Managing Operations and External Factors in M&S

This assignment delves into the crucial roles of management and operations within the context of Marks & Spencer (M&S). It explores how these functions contribute to organizational success by examining strategic decision-making, employee performance, and the impact of external factors such as corporate social responsibility (CSR) and stakeholder relationships. The analysis highlights the importance of ethical business practices, effective leadership, and adapting to dynamic market conditions for M&S's continued prosperity.

Management and
Operations

INTRODUCTION
Management and operation is specialisation or branch within business. It involves proper
planning and execution of strategies as well as systems which helps in making work of
corporation effective (Ale, 2010). Operation management is concerned with design, execution
and control on operations for converting resources into finished products and services. This
report is based on Mark & Spencer plc which is a British multinational retailer organisation
based in Westminster, London. This project will define different roles and characteristics of
leader or manager which they apply in various situations as well as comparison between them
will also be done. Different theories and approaches of leadership like situational, system and
contingency will be studied. There are some importance of operation management that help in
achieving the organisational goals. Different environmental factors that can affect the managerial
decision-making by leaders and managers will also be stated here.
TASK 1
P1. Various roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager
Managers and leaders; both are the key personnel in organisation. They play an important
role in achieving specific goals and objectives. Managers assign or allot tasks among employees
and leaders influence as well as inspire their behaviour for completing that work in an effective
manner towards attaining best outcomes. Leaders and managers are responsible for leading and
managing various tasks and workforces. They play their roles in developing M&S for attaining
its pre-determined goals and set targets. Thus, they encourage employees and enhance their skills
or abilities for better task completions which contribute in increasing the productivity as well as
profits.
Managers: They perform several tasks within firm such as designing and managing work
and people for attaining company's targets and objectives. Managers generally perform their
major task, that is, to develop effective strategies and policies for the purpose of organisational
development (Baboli, 2014). They plan to allot the assignment among workers as well as manage
their work performance for better improvements and development of workforce. Managers are
distributed at various levels of an organisation so that they can manage different departments in a
well manner. They also focus on improving employee’s performance by appraisal or
measurement for better working conditions.
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Leaders: They play a vital role in completing all tasks in an effective manner as leaders
are the persons who inspire and influence employee’s behaviour to get work done according to
desired goals and objectives (Burke, 2013). They generally motivate people by effective
leadership and communication skill to achieve the vision of M&S plc. So, leaders play various
roles and responsibilities in influencing and inspiring people for rendering better performance
that support in getting the best results by increasing efficiency and productivity for the
organisation.
There are differences in between managers and leaders which help in better
understanding about their roles and responsibilities with organisational context to obtain
specified tasks and objectives. These are as follows:
MANAGERS LEADERS
Manager's work within organisation to set the
targets and objectives of firm.
Leaders persuade those objectives which are
developed by the manager.
Managers make and communicate company's
policies or any information to the leaders.
They inform those policies to the employees
and motivate them for performing tasks
effectively.
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Illustration 1: difference between managers and leaders
source: difference between leader and manager 2018

They support in giving guidelines or directions
to the team members regarding work.
They provide directions to the workers or
group for achieving tasks and objectives.
They always focus on creating new ideas and
innovative things for organisational
development.
Leaders convert those ideas and plans into
reality for effective organisation.
They focus on things within the firm. Leaders always focus on people or followers as
well as their development.
They provide guidelines to the employees for
achieving company's goals and objectives.
Leaders influence and motivate the followers
for completing their tasks in better manner for
attaining set targets.
Managers and leaders of Mark and Spencer play an important role for managing the
workforce as well as team members and improve their performance to attain specific goals and
objectives (Casolino, 2012). Managers generally set the benchmark or standard of work for
employees and leaders focus on getting work done from workers in the best manner through their
communication skills and leadership styles according to set standards.
Roles of leadership and function of manager
 Planning: Leaders of organisation have the role of planning about the different functions
and preparation of the strategies which helps in accomplishment of the targets. They
provide standards which helps the employees in performance of their tasks.
 Organising: It is another important role which is played by the leaders regarding
organising of different functions of different departments.
 Staffing: This includes about the hiring of employees and staff member as per the
requirement of different departments.
 Coordinating: It is an important role which must be perform by managers for achieving
success as they try to build effective coordination among people by leading, motivating,
communicating and provide guidelines to employees.
