Marks and Spencer: Operational Management Analysis

This assignment involves a comprehensive analysis of Marks and Spencer's operations management. It covers the political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental factors impacting the company's operations. Key aspects include free trade policies, cost reductions, risk assessment, innovation initiatives, brand management, ethical trading, sustainable sourcing, and waste reduction. The task requires evaluating how these factors influence Marks & Spencer's operations and suggesting strategies for effective operations management.

UNIVERSITY
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION
STUDENT’S NAME:
LECTURER’S NAME:

Table of Contents
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Introduction
This report enlightens the role of management and the role of operations in an organization. The
management consultant of the company will investigate the impact of leaders and the managers
of Marks & Spencer Ltd. The effect on the leaders and managers will help in increasing the
efficiency of the production of the company. The report also includes the functions and the
contribution of the leaders and management in the organization to make the employees work
efficiently. The essentiality of the management theories and the flairs of management has
critically described in the report to the framework of operations administration of Marks and
Spencer.
Task 1
LO1 Comparison among character of a leader and the purpose of manager
P1 Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager
with reference to M & S
Leaders
Leaders in M&S refer to the people who influence the employees and work must be
accomplished with help of employees to meet the objectives of the organization. A leader also
motivates the employees to work efficiently and enhance their skills in the organization.
Manager
Managers are those people who help the organization to manage and design the task of M&S in
context of the organizations objectives and goals (Northouse, 2015). To achieve success in
meeting the objectives of the organization, the managers develop the task and they prepare the
strategies that are needed to be followed.
Difference between the leaders and managers
MANAGERS LEADERS
The objectives of the organization are set by
the managers (Jacobs and Chase, 2013)
The role of leaders is to influence the
objectives that are set by the managers of
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M&S
For the betterment of M&S the managers
create the ideas
The leaders implement those ideas created by
the manager into action
The roles of leaders and the functions of managers in the business, such as:
Planning
The functions of the managers are to plan the strategies and set the plan for achieving the aims of
the organization, which helps the organization to increase the sale of the company. On the other
hand, the roles of leaders are to execute the strategies and the plan into action.
Organizing
The managers of the organization organize the resources and make use of the resources of the
organization effectively. The roles of the leaders in the organization are to allocate the resources
properly among the employees so that the employees can bring the best outcome (Moran et al.
2014).
Directing
The leaders help the employees in completing a task and guide the employees in performing the
task. Wherein, the managers only direct the task that needed to be performed by the employees.
Staffing
The function of the managers in the organization is to recruit the staff and allocate jobs to them
according to the skill sets of the staffs (Chemers, 2014). On the other hand, the leader of the
organization encourages the employees to work efficiently and the leaders help in solving any
issues.
Coordinating
The managers coordinates with different departments of the organization for better outcomes and
on the other hand, the leaders coordinates with the employees using the communication skills
and leadership qualities to make the employees work efficiently.
Controlling
The manager lays some performance standards, which the employees have to follow, and the
leaders of the organization make sure that the performances of the employees are measured and
the employees are working within the standards that are made by the managers (Mom et al.
2015).
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LO2 Apply the role of a Leader and the function of a manager in given
contexts
P2 Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in
different situational contexts
There are a couple of theories of organization, which gathered with the expert capacities that
assistants in affecting the work performance of the company. Functional department of Marks
and Spencer mainly considers the organization hypotheses and join the activities of innovators to
have better control over the cost of create.
Contemporary theory
This theory is used by M&S, to have control over the existing situation of the comprehensive
rate of the acquisition and formation. The boss can plan the systems, for instance, selection of
members is according to the consideration of the decrease in cost of material (Lussier and Achua,
2015). The pioneers in M&S use their trademark to goad the delegates to get drive headways in
order to have better control over the cost of amassing and ensure about insurance from
transformation between the specialists. It can be accomplished by creating circumstance of trust
with the fruitful communal measurements.
Organization by objective theory
This theory focuses on the solidified undertakings of the boss and the labourers for the
accomplishment of the goals. The managers of the organization organize the resources and make
use of the resources of the organization effectively. The roles of the leaders in the organization
are to allocate the resources properly among the employees so that the employees can bring the
best outcome. The overseers work with the delegates and set the gages of the execution and the
pioneers assign the commitments to the specialists so they are roused to play out their task best.
