Research and Analysis in Business
STRUCTURE OF A METHODOLOGY
(See the lecture materials in Week 3 for further details)
There are two reasons for describing your methodology in detail:
- So your theories can be tested by someone else. Your research should be replicable.
- So that the client can be sure you have gathered the information in a sensible and transparent manner.
It should have the following sections:
- Framework (e.g. positivistic/interpretivist)
- Design (e.g. cross sectional / longitudinal, quantitative/qualitative)
- Participants (number, age range, gender, any specific characteristics (e.g. all managers), sampling technique.
- Materials (Questionnaires, SurveyMonkey, flipchart and pens, voice recorder etc)
- Procedure Step by step guide to delivering the study and how you analysed – like a recipe
- Ethical considerations
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/whsmith-high-street-success
https://metro.co.uk/2019/05/29/whsmiths-biggest-fails-shop-voted-worst-high-street-9718812/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42801171
WH Smith has been ranked the UK’s worst High Street retailer for the second year in a row, according to a Which? survey of 7,700 shoppers.
The poll, which covered 109 retailers, rated the chain “very poor” for value for money and in-store experience.
Homebase/Bunnings and Sports Direct were the next worst performers, while Richer Sounds and John Lewis were at the top of the table.
WH Smith said just 586 customers had commented on its stores in the survey.
“This survey… is neither statistically relevant nor meaningful relative to our loyal customer base,” a spokeswoman said.
https://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic/display/id=982016?highlight
WHSmith has acquired US travel group Marshall Retail for $400 million in an effort to drive its international travel business. Marshall Retail group has 170 stores across travel and resort locations in the US, of which 59 are at airports. The acquisition follows WHSmith’s full-year results where the retailer posted a 1% rise in pre-tax profit to £135 million. In the same period, 52 weeks to August 31, the retailer also saw an 11% rise in group revenue to £1.4 billion. During the year WHSmith also acquired InMotion for £155 million and opened the first InMotion store at Leeds Bradford Airport in August. The acquisition was made to strengthen WHSmith’s presence in the UK travel sector.
Now, in an effort to grow its international travel business WHSmith has launched a £155 million share equity to partly fund the acquisition together with Barclays and JP Morgan who will both act as joint book-runners
Who are WH Smith competitor?
The main competitors of WH smith are
Wordery,
Dillons,
TheBookPeople,
Amazon.co.uk
Blackwell UK limited
https://www.owler.com/company/whsmith
https://www.mbaskool.com/brandguide/lifestyle-and-retail/9123-wh-smith.html
SWOT Analysis of WHSmith:
https://www.mbaskool.com/brandguide/lifestyle-and-retail/9123-wh-smith.html