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 Controlling: This functions is very important as managers have to check continuously
results towards organisational goals or objectives as well as take corrective actions which
must be necessary for every firm.
Task 2
P2. Roles of leaders and functions of mangers in different situations
Leaders and managers play different roles and perform functions in various situational
contexts for managing the working environment towards goal achievement. Situations and
circumstances can be occur at any time while running business (Chen, 2011). Managers and
leaders apply their knowledge and skills to handle situations in an effective manner and make the
best decisions for organisation. So, it is required to take corrective actions and decision-making
in the favour of M&S. Here are some roles and functions such as:
Process of decision-making: Problems and issues can be occur so it is require to make
good decisions for handling those issues according to situations. Managers and leaders have to
consider alternate possible decisions by applying knowledge and skills which will help in
managing the team workforce and maintain business operations in an appropriate manner.
Solve the problem: Problems or issues generally create barriers at workplace or in
business operations and so, it is essential to resolve these issues in an effective manner. It is the
duty of leaders and managers to take part in the activity of problem solving and take corrective
actions. Thus, they apply their knowledge and skills by providing the best solutions for any issue
occurring at workplace.
Resolution of conflicts: Disputes and conflicts generally arise within the firm as well as
among the team members due to disagreement regarding any decisions. So they have to consider
this factor and take it serious for resolving the problem in effective manner and also support to
every and each person by motivating them for completing effective task and work.
Motivate to employees: This is important factor as it support to face any changes or take
challenges for completing task in effective (Chen, 2010). Managers and leaders motivate to their
staff members for performing their work in better way during various situations or problems. It is
must to get best outcomes or results by encouraging the employees to perform better and put
some efforts.
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Provide right directions: In the successful organisation, it is necessary to provide
effective directions and guidelines to the employees for better performance towards goals and
objectives and also helps in making clear about their roles and responsibilities within the firm. It
will avoid or remove any type of confusions and misconducts during work performance.
Controlling power: Managers and leaders should have controlling power over various
activities which support in managing the work performance standards and efficiencies by
increasing productivity. Hey have to ensure about proper utilisations of available resources and
also focus on building good relations among the workers so that business can be run smoothly by
removing barriers from its operations.
Risk analysis: Risk can be occur in any situations and at anytime so leaders and
managers should have ability and skills for dealing with these forces while running the
organisation (Handschin and Petroianu, 2012). They are requires to make effective decisions
regarding strategies adoptions for maintaining the business in appropriate manner because risk
can negatively affect on the performance, so it should be require to overcome these factor for
effective business.
Learning sessions: They both persons analyse the training need assessment and consider
this for improving employees performance through organising training and development
programs. Managers and leaders make decisions regarding this session by measuring worker's
performance and analyse needs after getting the results. It helps in enhancing their skills and
knowledge which they can apply while performing task or job and also support in individual
development for their future growth.
P3 Various theories and approaches of leadership
Its is necessary to apply various leadership styles in the business organisation so that
better decisions can be made. This is required for motivating and influencing people to obtain
particular goals and objectives in appropriate way. Leaders generally guide to the people and
manage team work in systematic way for increasing work productivity and generate more profits.
Leaders can adopt several leadership styles in the M&S company for making good working
environment and increase sales volume. These are following such as:
Situational theory: This theory defined that leaders are those person who can handle as
well as manage any situations by using their skills and abilities, and they also consider the task,
group people and many force which are contributed in work completions. It was founded by Ken
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Blanchard and Paul Heresy (Lindström, 2012). Its previous name was life cycle theory. It
explained that leaders are required several skills and knowledge for handling any kind of
situation at workplace. This theory is concern with various leadership style which must be
perform by the leaders according to situations as well as defining problems. There are important
components of this model as managerial behaviour and supportive behaviour. Managerial
behaviour concerned with leadership styles which are adopted by the leaders while focusing on
activities and needs. In Supportive behaviour, leaders always focus on developing the people and
motivate them for doing effective tasks and performance.
System theory: This theory is concerned with company's policies and various systems
which deals different situations (Lisi, 2010). System theory is very helpful in maintaining
relations among employees as well as manage the harmony system through proper
communication process. In this include disciplines and principles management for making
healthy working environment. It help to resolve the problem and conflict by providing alternate
solutions in the favour of organisation. This theory also consider ethical business environment
and manage these through rules, norms and regulations within the firm.
