Management and Operations

Management and
Operations
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Table of Content
Contents
Contents...........................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Main Body.......................................................................................................................................3
P1 Comparison of role and characteristics of leader with that of manager.................................3
P2 Elaborate with examples while relating with different situations the role of leader and
function of manager.....................................................................................................................6
P3 Models of leadership..............................................................................................................6
P4 Approaches of operation management...................................................................................7
P5 Discuss the importance of operation management.................................................................8
P6 Determine several factors that have impact on operation management.................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11
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INTRODUCTION
Management and operation involve the process of operating and manging the business in
such a manner that targets could be met within a specified time period (Anderson and et.al.,
2017). This report is based on Next plc which is renowned store in UK as it deals with footwears,
clothing, groceries and other household essentials. This company is propounded by Joseph
Hepworth which has around 43000 employees working in it. This report covers the comparison
and characteristics of leader and manager and various approaches of leadership. It also includes
the concept of operation management and its significance which play a vital role in a workplace.
Lastly, the report covers several factors that assess the impact on decision making and
operational management.
Main Body
P1 Comparison of role and characteristics of leader with that of manager
Leadership and management play a vital role in a corporation as both perform different
functions but share the common vision so that it can be fulfilled in a limited time (Borodin and
et.al., 2016). They form an appropriate strategy and execute the work as early as possible by
forming proper delegation of task which promote coordination within a workplace. With
reference to Next plc, the comparison of leader and manger is stated below:
Leadership is defined as an ability to influence the behaviour of others by its attractive
personality which ensure that task is fulfilled within a shorter time. A good leader possesses
several traits such as good behaviour, positive attitude, honest, smart personality and great
decision-making ability which provide best solution and also tends to work well even in difficult
situation. The leader of Next plc has great potential and ability to deal with daily challenges so
that work is performed in a best possible manner and thus produces desired level of output.
Role of leader
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Render best advice: The leader of Next plc would tend to offer best advice among their
team members and provide them with effective solution to them so as to promote coordination
and cooperation as this bring a better harmony and bring unity of command in a workplace.
Form a strong vision: The leader of a respective firm would create a vision and mission so
as to enhance a better future as this improve the overall performance which build long term
success of a firm in case of retailing sector.
Proper assignment of work: The leader of Next plc would divide the work among their
subordinates in according to their specialised skills which determine the efficiency and
effectiveness of a firm and thus maximise the business performance (Bozarth and Handfield,
2016).
Characteristics of a leader
Integrity: This is the most important attribute of leader as it tends to be honest and
integrity which bring transparency and accountability within the retailing company like Next plc.
Innovative: The leader in case of Next plc is innovative in nature as it assists the firm in
render new and innovative solution so that effectiveness could be determined. Also, it would
bring advanced technology and bring huge transformation in a dynamic nature so as to gain
rivalry edge within a marketplace (Brown, 2018).
Passionate: The leader of concerned firm is so curious and passionate by nature as it
tends to work hard beyond their potential so that targets could be met. Also, they are creative
which help in ensuring a reasonable success in future as it also deal with problem with calm and
patience.
Manager is the person who is responsible for carrying and coordinating the activities of a
business entity for completion of a task within a set time frame. It is described as an art of getting
things done by people in a proper manner in order to bring effective results. The manager of
Next plc take decision wisely and divide the work in an appropriate manner which improve the
overall effectiveness in a workplace.
Role of manager
Time management: The senior authority of Next plc would mange time appropriately as
it set deadline for each task and maintain strict discipline so that work could be done in an
authorised manner.
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Coordination: The manager of Next plc would facilitate proper coordination as it
supervises and create strict rules and regulations which depict the fairness and bring success of a
firm in a desirable manner.
Characteristics of manager
Planning: This is the first step of management function as it has to make an appropriate
plan by deciding the best option from the several alternatives so that an effective decision could
be taken. This assist the management of Next plc to make ensure that task could be performed in
a predetermined manner as it improves the overall functioning and provide prospects of growth.
Organising: The manager of a respective firm would tend to organise the work in an
efficient manner by delegating the task by avoiding duplication of activities (Cook and Billig,
2017). They make proper allocation of resources such as manpower, material and machines as its
full utilisation would bring positive consequences.
Monitoring: The leader would tend to control and check the work performed by
subordinates and provide them with necessary feedback so that necessary improvement could be
made in future. Also, this light the deviation while judging the accuracy of standards which
provides a reasonable growth as standards are compared against actual performance which light
the deviation by deciding best course of action.
Difference between manager and leader
Manager Leader
The manager tends to organise the overall
working procedure by making necessary
planning as it do the things in a systematic
manner.
A leader is innovative by nature as it creates
vision and takes responsibilities.
