Operations Management in Smart Systems

This assignment delves into the application of operations management principles within the context of smart systems, particularly focusing on the smart grid. It examines how concepts like demand response, risk management, and system integration contribute to efficient and resilient energy infrastructure. Students are encouraged to analyze real-world examples and explore the future directions of operations management in this evolving field.

MANAGEMENT AND
OPERATION

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................3
TASK 1..........................................................................................................................................................3
P1. Different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager.............................................................3
M1..............................................................................................................................................................5
TASK 2..........................................................................................................................................................5
P2 Examine the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in different situation.....................5
P3 Different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership,.....................................6
M2..............................................................................................................................................................8
D1...............................................................................................................................................................8
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................................9
P4 Key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers play...................9
P5 Importance and value of operations management in achieving Business objectives with reference to
the chosen organisation............................................................................................................................10
M3............................................................................................................................................................11
TASK 4........................................................................................................................................................11
P6Assessing the factors within the business environment that impact on operation and decision making
process-....................................................................................................................................................11
M4............................................................................................................................................................13
D2.............................................................................................................................................................13
CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES...........................................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Management and operation is a branch with in the business functions. Operation
management is an area of the company management concerned with the controlling and
designing of the production process and redesigning the operation of a business in the production
of the products and services (Pinkerton., 2011). Its includes the responsibility of the business
operations are in term of efficiency of using as few resources are needed in the operation of the
business. And its includes the effective term of the meeting with the consumers requirements
identify. Operation includes the all functions of the business such as marketing, finance and
human resources and the operation function required the management function to planing,
coordinating and managing the all operation functions.
This report following the Marks and Spencer company management and operations
functions. It is a multinational retailer company in the UK and its selling the clothing, home
products, and food products. Management and operation of the company are manage by the
manager of the company and head of the all departments. Company manage the operation
function such as designing of the clothing, home products and maintain the quality of the food
products in the production time.
TASK 1
P1. Different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager.
Leader- A leader of a group or a company have many form of educational level and background.
Some people born to be a leader skills and do not have a leadership skills needed to be lead a
group of persons to the top of a mountain. There are various characteristics of a leader of the
mark and spencer company-
Honesty- A leader always to be honest with the their employees or the team members of
the company. The mark and spencer leader being open and truthful with the understanding skill
to help the employees to give the information where they stand.
Communication- A leader must b e able to express their vision and the vision of the team
members (Nakayama and Bucks, 2012). This characteristics of a leader goes many ways such as

listening and understanding the others peoples quarries and motivate the peoples to accept the
new challenges.
Ability of delegate- A leader in the team environment does not take the all the task
required to complete a project alone its divide the task according to the peoples skill. The
company leader know the all group members strength and weakness. The leader utilized the all
members strength and how to grow the skills.
Manager- A manager manage the all function to the success of the business. Mark and spencer
have many manager in the different department such as operation, financial and human
resources. There are many characteristic of a manager-
Leadership- A good manger in the company able to lead the employees and its manage
the all activities of the different department. It give the guidance to achieve the objective of the
employees.
Planning- A manager know the company goals and objectives and how they achieve and
what steps are needed in achieving the goals (Rushton, Croucher and Baker, 2014). Its planning
for the achieving the goals and what communication steps are us in the process.
Problem-solving- A manager able to identify the problems and determine the best
solution techniques to solve the problems. Its identify he employees issues, customers problems
and vendors issues.
Roles of Leader and Manager of a Company
A leader or a manger is the representative of the company, its represent the company
meetings, seminars, conferences and other activities related to the management and operation
functions.
Leader and manger role is to communicate with the employees and identify he issues
related to the work environment and the groups of a company or an organization. In the Mark
and Spenser’s the role of a manager and leaders are very well defined their work.
Leader is the person whose role is to define employee’s instruction and guidance to a
group of individuals. In Mark and Spencer’s managers defines leaders their roles for work with
the employees and manage the all activities of the leader.

Managers manage the flow of work in an appropriate manner in the all departments
(Slack, 2015). This company leaders capabilities to run a successful store and control the retail
head office and franchisees stores in different countries.
M1
According to the traits theory the leader’s role is to analyzing mental, physical and social
characteristic of the leader in order to influence understanding their work in company. Traits
theory analyzed the trait among existing leaders in their responsibilities in the company. The
contingencies theory defines the two types of leaders roles in a relationship in a task oriented and
task oriented. In relationship oriented the leader must achieve their task, objectives and goals by
holding good relationship with the employees. In task oriented the leader have a task and its
prime concern to identity the activities are involve in the task. The managers make the decision
to identify the problem, analyses the different alternatives and select the best alternative in
situational approaches.
TASK 2
P2 Examine the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in different situation.
Functions of a leader and managers in different situations- Function of a manager in
different situation- to identify the problems and take the decision how to solve the problems.
There are various types of function are-
Planning- Manager first step involves the mapping of the all problems and decide the
what steps are needed to solve the problems (Edwards., 2013). Its present the ideas and invite the
questions situation of the decision allow the subordinate to raise the question on the decision that
manger took himself in order to implement the solution of the problem.
Organizing- After planning to set the all steps to solve the problems the manger and
leader need to organizing the material us in the plan. A leader manage the employees activities
and the manager identify the leader activities in the plan.
Staffing- A manger in the different situation to manage the company staff and its issues
related to the work environment. The situation of present a tentative decision that is subject to
change by the manager change the decision according to the subject and that process the decision

