Management and Operations: Key Functions, Approaches, and Impact of External Factors

This document provides an overview of the key operations of a corporation, including transportation, production, and promotion. It also discusses the roles and responsibilities of managers in these operational functions. The document explores different operational approaches, such as total quality management, six sigma, and just-in-time. Additionally, it examines the impact of external factors, such as political, social, economic, environmental, legal, and technological factors, on decision making. The document concludes with recommendations for improving operational efficiencies to meet business objectives. Recommended for students studying management and operations.

Management and
Operations: 2

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Introduction to key operations of corporation.............................................................................1
Details of key operational functions with roles and responsibilities of manager.......................2
Key operational approaches to operations management and their value....................................3
Impact of external business environment factors on decision making.......................................1
Improvement of operational efficiencies to meet business objectives........................................2
Conclusions and recommendations for future improvements.....................................................3
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Operation management is termed as most important element in management field in
which conversion of raw material into finished products in being done as further create value
from them. In simple terms it is the effective administration of business practices in order to
further ensure high success and performance of organisation (Peng, 2015). In this effective
conversion of material and labour is done into finished goods as well as services in order to
effectively maximise profitability of organisation. Present report has been conducted on,
Sainsbury's which is a third largest chain of supermarkets. In this report formative discussion
has been made on key operations of corporation along with external business environment factor
impact upon decision making. Further recommendations is given for organisation for future
improvement.
Introduction to key operations of corporation
It has been identified that every entity posses some certain form of key operations and
absence of it affect company in number of ways (Parisio, Rikos and Glielmo, 2016). With the
help of these operations organisation can effectively able to accomplish their goals and
objectives in well effective manner. In relation with this, Key operations of Sainsbury's is being
defined manner:
Transportation:
Most important operation that has been undertaken by Sainsbury's is to effectively
acknowledge transportation. As products are transported through vehicles in order to reach
customers with the help of this function only (Parisio, Rikos and Glielmo, 2016). At the end of
this process organisation can effectively understand reaction of individuals towards product
design.
Production:
This is also one of the most important process that are required to be effectively
undertaken by Sainsbury's. In relation with this, organisation effectively ensure that development
and designing of cars is being undertaken by taking utilization of raw material of high quality.
With the help of this, organisation ensure maximum level of satisfaction from customers.
Promotion:
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Promotion is required to be done in best effective manner as to ensure long term
sustainability and positive image in marketplace (Morschett, 2015). Sainsbury's conduct
activities of promotion and marketing in well defined manner as to make customers aware about
organisational product.
Details of key operational functions with roles and responsibilities of manager
It has been identified that within organisation operational functions acts as a most
essential element that effectively provide direction to organisation as to effectively accomplish
organisational goals and objectives in well defined manner (Nunna, 2016). In this managers hold
the major responsibilities as they ensure that all the activities are done within perfect framework
of time. Mentioned below there is role and responsibilities of Sainsbury's manager is being
mentioned below:
Transportation:
In context with operational functions, it has been analysed that Sainsbury's manager hold
the responsibility to effectively ensure that end product reach to customers in well effective and
safe manner (López, 2015). With the help of this company can effectively able to ensure higher
satisfaction from their customers in best effective manner.
Production:
Manufacturing process is termed as one of the primary role that has been effectively undertaken
by Sainsbury's managers. With the help of this function managers ensure that raw material are of
perfect quality and designing process in done in best effective manner as to further satisfy
customers (Lindström, 2015). This further benefit organisation to to deliver satisfactory services
to their customers and can further gain their loyalty and long term sustainability with
organisation.
Promotion:
In this function, manager hold the responsibility to effectively undertake best marketing
channels as well as promotional tools in order to provide products and services to customers
within perfect time frame (Johnstone, 2016). With the help of this function, manager ensure long
term sustainability of customer that automatically increase organisation brand image within
marketplace. In addition with this, it has been identified that by taking advantage of best
effective form of marketing channel organisation can also increase overall profitability and
productivity.
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With the effective consideration of these activities manager of company ensure that they
effectively serve their customer base in best effective manner. In addition with this by offering
products and services with best quality organisation can effectively able to strengthen their
market image while ensuring high profitability and productivity index.
Key operational approaches to operations management and their value
Operations management helps in giving assistance to entities in execution of design and
control function in various business activities. The major aim is to enhance the overall
performance. This helps in maximizing the profits (Jabbari-Sabet, 2016). With the help of
execution of various approaches of operations management, Sainsbury's can also enhance the
overall level of satisfaction of their customer. Flowing approaches are being used in Sainsbury's :
Total Quality management: This is a approach which is emphasising ion the
enhancement of quality for increasing the offerings of organisation (Tian, 2015). This is a
approach where manager and leader of Sainsbury's have to ensure high satisfaction of their target
customers. With the help of this approach auto maker tries to develop high quality in their
products and services so that appal can be made to their customers.
Six sigma: This is a statistical approach which has a major aim to inflate the existing
level of performance in the business system by elimination of various defects (Caniani and
2015). This approach can be applied in Sainsbury's with a motive of having the involvement of
employees for detecting various defects at various levels and ensuring that high quality is being
delivered to their customers. This will lead to increase in revenue and overall profits which is
being earned by the company.
Just in Time: This is most important approach which is used in operations management
so as to help the entity in managing of the raw materials orders in accordance to the demands of
their customers in the market (Johnstone, 2016). This indicates that raw materials have to be
procured and has to be used in the production process so as to reduce the lead time. This
approach is also used so as to help the management of Sainsbury's in elimination of various
costs which are associated with the storage of inventory in the business.
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Impact of external business environment factors on decision making
Business environment introduces sum and collection of all external and internal factors
such as clients, suppliers, employees, innovation in technology, economic changes, social trends,
supply and demand, customers needs and expectations, etc. These are important and useful
factors which helps an organisation to make an effective decision towards achievement of long
term growth and success within given time duration. Along with this PESTLE analysis is also
consider most essential part of external business environment which assist an enterprise by
providing accurate information about the political, social, environmental, legal, economical and
technological factors. As it will support an organisation to develop their business in other nations
successfully. These factors will be determined as below in detailed manner:
PESTLE
Analysis
Sainsbury's
Political These factor includes government rules and legislation which impact on an
organisation while they operate their business in new country. Role of the of
Sainsbury's is to forms company policies or strategies after taking into the
legislation that exist within the nation while the business leaders see that
these policies or strategies are strictly used by the workforce such as sex
discrimination Act, 1975.
Social There are some social factors which must be followed by an organisation if
they expand their business in other country. These are demography, lifestyle,
culture etc. In this manager of the business must be try to create innovation
in their products or services by giving funds to R&D team. On the other side
business leaders also have effective role to ensure that the amount of capital
are utilized appropriately and properly.
Economical This is another factor of external business environment that includes
different factors which are inflation rate, interest rate, foreign exchange rate
and fourth on Sainsbury's manager are impacted by these factors to fix
appropriate price of their products and services. Along with this leaders also
play vital role in ensuring that efficiency of entire processes are managed to

