Operations Management and Sustainability

This assignment is focused on exploring the concepts of operations management, with an emphasis on sustainability and its impact on business practices. It covers topics such as sustainable supply chain management, group technology applications, behavior-based analysis of knowledge dissemination channels, and more. The assignment also touches upon humanitarian operations and crisis management, solution business models, and plug-and-play pathways for operations management games development.

Management and Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................3
P1 Define and compare role and characteristic of leader and manger........................................3
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................4
P2 Role and functions of leader required under different situation............................................4
P3 Different theories and models applied in organisation..........................................................6
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................7
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................7
P4 Key approaches to operational management and role played by manager and leader..........7
P5 Importance of operations management in achieving business objective...............................8
LO 4.................................................................................................................................................9
P6 Factors within business environment that affects operational management..........................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
There is important role of manager to plan business operations. There are many plans and
policies framed by manager which has to be applied in operations of organisation. Manager has
functions such as planning, organising, directing, controlling, etc. It is important for manager to
analyse changes employees behaviour and then take corrective measures (Brandenburg and et.
Al, 2014). There are many employees with different mindset in organisation so managing large
personnel is not easy task. There are changes happening business so it is important to implement
in appropriate manner. In this report. M & S is retail store deals in clothing which is discussed in
this report. M & S has to mange its operations to make same goodwill in market. In this report
roles and characteristics of managers and leader, its relevance in different situations, theories and
approaches of leadership are discussed. There is important role of operations management in
achieving business goals and objectives and there are factors which impact decision of company.
TASK 1
LO 1
P1 Define and compare role and characteristic of leader and manger
Definition of Manager
Manager is a person who plan and direct the activities of company. He is linkage between
top level management and subordinates. In M&S there is head i.e. known as team leader or
project manager.
Definition of Leader
Leader is an individual who guides team to achieve task in best and appropriate manner.
They directs the activities of team member, this will help to accomplish task easily and smooth.
Role of Manager
There are many roles and responsibilities of manager in organisation. It is essential to
make employees aware about their duties and responsibilities (Bureau and Hua, 2010). Some
role of manager are discussed below: Futuristic approach- Manager has to take different decision related to future, so it is
important to analyse all the aspect and then take appropriate outcome. There is
requirement of much care and diligence which will help to smoothly plan different
operations.

 Risk management- Business has many types of risk and it is important that manger has to
plan different activities related to future, so it is necessary that manager should know how
to manage uncertainty and take appropriate actions.
Role of Leader
Leadership is not easy, there are many problems faced by leader. It is important to
monitor team and hence leader has to possesses many qualities and of dynamic nature. Morale development- This is important for every person to make task achievable. If will
of person is positive then results are also favourable, so leader has to make efforts to
motivate employees to give best to achieve target (Chen and et. al., 2011).
 Confident behaviour- Personality of leader must be confident so that he/ she can insist
team mate to perform operations. There is important role of leader in generating
confidence in employees. This will help employees also to present their views
confidently.
Difference between Manager and Leader
Difference between manager and leader are as follows-
LEADER MANAGER
Leader leads whole team and works with
whole team in achieving targets.
While manager guide personnel regarding
achieving objectives.
Leaders create familiar relations with team
mates and motivates them to achieve tasks.
While Managers work under proper hierarchy
and create professional relations with
subordinates.
Leader assign task as per skills and efficiency
of employees.
While manager assign aiming at achieving
targets.
Leader asks about problems. Manager commands direction to employees.
Leader aims at long run in industry this
motivates employees to give their best.
Manager frames policies for achievement of
short term goals.

