Management and Operations Report

This report examines the role of leadership and management in Tesco, a leading grocery retailer. It analyzes the similarities and differences between leaders and managers, explores different leadership theories, and investigates various approaches to operational management, including the Six Sigma process. The report also discusses the importance of operational management in achieving business goals and analyzes internal and external factors that impact decision-making and operational management within Tesco.

Management and Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
A) Similarities and differences between leader and manager................................................1
B) Function of a manager in various situations......................................................................3
C) Situational, system and contingency theory......................................................................5
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
1) Different approaches to operation management ...............................................................6
2) Role as store manager........................................................................................................8
3) Importance of operational management ............................................................................8
4) Factors within business environment that impact upon decision-making and operational
management............................................................................................................................9
5). Factors impact upon your decision making....................................................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Management and Operations is highly related with the planning and organising of production
and manufacturing products and services. Moreover, it is operated in redesigning products and also
controls the production process. However, report belongs to Tesco which is the biggest grocery store
and also stands in top ten position in UK. In addition to this, the report aims in comparing
characteristics and roles of a manager and leader in Tesco organisation. Further, role of a leader and
function of a manager in different situations is discussed below. Six Sigma process in Tesco is
performed along with role of leaders and managers in operational management. The report also
specifies importance of operational management that helps in achieving business aims. Lastly, factors
that impact upon decision-making and operational management is described within business
environment in this report.
TASK 1
A) Similarities and differences between leader and manager
Leader and manager both are known for their own honesty towards work that leader is
responsible for managing its team and also to become straight forward (Slack, Brandon-Jones and
Johnston, 2011). In addition, a manager is one who, along with workers are devoted to work
optimally out of respect for the good will and goal meeting strategy of the firm.
ROLE OF A LEADER
Business representative: Leader represent Tesco in meetings, seminars, conferences and various
places. One of the major role of a leader is to communicate functions and structure of business
towards public. Along with this, he is also a representative of own roles and responsibilities at work
place, which he is leading.
Guide and Helper: A leader sets clear vision and mission for the firm in order to motivate workers
and guiding them to achieve objectives and goals effectively (Krajewski, Ritzman and Malhotra,
2010). This will help employees to feel motivated which lead towards job satisfaction and achieving
individual goals.
Required at all levels: Leadership is required at all levels of firm that it is dependent on leader to
select best leadership style to manage resources. Leader corporate with Tesco plans and policies to
the top level management. He/ She analyses and execute plans and strategies at middle and lower
level.
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Combine personal goals to business goals: Leader is responsible for combining personal goals of
workers with organisation objectives through leadership (David, 2011). This will help to make a
certain relationship between employees and business that helps to achieve desired outcomes.
CHARACTERISTICS
There are some characteristics of an effective leader which helps to accomplish leadership
within business such as honesty, ability to delegate, sense of humour, commitment and positive
attitude within firm. In addition to this, a leader is also a good communicator to understand
employees and other things (Haksever and Render, 2013). The confidence level helps to enhance
creativity at workplace. This will inspire others to work hard to achieve objectives and goals. It is all
about doing right things to make decisions.
ROLES OF A MANAGER
Hiring people: One of the major role of a manager within firm is to recruit talented and
knowledgeable workers for Tesco. It can be said that employees with skills and knowledge are able
to achieve their individual goals and will provide benefits to business as well.
Team development: Team development is also an important task for manager that he/she is
responsible for business operational activities. The role is to develop workers in order to perform
their best within firm (Karlsson, 2010). Interdependent teams are more productive instead of
independent group of individuals.
Self-development: Self-development is necessary that manager must increase own development
activities such as participation in seminars, training programs and acquiring knowledge about
management of business activities.
Management of resources: Manager ensures availability of resources within Tesco in terms of raw
materials, resources needed to drive operational activities and human force. Effective management of
resources helps to improve and develop performance of employees in order to enhance productivity
and profitability.
