Importance of Operations Management in Achieving Business Objectives

This document discusses the role and characteristics of leaders and managers in an organization, examines the roles and functions of leaders and managers in different situational contexts, applies different theories and models of approach, explains key approaches to operations management, and highlights the importance of operations management in achieving business objectives.

Management and Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................1
P1. Defining and comparing the role and characteristics of leader and manager........................1
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................3
P2. Examining the roles of leader and functions of manager apply in different situational
contexts........................................................................................................................................3
P3. Applying different theories and models of approach............................................................4
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................5
P4. Explaining key approaches to operations management and played by leaders and
managers......................................................................................................................................5
P5. Importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives.............6
LO 4.................................................................................................................................................7
P6. Assessing the factors within business environment that impact upon operational
management and decision making by leaders and managers......................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
` Management is basically defined as that term in which something in an organisation is
being handled. It consists of various functions that include organising, planning, controlling and
directing the resources of a particular organisation in order to achieve long term success
(Aquilani, Silvestri, Ruggieri and Gatti, 2017). While, operations is that term which is being
defined as an action in terms of functioning or the fact of being active in any kind of process. In
the following report, Marks and Spencer has been taken into consideration. It is a major British
multinational company in terms of retailer which is being headquartered in Westminster,
London. This company is specialised in selling cloths of high quality, home products and also
food products.
Thus, in this report, roles and characteristics of leader and manager will be discussed and
compared by determining various management functions. Further, this report will also help in
studying different theories and approaches that would be adopted by them. In addition to this,
this assignment also highlights on importance of operations management in order to achieve long
term success.
LO 1
P1. Defining and comparing the role and characteristics of leader and manager.
Thus, the role and characteristics of leaders and manager has been discussed as per below
context-
Basis of comparison Leader Manager
Definition Leader of M&S is that person
who is termed as an in charge
of a particular team that
basically leads in convincing
their team members in order to
follow them (Allen, 2019). In
other words, it is being
defined as an art in order to
motivate people in such way
that they achieve targeted goal
While, manager is that person
which is basically termed as
responsible in order to control
and manage the organisation
(Fiedler, 2015). He is the one
who has ability of managing
the entire organisation.
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or objective.
Role A Leader of M&S has to set a
clear vision and is the basic
role that they has to play.
They have to motivate their
team members in such way
that they try to put their
complete effort in a particular
task that has been allocated to
them. They have to make sure
that they make every worker
work in equal manner and take
them together in a particular
enterprise. The work that has
been conducted should be in
proper manner, therefore the
leader has to take
responsibility in order to
analyse their workers
behaviour at each and every
level of their performance.
Manager plays very
significant role in M&S in
order to achieve long term
success by making the
workers to work as per the
needs and wants of customers
in a particular market. They
have to manage each and
every activity in an
organisation accordingly. The
main aim of managers is to
coordinate every member in
such way that they can
achieve huge productivity and
long term success. Thus, the
basic role of a manager is to
order the work to the leader
with a particular deadline and
further leaders have to make
the work done by their
employees or members with a
help of required guidance and
make the work done within a
particular deadline that has
been set.
Characteristics There are number of
characteristics that a good
leader must have which
includes the following-
A manager also has to be
fulfilled with number of
characteristics or traits so that
they can achieve huge success
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 Confident
 Honesty
 Motivator
 Having good decision
making skills
 Creative
 Delegation towards
authority.
without any kind of difficulty.
Some of them has been
discussed as per below
context-
 Flexibility
 Must have high level
of patience
 Must have positive
attitude
 Has to be accountable
 Must have time
management and stress
management skills.
LO 2
P2. Examining the roles of leader and functions of manager apply in different situational
contexts.
