Introduction to Business Operations and Management

This report provides an introduction to business operations and management, focusing on the main functions of business operations and evaluating the management and operations decisions of Marks and Spencer. Topics covered include production, marketing, finance, human resources, and research and development. The report also provides a brief description of Marks and Spencer and its various store formats.

Introduction to
Business Operations
and Management

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Main function of business operations..............................................................................................3
Brief description of the Marks and Spencer....................................................................................5
Evaluation of company's management and operations decisions....................................................6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................8

Introduction
Business operations consists of various activities in which organisations are engaged on a
daily basis. In order to earn maximum profits. These activities can be optimized so that sufficient
funds can be generated and used to earn maximum profits (Slack and Brandon-Jones, 2018). This
report is based on Marks and Spencer, this is British multinational brand which is having its
headquarters present in Westminster, London. This report consist of main functions of business
operation's, description of how this company is using its functions and finally there is evaluation
of company's management and operation's decisions.
Main function of business operations
There are main function which are part of every business organisation and those have to be
performed in every business organisation which rae mentioned below:
 Production function: this is related to creating goods and services according to some
process (Dietz, 2015). Production of goods is generally depended on various resources
which are available with organisation in form of money, materials human resource and
other facilities which help in smooth running of various business functions. In case of
Marks and Spencer also, this brand makes sure that they are having effectiveness in their
overall production function. Ensuring high quality standards is a major requirements
which has to be fulfilled in brand like Marks and Spencer as this will only help in
survival of this brand in long run.
 Marketing function: This is a process which is in concern with providing goods
& services to their target customers based on their requirements this is helpful in
increasing overall sales of the company (Lubin, and Dunning, 2015). In case of Marks
and Spencer , such as they rae keeping their prices competitive enough to compete with
their rival companies. Apart from that hey try to maintain high quality to enhance
satisfaction level of their present customers. They have adopted both above line and
below line strategies and other various tools such as print media, electronic media which
are used for promoting their products.
 Operations: this is concerned with all operations which are taking place in a organisation
for achievement of their final objectives. There are many changes which are made in
operation in Marks and Spencer as they have made their supply chain process leaner.

They are using transparency in their overall procedure which is helping in reduction of
lead time and this is helping in more contribution towards higher profits.
 Finance function: this function is related to making of three decision which are financial
decisions investment decision and dividend decision of company. They maintain
relationship with institutions and shareholders of the company. In Marks and Spencer all
such decision are made by finance department who has sole right of all decision which
are related with usage of financial resources of the company.
 Human resource function: this is a function which is concerned with employees
working in company. Employees are sole authority who are responsible for smooth
functioning of all functions in a organisation (Reidand Sanders, 2019). Function of HR is
to obtain and try to maintain a effective and a competent work force in the company. In
Marks and Spencer this department has major responsibility of motivating employees as
individuals and contributing in maximization of their efforts in achievement of
organisational objectives.
 Research and development: this is one of very important functional decision in every
organisation. Apart from above mentioned functions this is a function which helps in
getting information from external environment. In present scenario it can be said that it is
not possible for modern business that functions are taking place without the assistance
and availability of sufficient amount of information. In Marks and Spencer, this company
is having a separate department which has major function of getting and extracting
information from various external market which are targeted by customers. This helps
this brand in moving along with changing requirements and demands of their target
customers. This is one of major reason why Marks and Spencer has been able to establish
such a strong loyalty of their customer since the time of its establishment (Vuchic,
2017).
Above mentioned are some of business operations which are very common in every
business organisation and they are basically responsible for effective running of all the business
functions.
Brief description of the Marks and Spencer
Marks and Spencer is a public limited company and it is of British origin. They are
associated with various lifestyle related products and are belonging to retail industry. They are

having various operations which have to be performed by them with availability of various
resource which have to be managed effectively buy this company by allocating them to various
functional departments. The finance functions plays a crucial role in cutting cost and elimination
of unnecessary expenses (Mezzadra, and Neilson,2015). They also determine value chain so that
cost can be trimmed. Marketing department has function of attracting and retain customers by
launching of new products with time. In case of operations there are many critical changes which
are made with time. Supply chain is helping in reduction of lead time and leading to grate
emphasis of quality and timeliness in Marks and Spencer. The human resource department is
also planning for implementation of strategy and modification of corporate culture so that
effectively change scan be managed and accepted by all the working staff of company (Heizer,
Render and Munson, 2017). Apart from this company is also focussing on various key
stakeholder such as management, customers, employees, shareholders etc. all these are helping in
having control over all the operation's taking place in this company so that laid objectives can be
achieved. Major strength of this company is that they are having excellent control over their
inventor management, supplier network and layout of their physical stores. All this helps in
smooth management of various Operations in this organisation. All such efforts by management
leads to providing high value to their final customers (Fiatal and Guesman, Takacs, 2017).
Marks and Spencer, basically consists with different types of store and these are full line
stores, Food hall (in-store), home stores, outlet, M&S Food-hall (Stand alone) and online
services. Under these different formats of stores, Marks and Spencer is offering customers with
number of home-ware, clothing and different beauty ranges of quality products. This has helped
company in meeting the requirements of potential customers through offering them with number
of goods and services among different areas and through different ways, where company is
delivering products at home and offering consumers with various products and services among
physical stores as well (Wheeler, Micron Technology 2017). Including this, it is said that
company effectively make ample number of changes among different products and services
regularly (mostly in clothing) as company believes in fast fashion and looks forward to bring
high number of updates among products offered by them.
Evaluation of company's management and operations decisions
Marks and Spencer in present time, has made ample number of decisions in regards to it's
operation management related department (Manning, Micron Technology Inc, 2015). In present