CHARACTERISTICS
Manager have ability to motivate, direct and lead employees to achieve team performance and
success. There are many characteristics and traits possessed by a manager in this quality such as
orientation and drive, communication and authenticity. In addition, prioritisation, empathy, honesty,
patience, accountability and positive attitude are some more examples.
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MANAGER AND LEADER
BASIS LEADER MANAGER
DEFINITION Leadership is an ability to motivate
workers to achieve desired objectives
and goals.
Manager controls operational
activities and direct workers.
FOCUS Leader is focused on leadership style
to lead workers effectively.
Manager is focused on controlling
management activities in Tesco.
RESULTS Leader produces achievements. Managers believes in results.
STYLES Leader is consultative, participative
and transformational.
Manager is democratic, dictatorial
and authoritative.
MANAGEMENT Employees follow leadership of
leader.
Manager have subordinates.
B) Function of a manager in various situations
Role of a leader and function of a manager helps business to face various situations in order
to take appropriate decisions (Tang and Musa, 2011). Here are function of a manager described
below in different context:
Planning: Planning involves setting objectives in order to determine course of action to accomplish
those objectives. Manager should be aware of environmental conditions facing by firm and also the
forecast future conditions to make good decisions. Strategic, tactical and operational planning helps
manager to face different situations within firm such as financial or environmental issues.
Organising: Organising involves developing structure for business and also to allocate resources to
ensure achievement of objectives. Design of individual jobs and direction is required to carry duties
and responsibilities to make decisions called job design decisions (Naphade and et.al., 2011). This
also includes, decision-making regarding various departments, products and functions.
Leading: Leading involves informal and social sources of influence used by manager to inspire
actions taken by others. Manager also requires to be an effective leader that it will help subordinates
to deliver exerting efforts towards business objectives (Operations Management and its Objectives,
2018). Motivation theory provides crucial information about ways in which manager is able to
inspire workers to be energised to put productive efforts.
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Controlling: Controlling refers to the management of performance according to the standards. There
are three steps followed by manager or a leader in controlling such as establishing performance
standards, comparing actual performance against standard and taking corrective actions when needed
(Wang and et.al., 2010). Plans and strategies are required for effective controlling to face different
situations within Tesco.
Trait theory of leadership
The theory is based on characteristics of both successful and unsuccessful leader. It can be
said that successful leader have interest, personality traits and abilities that are various from less
effective leaders. The theory provides constructive information about leadership and also can be
applied at all levels in all businesses. Leaders are able to utilise information from the theory in order
to identify positions in the firm (Brown and et.al., 2013). This will help to determine their identity
and the way it affects the business effectively.
ROLES IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS
Appropriate decision-making within Tesco: Decision making is crucial for leaders that it has an
impact on employees and business in both positive and negative terms. Decisions can be taken for
financial, technological, programs or planning in different situations to manage activities. This will
help business by providing strength and ability to work in various context.
Optimum utilisation of resources and funds: Leader has duty to manage funds and resources within
business in order to manage operational activities effectively. Resources are required for the effective
production such as human force, financial, physical, data and information resources. Funds are
available from external environment such as shareholders and investors.
Integrated management of operations: IMS is a process which works in a complete framework to
enable work with single unit and specific objectives. Leaders are responsible for managing
formulation of work. It is divided in six parts such as environment, quality, information and safety
and security management (Rosemann and vom Brocke, 2015). This will help to manage various
activities in operational activities to enhance profitability.
Thus, role of a leader and function of a manager helps Tesco to face various situations within
internal and external environment. This will help business to achieve desired goals and objectives to
enhance production and profits effectively.
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C) Situational, system and contingency theory
Leadership can be described as an approach that helps to lead workers within firm. This will
help them to develop their performance level in order to contribute towards accomplishing individual
and business goals and objectives (DeHoratius and Rabinovich, 2011). Leadership approaches
depends on various situations occurs at workplace. Some of them are described below:
Situational leadership
The theory of situational leadership is developed by Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard in 1969.
