An Investigation Into the Benefits of Improving Retailer-Manufacturer Relationships in Marks and Spencer in Order to Gain a Competitive Advantage.
CHAPTER ONE:
INTRODUCTION
Chapter One: Introduction
Introduction
The first chapter introduces the reader into the topic area for this research and gives reasons for why this area was chosen as well as how it is relevant to the degree the author is reading.
1.1 Rationale
The area of research was chosen due to the author working in a factory in Morocco, manufacturing clothing solely for Marks and Spencer. The eight months spent in the factory were very insightful into retailer-manufacturer relationships as the author got an inside view from the manufacturers point of view. The author’s knowledge of Marks and Spencer’s well documented good relationships with their suppliers and manufacturers (Bevan, 2001) contradicted what was actually being observed whilst working in the factory, so therefore the author wanted to investigate into retailer-manufacturer relationships with a view on how to improve them.
2. Background
There is extensive research that has been done on Supply Chain Management (SCM) as well as retailer-supplier relationships. There has also been extensive research on the retailer Marks and Spencer:
“Marks and Spencer (M&S) is one of the world’s great retailers, enjoying legendary and iconic status, being often held up as one of the best managed and admired businesses in the world. Its ‘fall from grace’ has been spectacular and dramatic and the company is currently fighting for its life.” -(Jackson, P. et al. 2002)
There are also many dissertations and thesis’ written on the Supply Chain and Marks & Spencer, which were a very good starting point before doing primary research, to see what has already been done and what can be gained from further research, such as Yates’ and Beardmore’s dissertations. Marks and Spencer supplier relationships is a widely written about topic as it has always been seen to have best practise which other retailers strived to achieve.
3. Research Aims & Objectives
The key aim of
INTRODUCTION
Chapter One: Introduction
Introduction
The first chapter introduces the reader into the topic area for this research and gives reasons for why this area was chosen as well as how it is relevant to the degree the author is reading.
1.1 Rationale
The area of research was chosen due to the author working in a factory in Morocco, manufacturing clothing solely for Marks and Spencer. The eight months spent in the factory were very insightful into retailer-manufacturer relationships as the author got an inside view from the manufacturers point of view. The author’s knowledge of Marks and Spencer’s well documented good relationships with their suppliers and manufacturers (Bevan, 2001) contradicted what was actually being observed whilst working in the factory, so therefore the author wanted to investigate into retailer-manufacturer relationships with a view on how to improve them.
2. Background
There is extensive research that has been done on Supply Chain Management (SCM) as well as retailer-supplier relationships. There has also been extensive research on the retailer Marks and Spencer:
“Marks and Spencer (M&S) is one of the world’s great retailers, enjoying legendary and iconic status, being often held up as one of the best managed and admired businesses in the world. Its ‘fall from grace’ has been spectacular and dramatic and the company is currently fighting for its life.” -(Jackson, P. et al. 2002)
There are also many dissertations and thesis’ written on the Supply Chain and Marks & Spencer, which were a very good starting point before doing primary research, to see what has already been done and what can be gained from further research, such as Yates’ and Beardmore’s dissertations. Marks and Spencer supplier relationships is a widely written about topic as it has always been seen to have best practise which other retailers strived to achieve.
3. Research Aims & Objectives
The key aim of
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