO.

SWOT Analysis of M&S

SWOT represents intrinsic components of organization that is strength, weaknesses are internal factors on which company have some control while other are opportunities and strength that are external factors over which firm has no control (Kossyva, Sarri and Georgolpoulos, 2015).

• STRENGTHS: M&S is a leading brand and serves over million customers across international markets. Corporation has number of strengths but core advantage enjoy by company. M&S having highly recognizable brand value known by every individual in UK street as well as oversees because of its quality products. Firm deals in huge variety of diversified product line to serves all age groups. Another strength of M&S is that company uses private label brands such as UNA, North Coast, Autograph. Company has multichannel presence including brick/mortar and online stores with aim of reaching and attracting more customers (Boyd and et. al., 2017).
• WEAKNESSES: Major drawback of M&S is its ineffective publicity as non trendy stores despite of firm has wide range of products with separate brands but in some cases general public has wrong assumption that company only offer its clothing items to aged group consumers not for teenager and youth this bring sales and business profits down. Further, firm is unable to perceive in few foreign markets although company is an international brand but areas like Asia and Middle East are unfavourable for organisation cause M&S serves western wear instead of traditional outfits(Kossyva, Sarri and Georgolpoulos, 2015).
• OPPORTUNITIES: fashion industry is full of dynamism as every day something new occurs in terms of design, outfits, so on. This generates an opportunity for M&S to evolve exclusive brand segments on basis of occasion, seasons. For instance, in ASIA there is a huge market demand for ethnic and traditional outfit so it become favourable advantage for firm to produce ethical clothing in order to serve and tap Asian market(Leischnig, Woelfl and Ivens, 2016).
• THREATS: M&S serves globally as well as compete in very intense market where other well known companies are also competing for large market share and long term survival. There various rivals which are providing cut throat competition namely ZARA, Gap, Tommy Hilfiger, UCB and more. Company required to keep eye on its competitors moves so that it can strategize its game plan accordingly (Leischnig, Woelfl and Ivens, 2016).

VRIO Analysis in context of M&S

VRIO refers to separate frameworks of analysing and evaluating the resources and competitive advantage of organization. VRIO stands for Value, Rareness, Imitability and Organization which helps company to secure valuable resources and uncover hidden competencies with aim of gaining competitive edge among its competitors. This particular mechanism is applied just after setting vision statement but before commencing strategic process (Malerba and et. al., 2015).

RESOURCES	VALUABLE	RARE	IMITABLE	ORGANISATION
FINANCIAL	YES	-	-	-
PATENT DESIGN	YES	YES	-	-
FOOD PRODUCTS	YES	YES	YES	-
HUMAN RESOURCE	YES	YES	YES	YES

1. VALUABLE: these resources are those which helps organization to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness. financial resources are highly valuable for Marks and Spencers as compare to other resources as it enable the management to invest in other areas in order to explore unique opportunities arises due to change. If company has strong financial capability then it can help the firm to act as First Mover so that firm can fetch any advantage before anyone else (Yoffie and Cusumano, 2015).
2. RARE: some resources are valuable but rare in nature as these type of resources can be acquired by few person or company. Patents rights are rare resource for M&S according to VRIO analysis because these patent design are not always easily available or owned by other rivals . This enables firm to operate without any interruption of its competitors and helps in attaining competitive advantage (MÃ¥rtensson and Westerberg,2016).
3. IMITABLE: these resources indicates that even though some resources are valuable, rare but can be reproduce or copy by others in industry. According to VRIO analysis, food products are come under imitable resource as local food items are not much costlier to imitate as these can be obtained by other rivals because these resources do not required much experience.
4. ORGANIZATION: these particular resources helps organization to attain sustainable competitive advantage as these are divided in equal ratio at all parameters of this framework. Human resource are organized resource for M&S as these are valuable for company, rare in terms of designing products, imitable by others also.