Contingency theory: In this defined that leadership requires various qualities which will
support in handling the any circumstances and uncertainty. It is based on situational approach
because this concern with different leadership styles as leader's personality, qualities, skills,
knowledge and nature for dealing with any situations. Some components are involved in this
such as:
 In successful organisation, it is must to maintain proper relations and better
coordination between managers and leaders. So leader always focus on managing team
members by maintaining relationship which will contributes high level of efficiencies
and positive working environment.
 It also consider a particular task structure because leaders provide right directions and
guidelines to the followers and they make employee understand about their major roles
and task which are to be performed by them.
 Positional power concern with maintaining and increasing productivity level in
different task (Nakayama and Bucks, 2012). They are authorised with some special
power of giving rewards and punishment to the workers so that they can improve their
performance.
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M&S company apply these theories and models for managing their team workforce. These all
support in generating high profits and revenues while obtaining particular task and objectives.
They influence people for performing better job so company can increase its sales volume and
efficiency through various leadership styles.
Task 3
P4 Key approaches of operational management
Operational management concerned with productions department of an organisation as it
is work of administration. In this involved various process such as planning, organising,
controlling over the production system (Neck and Manz, 2010). It is the procedure of converting
inputs like raw material, machine, money, men and methods into output for producing goods and
services. It can be understand by taking two key elements such as supply chain management and
logistic management. There are some approaches as given below:
Lean manufacturing: This approach support in reducing any waste material within the
process of production. So it is beneficial for getting maximum outputs by using effective
resources which helps in creating wealth of the firm. It is useful in systematic elimination of
wastage for better outcomes.
Six sigma: It is focus on quality control system in work process which helps in producing
good quality of products and services. It helps in increasing profits and minimise cost as much as
possible. There are various tools in six sigma such as trending chart, potential defect calculation
and other ratios.
Dynamic approach: It helps in changing environment because it is flexible in nature so
that they can be change. This support in making strategies and planning for internal and external
environment forces.
Total quality management: In this include improvements of quality and its management
that will helps in satisfying customers. So it generally focus on quality management and control
of particular products and services. TQM must be applicable at different level of the
organisation.
Just in time: In this defined that production process should be relevant to the demand
pattern which will support in reducing non profit activities. This contributes in eliminating
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wastage and balancing the flow of work (Pinkerton, 2011). There are no need of any warehouse
for storing products because goods will be produce according to demand.
Process of production of products and services
Input: Input is defined as the necessary items which must be required for producing any
goods and services such as raw material manpower, machine, labour, money, methods and
capital that converts into finished goods for final consumption.
Production process: in this consider that all inputs bring into a process or activities and
utilise available resources for making finished goods in effective manner. Manager always try to
increase productivity as well as get maximum outputs from limited resources.
Output: This is final process where goods and services made for final consumption as all
raw material converts into finished goods.
There are several roles and responsibilities in operational management which must be
perform by the managers and leaders such as:
Role of Managers:-
 Managers ensure about proper management of resources which related to productions and
manpower.
 They set organisation goals and objectives and also establish some policies for different
department.
 They play key role in preparing financial statements, budgets and control over the cost.
Role of leaders:-
 Leaders organise learning session for providing proper training regarding new
technologies, enhance skills for making effective working environment.
 They divide work and assign task among employees that will support in saving time.
 Leaders influence and guide to the employees for achieving targets.
P5 Importance of operational management in achieving business objectives
There are various values and importance of the operational management which helps in
attaining particular task and objectives and also support in business development. Mark &
Spencer company generally focus on this functions which is useful in effective production of
goods and services (White, 2016). Operation management helps in producing quality of goods
and services and believes in adopting new technologies as well as strategies for making such
products that support in satisfying customers and their needs and wants. This play important role
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in making customers loyal towards company. There are some roles and responsibilities of
maintaining operational management such as:
Profit maximisation: It is the main purpose of every organisation as they focus on
increasing revenue through more sales. Company generate their profits by raising sales volumes.
Operational management is supportive in utilising available resources in effective manner and
focus on creating more profits for organisational success.