The role of a leader and functions of a manager plays extremely significant role in order
to achieve long term success. Here, leaders of Marks and Spencer helps in order to take decisions
that effective in an organisation and are also motivate to employees (Furterer, 2016). M&S
basically has to go with number of situations as slow, stable and fast. Hence, it is the people of a
particular organisation who have to manage work accordingly and go through such process and
situations in an effective manner. Thus, role of leaders and functions of manager has been
discussed as per below context with example of some kind of situations.
 Stable situation- Stable situation means that situation in which any kind of further
changes will not arise which would further helps in influencing the purpose of a
particular enterprise and also in maintain the stability of a result of Marks and Spencer. In
other words, if there is high level of inflation or recession, than there would not be
occurring any kind of change in an organisation and therefore wont be affecting the
stability of their growth.
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 Slow to moderate changing situation- This situation can be defined as if the competition
in the market is not snubbed then the particular situation may not rise and may also affect
the results comparatively. Thus, the factors would be impacted or influenced highly that
basically changed during various processes that has been taken place in a particular
enterprise. In other words, if there is increase in the inflation level of a particular country,
then there would be moderate change in situation which will further affect results.
 Fast changing situation- this is one of the most rapid situation that is been taking place in
an organisation as it leads in putting down those conditions that is changing suddenly
depending on the market environment of a particular country.
Thus, from the above explanation, it has been analysed that the cited firm adopts Slow to
moderate situation as there is a huge involvement of methods that would save in affecting the
benefits of M&S.
P3. Applying different theories and models of approach.
A leader plays a crucial role in every part of a particular organisation. they lead in
motivating their team members and direct them accordingly in order to achieve long term
success (Grant, Trautrim and Wong, 2017). Thus, it has been further explained with the help of
following theories or approach in terms of leadership as per below context-
 Situational theory- Situational theory is as equal to as of contingency theory. This theory
states that the leaders of Marks and Spencer aims in choosing the best set of actions that
are basically based on situational variables. Further, situational leaders are those who
leads in adopting or grasping various styles of leadership that is based as per the situation
that has been raised in an organisation. Thus, the basic aim of these leadership styles is to
change their way of direction as per the changing situation in M&S. In addition to this, it
has been suggested that no leadership style is perfect and they have to be changed as per
the situation that takes place.
 System theory- This theory basically states that the leaders and managers of particular
firm has to create such conditions where the employees of an organisation work in
productive manner so that they can achieve success in task and make the business reach
the boost. The main aim of this style is to use the sound principles about the behaviour of
a worker that would help them in creating models in terms of good leadership,
organisational strategy, design of a system and also the social process.
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 Contingency theory- This theory states that the effectiveness of a particular leader is
contingent to that of his adoption of style as which matches to that of a particular
situation. It has been founded that there is no single style of leadership that is applicable
to all situations. Further, it has been analysed that the best leader is that which creates
perfect balance between behaviours, needs and context of an individual (Meier, 2016).
 Behavioural theory- The main aim of this theory is to focus on the specific behaviours
and also the actions of particular leader rather than their traits and characteristics.
Through this theory it has been suggested that innovative skills are learned if they adopt
leadership in effective manner. The primary skill that is needed in an organisation
includes technical, human and also conceptual skills. All this skills are required in order
to interact with each other and also leads in coming up with new and innovative ideas in
order to run the organisation in smooth and effective manner.
LO 3
P4. Explaining key approaches to operations management and played by leaders and managers.
Operations management is the term which is being defined as an administration that
includes various practices that is related to business in order to create huge efficiency within
members that would be beneficial for Marks and Spencer (Meredith and Pilkington, 2018). Thus,
the key approaches related to operations management has been discussed as per below context-
 Total quality management- It is termed as one of the process that is continuous in nature.
This process includes detection and reduction in terms of eliminating errors that comes in
the way while manufacturing, streaming of supply chain management and improvement
in the experience of customers and also to ensure that the workers that are involved are
constant with training and development session. The main aim of this strategy is to hold
all parties that are involved in the process of production that are accountable for the
overall quality of the product or service that has been produced in the final. In other
words, the main aim or focus of this total quality management approach is to improve the
quality of goods and services in continuous manner through various internal practices.
