Management and Operations Assignment | Next plc

Management and
Operations

INTRODUCTION
Operations management is the management of business activities and practices to
generate the highest level of effectiveness and efficiency reliable within the firm it is concerned
with converting materials and human resource into products and services as appropriately to
increase the profit of a company. Within an organisation, it can be a process of planning,
managing, controlling and supervising the production and manufacturing process (Fayol, 2016).
This assignment is related to Next plc which is a British multinational clothing, footwear and
home products retail firm. This organisation was founded in 1864 in Joseph Hepworth and
headquartered in Enderby, Leicestershire, England, UK. This assignment will be discuss about
the difference between the role of a leader and function of a manager. Further, it will define an
appreciation of the role of leaders and managers play in the operations function of a company.
Understanding of the relationship between leadership and management in a contemporary
business environment will also be described in this report.
TASK 1
P1. Explanation and comparison between the roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager
Leader- It refers to an individual who help in encouraging and inspiring the people. In
Next Plc, it refers to a person who help in motivating employees of the firm so that they can
doing or playing their responsibilities and obligations in an impressive way. The leader provides
guidance to the persons so that they can efficiently accomplish their aims in given period of time.
Roles of a leader
 The leader assist in encouraging workers so that they can attain their objectives by using
their all efforts and effectiveness. The person plays an important role by proving a clear image and views about the vision
and mission of the task and objective.
Characteristics of a leader
 A leader has a good communication skill, ability to inspire and sense of humour which
help in encouraging employees and provide guidance to them related to task or work
(Gerasimov and Gerasimov, 2015).

 In Next Plc., the leader is confident and honest so they help the employees to inspire
them in bad situations when they are attaining their goals and feeling demotivate.
Manager- It indicates to an individual which is accountable for managing, controlling,
coordinating and maintain the firm's activities and operations (Higgins, Fitzpatrick and Dancho,
2015). In Next Plc., manager is a person who design strategies and policies for the effective
running of the company.
Roles of a manager
 In Next plc, the role of the manager is to design and set goals and objectives for the
development of the company. The manager maneuvers an impressive way in the company because they help in
transferring or providing information to the employees and subordinates about the
policies and new rule s or regulations of the company.
Characteristics of a manager
 In Next plc, the manger has good time management, communication and organisation
skill which help in maintaining and managing organisation function and activities.
 Cause of having creativity and innovative traits, they help in designing and developing
policies and strategies for the company.
Difference between leader and manager
Basis Manager Leader
Meaning It refers to a person who is
responsible for planning,
organising, controlling and
directing an organisation
operations.
A leader is an individual who
inspire and encourage
employees towards a particular
aim.
Approaches The manager provide detail
and proper information about
plans.
Leader set direction for
achieving a particular
objective.
Subordinate Employees are the subordinate
of a manager (Hosseinzadeh
Followers are the subordinate
of a leader.

and Salmasi, 2015).
Style A manager follows
transactional style.
A leader follows
transformational style.
Classical theory of management- It is also famed as the scientific theory of
management which is based on the beliefs that within an organisation the employees have only
economic and physical needs (Jabbari-Sabet, Moghaddas-Tafreshi and Mirhoseini, 2016). In
Next Plc., the management of the firm fulfil these needs of the workers by providing them job
satisfaction so that they useful in the development of the firm in term of profit maximization.
This theory is best suited to the company because it is only focused about productivity and not
any other desires of the employees.
Transformational theory of leadership- It is an effective theory of leadership which
help in making modification in single and cultural system and generate values for the favourable
change in the employees with the eventual aim of processing the multitudes into leaders. In Next
plc., this system of leadership is effective and suitable for the succession planning of the aims in
the firm so that the company will not face the shortage of leadership abilities and qualities in
future.
TASK 2
P2. How the roles of a leader and function of a manger apply in different situations
In Next pl., leader and manager both play essential roles and functions in the company by
developing strategies, polices and setting aims or objectives and motivating towards goals to
achieve them effectively. There are two examples in context of Next Plc which states that how
leader and manager play different role according to contrasting situations. They are as flowing:
Rapid change situation- It is a situation which refers to the high changes which are
occurred in the market due to change in the customers’ needs and wants. In Next plc. This
situation affects the strategies and polices of the company in unfavourable manner. When there
are generating changes in the taste and preferences of the customers due to change in trends and
fashion then they demanded products according to that. In this situation, the leader and manager
of the company organise and conduct market research so that they can identify consumers’ needs
and provide products according to them and help in organisational growth and development.