In this leadership style, manager and leader change themselves according to the situation in order to
lead workers and subordinates. Leader has work to motivate and encourage employees within Tesco
to become flexible according to the situation in order to achieve desired goals and objectives. It is
one of the best approach to solve problems and disputes between workers that helps to enable them to
work together as a team. The leadership is all about developing workers and groups along with
finding best in them. Strengths: The leadership style is easy to use and also effective for a leader. Leaders are
responsible for analysing various situations and conditions within firm to apply the
appropriate approach as solution effectively (Turner, 2014). It is effective and comfortable
style for the leaders to use. They also have authority to change management style according to
the business situation. Weaknesses: There are some weaknesses associated with situational leadership such as leader
can lose his attention in case of managing long term plans and strategies. In addition to this,
North American style of leadership also does not take it as their priority. Situational
leadership theory ignore the difference between female and male.
System leadership
System leadership help leaders to make them enable in order to create conditions at
workplace in which the employees can work at all levels productively and effectively to their
potential (Gunasekaran and Ngai, 2012). The theory uses sound principles about human behaviour in
order to create models of good leadership, business strategy and social process and system designs.
The theory treats business as either a closed system or an open. In addition to this, leader try to
increase attention of employees towards their work and in group. An effective system leadership
requires business to be firmly itself in the frame (Jones, George and Langton, 2013). The theory is
also based on a novel perspective which is a key towards success.
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 Strengths: Theory helps to provide effective management control for leaders to manage all
the activities in various conditions. Leaders can implement this theory easily as it is not
costly. The theory concentrates on the final results and provides strategies in order to make
appropriate decisions within Tesco effectively. This will provide details for daily operational
activities. Weaknesses: The leadership style is over conceptual and also not able to describe differences
in system. The philosophy is also not able to identify interdependencies interaction and
nature. It is a very complex system and there is also lack of universality. The leadership style
is difficult to implement towards practical issues in Tesco (Panneerselvam, 2012). It is not
useful for the small businesses.
Contingency leadership
Effective strategies and plans are prepared by leaders in contingency leadership in order to
instruct workers to achieve their individual goals and objectives. In addition, all tasks are performed
and completed in a specific time period and systematically. Fielder's contingency theory describes
that group performance is dependent on leader's psychology and power and position.
Strengths: It is helpful to accomplish leadership style and also to survive over decades in a valid
approach. The theory is approved by the followers of Fielder with their own research. The point of
view of this leadership style is to focus on any single which depends on importance and needs of
leader.
Weaknesses: Contingency leadership theory is suffering from inadequate literature. (Krajewski,
Ritzman and Malhotra, 2010).The style is very complex and creates complexities while
implementation.
TASK 2
1) Different approaches to operation management
Operational management plans and strategies are formulated in order to identify strategies in
order to bring raw materials and converting them into outputs. Lean manufacturing and six sigma
process are the approaches to operational management which ensures effective use of resources
within firm according to the requirements of customers effectively (David, 2011). The process also
enhance quality of products and services offered by firm.
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Six Sigma process
Define: In this process, Tesco management identify issues and make solutions for them. In addition,
management also manage a team that helps to make high level map for the process effectively. This
will determine requirement of customers and also consider leadership in business. Leaders and
managers plays an important role that the team managed by them helps business to determine issues
in order to solve them.
 Define customer needs and requirements.
 Goal statement describe business goals.
 Development of team in order to identify issues. Process map helps to determine procedures.
Measure: Team developed and appointed by management measure process of determining customer
needs and requirements (Haksever and Render, 2013). In addition, different things are measured by
them which is beneficial for the firm such as reducing time of manufacturing and improving
production quality.
 Collect relevant data and information.
 Create baseline to measure performance. Determine current performance.
Analyse: Analysing process helps leaders and managers to determine points that are causing issues.
The process verify two elements that consider data analysis and process analysis (Karlsson, 2010).
The process helps to understand element which is useful to determine existence of problem.
 Display information and data graphically.
 Determination of issues and why it is existing. Evaluate and examine procedure.