will not be the one side the subordination are also the part of it, but the final decision will be
taken by managers of Mark and spender's.
Leading- In a different situation manager need to plan, organize and staffing the team
members to achieve the goals and solve the problems (Burke., 2013). Its involves the leading the
staff to motivating, guiding, open communication and encouraging the employees.
Controlling- Manager and leader set the all elements are the right place to solve the
problem. Manager need to check the result of employees regularly and take the right decision for
any mistake.
Role of Leader- Leaders of the marks and spencer group have to act as advocates for the change
in the different level of the company these are the representative the change in front of their
employees, the hire ups. In the company the leader have to be supportive in the uncertain
situation to effectively solve the problem (Rani and Moreira., 2010). The failure of a task of the
employees the leader motivate their employees for complete the task with the positive results.
Leaders hold the people of the company accountable for the change and upload the agreement
and make sure that others do the same. A effective leader recognize that change cannot happens
unless they fulfill the role that only authority can and it support and clarifies the role need to fill
in different situation.
Role of manager- Manager of the company play a interpersonal role to cover the relationship
with the others. Manager play a role of the figureheads because of the company formal authority
and a position as a symbolic to represent the goals and objectives of the business. As a leader the
manager to identify the need of the organization and their employees are under their command.
P3 Different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership,
There are various types of leadership theories use by the company in the different
situation. There are some theories such as contingency, trait, behaviour and situational theories.
Contingency theory- According to the Marks & Spencer contingency theories states that the
effectiveness of the leadership that depends on the different situation and there are various
factors which affect these theories. Company use the various elements in this theory-

Leadership Style- This style in the company of interacting with the subordinates and the
degree of the situation gives the best control to the leader. Task-Directed by the leader to
complete the task and ensure that the task is completed within time and with desired performance
(Wirtz, 2011). It deals in the human relation to achieving good interpersonal relations and
maintain a good environment for the members .
Define the Situation- Its includes the relation of the leader have the degree of the trust,
confidence and respect to the other peoples. The leader are create the structure of the different
task according to the job assignments.
Matching leader and situation- Knowing the style of the leadership and define the
situation to choose the right leader to fit for the any situation.
Implications of Contingency approach- Leadership style is not appropriate in all
situations and its achieve organizational effectiveness. The leaders are selected according to the
situation can handle the particular situation of the company. Leaders who are task-oriented have
the strongest positive effect on the employees to complete the task. Relationship motivate the
leaders work well in large groups of the peoples (Chen, Wu and Fu, 2012). Leader effectiveness
depend on various factors like situation, type of task, amount of pressure one can handle in a
tough situation, interpersonal relationship with the co-members.
Criticism of Contingency approach-
 The model does not explain how a leader’s performance affects the performance of the
group.
 The lack of explicit leader behaviours and intervening variables limit the utility of the
approach.
 Selection of leader to fit the situation does not always satisfy the requirements.
 Any changes made in the task structure should be guided by the concern for efficient use
of workforce and resources.
Behavioural theory- This theory focus on the leader behave in the organisation with their
employees. Its involves their team in decision making to encourage the employees for
correctively behave with the customers. The autocratic leader behave to make decision with out
involving their team members. Democratic leaders allow to provide put the inputs before taking
decision.