Conflict resolution- It is common in each organisation and it refers to a situation in which
all the member of a group or the employees of firm are not agree with a specific decision
(Johnstone, 2016). Next plc is an international brand and this firm operating its business in
different nations so recruit different employees from various nations and geographical locations.
These employees belong from different countries so follow different culture, beliefs, values and
languages. For example, when they are working in a group or team for achieving a common and
shared goal then there are various kind of conflicts arise related to language issues and others
(López and et. al., 2015). In this situation leader and manager play an effective role or provide
solution by analysing the situation. If the language are the main cause of the conflicts then they
can provide solution by making a solution to follow a particular language of the organisation like
English.
Classical theory of management- In Next plc., in the above situations the management of
the company can follow this theory to increase the profit and productivity of the firm. The
manager of the company follow this theory when they want to enhance the productivity of the
organisation. In the both situation they can use to provide proper guidance and decision making
to resolve issues and increase productivity.
Contingency theory of leadership- In Next plc., this theory of leadership can be
implement by the leaders in above mentioned situations to make change in the leadership style so
that they can lead the team according to the situation. It is beneficial for the firm because of the
leader monitor the situation and motivate the employees to resolve and overcome issues then
they will be inspired and work in the direction of attaining goals. In this company the
management of the company can follow different leadership style according to the situation.
P3. Application of different theories and models of approach
There are various theories and models that can be used by the leaders and managers of
Next Plc to maintain the morale and encourage them to attain the business objectives of the
company. These theories and models are as following:
Situational leadership theory- This theory is developed by Paul Harsey and Kenneth Blanchard
and it refers to a leadership approach in which roles and behaviours of leaders in Next plc. play
according to the situation. It is an adaptive leadership styles. There are four types of leadership
style in this theory like telling selling, participating and delegating which help in providing shape
to the leaders according to the situation (Morschett, Schramm-Klein and Zentes, 2015). In this

theory, the instructions and guidelines are mentioned to the employees so that they can work
according to them.
Strengths- This theory is beneficial for the management because the manager and leader
of the organization can follow leadership form accordant to the situation and guide or lead
employees according ton them. It is beneficial because it help in creating a comfortable
environment for workers.
Weaknesses- The weakness of situational leadership is that it is totally based i0on the
skill level of the leader and in some situation they may do more than good because they misread
the situation.
System leadership theory- It theory modify the leaders in an organization to generate the
conditions in which workers at all levels can perform their activities and duties effectively. This
leadership approach useful for leaders because in Next plc it help in creating a healthy and
friendly working environment where the employees of the firm can do their work expeditiously
(Nakamura and et. al., 2015). During the time of formulation of new strategies and polices which
are beneficial fro the future development of the firm, this leadership approach can be used by the
management. It can be used by the management of this company to enhance the productivity
and ensuring that the aims of the firm to be attained.
Strengths- This approach is beneficial for the company because it help in providing
clarity in complex situations. In next plc., the management can create a framework for generating
and building effective plans.
Weaknesses- It is a time consume activity because it is a lengthy process.
Contingency theory- This theory is developed by Fred Edward Fielder in 1964 and this
leadership approach is applied the management of the firm when the skills and abilities are
measured and help in motivating and encouraging employees of Next plc. According to this
theory, there are numerous factors that are frame an integral part of this leadership approach like
leade4r employees relationship, effective power of employees and task structure of a business
entity. This leadership approach runs on a two fold process in which skills of the leader and
situation of the firm both are monitored.
Strengths- The strengths of this leadership style is that the opinion of the employees are
also matters when the management take decision according to the situation. For Next plc., it is an

effective leadership approach because it help in providing a clear image of complex situation so
that the leader can develop policies and strategies according to that (Nunna and et. al. 2016).
Weaknesses- The main weakness of this theory is that some times the leader is not
prepared to deal with complex situation then the manger are responsible to manage the
environment and avoid undesirable aspects of environment.
TASK 3
P4. Key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and mangers play
There are various approaches to operation management, they are mentioned as below:
TQM(Time quality management)- This approach described as the activity of oversteering all
the task and activities required to improvement a trusted unwavering of quality that consist
generating and instrumentation of quality designing and sureness as well as quality control and
quality improvement. This approach majorly concentrate on the quality maintenance so that
customer show they loyalty. In Next plc., it is required a group efforts which explain that all the
employees required to indulge in manufacturing activity and also help in minimizing the wastage
for producing good quality products an services (Peng and et. al., 2015). This approach is
beneficial for this company because it help in making improvement in the culture of the
company. It refer to a continuous process in which the performance of the workers can be
evaluated and determined.
Roles of leader and mangers- the leader play an important role in it because the
individual help in establishing performance measurement for the process. Whereas the manger
insure nonstop betterment of the business and the manufacturing process.
Just in time- It is described as a strategy which is beneficial for increasing the efficiency and
minimizing the wastages through receiving products when they are required in the manufacturing
process. This approach is implement in Next plc. To manage overall inventory of the firm. This
approach is beneficial for the company because it help in reducing and minimizing eliminating
cost of inventory management and also help in decreasing business cost.
Roles of leaders and managers- The manager help in maintaining good relation with the
suppliers so that they can insure that the suppliers provide required amount of products. Leaders
help in determining the preconditions of all the equipments which are utilized in manufacturing
activities.