Improve: Improvement process evaluate root which is causing issue to make solution accordingly.
This process collet information and ensure measurement of procedure. Finally, the team implement
solutions for issues and receive effective outcomes to develop baseline for consumer experience.
 Select appropriate and right solutions for issues.
 Determine and implement solutions. Identification of secure improvement procedure.
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Control: This is the final stage, where procedures are controlled and managed in order to ensure
improvement and growth within Tesco (Tang and Musa, 2011). Team focuses on improving and
controlling activities to develop response strategies for certain issues.
 Improve and develop other areas.
 All improvement process are documented.
 Controlling and monitoring of secure proper management.
 Lean principles uses for continuous development.
2) Role as store manager
Determination of objectives and goals: Manager and leader should be aware of Tesco objectives and
goals in order to provide guidelines to employees to achieve them. Strategies and plans are made by
them to help business to accomplish desired goals and objectives.
Resource management: Availability of resources is one of the major thing and should be considered
by both leader and manager in order to manage operational activities and production (Naphade, and
et.al., 2011). Operational manager helps to control budget that helps to take advantage of future
opportunities.
Reporting line: Special report of business activities should be made by leader and manager and
approved by top level management. This will help to consider resource management documentary
process including raw materials, recruiting new staff and machineries.
Staff training: Training and development programs should be organised by leader and manager
within firm in order to enhance knowledge and skills of employees. This will also help to reduce high
employees turnover rates (Wang and et.al., 2010). Communication skills will help to manage
employee’s relationship to solve their issues and conflicts effectively.
3) Importance of operational management
Operational management is crucial for every business in order to maintain its profitability and
production. It also helps to accomplish business objectives and goals by producing quality products
and services for customers in the market. Operational management deals with developing products of
Tesco to maintain their quality, flexibility, cost and speed. It is also responsible for managing
effective relationship with stakeholders and suppliers to ensure availability of raw materials within
firm. In addition to this, quality system expand areas of operational management and further
activities in public sectors (Brown and et.al., 2013). It works according to the demand and
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requirement of customers for market potentiality. There are different departments in operational
management in which human resource helps to improve performance of employees. This will help to
enhance knowledge and skills in order to achieve individual goals and objectives effectively.
Financial department is responsible for managing the budget and cost for Tesco which will
help to become financially strong to take advantage of future opportunities. Top level management
formulate strategies and plans to increase competitive advantage and effectiveness of legalisation and
rules followed by firm (Rosemann and vom Brocke, 2015). Demands and requirements of customers
are considered by operational management to satisfy customer needs. Marker segmentation is one of
the crucial stage of operation management that helps to identify target customers and market for
business. Effective management of operational activities within firm helps to reduce wastage and
enhance productivity.
Quality: Quality relates to the products and services offered by firm in the market towards customers
to fill their requirements and expectations. Quality helps to improve production and also increase
profitability by delivering best services to customers.
Speed: Speed refers to time which business takes to deliver services and products to consumers. It is
very important for Tesco to deliver services on time to ensure they are providing best services in the
market to create positive impact on consumers.
Dependability: products and services dependability is judged by customer by the time it arrives to
them (DeHoratius and Rabinovich, 2011). It is depended to consumers in the market that in what
time they need their services. Promised dates provided by firm is expectation of customer to receive
services.
Flexibility: Operational management requires flexible nature to manage changes accordingly. It can
be said that a lot of changes made by management in procedures, strategies and policies to improve
effectiveness of operational activities within firm.
4) Factors within business environment that impact upon decision-making and operational
management
There are some factors which have an impact on decision-making of manager and operational
management such as internal and external.
INTERNAL INFLUENCE
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Corporate: Corporate objectives are crucial for Tesco but also are the internal influences. These are
not in conflict with business. Formulation of corporate objectives is necessary for firm various
activities and also for operational management.
Finance: Financial elements such as budget, cost and investment affect business if not managed
properly and effectively (Turner, 2014). Liquidity, cash flow and profitability of business also affect
directly to the decision-making of manager which has negative impact on operational activities.