monitor cost of production.

Environmental Different markets have various kind of norms as well as environmental
standards which can directly effect on the profitability of Sainsbury's in
those markets (Parisio, Rikos and Glielmo, 2016). Even in a nation often
states can have various environmental laws as well as liability laws. For
instance in U S – Texas and Florida have various liability or obligation
clauses in case of environmental disaster. In order to overcome
environmental effect, manager and leader of the company plays an essential
role by launching a electric vehicles. As it helps society by overcoming
impact of population as well as also support an organisation in increment of
its market share and sales.
Legal It is a another factor that has direct impact over business performance and
productivity of Sainsbury's. Each country has different laws and regulations
which is not possible for company to follow all these regulation easily. For
this situation, manager and leader of the business play important role by
implementing an effective policies. As it will support company to attain
competitive advantages within given time duration.
Technological These are consider technological advancements for an organisation that
rapidly take place within a nation. Sainsbury's managers come up with
innovative and effective designs as well as features in vehicles. As it will
helps an organisation in development of its growth and success in
marketplace. Along with this leader of Sainsbury's also play effective role
in providing training to those employees who have lack of knowledge about
the technology.
Improvement of operational efficiencies to meet business objectives
Just in Time approach is more essential and useful approach of operational management
which is used by the Manager of Sainsbury's in effective manner. Here, manager provides
accurate instruction to the production team in order to manufacture vehicles as per the market
demand. Along with this business managers of company is also train workers effectively so that
they produce quality products to the customers (Reim, 2016). It will assist company in gaining
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competitive benefits at marketplace and achieving long term goals and objectives easily. In this
regard, business manager also develop those strategies or policies that do not hold any possibility
of criticism at market.
Conclusions and recommendations for future improvements
From the above given information it has been concluded, Just in time and six sigma are
most effective approaches of operational management which helps an organisation in
development of its success and reduction of operational cost. For this, manager and leader have
to played effective role which turn to support an enterprise to gain competitive benefits easily.
There is recommendation to the company, they must provide training to their workforce who
have lack of idea about the operational approach as well as technology also. As it support
business to retain employees for long time and improve their operations. It is also suggested to
the leader as well as manager also, to carefully execute duties in order to attain competitive
benefit within a marketplace.
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REFERENCES
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Thomas and. et. al., 2018. Optimal operation of an energy management system for a grid-
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