It follows transactional style of leadership due
to the reason that it punishment and rewards
are provided on the basis of performance of
employees.
It implements transformational style because a
leader has ability to take risk and work in
challenges as it builds strong unity among the
team members.
The main purpose of manager is to direct ad
control their employees as it delegates the task
in a best possible manner.
It has followers who follow them as it seeks to
take challenging task and has always
excitement and fun which create a friendly
environment in a workplace.
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Various theories that determine the role of leader and function of manager
According to democratic style, the manager of Next plc would consider the opinions and
suggestions of their employees so that they could feel satisfied and work as it accelerates the
productivity. The role of leader is to lead the whole group as it guides their team members and
promote a sense of togetherness which bring cooperation and take immediate action without any
delays. The manager of a concerned firm follows Management by Objective as it is task oriented
which improve the overall efficiency (Gholizadeh and et.al., 2019). The leader of a respective
firm is strictly committed towards the objectives which provide a vast growth within the confines
of retailing sector.
P2 Elaborate with examples while relating with different situations the role of leader and
function of manager
In respect to Next plc, the role of leader and function of manager are presented as follows:
Conflict resolution: The manager of Next plc has to be calm and listen to both the
parties with its active listening skills and tends to resolve the conflict which ensure long term
growth. The leader of respective firm would ensure that it would make division of work among
their team members with greater clarity so that confusion and misunderstanding could be
avoided as it renders an effective solution. Furthermore, they tend to motivate and inspire them
which brings positive atmosphere as it ensures sustainability and help in retaining them. This
assist in resolving the conflict and boost the productivity.
Low employee turnover: The manager of Next plc would reduce the employee turnover
rate by promoting the healthy work life balance and also provide several other facilities to them
such as compensation benefits, paid leaves, allowances and so on as it ensures smooth conduct of
activities (Liu and et,al., 2018). The leader would create a better environment as it makes their
team members comfortable by assigning the task in accordance of their skills and talent.
Facilitating changes: The business environment is considered as dynamic so the
manager of Next plc would accept the changes through several ways such as upgradation of
technology, new and efficient workforce and so on as it help in ensuring the reasonable growth
whereas the leader is curious and adopt the changes in a unique and different manner so that
boredom is reduced as it bring new style of working procedure in a workplace.
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P3 Models of leadership
There are various approaches of leadership which are used by Next plc such as system,
contingency and situational style of leadership as these are ascertained below:
System leadership: This style of leadership possesses several skills and characteristics that a
leader has as it make sure that it could complete the work with greater accuracy as it allows to
gain effectiveness and maintain proper hierarchy and organisational structure in a workplace.
This generates greater growth in case of such as huge retail chain such as Next plc which gain
maximum exposure at a global level (Meredith and Shafer, 2019).
Merits: One of the merits of system leadership is that it encourages and motivate their team
members so that they could contribute more as they would work with zeal which bring effective
results.
Demerits: This could lead to conflict and create confusion in the perspectives of staff as there
is possibility of improper delegation of authority.
Situational leadership: In this, the leader would tend to behave in a unique manner which
depend upon the situation or prevailing circumstances. The leader of Next plc would use such
approach as it prove to be more useful in a changing era which assist to bring medication in a
workplace so that better decision could be taken.
Merits: The senior authority would render specialised training and development programmes
among their staff so that they could deal with daily challenges and overcome them in well
defined manner.
Demerits: There are several issues that are faced by some team members that they do not
accept the changes and prefer traditional style of working which lag them behind and create
imbalance in their career aspects.
Contingency leadership: This model would tend to use leadership traits that matches
their skills and talent as it ensures more productivity. The leader of Next plc would make an
appropriate decision specially in case of complexities and critical times which determine greater
efficiency.
Merits: This approach would work well in a dynamic nature which assist manager to
bring great transformations and allow to gain competitive advancement within a marketplace.
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Demerits: One of the greatest weakness of this approach is that it is not suitable in dealing
with practical situations which become difficult for manager to work in an efficient manner as
this could create barrier and thus affect the overall growth of a firm.
P4 Approaches of operation management
Operation management is determined as the process of conversion of input into output which
is in the form of finished goods (Radosavljević, Jevtić and Klimenta, 2016). This involve a
process like acquiring of raw materials, machines labour and so on which involve the method of
determining the level of inventory which is possible through optimisation of resources as it bring
growth of a firm to the next level. In the context of Next plc, the approaches of operation
management are presented as follows:
Total quality management: This approach emphasises on continuous improvement in
merchandise which assist firm in defecting the errors present from it. The manager of Next plc
would prefer this approach as it offer simplicity and allow to make defect free goods so that
wastage is minimised and thus improve the overall production process. Next plc is a giant retail
store which has gain large customer base from different locations due to the reason that it renders
fast and efficient services among them and generate maximum satisfaction. In this, the leader
would train their staff and provide them with clarity of communication of making the products
with due care so that there is no form of any kind of variations.