Marketing issues: Market segmentation, buyers and current trend in the market could be marketing
issues for firm if not analysed appropriately. Market segment changes affect operational activities
and could be for a particular product or service.
Human resource: Human resource can be described as capability of business to produce products
and services. They are the major elements of operational activities that helps to accomplish desired
goals and objectives. Ineffective human workforce affect operational activities and reduce
profitability.
EXTERNAL INFLUENCE
Economic environment: Economic environment affect capacity and demand of productivity which
can be for short or long term period (Gunasekaran and Ngai, 2012). Changes in taxation, interest
rates have impact on operational management and activities that it should be considered by firm by
making strategies effectively.
Technology: Technology is improving day by day that changes in new techniques, innovation, new
machineries have a significant impact on operational activities. Tesco requires adoption strategies to
improve and develop operations. This will provide strength to human resource and will enhance
productivity and profitability.
Competitors: In this modern world, market is full of competitors and has a great impact on business
operations and activities. Business requires strategies to improve its competency level to make
effective position in the market. For an example, Sainsbury and Marks & Spencer are the key
competitors for Tesco.
Legal and environmental changes: Government make changes in legal requirements according to
the environment (Slack, Brandon-Jones and Johnston, 2011). It has an impact on operational
activities that business needs to make certain changes in their policies and plans which takes time to
complete. Environmental changes such as trends, weather and culture of people also create
challenges for operational activities.
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5). Factors impact upon your decision making
In addition, these are some factors which affect decision-making of manager in the firm
(Jones, George and Langton, 2013). Technology, culture environment, education, age, time,
strategies and plans, policies, communication, board of directors and financial management affect
business and decisions made by manager or leader within firm.
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded from the above report that management of operational activities is
important for Tesco in order to manage production and profitability. Role of a leader and function of
a manager helps business to face different situations within internal and external environment. In
addition to this, it is analysed that theory of situational leadership is one of the best approach to solve
problems and disputes between workers at workplace. Lean manufacturing and six sigma process are
the approaches to operational management which ensures effective use of resources. Finally, it is
examined that there are some certain factors such as internal and external which affects operational
activities and decision making of leader.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Brown, S. and et.al., 2013. Operations management: policy, practice and performance improvement.
Routledge.
David, F.R., 2011. Strategic management: Concepts and cases. Peaeson/Prentice Hall.
DeHoratius, N. and Rabinovich, E., 2011. Field research in operations and supply chain management.
Gunasekaran, A. and Ngai, E.W., 2012. The future of operations management: an outlook and
analysis. International Journal of Production Economics 135(2) pp.687-701.
Haksever, C. and Render, B., 2013. Service management: An integrated approach to supply chain
management and operations. FT Press.
Jones, G.R., George, J.M. and Langton, N., 2013. Essentials of contemporary management. McGraw-
Hill/Irwin.
Karlsson, C., 2010. Researching operations management. In Researching Operations
Management (pp. 20-55). Routledge.
Krajewski, L.J., Ritzman, L.P. and Malhotra, M.K., 2010. Operations management: processes and
supply chains. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson.
Naphade, M. and et.al., 2011. Smarter cities and their innovation challenges. Computer (6) pp.32-39.
Panneerselvam, R., 2012. Production and operations management. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd..
Rosemann, M. and vom Brocke, J., 2015. The six core elements of business process management.
In Handbook on business process management 1 (pp. 105-122). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
Slack, N., Brandon-Jones, A. and Johnston, R., 2011. Essentials of operations management.
Financial Times Prentice Hall.
Tang, O. and Musa, S.N., 2011. Identifying risk issues and research advancements in supply chain
risk management. International journal of production economics 133(1) pp.25-34.
Turner, J.R., 2014. Handbook of project-based management (Vol. 92). New York, NY: McGraw-hill.
Wang, X. and et.al., 2010. A production planning model to reduce risk and improve operations
management. International Journal of Production Economics 124(2) pp.463-474.
Online
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