Marks and Spencer: Plan A
Issues
There are many companies who are taking different steps as per as the Corporate social responsibility is concern. In this case various steps that the Stuart Rose proposed to company that could be adopt to recognize their customer with their environment friendly existence. These will help to realizing their customers on which basis M&S products are different from the others and what they are doing for them and environment. * Misunderstanding about the direction from the “Plan A” and which pillar from that can be more suitable and sustainable for the M&S in future. * Inconsistency within the sales of M&S during different time periods as it is described in case the business which is working on such large scales have to face various downfalls in their sales i.e. during the 1998 while the company has the recorded sales of 16.2billion but the market share and the profits of company dropped. * Prices that charged by the M&S are not justifiable to providing value to its customers. * Variation among the supply cycle and high costs then competitors.
Analysis
M&S has various opportunities to get there “plan A” implemented on different directions which involve all those five pillars that described case one by one. Which could be the stage of the climate change in which the company focuses on the reduction of the usages of the carbon dioxide for which the M&S has to do various efforts that are linked with the customers awareness which involve the instructions of wash the cloths below 30degree temperature and the implementation of the eco friendly refrigerators and energy efficiency. While company is focusing on this particular pillar the company wants to enable the farmers to produces their own electric energy and they could sell their “green” electricity to others. If we checkout the pillar two which the company can focus on the minimum wastage and offer the Carrier bags habits in their consumer that will change their lifestyle by adding some cost and this part will help the M&S to reduce the wastage of plastic bags by 66% and create the habit of re use of that particular beg by time and again although this new offering incurred costs by $.10 but this cost is justifiable by donating all that revenue that comes from this part to Groundwork. In this part another campaign that is related to the recycling of the M&S garments. On third pillar of sustainable raw materials which shows the caring of love from the M&S side toward the animals which will ensured that no test would be made on animal which have the side effects and many other things. By evaluating the forth pillar of this plan enable us to involve all those partners from the under developing countries that will use as the benefits for the both. And then the health of the both the customer and the employees will be concern in this the fifth pillar of the case. Now all of these parts are the causes of incremental in costs of M&S products which ultimate result will be the higher price than competitors along with this these parts could be attained by anyone except one or two. Now which part of these five pillars should be focused more to make M&S differentiated from others.
As it is described within the case study the company is not having their consistency in their growth as it is described above the huge variation among its sales and growth within the different time period this part shows that company is not having the clear goals and wrong implementation of their those factors that could help the M&S to grow. As per the example of value chain process which have implemented is not working in terms of getting consumer and supplier satisfaction level. Although all those facilities that are required to such business sector are providing by the company to provide their consumer with value prices but the customers are more tended to favor the prices of their competitors more on M&S offerings. The company is focusing on the diversity of products without having the clear understanding of that particular part where M&S has the capability to product products within the low supply chain and produce more efficiently from their competitors.
Decision Criteria
In this scenario my decision will be related to the various different points form that Plan A’s Pillar which can enable the M&S to maintain and sustain their competitive position within it’s the market by providing value to its customers and effective value delivery process. This part will help us to not only to cut our costs for different products but remain our products image same in our consumers minds and change the perception of our consumer which they have build for our prices and our competitors by realizing them the all those efforts that we are doing. If we talk about the pillar 5th which can be seen in exhibit 1.is related to health part and the 1st in (exhibit 2) influencing on the changing the behavior the customers toward the environment friendly, “eco green”. These two parts are those that tough to copy for our competitors.
Decision
Company should go with “Plan A" which enables them to engage in the efforts of realizing their customers to build valuable supply chain and shows their concerns about their customers’ needs to drive value for its customer.
Recommendations
As per the trend of living and fashion is changing rapidly Now People want to feel special, modern, and convenient for that people purchase fashionable clothing. So, M&S has to offer its customers with the latest style and color, although it has high quality goods. M&S does not consider with customer needs it is described in case study it may cause M&S to lose its sale to competitors.
Other social factor is that credit card acceptance has increased so M&S has allowed its customers to pay by credit cards to compete.
Expansion of their business among the other various others under developing counties from where they are going to make the partnership this will help them to not only grow worldwide but reduce their costs of producing products.
All those factors which the company feels will not be that much benefiting for the company in long run but involve in this plan so not be accommodating because our competitors will get that things easily.

Exhibit # 1. Pillar # 5th Health * Eat Well * Labeling * Children’s Candy * Natural Colors * Salt * Omega 3 * Natural Enrichment * Nutrition Enrichment * Healthy Eating Advisors * Diet and Health information
Exhibit # 2.
Pillar # 1st Climate Change * Carbon neutral * Energy efficiency * Business travel * Company Cars * BRE-EAM * Green Electricity * Anaerobic Digestion * Green Stores * On site Renewable * Bio Diesel * Green Transports * EURO engine * Carbon offsetting * Refrigerants * Seasonal Food * Supplier logistics * Food carbon footprint * Reduce air freight * Supplier exchange * Green Factories * Agriculture carbon products * Low Carbon products * Public Transport and cycling