Approaches to Operations Management and the Role of Leaders and Managers

This document discusses the key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers play in achieving business objectives. It explores the concepts of Total Quality Management, Six Sigma, and Just In Time, and highlights their importance in improving production quality, reducing costs, and optimizing inventory management. The document also emphasizes the significance of operations management in enhancing business performance and customer satisfaction.

Management and
Operations

Table of Contents
.........................................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
P1. Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager........3
P2. Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in
different situational contexts.......................................................................................................5
P3. Apply different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership, systems
leadership and contingency.........................................................................................................6
P4. Explain the key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and
managers play..............................................................................................................................7
P5 Explain the importance and value of operations management in achieving business
objectives.....................................................................................................................................8
P6 Assess the factors within the business environment that impact upon operational
management and decision making by leaders and managers......................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Operations management can be comprehensively considered as the process which is
concerned with the employment of principles of planning, organizing, management and control
within the area of production and linked procedures. In this relation, this process is significant
for every company as it ensures that organisation produces high quality offerings and offers the
same to the customers prevailing within the bounds of global market place. Thus, it is obviated
that operations management seeks to inflate the efficiency of business operations. It gives a boost
to the profit margins by controlling the overheads and cutting down the overall cost of
operations. For the fulfilment of this purpose, several technologies, methods and techniques are
applied by corporations across the globe.
The following project seeks to explore the concept of operations management as applied
within the organisational premises of TESCO. This is a British company employed in the retail
sector. The offerings of this company are sold in many parts of the world making it one of the
most desirable brands among the people. The report consists of the comparison and contrast of
characteristics as well as roles of leader and manager. Further, it explores the approaches to
operations management along with significance of operations management in the company. In
addition to this, the role of manager and leader in different situational contexts is discussed.
Also, main theories of leadership are explored along with their criticism. Lastly, the report gains
an insight into the business environmental factors impact upon the company and its decision
making process.
P1. Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager.
A leader and a manager are regarded to be the pillars on which the performance and
sustainability of an organisation is largely dependent. Through thorough execution and
demonstration of their roles and duties, their main aim is to uplift the growth of company in the
long run. Now, it becomes important to understand the meanings of the terms- leader and
manager. The terms are defined beneath:
Leader: They are the persons who hold the responsibility of effectively upholding the
performance of the team working their guidance and supervision. They influence the behaviours
of team members to derive positive benefits from them for the organisation as a whole.
Role of Leader in TESCO
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The pioneer of TESCO stimulates the behaviours of subordinates in a manner such that
all of them work collaboratively for the achievement of common goal. Leader provides them
with the required motivation so that all of them operate in a productive manner.
Characteristics of leader in TESCO
The leader of the respective organisation is charismatic. The pioneer possesses self-
confidence and zeal to drive the behaviour of other individuals in a positive manner for the
attainment of positive outcomes for the entity in the long term.
Manager: They are the individuals who are tasked with the responsibility to manage the
day to day activities of business along with the ways in which staff perform in the premises.
They bridge the gap between top authorities and lower management.
Role of Managers in TESCO
The main role of the manager within the bounds of respective corporation is
acknowledged to be assignment of roles and responsibilities to staff. Another role played by
them is to administer all the tasks and activities that are executed in the organisational premises.
Characteristics of Managers in TESCO
The manager of TESCO is self driven and participative. The manager calls participation
of every individual in the decision making process of the company so that best decisions could
be reached at, within the shortest span of time.
The leader and manager of TESCO utilise theory to support their working in an effective
manner. These are discussed beneath
Transformational leadership theory: It provides help to pioneer in an entity to adopt
leadership as per the changes taking place within dynamic business environment. This is an
exceptional leadership approach which creates an ideal image of leader in the eyes of
subordinates. Through this theory, the leader of respective corporation ensures that staff
behaviour can be positively influenced to develop loyalty and commitment within them to work
and company. This theory provides assistance to the leader in exhibiting leadership qualities and
traits as per the market conditions and the change required in organisation.
Classical theory of Management: Under this, a manager emphasizes on enhancement of
profitability and revenues. To ensure this, the manager of TESCO focuses on fulfilment of
organisational and individual needs of staff. This helps in motivating the workforce so that they
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can work in a superior way. This is ensured by the manager through execution of optimal
decisions guaranteeing high profitability.
P2. Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in
different situational contexts.
The environment inside which a business works continuously fluctuates. This will in
general produce various circumstances that might be new to an organization and need successful
administration and leadership to counter it. Thus, the leader and manager within TESCO
encounter many such situations and deal with them in effective way to avoid any kind of
discrepancy. Thus, some of the situations of TESCO are discussed beneath:-
Decision making: The essential processes occurring inside TESCO are perceived to be
manufacturing and sales. A firm can guarantee smooth execution of these just if leadership and
the board work in a synergistic way. This will guarantee the specification of powerful decisions
according to the authoritative circumstance. Therefore, the role played by a supervisor is to find
out the requirements of employees by making utilization of Decision theory inside the limits of
TESCO. Aside from this, the pioneer of this organization embraces authoritative leadership to
address the issues distinguished by the supervisor. At the point when the necessities of
employees are satisfied in a convenient way, they get roused to work with higher efficiency for
the acknowledgement of corporate objectives.
