Marks and Spencer - Analysis of Operations Management

Management and Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1) Introduction and management structure of M&S...............................................................1
2) Roles and characteristics of manager and leader...............................................................1
3) Roles and functions of managers and leaders in management theories.............................3
4) Situational role of a leader and function of a manager......................................................3
5) Theories which effect the growth and sustainability of M&S...........................................4
6) Strength and weakness of theories.....................................................................................5
7) Impact of managers and leaders on organization recommendations for future improvements
................................................................................................................................................6
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................7
1). Operations management and its key approaches..............................................................7
2) Roles and responsibilities of leaders and managers in successful operation of M&S.......7
3) Importance and value of Key approaches..........................................................................8
4) Effectiveness of managers and leaders in improving operational efficiencies..................8
5) Impact of external business environment on operational management.............................9
6) Evaluation of application of operations management........................................................9
7) Suggestions for future improvements in M&S................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Management & operation is a process of managing design and process of production of
goods and services (Management Operations, 2018). It is used to maximize productivity of the
organization by cutting its inventory cost. In this report, Marks & Spencer is taken into
consideration to study different aspects of Management and operations. It is a British
multinational retailer headquartered in Westminster, London. It provides clothing, furniture and
luxury food having one of the largest retailers in the world. In this report, roles and functions of a
leader and manager are differentiated and appreciation of the roles of managers and leaders are
discussed in context of M&S. Apart from that different management and leadership theories are
also discussed in this report to to make organization grow sustainably.
TASK 1
1) Introduction and management structure of M&S
Marks and Spencer is one of the leading multinational retailer in the world which
provides services of clothing, luxury food and home products. Company was established in year
1884 by Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer. It's size is big having 979 stores in UK including
615 stores which sells only food products. It has more than 60000 employees across the globe.
This company also sell its products in various countries of Asia, Africa and Europe. It has
opened its first foreign store in Kabul, Afghanistan in 1960 (Ahuja, 2017).
Company follows flat organizational structure in which all employees are engaging
themselves in decision making process. It offers more responsibility and accountability among
employees which helps them to explain and justify the decision made by them. Each and every
employee is assigned its job so to increase their performance.
2) Roles and characteristics of manager and leader
Leader
A leader in an organization is the person who sets goal, vision and mission for
organization. Basically it leads an organization from the front in which perception and wants of
leader are included. It also helps employees in order to achieve organizational goal. It sets way of
attaining target of company (Brandenburg, 2014). In the context of M&S, a leader should make
drafts and policies to attain the mission and vision set for company. They should motivate and
inspire employee working in their organization. The structure of organization is also set by
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leaders in which each and every employee is divided according to the capability and ability to
form a team or group.
Manager
A manager is a person who implements the task assigned by leader in order to achieve the
vision, mission and target of organization. It sets policies for employees to attain desires set by
the leader. It has a staff which report to manager (Cucoranu, 2015.). It is not necessary in a
company having a single manager. There are different managers in different departments such as
operations manager, financial manager, HR manager, production manager etc. In the context of
M&S, a manger helps in attaining goals and objectives of company. It has capability of
implementing idea of attaining desires of a leader.
Roles and characteristics of a manager and leader
Basis Leader Manager
Creativity A leader of M&S creates the
vision and mission of
organization.
A manager focuses on setting
up goals required to achieve
the vision and mission.
Style Leader of M&S should be
innovative and creative. They
have unique ideas to maximize
profit.
A manager of M&S have the
tendency of learning practices
from others which are common
to achieve target
Risk A leader has tendency of
taking risk for M&S.
A manager has duty of
implementing those risks
which are associated in M&S.
Thinking A leader has long term
objectives for development of
M&S.
A manager has short term
goals to attain pre set target of
M&S.
Development Leaders always grows
themselves from their views
and perception to enhance
productivity of M&S.
A managers is a good learner
to adopt skills to make work
done from employee in M&S.
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