Management and Operations Assignment : Marks and Spencer

MANAGEMENT
AND OPERATIONS

INTRODUCTION
Management is the art of administering an organisation. It can be business, non-profit
firms or any government body. Operational management refers to as managing activities that are
operated in an organisation on daily basis. It includes setting strategies, formulating plans and
coordinating with employees so as to accomplish set objectives using available resources
(Heizer, 2016). Marks and Spencer is a worldwide known brand that deals in the business of
clothing, home products and luxury items. It was founded by Thomas and Michael Spencer in
the year 1884. It deals in business of such a wide variety of products, it has many operations that
needs to be managed. It is operational in all around the world with approx. 959 stores and having
employee strength of around 82,904 employees. This report deals with the role of managers and
leaders in managing operations. It also showcases the impact of internal and external
environment on operations of firm and their decision making process.
TASK 1
P1. Roles and characteristics of leader and manager
Leaders are the persons who lead their organisations using their visionary approach by
fulfilling the needs of employees, availing resources, allocating task and setting goals. Whereas
managers are the individuals who manages operations on the daily basis by leading a group of
people (Hill and Hill, 2012). Administering and controlling activities are their prime
responsibility. Management of operations becomes important in the firms like Marks and
Spencer where there are numerous activities being performed on daily basis. In managing
operations Role of a leader and manager becomes important. How efficiently they will manage
or lead depends on the characteristics they poses. Based on the studied all around the world some
of the role and characteristics of both are being compared. They have in all various management
functions such as:
 Planning: It is management's role to make plans for the future business of an
organisation citing the available resources of the firm.
 Organisation: Management has a role of organising resources so that it must be available
on time as per the requirement at the time of need.
 Controlling and directing: It is role of management to control and direct employees so
that can work in a proper path which is necessary for achieving objectives.
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Roles of a leader and manager:
Leaders Managers
They make long term goals. They make short term goals.
They have a role of making decisions as per
the future objectives of the firm.
They have a role of making plans so as to
achieve business goals.
Leader have a role of providing facilities that
are required for smooth working of the firm.
Managers of Marks and Spencer has to manage
all the inventories at its stores so that
operations gets performed regularly.
Leaders are responsible for making essential
changes from time to time that is necessary for
future operations.
Managers are responsible for bringing stability
to the firm while ensuring that made changes
are adapted by all the employees
They have role of generating revenue and
arranging resources.
They have a role of effectively utilise these
resources so as to produce high quality goods.
Characteristic of leader and manager
Leader Manager
Leaders are having charismatic personality. They have characteristics like being controlled
handlers of program.
Leaders have flexible nature. Their nature is rational.
They are generally good motivators. They are generally excellent guides.
They are risk takers. They are risk avoiders.
M1. Role of leader and function of manager by applying theories and concept
There are numerous functions and roles of leader and manager that differs from the
situations they are facing. For understanding this there are several concept and theories that are
prevalent all around the world. These concepts and theories are as follows:
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