Set up organization theory
This theory is associated in M&S, where the executives make the ways to deal with redesign the
proficiency. In context to Day et al. 2014, the executives have developed the method known as
KAIZEN. It is a segment that holds the activities of operations and ensure about the cognitive
performance. By having a consideration of participative style of specialist the key objective in
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terms of commitment of workers and boss the overall cost can be controlled. Along with this, it
also helps in decision making system.
Behavioural theory
Behavioural theory of organization is used in M&S, the chairpersons adopt after the strategies,
which take, into thought the abilities, and restrictions of specialists and the innovators have focus
on transformational style for better talk and ensure that application is being referred properly in
context to the labourers compellingly.
Contingency theory
This theory focuses the change in the techniques according to the modifications in the
conditions. The pioneers expect a basic part in which they affect the labourers to get changes the
operations with a particular ultimate objective to address the challenges winning in the market
(Martin and Siebert, 2016). The managers of M&S considered the reasons of the extended cost
of manufacture and associated the speculation to execute a couple of changes in the operational
activities to chop down the high expenses of the materials and equipment got from the suppliers
and concurring they changed the methodologies of the association in progress and operation
division.
P3 Apply different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership,
systems leadership and contingency leadership
The different theories and models of approach are explained below:
Situational leadership
The situational leadership theory refers to the leaders who implement different leadership styles
whenever needed in the organization or according to the situation. Following a leadership, style
will help in developing the skills of the team members.
Supporting
In this style, it is stated that the behaviour of leaders are supportive towards the employees,
however, they provide the employees with very low levels of support for the enhancement of the
skills of the employees (Dickinson and Carey, 2016).
Coaching
In this style, the behaviour of leaders is highly directive and the leaders provide the employees
with high levels of support for the progress of the organization.
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Delegating
In this style, the leaders of the organization provide with low supportive behaviour to the
employees and they have a very low directive emphasis as well on the employees (Hill et al.
2014).
Directing
In this style, the leaders of the organization possess very high directive behaviour. Nevertheless,
they provide the employees with very little supportive emphasis.
Systems leadership
In systems leadership style, the person who follows this type of leadership style brings change in
the social behaviour of the employees. The leader can be inside of the organization or outside of
the organization. A system leader is an individual of any organization, in any sector or in any
formal levels of authority who will explain the employees the value of social behaviour.
Contingency leadership
Contingency leadership theory refers to the effectiveness of leadership that is dependent
relatively on a leadership style to be matched in the right situation (Zurich, 2017).Fiedler
developed this theory after he analysed the different leaders in different contexts. The evaluation
of the leaders is done through using LPC that is Least Preferred Co-worker. This theory is more
effective than the other theories.
Task 2
LO3 Demonstrate an appreciation of the role of leaders and managers play in
the operations function of an organisation
P4 Explain the key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and
managers play in the organization
In an organization, the managers play an important role in the formulation of effective policies
and procedures, which will be beneficial for the organizational structure. The functional aspects
of managers and the predominant role of leaders tends to make the organization work in the
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direction, which is desired towards the beneficiary aspects of the goals and objectives, which are
promulgated by the organization. On the other hand, it is also important to note that, there are
various functions, which are associated with the organizational procedures of the organization
(Heizer, 2016). The managers coordinates with different departments of the organization for
better outcomes and on the other hand, the leaders coordinates with the employees using the
communication skills and leadership qualities to make the employees work efficiently. In the
context of Marks and Spencer, it can be propagated that, there are various functional aspects of
management of operations, which are usually followed within the organizational premises. With
the help of effective leadership skills, the company will be able to formulate effective strategies,
which will be useful for the premises of the organization. The company needs to be more
efficient in communicating with their customers. Thus, in the viewpoint of Hill et al. (2014), the
prevalent role of the leader lies in the fact that, they need to train their employees into effective
communication skills, where it will be advantageous for the organizations.
P5 Explain the importance and value of operations management in achieving business
objectives
The importance of operations management is significant as it is based on which, the entire facets
and formulation of an organization solely depends. The importance of operations management is
as follows:
 The prevalence of operations management helps in the management of large firms in
order to run them successfully. It is closely associated with the production of goods and
services to an organization (Zurich, 2017).