Just in time: This is a business management tool which ensure that the goods are
available in sufficient quantities in accordance of the demand and supply as it provide speedy
delivery of goods. The production manager of respective firm focuses on maintaining limited
amount of merchandise so that it could avoid the risk of obsolescence and also it saves storage
cost (Srivastava and Jain, 2017). This allow company to enjoy greater economy of scale and
maximise the sales and improve the overall profitability ratio in case of retail sector. The leader
check that subordinates are working in a proper manner without making any wastage as it
increases the sales and allow to manage production functions smoothly and efficiently.
Six sigma: It is a methodology which tends to improve the overall process of business
with the probability of minimising the mistakes or defects from products. This method is adopted
by Next plc so that proper sequence of activities could be followed which tends to minimise
process cycle time as it maximises the satisfaction of customers as well as profitability within the
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confines of retailing industry. The leader would make sure that it provides proper guidance
among the team members so as to improve the overall quality of merchandise.
P5 Discuss the importance of operation management
The role of operation management is crucial as it deal with daily activities which
emphasise on making and distributing the merchandise in proper period of time in an efficient
manner. The leader would cut down the production rate so as to prevent excessive production
rate as it maintains effective operations of a business in a predetermined manner. In relation to
Next plc, the same is given beneath:
Wide varieties of product: The manager of Next plc produce different varieties of
merchandise and provide great emphasise on excellent offerings to their clients which build
customer loyalty and gain their trust. They scrutinise the activities of production process so that
the objective of rendering efficient quality of products could be attained (Tortorella and et.al.,
2018).
Judicious usage of resources: The manager of a concerned firm would focus on optimisation
of resources as proper utilisation of material and manpower would assist it to save cost. The
leader would eradicate such wastage of resources so that better efficiency could be enhanced.
Efficient organisational structure: The senior authority of Next plc would tend to maintain
systematic operations in their business by following a series of steps which bring coordination in
a workplace. They implement the principle of unity of direction and scalar chain and maintain
proper guidelines of business which improve the overall structure of a firm which in turn provide
valuable results.
P6 Determine several factors that have impact on operation management
There are several external factors which affect the decision making of a firm as it assesses the
availability of resources and has impact on its performance. The top management of Next plc
uses PESTLE analysis so that it could determine the growth level and affect the profit margin. It
is detailed below in a following manner:
Political element: This involve several factors which involve interference of government and
affect the business cycle of the company. UK is considered as the political stable country which
allow Next plc to make long term planning and constant rules and regulations due to constant
ruling parties. There is a great impact of Brexit on such a huge retail like Next plc which bring
undesirable consequences and lead to ineffective results (Zare and et.al., 2016).
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Economic element: This cover elements such as inflation, GDP, trade restrictions, monetary
policies and many more. The exit of Britain from European Union, namely Brexit has created
chaos and lead to adversities especially for retailing company like Next plc. Today, coronavirus
has deepened and widespread which provide negative outcomes as it affects the functioning of
retailing outlets.
Social element: In a modern era, customers are more conscious of their health as they prefer
modern lifestyles and live with high standards in UK. They are diverse in nature as they demand
greater quality of products so as to satisfy their needs and wants. The manager of Next plc would
tend to ensure quality specification so that it could meet the expectation of their clients.
Technological element: Being the developed nation, UK is technical advanced country
which provide ease and convenience facility to peoples. The introduction of online shopping and
ease in payment facility through electric mode by Next plc would generate greater transparency
within a marketplace.
Legal element: This involve several laws and legislations such as patent, copyright,
trademark and many more. The senior authority of Next plc abides such laws like health and
safety law, employment laws and data protection act which prove to be beneficial as it maintains
proper code of conduct so as to build a better reputation of a company at an international level.
Environmental element: This involve factors such as NGO’s, changes in climate and
weather and many more. In a today’s era, there are lot of environmental awareness taken by
government so that pollution could be minimised to a greater extent. The manager of Next plc
would adopt the strategy of 3R’s that is reduce, reuse and recycle and use renewable source
which bring sustainable development and also it conserves natural resource and create a proper
ecological balance.
CONCLUSION
From the above information, it can be summarised that both leader and manager is
considered as worth in an organisation which provide more value proposition by rendering a best
expertise solution among their clients. Also, leader and manager perform different work in which
the manager coordinate all the things in a predetermined manner while the leader would tend to
lead their team members and share the common purpose. Operation management is a concept
that deal with designing and monitoring the overall production process which ensure that
functions are performed with more efficiency and thus bring positive outcomes. Various
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approaches of same like TQM, just in time as well as six sigma is discussed in this report as
these put more focus towards the quality.
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