LO 2
P2 Role and functions of leader required under different situation
There are many departments in organisation with different roles and responsibilities. It is
responsibility of manager to good environment in company. In M&S there are departments like
store, manufacturing purchase, etc. these departments are linked with each other. So it is
important to keep coordination among them which will lead to smooth running of business. As
there is change in plans and policies it is responsibility of manager to deliver such changes to
subordinates. This can be done more perfectly when employees are cooperative (Closs, Speier
and Meacham, 2011). Sometimes personnel do not want to accept changes so manger has to
analyse problem faced by worker and try to resolve them. Hence manager has to convince
employees. There are many actions taken by manager with regard to future hence this is
responsibility leader to communicate those changes to lower level personnel of M&S manager is
most important link between top level management and subordinates. They deliver plans and
policies framed by top level personnel to subordinates and informations and queries from
superior to operational level. Different operations can not be possible without interference of
manager. It is important to insist employees to perform their duties with full energy, which will
ultimately influences companies image in positive manner. Training and learning program- These days changes are happening very frequently. To
compete in existing world M&S has to apply those changers frequently and make good
image in market. There are possibilities that personnel does not like to switch to new
things. They are satisfied in what they learn, in this case manager plays vital role. Manger
has to frame policies which are associated with the growth of employee. There is
requirement of guidance to apply any changes in operations, there is need to analyse
which option has to opt. Motivating employees- In organization employees are the main component to accomplish
goals and targets, so manager has to motivate employees to perform efficiently. Firstly
manager itself has to to dynamic and flexible, which will help to create workers
enthusiastic in their operations. Motivated staff will ready to new learn things to improve
efficiency and this will help to increase goodwill in market (DeHoratius and Rabinovich,
2011).

 Creating good employer and employee relationship- Manager of M&S performs duty to
crate good environment in organisation. This will help to reduce communication gap in
company, so that there will be no confusion in the operations and employees are also
clear that to whom they are accountable. There will be no overlapping of activities and
this will reduce time and cost of production. Manager can deliver some authority with
responsibility so they are satisfied and aware about their actions. In M&S this is
beneficial because there are many outlets all over the world, so if manager has some
power there will be ease in their operations.
P3 Different theories and models applied in organisation
In organisation there are many operations which has to be accomplished by employees,
so there is requirement of proper guidance to personnel (Drake and Spinler, 2013). It is
important that manger has to make efforts to reduce the negative effect of changes over
operations. Manager of H&M use following approaches-
Situational leadership: This leadership approach is launched by Dr. Paul Hersey. This approach
is used by big organisations to make efforts in influencing personnel working in company. This
approach says that there is change in behaviour of person as per change in situation. It is
important to make efforts to create good relations between employer and employee. This
approach can be applied in four stages-
 Diagnose: : This steps aims at analysing what is problem and then manager see what is
reaction of personnel towards change. It is necessary to have control over reactions of
employees but this is only after diagnosing the situation.
 Adapt: This steps says that there is need adopt changes so that manger can modify its
plans and policies. This can be only possible because if manager motivates subordinates
to work under dynamic nature.
 Communicate: This step focus on good communication between employee and
employer so that change can be adopted properly. In case employee feel problem in
accepting alteration then it can communicate its problem and he/she provide better
solution to over come them. Advance: This step focus on taking corrective actions so that future path can be
foresighted (Ghiani and et. al., 2014).

System leadership- This leadership provides insist on proper system in organization. This gives
emphasis on hierarchy in organisation. There are closed or open system, in which M&S follows
open system, so they get affected with the change in external environment.
Contingency approach- Business operates in society and there are environmental various factors
which affects it. This approach says that environment is dynamic so react towards change.
Company must emphasis to frame policies which targets to achieve goals and objectives.
Management by operation: This leadership approach is giver by peter Drucker in 1954. This
approach says that every employee in company has some task to perform and they are advised to
achieve in best and appropriate manner. This will help in achieving targets on time and in better
manner. But there is important of team leader to motivate and guide workers (Gimenez, Sierra
and Rodon, 2012).
TASK 2
LO 3
P4 Key approaches to operational management and role played by manager and leader
There are varieties of operations in M&S as there are many units. This will create hurdle
in managing personnel to operate in systematic manner. Hence M&S use different techniques
which will help manger to control the activities. These approaches help to improve goodwill of
company in market by providing utmost satisfaction to employees. It is essential that manger has
to analyse situation and then apply changes in operations. There are internal as well as external
factors which affects the management skills of manager this will influence employees too. Some
approaches used by M&S in their operations are as follows: Just in time- This approach is good as this emphasis on reducing wastage. This
approaches says when there is demand arises then only company should order raw
material, this will help to reduce maintenance cost of raw material. In case of change in
fashion, company does not face any kind of loss due to outdated material. But to make
this approach successful it is necessary that manager have good relations with distributors
so raw material are whenever required. Lean production- This approach also focuses on reduction wastage and optimum
utilisation of resources. This approaches says that manger has to plan operations in such
that there are minimum wastage while production. This will help to reduce cost of