 The primary objective of operations management is to run the operations of business
successfully. It also helps in the meeting up with the expectations of the customer
demands and needs in order to run the organizational procedures effectively and
smoothly.
 The aspect of operations management includes the process of conversion of minimum
input. The minimum inputs include raw materials and labour to produce maximum
outputs like goods, products and services.
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 In order to increase the profit of the company, it is important to have proper operations
management, which will be beneficial for the implementation of effective business
procedures.
 Operations management is responsible for the production of goods along with the
controlling of the distribution of the services.
 It plays a crucial role in organizations, since they intend to produce professional
managers, who are capable of achieving the strategic goals of the organization within
definite period (Heizer, 2016).
 With the implementation of proper operations management, the organization will be able
to utilize their resources largely, and will ultimately benefit the premises of the
organization.
 In the context of marketing and finance, operations management has been able to
implement the processes and procedures of the organization successfully (Hemmer and
Labro, 2016).
LO4 Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between leadership
and management in a contemporary business environment
P6 Assess the factors within the business environment that impact upon operational
management and decision-making by leaders and managers in context to M&S
The factors within the business environment that impact upon the operational management and
decision-making by the leaders and managers of Marks and Spencer is done through PESTLE
analysis below:
Political factor
The political factor of that the organization needs to be considered when it affects into the
operational management is that the health and safety standards must be analysed. The rules and
regulations of the country must be considered.
Economical factor
The leaders and the mangers of M&S must consider the economical factor as the organization
must keep a check on the economic condition of the organization, which can affect the quality of
the organization (Hemmer and Labro, 2016).
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Social factor
The predominant social factors of Marks and Spencer includes the fact that, the organisation is
currently concentrating on the innovation of the business and helping the business in decreasing
the competition in the market. Online shopping has been introduced by the organization to
increase the sales of the organization.
Technological factor
Creating brand awareness amongst the customers and promoting products online by
incorporating strategies, which are based on technologies, are very important. Therefore, the
companies need to develop the technological aspect of the business and promote their products
online to get boost their sales. In addition to this, the companies can also monitor the customer’s
tastes and preferences as well (Slack, 2015).
Legal factor
The business organisations should focus on meeting the taxation systems of the country where
they are based in. Furthermore, the rules and regulations set by the government and other law
making bodies should be followed by the business organisation. For example, all the business
organisations should follow the labour laws in order to protect the rights of the labours as
formulated by the law making bodies.
Environmental factor
Business organizations should be careful not to exploit the natural resources of the country where
they are based in. The companies should promote between its entire workforce and the society to
protect the nature and promote using recyclable and biodegradable materials (Northouse, 2015).
POLITICAL ECONOMICAL SOCIAL
 Free trade policy
propagated by the
government
 Reduction in sourcing
costs
 Regulation set to abide by
the Health & Safety
 Complications and
conflict with small
retailers
 Product cost rise
 Currency impact of
Brexit
 Economic outlook is
 Innovation in business
initiatives
 Helps in cutting down
internal costs
 Online food selling
 Multi channel retailer
 High street clothing
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British Standards
 Risk assessment
 Risk control
quite uncertain stores
TECHNOLOGICAL LEGAL ENVIRONMENTAL
 Managing bands carefully
 Continuous
communication with
customers
 Brand awareness
 Partnership association
with Sure Cloud
 Financial dispute
 Fractal landlord
 Tax changes in the
business products
 Fair packaging and
Labelling Act (1996)
 Fresh milk sourcing
from the farms of
RSPCA
 Zero waste to landfill
 Ethical trading
 Sustainable sourcing
Health promoting business
Conclusion
Thus, it can be concluded by stating the fact that, operations management plays a significant role
in the formulation of the business procedures, which help in attaining effective business policies,
within the premises of the organisation. Furthermore, after an extensive assessment, it can be
propagated that, in the context of Marks and Spencer, it can be well presumed that, with the help
of effective operations management, the organisation will be able to evaluate effective strategies
and policies, which will be beneficial for the organisation. Furthermore, it will also help in the
promulgation of the effective communication skills, which are important for the organisation to
follow. Thus, the study successfully implemented the key methods and procedures, which are
associated with the facets of operations management. It also portrayed the different aspects of
leadership, which is useful for the organisation to implement.
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