BUSINESS RESEARCH DISSERTATION
Topic: “Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on business productivity: A case study of Marks & Spencer”
Module Name:
Module Code: UGB 301
Word Count: 1500
Date of Submission:
Introduction
The module learning about conducting research has helped to learn that the main purpose of conducting research in the competitive business scenario is to identify an original problem in the market, analyse the issue based on valid pieces of evidence and enhance the awareness of the readers about the particular issue. This study is a research proposal for the final research paper that would be elaborating on the issue of Covid-19 and its impact on the productivity of business firms.
Aim and Objectives
The main aim of the research study is to identify the specific impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on employee productivity and business outcomes within the workplace of Marks & Spencer (M&S).
Based on this particular aim, some of the objectives to conduct the research would be:
To identify the importance of productivity for business success
To evaluate the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the work processes and motivation of the employees in M&S
To understand the gaps in the business outcome and the impacts on the productivity of teams due to the Covid-19 pandemic within the organisation.
To recommend solutions for M&S to keep the business productivity intact irrespective of the challenges faced due to Covid-19
Research Questions
Some of the relevant research questions for conducting the research would be:
What is the importance of business productivity for ensuring growth and success?
What are some of the impacts on the level of productivity of the teams in M&S due to the Covid-19 pandemic?
How can these challenges be mitigated with strategic options?
Background/Rationale
The Covid-19 pandemic has highly affected the business operations of many business firms. As per the idea of Davey (2021), the Covid-19 pandemic has been largely found to be creating major gaps within the process of operations. M&S has suffered a loss of almost 90% in the financial year 2020-2021, due to the lack of talents, hampered productivity and restricted operations of the brand. In this context, Bloom et al. (2021) stated that the Covid-19 pandemic has restricted the operations of businesses due to the governmental guidelines for nationwide lockdowns. Therefore, this has also negatively impacted the business productivity level of the individuals showing gaps in success. As a result of the Crisis, M&S has also been given an urge to eliminate the workforce, increasing the employee turnover rate. This has been one of the most prominent examples of hampered business productivity and the managerial gap within the workplace.
Figure 1: M&S bears the loss
(Source: Statista, 2022)
As mentioned by BBC News (2020), this particular loss has been the first loss of M&S in the last 94 years and the brand has been identified to be suffering till the closure of almost 600 shops across several parts of the UK. Cutting down 7000 jobs in just three months has potentially reduced the productivity of the firm more, in return for optimising costs for running a business. Contrastingly, the Covid-19 pandemic has also helped the brand to majorly focus on online sales for keeping the revenue generation consistent. Even though profits could not be earned solely through the mode of online sales, during the testing period, the growth of sales through online platforms has increased potentially showing support for the growth of the brand's reputation.
Literature Review
Importance of business productivity
Business success is vital for the growth of the brands in the national as well as international market. In order to achieve success within the competitive business scenario, an adequate level of productivity among the employees working as individuals or in teams is vital or achieving success. In this context, Ratnasari (2021) has stated that the Covid-19 pandemic has induced a need for change in many business brands. During the process of change, it has been observed that there is a valid relationship between work productivity, commitment, and job satisfaction. An adequate rate of work commitments and job satisfaction effectively enhance the productivity of the workforce. They collectively give rise to the level of productivity of the entire business organisation to ensure success. Contrary to this, Sunanda (2018) mentioned that productivity is important as it helps to reduce the chances of individuals quitting their job and helps to gain benefits. A significant effect on job satisfaction and a clear intention to quit the job can be observed in this case proving the gaps in the entire procedure of enhancing productivity in any business firm.
Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on productivity
The Global pandemic has highly led to the global contraction of economic stability. It has been observed that the rate of growth and profitability of business firms has been restricted majorly based on the several requirements of the business firm. As per Bloom et al. (2020), labour productivity has been identified to be reduced at a major level. This has negatively impacted the success of the business firms. On the other hand, Alessa et al. (2021) stated that the productivity of the employees has been identified to be low by the influence of two factors, which are fewer capital inputs for improvement and motivation and lack of acceleration of the employee skills during this stage. Many of the firms have failed to fulfil the business goals due to the lack of resources available to the business and the high range of obligations imposed due to governmental and health-related guidelines for distancing.
Implications of business disruptions
The business disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic have shown massive impacts on the business performances of the teams. It has been noticed that the business success was restricted due to the pandemic, firstly, due to the restrictions in physical operations and the socialising norms. Mathew et al. (2020) stated that Governmental lockdowns have negatively impacted the operational plan implementation of the brands while restricting the movements across several locations in the country or outside. This has restricted the level of productivity of the business as well. Moreover, Aladejebi (2020) stated that the level of retention has also got affected due to the gaps in the process of management and investments in employee improvements. As a result of this, brand reputations have got affected. Some of the prominent brands have even shown a massive level of employee turnover, indicating the gaps in the process of managing the brand image.