Trait theory- This theory in the company use for the argue that the effective to share the
common personality characteristic with their employees. Its identify the qualities of the
employees to help in the leading the others. Its represent the external behaviour that emerge from
the different things are going ion the employees mind and its internal behaviour related to the
beliefs and processes are important for the effective leadership to achieve the company goals and
objectives.
M2
There are various type of approaches in the contingency leadership and situational leadership etc.
each approach have some strength and weakness which are as follows:
Situational leadership: This approach is supportive for the organization in order to
influence employees toward the work (Varaiya, Wu and Bialek, 2011). Further this approach is
practical and easily understood by manager of Marks & Spencer Ltd. Its strength is that leader
change there way of performing as per different situation and choose the best alternatives help in
the solving the problems. On the other hand its weakness is that sometime employees feel
pressure of work under this approach and they are not able to performing the task.
Contingency leadership style: In this style leader of M&S Ltd involve its employees in
decision making process. Strength of this leadership style is that leader motivates the employee
for working with the more efforts to increase in production and achieve the timely goal. While its
weakness is that all power and authority is in leader hand so it direct employees toward the work
and not involve with them in their work.
D1
Theories and approaches of leadership is as follows:
 Trait theory of leadership- This theory use by the in the company for the argue that the
effective to share the common personality characteristic with their employees for
motivate to complete the challenges. Its measuring the effectiveness of leadership in the
different situation face by the employees. Leader under this theory have capability to
inspire the employees for achieving goal and take the right decision in any situation.
Further it is evaluated that leader work with full motivation and self-confident.

Behavioral trait theory- This theory focus on the leader behave in the organisation with their
employees. Its involves their team in decision making to encourage the employees for
correctively behave with the customers (Kim and et. al., 2010). This type of leader at Marks &
Spencer company to support in effective decision making which assist organization to
accomplish goal and objective on time and manage the all function in any critical situation. It is
evaluated that leader of this style are best predictor and encourage team member for achieving
target.
TASK 3
P4 Key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers play.
According to Marks and Spencer the Role of leaders in management with respect to
Operations management are as follows:
Communication- Leadership is influencing others, and this cannot be achieved by
effective communication. Communication is one of most important factors in the operations so
as to explain the workforce as to what exactly is to be done, understand the problems of
members, communicate with the so to work effectively.
Representative of the organization- A leader is the representative of the enterprise who
represents the organization at various platforms for e.g. seminars, conferences, board meetings
etc.
Integrates and reconciles personal goals with the organizational goals- A leader helps
in reconciling/ integrating the personal goals of the employees with the organizational goals. His
role is to co-ordinate the efforts of the people towards a common purpose and thereby achieving
the organizational goals and objectives (Mention, 2011). This can be done only if he can
influence people around him and get willing co-operation and urge to accomplish the objectives.
Sharing Burden of Risk- Leader’s role is to motivate employees by sharing the risk with
them. Through coaching, a leader can encourage an employee to set goals and work efficiently
and effectively.
Motivating and Caring- Role of leader is to motivate his employees and show concern
whenever his employees have problems and help them in resolving their issues.

As a guide: One of the most important role is to be a guide to his subordinates. A leader
must be a guide to give the right direction to their employee in the business work environment.
He should a friend by sharing the feelings, opinions and desires with the employees. He can be a
philosopher by utilizing his intelligence and experience and thereby guiding the employees as
and when time requires (Talk, 2016). He can be a guide by supervising and communicating the
employees the plans and policies of top management and secure their co-operation to achieve the
goals of a concern. At times he can also play the role of a counsellor by counselling and a
problem-solving approach. He can listen to the problems of the employees and try to solve them.
P5 Importance and value of operations management in achieving Business objectives with
reference to the chosen organisation.
Operation management play crucial role in the marks and spencer company in order to
make high quality products and services and give the better quality for their customers.
Operation management support in increasing the sale and profit of Marks & Spencer Ltd.
Through this company can easily measure the present demand of customer in order to meet their
expectation. Elements of operation management are very important for carrying out the
production process in appropriate manner. Designing the cloths and home products by the
designer according to the customer choice and according to new market trends. There are many
element of the partition management system are related to the business value such as production
of the products and services to provides with the best quality for the customers. For example
flexibility, quality and speed etc. this all elements are required to keep in mind by production
department at the time of making product and services. Moreover there are different valuable
concepts of operations management which are required for achieving organizational goal and
objective. Marks & Spencer Ltd operation management system is not much effective which
become barrier for delivering high quality product and services to customer (Diabat., 2011).
Further this department not only deal with external activities but also with internal activities.
Operation management department required to make proper coordination with different
department such as sales, customer relationship management etc. this all department provide
information which support in carrying out production activities. Customer relationship
management department help in collecting information regarding the view and opinion of
customer for the product and services. on the other side information gather from marketing
department assist manager of production department to modify product and services as per the