   From above frameworks it is understandable that M&S can effectively increases its potentiality by optimum utilization of its capabilities so that it can expand and sustain its competitive edge within industry and cultivate adaptive atmosphere so that management can easily modify its policies and structure on basis of prevailing changes (Schaltegger, Hansen and Lüdeke-Freund, 2016).

   Porter's Five Forces Model.

   Porter's Five Forces model is one of the popular mechanism for analysing components of industry and determine exact position of an organization within market. This model simplify and evaluate all five competitive factors concern with measuring weaknesses and strengths of company. This particular approach is used to examine the structure of industry in order to formulate corporate strategy. The impact of these five factors can be negative and positive on Marks and Spencer decision making functions which can be understood from given points:

   1. Rivalry among competitors: this force states that how many rivals are their inside industry and how their competencies are affecting operation of an organisation. Higher the intensity of competitors along with their large number of equal products they produce will decrease power of business enterprise. In context with M&S, the impact of this force is high because identical quality products at similar rates are offered by other competitors due to which it increases the competition level within market that definitely result in fall down in prices and decrease in overall profitability of M&S (Teh and Corbitt, 2015).
   2. Buyer's power: this force describes the capacity of customers at what extent they are able to drive down prices low. The power of buyers will be high if company has smaller and strong customer base that means each buyer has ability to negotiate over rates and attain better quality deals offered by company. In case of M&S, the impact of this component is high cause consumers became price sensitive as well as fashion sensitive due to which buyers search for best quality of clothing at affordable rates. In this situation, consumers has a power to switch on other competitors brand. This generate pressure on M&S productivity and profitability in long term survival. M&S has to research over its target market as consumers are resisting to pay higher rates for products and demand for high quality products at lesser price.
   3. Supplier's power: this factor states that how quickly suppliers can increase their cost of raw material at ease. It majorly influenced by high intensity of suppliers of inputs available in market and how exclusive as well as diversified these inputs are in particular market. If number of suppliers are low in industry then it will raise power of suppliers and they can easily charge more from dependent company. The impact of this factor is low which is favourable for M&S because company purchase its raw material and stock from very few UK suppliers which creates a condition in front of suppliers as they are dependent on M&S and can not charge high rates as M&S has power to switch on other supplier (Torrent-Sellens, 2015).
   4. Threat of substitution: this component states about similar or identical goods that are available in market that can be purchase by consumers instead of company's product which creates a threat in front of organisation. When there is no alternate of product or service are available in market then it is favourable for firm as they have power to charge high prices from consumers. On contrary if substitutes are accessible in market this provides options to customers to choose better. In context with M&S, the effect of this factor is high because there are variety of clothing products are offered and marketed by other rivals at similar prices which provides choices to customers. Buyers has option to switch the brand as they find high quality products at favourable prices.
   5. Threat of New entrants: this power states that competitive position of company is also affected by entrance of new organisation with different products at affordable prices. An industry having powerful restriction over entry of new competitor is favourable for current enterprises as they are able to sustain and survive better. In case of M&S, the impact of this force is low due to it contain high cost of entry and required proper maintenance in particular clothing market. M&S is an established organisation from longer period of time and has strong knowledge of market with powerful distribution channels. Company enjoy high level of brand loyalty from its customers.

   From above model, it can be analysed that all five forces provide clear picture of what affects the profitability of company within industry. With help of this framework, analyst can easily detect the fluctuation emerging in trends early before anyone else and able to react smoothly to explore upcoming opportunities and can modify these factors in organisation favour. Want to get Strategic Management Assignment Help? Talk Our Expert Now!

   Strategic management planning.

   There are number of strategic model and theories which are adopt by different firms with the purpose of expanding their business growth and sustain as well as increase their competitive advantage in order to grab more opportunities to serve better products and services to their target market. Marks and Spencers is one leading retail organisation deals in stylish fashion garments, home-ware products and serves its items in wide range of customers. Organization can make use of Bowman's strategic clock model concern with strategic positioning of firm by the help of this mechanism management of M&S can able to strategize that how it has to position its new product in market (Weber, Geneste, L.A. and Connell, 2015).