Conceptual Framework
Figure 2: Conceptual Framework
(Created by Learner)
Methodology
Methodology for data collection
There are two types of research methodologies for data collection that are majorly followed in the research studies. They are Primary and secondary methods of data collection. The primary data collection involves the collection of data from the human samples selected for the purpose of research. On the other hand, the secondary data are collected from secondary published sources such as books, journals and so on. In this case, a mixed-method will be followed where 20 employees of M&S would be surveyed for the collection of primary data. Additionally, for secondary data 2-to 4 relevant themes would be reviewed based on evidence and literature.
Type of Research
There are four types of research as mentioned in the module lectures. It can be observed that the four types are Exploratory, Descriptive, Analytical and Predictive studies. Exploratory research supports the pattern-based proving of Hypothesis. This kind of study involves both observations and theoretical literature-based observations. In this case, as well, an exploratory study format would be followed to ensure the consideration of both literature-based outcomes of research and the observations gained from the process of surveying samples. This would be encouraging the enhancement of academic credibility, instead of using the other formats which support any one of the research methodologies.
Research approach
Quantitative/Qualitative Research
There are two kinds of the data-based approach to conducting research, which is quantitative and qualitative. In the case of this particular research both the formats would be supported as the data collected from surveying samples would be quantitative in nature, while on the other hand, the qualitative data would be collected using the thematic data collection method and analysis. This will not just boost the quality of the study but would also enhance the overall ability of the study to inform the readers adequately.
Basic/Applied Research
The two kinds of research approaches based on the purpose of the study are basic research and applied research. In the case of this particular study, the applied research method would be followed to ensure that the application of the findings is based on the selection of a particular situation. In the case of this particular research study, the main situation is the current business scenario of M&S after the hit of the Covid-19 pandemic on its work processes and employee productivity. Utilising the applied method would support the derivation of findings based on this particular research approach while proving the situation and the impacts.
Deductive/Inductive Research
The deductive approach of research would be followed in this case to support the effective performance of the researcher in collecting both numeric and qualitative data. This approach would support the collection of both observation-based information and the inclusion of theoretical concepts and understandings as well. Further, the level of association with the inductive approach would be eliminated as it could have made the study completely focused on the theoretical understandings eliminating the major considerations of the observations.
Research Timeline
Figure 3: Gantt chart
(Created by Learner)
Reference List
Aladejebi, O., 2020. Managing small businesses in Nigeria during covid-19 crisis: impact and survival strategies. IOSR Journal of Business and Management, 22(8), pp.24-34.
Alessa, A.A., ALOTAIBIE, T.M., ELMOEZ, Z. and ALHAMAD, H.E., 2021. Impact of COVID-19 on entrepreneurship and consumer behaviour: A case study in Saudi Arabia. The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business, 8(5), pp.201-210.
BBC News, 2020. M&S suffers first loss in 94 years as clothing slumps [Online] Available at: <https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54807247> [Accessed on 07 April 2022]
Bloom, N., Bunn, P., Mizen, P., Smietanka, P. and Thwaites, G., 2021. The impact of COVID-19 on productivity. Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research.
Bloom, N., Bunn, P., Mizen, P., Smietanka, P. and Thwaites, G., 2020. The impact of Covid-19 on productivity (No. w28233). National Bureau of Economic Research.
Davey, J., 2021. M&S profit seen crashing 90% in "lost year" of the pandemic [Online] Available at: <https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/ms-profit-seen-crashing-90-lost-year-pandemic-2021-05-21/> [Accessed on 07 April 2022]
Mathew, N., Deborah, I., Karonga, T. and Rumbidzai, C., 2020. The impact of COVID-19 lockdown in a developing country: narratives of self-employed women in Ndola, Zambia. Health Care for Women International, 41(11-12), pp.1370-1383.
Ratnasari, S.D., 2021. The Importance Of Organizational Commitment And Job Satisfaction On Work Productivity And Intention To Quit In The Covid 19 Pandemic Era. Business Excellence and Management, 11(5), pp.237-247.
Statista, 2022. Sales growth of Marks & Spencer worldwide 2012-2021 [Online] Available at: <https://www.statista.com/statistics/872848/marks-and-spencer-sales-growth-worldwide-uk/> [Accessed on 07 April 2022]
Sunanda, K., 2018. Impact of work place ethics on employee and organization productivity. International Journal of Management (IJM), 9(1), pp.22-28.