current demand of customer. Operational management assist in enhancing the productivity of
Mark & Spencer Ltd. And decrease the cost of production. If productivity of organization is
review than it help in assessing the performance of employees. Leader of operation management
make sure that all scared resources used effectively without wasting them. Further it make sure
that workers who work under operation management must be highly skilled and possess
technical knowledge in order to make high quality product and services. operation manager role
to ensure that all workers work under safe working place so that they not get harmed at the time
of working. Operation management need to use the new technology and techniques in the
production system and create the new designs of the clothing target to the young customer. Its
create the new home products with the reasonable price the customer are able to buy (Govindan,
2011). In the operation management system the marl and spencer innovate some thing new to
maintain the quality and quantity of the products.
M3
According to marks and spencer can improved its operational management by adopting the new
different methods related to the management, working conditions or working environment
related to the culture and organizations people in the higher level to lower level work flow to a
greater extent (Tang and Musa, 2011). Efficiency is the total effectiveness durability and viability
towards work by adopting certain methods leaders and managers are helpful to improve efficient
operational management. These methods include motivating factors, self-awareness among
employees and organizational culture, self-regulation, empathy, social skills, inspiration,
charisma and intellectual and individual consideration.
Self-awareness means means to aware the all situation in the company to perception of ones
feelings, strong point, weak points, requirements, demands and expectations. It includes honest
people self-dependence with others and themselves. Self-understanding includes self-
understanding of motives, thoughts, ideas and feeling.
Motivation means emotional intelligence that the leader has a great desire to achieve than to than
to obtain a good salary, impressive title or status (Shen and et. al 2010). By motivating employees
managers and leaders play a vital role in the organization with their roles and responsibilities
towards the organization.

TASK 4
P6Assessing the factors within the business environment that impact on operation and decision
making process-
In the company there bare internal and external factors which impact on the managers
and leader decision making process of the mark and spencer company. Those are factors-
Internal factors- Internal factors are include the financial, human resources and operation factors
are impact on the decision making process-
Financial variables- In the operation function management are depend on the financial
function. For instance the mark and spencer company dose nor have high finance for adopted the
new technology in the production of the clothing and the home production and to maintain the
quality of the services (Logenthiran, Srinivasan and Shun., 2012). This misled is impact on the
operation process an also effect the decision of the manager and the leader.
Internal relation- There are investors , owner, workers and managers of the company
they all are maintain the interrelationship with the each other and take decision about the any
situation that impact ion the company profitability. The mark and spencer leader maintain a
strong relationship with their team members that effect on the decision process and they r proper
lead the operating process.
Value system- Mark and spencer company have its own value chain system use the
employees and managers to work together and maintain the all activities includes in the
operation management process. Value chain system affected by the delay in the making decision
by the managers and leaders about the designing of the products.
External factors- External factors are related to the outside environment of the company which
are impact on the decision making process and internally operation management. Its including
the supplier, customers, competitors those are effect on the decision making process by the
leaders and managers.
Competitors- There are many competitors in the market that affect by the advantages,
profitability, technology and products differentiation (Cordray and et. al 2015). Competitors of
the mark and spencer company effected by the different types of products and services.

Suppliers- A suppliers are ply an important role in the supply chain system. Suppliers of
the mark and Spenser company supply the raw material for the production of the new products
and services and its also supply the finished products to the end users. Some times the price of
the suppliers are effect on the decision making ad operation process.
Customers- Customer are play a vital role in the mark and spencer for help in decision
making in the design of the cloths and the home products and the demand of the products are
impact on the decision making about the set the prices of the products.
M4
There are many different factors that affect on the internal and external environment of
the mark and spencer company and its decision making process. Some of the factors are political
elements are impact on the sales volume and its profitability (Tuncel and Alpan., 2010). He
company are not use the new and advance technology then its also impact on the business
performance because the company are not able to innovate the new products and services. The
company are need to a market research for identify the demand of the new customers.
D2
A critical evaluate by the manger and the leader to all application of the operation
management and those factors are impact on the company profitability. The products and
services provide the customers regularly that the clients are not switch the buy the products and
services. There are many employees are need for the training ad development in the work
process of the business and the proper guidance by the mangers and the leader to solve the
problems (Oh and et. al., 2011). All the negative factors are need to monitor and replace by the
new positive factors that are not affected on the operation and decision making process.
CONCLUSION
On the basis of this report conclude that the marks and spencer company’s operation and
management system affected by the decision of the manager and the leader. Identify the different
role of the manger and ladder in the company and ho to maintain the all function of the
organization. Determine the different leadership theories and these theories are related to the
different roles of the leader in the company. Determine the many key approaches use by the
manager in the operation process and importance of the operation management system to help in

achieve the company goals and objectives. The mark and spencer use the different operation
process to maintain the profitably. Managers are identify those factors are related to the business
environment such as internal and external factors. At the end that are conclude the managers and
leader are play the different role in the different situation in the business and to support to the
achieve the company goals and objectives.
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ONLINE
Management and operation. 2017. [Online]. Available through.
<http://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/operations-management.asp>. [Assessed on 9h May 2017].
Management and operation. 2017. [Online]. Available through. <
https://www.cleverism.com/operations-management-definition-principles-activities-trends/ >. [Assessed
on 9th May 2017.