Continuous improvement- This approach defied as an approach which is applied by the
management of a company to make improvement in the business functions an activities (Reim,
Parida and Sjödin, 2016). It can be applied by the management of Next plc because the major
purpose of this approach is to eliminate wastes in different systems of a company by making
improvement in the activities and process of the business.
Roles of leaders and managers- Leader help in measuring the success and growth of the
team and the manger help in finding out those people who are work in performing particular
tasks.
P5. The importance and value of operations management in attaining business objectives
Operation management consist various process like overseeing, designing and controlling
of manufacturing and planing the business operations in the production of products and services.
Operation management is important because it help in controlling the system of the business and
manage activities of the operations (Thaler, Priest and Fuchs, 2016). It is beneficial because it
deals with the formulation, operation and development of the system which generate and transfer
a company basic commodities and service. The grandness of operation establishment can be
understand by the functions of operation management which is as following:
Process design- It is the important function of the operation management because it
assist in creating the production process by which the products an services are manufactured as
per the demands of the customers. In Next plc. It assist in fulfilling the desires and needs of the
customers by manufacturing production according to the requirement of the customers. The
effectiveness in the process design help the firm to enhance fecundity by implementing correct
process by applying the most achievable origins.
Capacity management- It is another essential purpose of the operation management
because it specifies the capability of the manufacture process. So that no extra goods and
products are manufactured by the grim. In Next plc. It is beneficial because it help in managing
finance and reduce wastage of the firm. It help in achieving the objective of the company by
manufacturing required number of goods and services. It is beneficial to reduce the cost of
manufacturing fro the excess products produced.
Inventory management- It is most essential for the company because with out proper
logistics support products can not be supplied to the market in time which can be affect the
demand of the goods in negative manner in from of decrement (Tian and et. al., 2015). In Next

plc., with the help of inventory management, the management of the company can manage the
finance and minimise the wastage which is occur during the time of production.
TASK 4
P6. The factors within the business environment that affect operational management and decision
making by leaders and managers
The business environment of the company are affected by the various external factors
which create impact on the operations of the business. In Next plc., it is most important for the
management department of the company to find out the impact of these external factors on the
business environment (Van der Merwe and et. al., 2017). So that it can develop and implement
effective strategies and polices to minimize the affect. There are various external factors that
affect business environment which is as following:
CSR(Corporate social responsibility)- It is described as a business concern formulation
which make contribution fro the sustainable growth of the firm through economic, social and
situational goodness to all the stakeholders. In next plc., the leader and manger play an important
role because they help in formulating polices fro the effective running of the company till long
period of time so that it can earn profit. The firm insure that a astronomic part of their CSR
argumentation is devoted towards the battlement of the society where the company is
establishing its business. This factor affect the decision making of the company as the contents of
the CSR policy make the company to make decision that are honorable and favourable for the
stakeholders.
Culture- It refer to customers, beliefs, ideas and social behaviour of the individuals of a
particular place. In Next plc., culture play an effective role in operation management during the
time of operation process in terms of effectively running work force. It affect the decision
making process of the company because the decision are taken by the management regarding a
product which is related to the culture of the customers and attracted them at high base and also
affect the operations of the firm.
Values- It refers to the the beliefs and standards of individual's behaviour. In next plc., it
considered as an important factor because the company manufacture produce products and
services according to the values and beliefs of the customers which provide satisfaction to them

(Webb, 2017). If they are according their needs then it help in accelerating the profit and
fecundity of the organization which positively affect the business environment of the company.
CONCLUSION
As per the above defined information it can be monitored that operation management is
beneficial for managing the business transactions and activities of a company so that it can
efficaciously running its business. Leaders and managers are also play and effective role in the
maturation and evolution of the organization by designing and formulating business strategies
and polices for the company. There are several theories and approaches which are also effective
for improving the skillfulness of operational management to effectively achieve business
objectives. Various components like CSR, Values and culture etc. make effect upon the
operation management and decision making on the leaders and managers.

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