product and services. In M&S there has clothing segment, there are chances of more
wastage so this approach is beneficial in tat unit (Ham, Hitomi and Yoshida, 2012). Six Sigma- This approach says that the goal and objective of company is to increase profit
and customer satisfaction, which can be done through satisfying needs of customer. So
according to this approach, the objective of manager has to provide best quality product
and services at best price. When there is good image of brand in market then it ultimately
boost confidence of employees and they perform with full energy. Continuous improvement- This approach suggests that must be regular improvement in
product and services in industry, this will help to satisfy needs whenever arises. There is
important role of manager to check whether production is happening in best way or not.
In case of M&S, there are possibilities that there is more need of jeans in winters so there
must be regular production to satisfy need, this will help to increase faith of customer in
brand.
 Total quality management- This approach says that manager must focus on improving
quality of product, this will help in increasing good will of company. This can be done
when manager insist employees to reduce defects and improve quality of product and
services. M&S is a big brand which aims to improve brand image through more and more
customer satisfaction (Holsapple and Lee-Post, 2010).
Role played by manager and leader
Above discussed management approach can not be applied without joint efforts of
manager and leader. There will be requirement of proper eyes on the actions of employees to
apply proper management skills by manager. It is essential that manager has to give emphasis on
performance of employees so that overall performance of company improves. There must be
strategies related to performance of employees and there must be reward recognition to
employees.
P5 Importance of operations management in achieving business objective
Operation management means managing activities in most appropriate manner. It is
responsibility of manager to keep eyes on operations of organizations. In case of negative action
manager can take corrective actions to control them. To improve performance of company
employees skills has to be enhanced. Manager of M&S use strategies such as good performance
by person will get chance to take participate in management of company. Operation manager is

important in generating revenues and image in market. There must be good relations among
employees within organisation. There are many factors tat affects business operations so it is
responsibility of manager reduce its negative effect (Kusluvan and et. al., 2010).
Role of operation management
Operation management has important role in current scenario. There are many changes
happening in business environment, so it is important for manager to apply such modification in
plans and policies. In case they do not change customer does not get satisfied and switch to other
competitive brand. Policies of operation management will try to emphasis on providing ease in
operations of company. There must be policies which help to improve working style of
employees and in case of failure of working under such conditions then corrective actions has to
be taken.
Importance of operation management Improve in quality of goods and services- Improves in quality will help in achievement of
primary goal of company i.e. increment in profits. There must be policies related to
employees that there must be reward and punishment in case of positive and negative
performance. This will help to improve revenue percent of company and employee get
chance to take participate in management practices (Laudon and Laudon, 2016). Increase in brand name- Brand image of M&S is very good in market, but manager
thinks to improve and try to earn more faith and trust of customer. This can only be
happen when employees perform with their full dedication. As much as goodwill increase
profits also increases but at the same time it is responsibility of manager to maintain that
image. Delegating power and authority- There are many small and big activities which aims to
achieve goals and target of organization. In M&S there are distribution of some authority
so that they can perform their task smoothly. This will help to make long relationship
with employees and they are aware about how to deal with different situations in
company.
 Minimize defects and reduction in production time- Production is done by lower level
employees in M&S. This point is beneficial for company and this improves efficiency of
employee. Operation manager will emphasis on performance of employees. In case they

are not performing as per benchmarks, then there is requirement of taking corrective
actions.
LO 4
P6 Factors within business environment that affects operational management
Business performs its operations in society and these days there are numerous changes
happening In environment. This will impact operations of company al;so. It is responsibility of
manager to analyse market and then take corrective actions. Not only external but also internal
factors are affecting business operations (Starr and Van Wassenhove, 2014). External factors are
not in control of management of company, while strategies must be formed to reduce impact of
external factors. Manager has to modify its plans and policies in order to achieve and targets.
This modification is a time and cost consuming process so it is essential that properly analysis
must be there. Stakeholder- There are many stakeholders for M&S. stakeholders involves customer,
supplier, creditor, etc. they have interest in dealings of company. While to make any
change in operations it is important to deliver that change to them and in case of any
query it must be solved. Top level management has to take actions to inform them about
changes happening in environment and its on business. CSR- CSR stands for corporate social responsibility. There are utilization of amnay
resources for accomplishment of goals and objectives, so there must be activities
performed to revert them back. These activities also affects business opearions and
manger has to alter its plans and policies (Storbacka, 2011).
 Business ethics: This means there must be good environment in company. This can be
achieved with the help of leader. He/she has to take corrective action then there will be
possibilities that employees are aware that someone is there ito keep watch on their
activities. There is requirement of employees involvement in making policies more
effective.
 Intrapreneur- They are people who are ready to accept changes. But it is important to
convey change reasons and impact of such change. These intrapeneur encourage changes
and they motivate to apply new and innovative ideas. There are possibilities that these
people does not like the change and reject, it affects operations.