Employee participation: This is one of the key techniques inside an organization whereby
employees are allowed the chance to get occupied with strategic approaches to ingrain a feeling
of strengthening inside them. Thus, with the assistance of Group conduct theory, the
administrator of TESCO conducts gatherings inside the premises where each individual is
allowed to take an interest. This aids in successful management of human assets inside the
organization. Further, charismatic leadership is practised by the pioneer of TESCO to remunerate
the star performers. This spurs the staff individuals to keep on giving a superior performance to
get perceived before others inside the organization. With the joint effort of pioneer and chief,
association can empower the workforce and guarantee fulfilment of corporate objectives.
Technology Update: With the progression of time, steady headways happen inside a
nation. This encourages the substances working inside the country to utilize most recent and
developing patterns so as to disturb the market. The part of chief inside the bounds of TESCO is
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to utilize interpersonal conduct theory and convey to employees the need to actualize new
advances and the way where these can be utilized inside the enterprise. Also, training sessions
are held by the pioneer so as to incorporate essential skills and competence within the
employees. In such manner, the pioneer utilizes transformational leadership, offering help and
data to staff in regards to the way in which innovative changes can be fused inside the premises
of TESCO to guarantee proficiency of activities. This renders help to the company in accepting
significant level of fulfilment from clients and holding them for a considerably longer period of
time.
P3. Apply different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership, systems
leadership and contingency.
There are multiple leadership hypotheses that are utilized by pioneers so as to encourage
effective execution of business activities along with timely accomplishment of authoritative
objectives and targets. Regarding TESCO, the theories which are put to use by the pioneer
according to the circumstances found inside the company are duly talked about beneath:
Situational leadership: It is acknowledged to be an excellent hypothesis that was
proposed by a researcher and business visionary of the name Paul Hersey whereby the
fundamental supposition goes forward that no leadership style is demonstrated to be the best.
Concerning this, the leadership inside TESCO is found to be adjusting according to the
circumstance that prevails in the business premises. This guides in smooth execution of business
tasks for the effective growth alongside development of the particular car organization. The merit
of utilizing this leadership is that it centres upon adoption of the most appropriate style according
to the business situation at the present time. Then again, the con related with this is, that it moves
the concentration from the organisational long run objective to current business circumstance.
Contingency leadership: It can be translated in the form of a leadership hypothesis which
advances the position that there is no single leadership style which is appropriate for a wide
range of business circumstances. The use of this leadership theory inside the premises of
respective corporation is done subsequent to considering outside just as interior facets of
organization. The most important merit of executing this leadership approach is guarantee of
composed working in an adaptable way in TESCO. The major default associated with this theory
is that consistent change of leadership style will in general produce complexities inside the
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bounds of TESCO making it hard for the employees to rapidly adjust to it and operate
accordingly.
System leadership: This can be interpreted as an approach to leadership that advances the
position that each business activity ought to be finished in a systematic manner through the use
of proper instruments to guarantee ideal achievement of the set objectives. Regarding TESCO, it
is realised that this leadership approach is applied through market examination and
distinguishing proof of key patterns which are to be imparted to manufacturing unit. It provides
due assistance in gaining satisfaction from clientele as their needs in relation to highlights of
products or volume of deals are fulfilled by the company. The main advantage of this approach
to leadership is that it gives admittance to pioneers to adjust themselves and the business as per
the changes taking place in market place. Unexpectedly, the weakness of this theory is that the
changes occurring in the business premises of respective organisation prompt momentary
decrease of workforce productivity.
P4. Explain the key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers
play.
The approaches to deal with operations management provide assistance to an association
in executing business exercises in appropriate way and enhancing its present financial
performance within the market place. The utilization of these approaches helps organization in
improving its activity and producing items of enhanced quality. This will at last imply expansion
of profits as well as revenues for the organization in the long run. Through the usage of ways to
deal with operations management, TESCO can guarantee creation of excellent items and
attainment of consumer loyalty. Underneath referenced are a few approaches that are mulled
over by the management of TESCO:-
Total Quality Management: This methodology plans to upgrade the production quality in
order to appeal to more number of customers in market place. This methodology centres upon
clients in which administrator and pioneer of respective assume an essential function in ensuring
steady upgrades in the items with the goal that significant level of consumer loyalty can be duly
attained by the business in long term. Through the usage of TQM method, creation of top notch
products is guaranteed that can be offered viably to the clients to inflate the revenues. Leader and
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manager within TESCO ensure that the quality standards match the principles of this approach,
thereby implying the fulfilment of customer needs and demands.