context, different factors like production, supply chain, logistics, location strategies, quality
control and HR Department are presented underneath:
Production: Marks and Spencer is said to be one of the leading business organisation
within the retail industry, where it is dealing among different sectors like food, clothing and so
on. Company has utilised much more effective and optimised approach so that to gain maximum
benefits out of raw materials utilised by them.
Supply chain: Huge numbers of the products and services of Marks and Spencer are
delighted by their potential clients in regular day to day existence, which has been sourced and
created in areas throughout the world. Retailers performs regular investigation on the
effectiveness and security of their inventory network, provenance of crude materials, and their
way to deal with capable sourcing so as to limit reputation related risks. It is being found that
strong inventory network the executives is a much more effective and efficient key to security of
supply, remaining value aggressive, just as advancement and manageability.
As one of the most confided in Brands on the high road, we accept our job is to console
our clients and key partners that our items are sheltered and sourced with trustworthiness. To do
this, we should look past our activities to the more extensive inventory network, where the
greatest effects happen. Clients are likewise progressively worried about their well-being and
furthermore requesting data and consolation of the inception and substance of their nourishment
(Lewis and McKenzie, 2017).
Logistics: It is related to overall procedure related to management that how resources
are acquired, stored as well as transported to final destination. In addition to this, logistic
management includes identifying prospective distributors, suppliers as well as determining their
effectiveness and accessibility. Within an organisation logistic manager is refereed as
logisticians. Along with this, logistic is important for an organisation if manufactured products
and services cannot reach to customers then business will fail. In relation to Mark & Spenser it is
important to have proper logistic management because it help them in reaching to customers
within effective manner.
Location strategies: For an organisation being right location is key ingredient within
success of business (Manning, Micron Technology Inc, 2015). If business firm will select wrong
location it may have adequate access to customers, staff, transportation, material and many more.
Thus, location play essential role within profit of business as well as overall success. While

formulating location strategy there are numerous factors which Mark & Spenser have to
implement within their working such as :-
 Facilities – This planning involves determining what type of space M&S will need for
accomplishing their long term and short term goals.
 Feasibility – It analysis assessment related to different operating cost as well as several
other factors related to various locations. Environmental regulations – It is important for M&S to consider several environmental
regulation which may impact their operation within different locations. In addition to this,
environmental regulation may also impact relation within organisation and community
around prospective location.
Quality control: It is the procedure by which business ensure that product quality is
maintained as well as improved through reducing errors. Quality control requires the business to
create an environment in which both management and employees strive for perfection. Mark &
Spenser manage quality of product by training their personnel, creating benchmarks for offering
quality goods, testing products to check for statistically significant variations. Apart from this, it
is essential for M&S to manage quality of their offering because this will the only source through
which they can satisfy customers as well as maintain their loyalty.
HR Department: It is one of the most important department within organisation as it
help in managing human resources as well as also result in conducting day to day operations in
effective manner (Takacs, 2017). In addition to this, HR plays key role in helping organisation
dealing with fast changing environment as well as with greater demand for quality of staff
members. In relation to Mark & Spenser, Human Resource department hire candidate for
company for filling vacant job position as well as fulfilling requirements of business firm in
better manner.

Conclusion
With the help of above mentioned report, it is being concluded that all the business
functions of a company is appropriately interlinked with each other then it would directly aid
company in meeting different range of goals and objectives in specified time frame. Along with
this, it is also said that management and operations decisions in relation to production, logistics,
supply chain, quality control, location strategies along with HR department helps a company in
maintaining competitive advantages within the business environment.

References
Books & Journals
Heizer, J., Render, B. and Munson, C., 2017. Operations management. Sustainability and Supply
Chain Management, 12th Ed., USA.
Vuchic, V.R., 2017. Urban transit: operations, planning, and economics. John Wiley & Sons.
Reid, R.D. and Sanders, N.R., 2019. Operations management: an integrated approach. John
Wiley & Sons.
Lubin, M. and Dunning, I., 2015. Computing in operations research using Julia. INFORMS
Journal on Computing, 27(2), pp.238-248.
Dietz, M., 2015. Turning Operations: Feminism, Arendt, Politics. Routledge.
Slack, N. and Brandon-Jones, A., 2018. Operations and process management: principles and
practice for strategic impact. Pearson UK.
Mezzadra, S. and Neilson, B., 2015. Operations of capital. South Atlantic Quarterly, 114(1),
pp.1-9.
Wheeler, K.B., Micron Technology Inc, 2017. Swap operations in memory. U.S. Patent
9,740,607.
Lewis, P.W.A. and McKenzie, E., 2017. Simulation Methodology for Statisticians, Operations
Analysts, and Engineers (1988). Chapman and Hall/CRC.
Takacs, G., 2017. Electrical submersible pumps manual: design, operations, and maintenance.
Gulf professional publishing.
Manning, T.A., Micron Technology Inc, 2015. Apparatuses and methods for performing logical
operations using sensing circuitry. U.S. Patent 9,158,667.
Fiatal, T. and Guesman, J., Seven Networks Inc, 2015. Location-based operations and
messaging. U.S. Patent 9,055,102.
Takacs, G., 2017. Electrical submersible pumps manual: design, operations, and maintenance.
Gulf professional publishing.