These factors affects business operations of M&S and manager has to change its plans
and policies. These days there is important role of CSR activities and organisation compulsorily
has to donate some percent f their revenue towards society. So as per change in environment
manger has to modify plans and policies and communicate it to subordinates so that is proper
application of it.
Manager has to create coordination among different sources through which company get
make appropriate use of resources. Stakeholders are the main component which help to improve
goodwill of company (Tan, Tse and Chung, 2010). There must be involvement of employees in
managing different operations so that company use use new and innovative ideas and workers
also feel confident.
CONCLUSION
Through this report it is understood that there is important role of man anger and leader in
successful running of business. In general leader and manager sounds to be synonyms but actual
they are not, there is difference in their roles and responsibilities. There are many employees in
organisation so it is not compulsory that same theory is applied on each and every employees. It
responsibility of manager or leader to apply theory as per employees behaviour. There are
various departments in company having different roles but it is compulsory to keep linkage
between units, this will help in smooth running of business operations and there is no
overlapping of activities. This will overall improves quality of product and services with
minimum wastage. It is responsibility of manager and leader to provide best assistance to
subordinates so that they can work efficiently and effectively.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Brandenburg, M. and et. al, 2014. Quantitative models for sustainable supply chain management:
Developments and directions. European Journal of Operational Research. 233(2).
pp.299-312.
Bureau, D. P. and Hua, K., 2010. Towards effective nutritional management of waste outputs in
aquaculture, with particular reference to salmonid aquaculture operations. Aquaculture
Research. 41(5). pp.777-792.
Chen, X. and et. al., 2011, March. KnowOps: Towards an Embedded Knowledge Base for
Network Management and Operations. In Hot-ICE.
Closs, D. J., Speier, C. and Meacham, N., 2011. Sustainability to support end-to-end value
chains: the role of supply chain management. Journal of the Academy of Marketing
Science. 39(1). pp.101-116.

DeHoratius, N. and Rabinovich, E., 2011. Field research in operations and supply chain
management.
Drake, D. F. and Spinler, S., 2013. OM Forum—Sustainable Operations Management: An
Enduring Stream or a Passing Fancy?. Manufacturing & Service Operations
Management. 15(4). pp.689-700.
Ghiani, G. and et. al., 2014. Operations research in solid waste management: A survey of
strategic and tactical issues. Computers & Operations Research. 44. pp.22-32.
Gimenez, C., Sierra, V. and Rodon, J., 2012. Sustainable operations: Their impact on the triple
bottom line. International Journal of Production Economics. 140(1). pp.149-159.
Ham, I., Hitomi, K. and Yoshida, T., 2012. Group technology: applications to production
management. Springer Science & Business Media.
Holsapple, C.W. and Lee-Post, A., 2010. Behavior-based analysis of knowledge dissemination
channels in operations management. Omega. 38(3-4). pp.167-178.
Kusluvan, S. and et. al., 2010. The human dimension: A review of human resources management
issues in the tourism and hospitality industry. Cornell Hospitality Quarterly. 51(2).
pp.171-214.
Laudon, K. C. and Laudon, J. P., 2016. Management information system. Pearson Education
India.
Starr, M. K. and Van Wassenhove, L. N., 2014. Introduction to the special issue on humanitarian
operations and crisis management. Production and Operations Management. 23(6).
pp.925-937.
Storbacka, K., 2011. A solution business model: Capabilities and management practices for
integrated solutions. Industrial Marketing Management. 40(5). pp.699-711.
Tan, K. H., Tse, Y. K. and Chung, P. L., 2010. A plug and play pathway approach for operations
management games development. Computers & Education. 55(1). pp.109-117.
Online
Introduction to Operations Management. 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.coursera.org/learn/wharton-operations>.