   Bowman's Strategic Clock Model

   This particular model was proposed by two popular economists Cliff Bowman and David Faulkner. The main purpose of this approach is to help out the organisations to realize what position they are having in target market comparatively with other competitors. According to Bowman, suggested that cost advantage act as different component for firm as it affects strategic positioning of company as well as entire positioning of product in target market. The model contains eight clockwise elements axis on two dimensions priced and perceived value to customer.

   1. Low Price and Low Value Added: this positioning strategy implemented by firm when it keeps the products prices comparatively low as to compete with other competitors in market. By using this method business sustain very little competitive position additionally this strategy is low in price as well as provide less value to its customers.
   2. Low Price: Company make use of this strategy when it produce huge quantities of products so that items are valued in target market. Under this strategy, products are being sell out at lower prices which leads to low profit margins on single item but bulk range of output can cultivate by firm through which company can earn high profits. Focal point of this method is cost minimization with help of quick and large production.
   3. Hybrid: As name suggested, this strategy is a combination of low price and product differentiation. Under this method, company emphasize on stimulate customers by providing better added value through combining reasonable price and accepted product differentiation. This strategy makes items extremely valuable in market (Yoffie and Cusumano, 2015).
   4. Differentiation: this strategy explains that organization adopt this strategy to provide high quality product at moderate price and offer consumer high level of added value that create different identity in particular market. Company emphasize on efforts in order to generate brand image and preserve their loyal customers.
   5. Focused Differentiation: this particular strategy is opt by those organization which focus on lavish and extremely exclusive products which are high in quality as well as in price. Huge profit margins are gained by these type of company as they use promotional activities, marketing programs.
   6. Risky High Margins: this strategy is used when company charge high prices for products and perceived moderate value by customers. It is somewhere riskiest method to adopt by company as it may loose its long term position. If customer constantly purchase product at high prices then it will create higher profits.
   7. Monopoly Pricing: Under this strategy, organisation place itself as monopoly leader where only they offer unique kind of product in market. This method is beneficial for company as there is no competition and it can act as 'Price Maker' where it solely set price of product.
   8. Loss of Market Share: this particular tactics, is not much favourable for organization because company is not in position of producing a product which customer value. Under this strategy, firm set standard rates of product to sustain and survive in market.

   From above study, M&S can opt Differentiation strategy to position its products in target market. This strategy helps company to attract more customer and retain the existing one by providing them best value added products. It creates brand loyalty and goodwill for organization.

   Strategic Management Plan

   M&S is one of the leading retail multinational brand which deals in variety of fashionable products and home appliances. Organisation adopt various strategy to sustain its competitive edge and try out to explore new market for growth expansion.

   Vision: The vision statement of M&S is to act as standard on which others performance can be measured.

   Mission: M&S mission statement is to create aspirational quality affordable by everyone.

   SMART Objectives: To increase company profits by 10% and to serve high quality products.

   STP Process

   Segmentation: M&S divide its target market in terms of demographic, geographic, psycho graphic and behavioural segments.

   Targeting: M&S targets all age group customers including children, youth as well as old age people.

   Positioning: M&S wants to positioned itself as Premium organization brand in retail industry.

   Evaluation: M&S regularly measure the performance of its selected strategy in order to analyse that it successfully attaining planned objectives and if not company will take corrective measure to meet out following goals (Boyd and et. al., 2017).

   CONCLUSION

   From above discussion, it can be concluded that business strategy plays an essential role in strategic management as provides answers to various questions face by organization to survive in particular market. Business strategy is a game plan for company through which it can able to sustain its competitive edge and helps in attaining mission goals. It contains various models which to examine macro and micro environment which is full of dynamism where business operates its functions. It is crucial for each organization to strategize its plan especially when company is going to establish new enterprise or expanding its existing business units in different area of markets.

   For more - Hospitality Digital Marketing Strategy

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