The manager or leader if adopts this strategy leads in making employees work towards a
particular goals and objectives.
 Six sigma- This is the set of management techniques that is being intended in such way
that they have to improve the business operations and processes by reducing probability
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in a great manner that will lead in occurring error and defect in the production of goods
and services. It is termed as a disciplines, based on statistics, data driven approach and
also leads in continuous improvement in terms of methodology. It is that strategy that
seeks in improving the quality of output. The main aim and focus of this approach is to
measure the quality of a particular product or services that basically strives for near
production (Obeidat, and et.al., 2016).
 Just in time- Just in time strategy is termed as an inventory strategy in which materials
are ordered and then further received as they are required in the process that is related to
the production. The main aim of this method is just to reduce the cost on overhead
inventory expenses with the help of saving money. Further, this approach involves the
inventory that leads in enhancing the employees so that they can increase efficiency and
also decrease it by receiving goods that has been undertaken for the factor that has been
availed so that they can predict those demand that is accurate in nature.
 Continuous improvement- Continuous improvement is that approach that is used for
continuous development in a particular organisation that is stated as Marks and Spencer.
Thus, it helps in putting maximum efforts towards the products and services that is being
offered and also improve its according to the needs and requirements of customers.
P5. Importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives.
Operations management is termed as that area in terms of management which is
completely concerned with design and also by controlling the process that leads towards
production and redesigning of business operations in terms of goods and services that has been
produced (Reid and Sanders, 2019). Further, the importance of this operations management
process is basically to endure the activities in such way that would lead in creating some kind of
transformation of resultant through various activities in the market that has been regulated the
efforts for achieving good results with the help of those activities that has to be carried down
further for constituting actions. Thus, the importance of operations management has been
discussed as per below context-
 Survival- If the cited organisation has to survive in the competitive market, they have
look after taste and preferences of a customers and accordingly fulfil their requirement. It
has been therefore analysed that it is only the survival that leads in creating economic
growth in an organisation.
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 Maximising profit- This is the another factor that creates importance in an organisation.
This results towards growth and the main aim of this is to ensure that they achieve high
level of productivity and profitability of Marks and Spencer in such way that they can
achieve long term success. In addition to this, profits will be maximised in such way that
they ensure the best results (Ross, 2017).
 Satisfying customers- It is important for the organisation to create knowledge and also
enable the workers in putting their maximum efforts towards the work or task that has
been allocated to them. Further, M&S also has to look after the taste and preference of
customers and accordingly satisfy their demand in adequate manner. This will further
lead the cited enterprise in order to attract large number of customers towards the brand
and company may reach the boost.
The operations management leads in achieving business objectives that is being targeted in a
company. Further, it also helps in improving the productivity of employees and also increases the
goodwill and brand image of a particular firm. In addition to this, it also helps in achieving the
ability in order to utilise resources in optimum manner. It has also been analysed that it also
helps in improving the employees’ motivation so that they can work in an adequate manner.
Hence, it has been therefore concluded that there are various factors which has been
drawn in order to figure out action and also in maximising the attainment of procedures so that
relative extent of prevailing conditions in the results that has been derived from going activity.
LO 4
P6. Assessing the factors within business environment that impact upon operational management
and decision making by leaders and managers.
Decision making is the termed that is being defined as the action or any kind of process
that has been taken into consideration by a particular organisation in order to make important
decisions related to achieve high profitability and productivity and also to achieve long term
success in an organisation (Swink, Melnyk, Hartley and Cooper, 2017). Thus, the factors that
impacts on operational management and decision making process of leaders and managers has
been discussed as per below context-
 Information inputs- It is termed as an extremely essential for an organisation in order to
have adequate and accurate information about various situation that might occurs which
would further affect the decision making process of both manager and leader or else it
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would affect the quality of decision that has been made by them. It must be therefore
recognised that every individual has some kind of mental constraints through which the
information is being limited which can be handled by them in adequate and effective
manner without facing any difficulty. Further, it has been analysed that if there is either
less or maximum amount of information both will affect the organisation and decision
making process equally.