Six Sigma: This can be interpreted as a measurable methodology and information driven
procedure that render backing to an association in improving the current business execution by
removing all of the defects from the overall framework. Within the organisational settings of
TESCO, the main thought process behind utilization of this methodology is involving
representatives in determination of defaults within all business functions and units and thereby,
ensuring that top notch items can be made accessible to clients to gain greatest fulfilment from
them. In the long run, this will imply increment of profitability alongside productivity of the
concerned organization. Hereby, the manager as well as pioneer of the respective retail company
ensure the streamlining of business operations such that business efficiency can be elevated.
Just In Time: This is a pivotal approach to carry out operational management. This
methodology looks for inventory management of the organization by procuring raw materials as
and when demand is created in market for the finished good. Hence, this portrays that there is
negligible or no lead time involved in this approach making it suitable for TESCO to eliminate
the cost which otherwise has to be incurred upon stockpiling. Hereby, the leader and manager of
the retail organisation ensures that there is no wastage of time and cost takes place in terms of
inventory storage.
P5 Explain the importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives.
Operations management is a cycle that is generally related to creation within the bounds of
every organization. Concerning TESCO, it can be stated that the significant goal of operations
chief is ensuring that great products are fabricated and thereby made accessible to the clients
prevailing in global market place. In this relation, the significance of operations management is
talked about in a detailed manner as underneath:-
Reduction of cost: Operations management goes about as a viable apparatus in
discovering and reducing the unnecessary inside any organisation. Within the confines of
TESCO, the manager discovers exceptional approaches to lessen the expense of operations
alongside upgrade the quality of organisational offerings. The pioneer within TESCO
additionally inspire the workforce ideally by giving training sessions to them at constant
stretches of time. This helps in achieving the business objective of maximising the profits.
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Enhancing overall productivity: Productivity is one of the most critical considerations
for a company. The chief alongside pioneer of TESCO give unique thought to this to guarantee
that workers complete the undertakings in an alluring way within appropriate time frame. Now,
the fundamental goal of operations supervisor is embracing such exercises that can ensure
expansion of workforce efficiency within the business premises. The pioneer of this entity
endeavours to make a positive operational culture to make the workforce act in a superior way.
This helps in attaining the business objective of keeping the workforce motivated so as to retain
them for a longer time period.
P6 Assess the factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management
and decision making by leaders and managers.
Various factors relating to internal and external conditions of business environment tend to
place influence upon operations management decisions taken by the leader and manager. In such
manner, the administration team of TESCO has led an investigation to take these basic choices.
Internal Factors
Shareholders: They put financial resources into the organization so as to gain immense
benefits. Concerning TESCO, the manager devises fundamental policies while the pioneer works
after actualizing it in an ideal way. In the event that the choices identified with it are powerful,
more individuals will be convinced to buy organization's offers.
Corporate Social Responsibility: This is a self regulatory activity carried out within
TESCO which works in light of a legitimate concern for society. With this, a steadfast client base
can be created and thus, the incomes will altogether ascend to uplift the market share and stake
of respective . CSR initiatives are executed through the mutual discussion taking place between
leader and manager.
Corporate Ethics: Each and every enterprise needs to adhere to certain moral set of
accepted rules and approaches which assists with guaranteeing that association doesn't get
clutched within any kind of illicit or unreasonable practice. Thus, the decisions of leader and
manager within TESCO should be taken while taking the corporate ethics into consideration at
all times.
External Factors
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Political: In context of political factors business concerns like TESCO consider changes
in their policies and decisions in accordance with various political factors and elements.
Economic: Economic factors include various elements such as interest rates, tax rates,
export import duty etc. In context of TESCO it has been observed that price of products is higher
in countries where export import rates are higher.
Social factors: Factors that get affected due to culture or choices of people in a country
are referred to as social factors. The manager of TESCO considers policies that aim towards
choice and preferences of customers. Also they ensure that it does not harm society as a whole.
Technological: Every business organisation has to bring about regular changes within the
organisation as per the current market situation. In this regard, managers and leaders of TESCO
make sure that they adopt such technologies and techniques that are aligned with the latest trends
and development existing within marketplace.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it tends to be reasoned that operational management is a
significant component of any association and is available, irrespective of the levels and units of a
business. Additionally, it has been investigated that pioneers as well as supervisors assume a
basic part in guaranteeing constant development of business and ensuring delivery of great
products and facilities to clients. Other than this, it is additionally assessed that pioneers and
managers should make use of effective theories and approaches to make sure that the activities
are being executed within the business in a suitable manner. Moreover, it has been evaluated that
there are different variables inside business environment that control operations management and
its associated activities.
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REFERENCES
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