Satisfy to the customers: Company always consider this factor during planning process
as products and services should be effective for satisfy consumer needs and wants and meet their
desired expectation (Winget and Thomson, 2010). So it helps in building strong relations among
customers and provide maximum satisfaction level to them which will contributes in retaining
them loyal towards organisation. This is useful in analyse the quality of goods and services by
conducting survey and research regarding customer's demands and needs.
Create goodwill: It supportive in creating good market image of the firm because quality
products will help to attract more customer's towards organisation so brand image also build
among competitors by increasing sales volume.
Utilisation of available resources: It is basic function of operational management as to
utilise all resources by allocating them among various activities of productions process. It will
help to get maximum outputs through minimum inputs.
Minimise wastage: Operational management play important role in managing all
resources and reduce possible wastage (Chen, 2010). It is necessary to overcome these waste as
much as possible for increasing productivity and get best outcomes from limited resources. M&S
company also consider this factor by maintaining production process and achieve goals and
objectives as well as increase profits.
Task 4
P6 Business environmental factors that can affect on operational management
Every business is affected from environmental factors which directs affects on decisions
making by leaders and managers within organisation. M&S company always consider these
factors while taking any actions. Environmental forces affect the organisation in positive as well
as negative manner. So it is require to adopt better strategies and policies which helps in
achieving goals and objectives of an organisation. Managers and leaders generally focus on
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making effective decisions regarding technologies adoption in various situations. There are
various factors that can be affects on the business such as:
Customers: It is important factor that must be consider while making production
decisions as every company focus on producing effective and quality of goods as well as services
for satisfying consumers needs and wants and meet their expectation level (Handschin and
Petroianu, 2012). They conduct research or survey process which helps in finding potential
customers and know about their choices, preferences and taste for a particular product. So
researcher collect data to make effective decision regarding manufacturing.
Employees: They play vital role in increasing performance of an organisation so it is
must to satisfy employees and motivate them for completing task or work. Workers are
responsible for performing all jobs so mangers and leaders should focus on maintaining
relationship among employees and provide them monetary as well as non monetary benefits for
providing motivations to them. It will support to increase standards of the workforce and they
will perform in better ways for achieving company's goals and objectives.
Technology: This is important factor and it is flexible or dynamic in nature that can
change according to environment (Lindström, 2012). Leaders and managers make decisions for
adopting best strategies and new technology which helps in producing effective goods and
services. It contributes in minimising the waste and utilise available resources for achieving best
outcomes for the M&S company in appropriate manner.
External factors have a greater impact on a company performance because all the
components are interlinked with each other. Thus some of the essential elements which have a
major influence on an organization is describing as follows:- Corporate social responsibility:- According to this factor an association needs to analyse
various projects which is related with the development of overall society. For example;
conduct awareness programmes, training and development of employees as well as
consumers. Thus, CSR activities are influencing success of an enterprise in various
manner because their main objective is to develop overall society by providing several
opportunities. Business ethics:- An association needs to conduct various business functions in most
appropriate manner by preventing rights of several employees.
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 Stakeholders:- Investors are playing a major role in success of an enterprise because they
are investing money at workplace for promoting overall organization across the national
boundaries.
As per these factors, it must be required to take an appropriate actions for surviving from
external forces as they should consider social responsibilities for making effective organisation
and social care. It is the duty of every firm that to provide financial support to people as well as
children educations and make clean environment. Managers have to maintain proper relations
and positive synergy among stakeholder for investment because they can affects on the business
operations due to lack of funds or finance in the organisation.
Recommendations:
Managers and leaders play vital role every firm to achieve success so they have to focus
on creating better working environment during critical situations as well as make better decisions
regarding strategies adoptions. They try to increase performance level of employees and
organisation in effective manner for improving future and achieve pre-determined goals or
objectives.
CONCLUSION
Above the project report, it has concluded that management and operations are important
functions of business fields and it manage the process of planning, organising, staffing and
controlling of the firm. Operation management helps in achieving future growth as well as
competitive advantages. This report considered various designs and manage the workforce to
increase the efficiencies. There are various roles and responsibilities of managers and leaders
within organisation which discussed in this assignment that helps in maintaining work efficiency.
It also explained different theories and approaches which applied for leading and managing team
members within organisation. M&S company focus on reducing wastage as well as costs and
increase the maximum outputs by generating profits. There were discussed some forces of
business environment that can affects on the decision-making by leaders and managers.
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