 Prejudice- Prejudice and bias both are introduced in the process of decision making and
both this leads leaders and managers of Marks and Spencer in order to make ineffective
decisions in an organisation. Here, the perception that has been generated is highly
selective that means that they accept only that what they want to actually accept.
Therefore, only such type of information or data is flowed from one to another and are
filtered that only that is effective for them. The second perception is therefore highly
subjective which means the information gets twisted in such way that they become
consistent with those beliefs that are pre established, attitudes and also values (Thompson
and Glasø, 2015).
 Cognitive constraints- It has been analysed that the brain of a human is a basic source in
order to think in creative manner and come out with innovative decisions. It has also been
expected that by leaving some unique circumstances behind, the memory of a human
being is short term that basically has a capacity of limited amount of ideas, words and
also limited number of symbols. Further, it has also been analysed that leader and
manager of cited organisation cannot perform more calculations rather than that of
limited number of calculations in their heads. In addition to this, it has also been stated as
one of the most toughest from all in order to compare them with all the alternatives and
solutions that are possible in that particular situation and later on selecting the best one
out of them.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been concluded that management and operations both plays
extremely significant role in order to achieve long term success by meeting those goals and
objectives that has been targeted by Marks and Spencer. Further, this report also helps in
analysing that managers and leaders plays important role in the organisation with the help of
using various theories and models like situational leadership theory, contingency and system
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theory of leadership. This later helps in stating that is the quoted firm adopts this theory or
approach than it would lead them in achieving high profitability and also an ability or skills to
change themselves as per the requirements in the market and fulfil needs of customers
accordingly. In addition to this, this report also leads in highlighting that M&S must adopt
operations management approaches like total quality management in order to produce high
quality of goods and services in continuous manner.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Aquilani, B., Silvestri, C., Ruggieri, A. and Gatti, C., 2017. A systematic literature review on
total quality management critical success factors and the identification of new avenues of
research. The TQM Journal. 29(1). pp.184-213.
Allen, T.T., 2019. Design for Six Sigma. In Introduction to Engineering Statistics and Lean Six
Sigma (pp. 543-550). Springer, London.
Fiedler, F.R.E.D., 2015. Contingency theory of leadership. Organizational Behavior 1: Essential
Theories of Motivation and Leadership. 232. pp.01-2015.
Furterer, S.L., 2016. Lean Six Sigma in service: applications and case studies. CRC press.
Grant, D.B., Trautrims, A. and Wong, C.Y., 2017. Sustainable logistics and supply chain
management: principles and practices for sustainable operations and management. Kogan
Page Publishers.
Meier, D., 2016. Situational Leadership Theory as a Foundation for a Blended Learning
Framework. Journal of Education and Practice. 7(10). pp.25-30.
Meredith, J.R. and Pilkington, A., 2018. Assessing the exchange of knowledge between
operations management and other fields: Some challenges and opportunities. Journal of
Operations Management. 60. pp.47-53.
Obeidat, B.Y., and et.al., 2016. The effect of knowledge management uses on total quality
management practices: a theoretical perspective. Journal of Management and
strategy. 7(4). pp.18-29.
Reid, R.D. and Sanders, N.R., 2019. Operations management: an integrated approach. John
Wiley & Sons.
Ross, J. E., 2017. Total quality management: Text, cases, and readings. Routledge.
Swink, M., Melnyk, S. A., Hartley, J. L. and Cooper, M. B., 2017. Managing operations across
the supply chain. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
Thompson, G. and Glasø, L., 2015. Situational leadership theory: a test from three
perspectives. Leadership & Organization Development Journal. 36(5). pp.527-544.
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