Management and Operations - Marks and Spencer Assignment

Management and Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
1.) Introduction to organisation and its management structure..............................................3
2.) Comparison of roles and characteristics of manager and leader.......................................3
3.) Differences of managerial functions and leadership roles and management theories......4
4.) Roles of a leader and functions of a manager apply in different situations......................5
5.) Different management and leadership theories for growth and sustainable performance 6
6.) Strengths and weaknesses of different theories and approaches.......................................7
7.) Managers and leaders impacts on organisation and recommendations for improvements8
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................8
1.) Operation management of organization and approaches adopted by organisation...........8
2.) Roles and responsibilities of managers and leaders in successful operation of organization9
3.) Importance and value of operations management in achieving organizational objectives10
4.) Managers and leaders in improving operational efficiencies to meet business objectives10
5.) Impact of external business environment factors on operational management decisions11
6.) Application of Operations management to manage these factors...................................11
7.) Recommendations for future improvements taken by organisation...............................11
CONCLUSIONS............................................................................................................................12
.......................................................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Management is process of proper planning, organising, staffing, directing and controlling
of activities and getting things done through others. Operations is way of handling operation
system that is conversion of raw materials into finished goods, manufacturing, solving issues
related with designing and improving day to day activities of business. The given assignment is
based on Marks and Spencer established in 1884 at United Kingdom which is multinational
brand dealing in luxury foods, clothing and home products. The assignment will de discussing
about roles, functions of manager and leader. Also it has cover application of operation
management and factors affecting environment of business.
TASK 1
1.) Introduction to organisation and its management structure
The chosen company is Marks and Spencer (M&S) which was founded by Michael
Marks and Thomas Spencer in 1884. It is British multinational retailer deals in home products,
selling clothing and luxury food products. It has around 979 stores across UK out of which 615
only sell food products. There are more than 84,939 employees working in organisation and
serving its products worldwide. Marks and Spencer has followed flat organisation structure for
its business. This structure carry limited level of management between employees and
administrative and encourage staff in decision making process. It decrease bureaucracy and make
worker skilled by authorizing to make decisions (Ageron, Gunasekaran and Spalanzani, 2012).
2.) Comparison of roles and characteristics of manager and leader
Manager- Manager is person who is liable for running of business or manages or in
charge of something. They control departments in organisations or guide people working under
them. They must be able to do proper planning, leading, organising, controlling and coordinating
in enterprise.
Leader- A leader is a person influencing group of people for achievement of goal. It has
three 3P's such as person, people and purpose for achievement of committed goal. It is also one
who convince and guide other to follow them (Alderton and Saieva, 2013).
The comparison of roles and characteristics of manager and leader in context to Marks
and Spencer are described below:

Roles Manager Leader
Conflict Management Manger of M&S always tries
to avoid conflict.
Leader of M&S uses conflict
to get positive outcome.
Employee Engagement Manger organises people of
organisation.
Leader align people for work
performance.
Characteristics Manager Leader
Communication Skills Manger should possess good
communication skill to
communicate with employees
and others.
Leader of M&S also requires
effective communication in
order to lead and provide
guidance for work
performance.
Decision Making Decision made at M&S are of
high level which should be
made by manager very
effectively and efficiently.
There are various difficult
decisions which should be
taken by leader for
organisation.
3.) Differences of managerial functions and leadership roles and management theories
There are various management theories and concept for managerial functions and
leadership roles in an organisation. These theories helps in achieving goal and objectives of
business (Brandon and Mullan, 2013). Marks and Spencer also ned to follow such concepts in
their business to run it effectively and efficiently. The differences of managerial functions and
leadership roles by applying theories are described below:
Management theories for managerial functions
Under this administrative theory is explained by Henri Fayol where five managerial
functions has been described. This elements focus on creating relationship between management
and personnel in order to solve problems very effectively and efficiently explained below:
Planning- It means deciding in advance what things to be done in future. Manager plays
an effective role in better planning of an organisation and requires participation of every