Management & Operations Assignment Solution - M&S

Management and
Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................6
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................6
P1 Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager.........6
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................9
P2 Role of leader and function of manager in various situational context.................................9
P3 Theories and several approaches of leadership....................................................................10
TASK 3 .........................................................................................................................................11
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................13
P5 Value and importance of operational management in achieving business objectives.........13
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................14
P6 Factors which impact upon operational management and decision-making.......................14

INTRODUCTION
In today's business scenario of immense competition management an operation forms the
key competency for a firm to attain growth and sustainability. Management forms foremost
function of a firm which can be describes as the ability of getting work done through people by
coordinating their efforts towards one objective and to attain it with proper focus within
deadlines. Operation function is related and specific towards managing whole process of
conversion of raw material into the end finished goods and to handle any issues or problems that
relates to a product design and its production. M&S is an international brand dealing in clothing,
home products, food products etc. It was establishes in 1884 and with its headquarters in
London, UK (Botton, Cavalletto, and Marmeggi, 2013).The assignment will explain about the
contrasting and complementing functions and roles of leaders and mangers along with
implication of them in reference to the organisation. It will also explain the application of
operation management and various factors impacting business environment.
TASK 1
P1 Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager
M&S is one of the top and biggest brand in retail industry and specialises in its clothing range,
luxury food products, cosmetics, furnitures, home products etc. It has business operations
running in more than 30 nations which company manages with its proficient team of more than
84939 employees and 2000 suppliers across the world. Its has around 1035 stores which
generates a revenue of 9.60 billion pounds every year for the company.
M&S applies and follow a flat organizational structure which implies limited levels in
hierarchy of operations i.e. between top management and their front line employees. M&S in
recent time has also introduced new committee of four executive’s directors that are responsible
for company's four major divisions comprising food, women wear, beauty and cosmetics and
international operations and for successful commencement of their day to day operations
(Expósito and et. al., 2016).

Manager: Manager is a person who is responsible for combining efforts of all its work force
guiding them to achieve organization's pre set objectives. Manger is also accountable to
undertaken various functions initiating from planning process to its execution and controlling.
Leader: A leader is an individual who is having ability to influence its followers by motivating
them to work with best of their efforts for successfully completing their assigned task.
Role of manager
Informational Role: M&S mangers is responsible for analysing all the information related to
firm's micro and macro environment and to handle and communicate it to all its stakeholders
comprising its employees, shareholders etc.
Interpersonal role: It forms one of the most important role of managers of M&S where in they
coordinate the efforts of their workforce by guiding them in right direction essential to attain
firms objectives. He is to act as a figurehead by taking various decisions in response to market
dynamics to maintain and enhance growth of firm (Eyal and Haim, Clarizen Ltd., 2014).
Characteristic of managers
Knowledgable: One of the main and essential characteristics for a manger of M&S is to be well
versed with all the knowledge related to his field of operations so that he can make necessary
tactics for achieving strategies formulated by top management , can handle the issues arising in
business or to be proactive in making relevant changes in company's strategies in reference to
changing occurring in its market.
Team building : Another important characteristics of M&S mangers for which they are known
is their team building quality. Mangers encourages its team by providing them opportunity to
interact with each other, addressing their issues and recognizing their good work and efforts.
Role of Leadership
 As a role of Motivator: The most prior and prominent role of a leader in M&S is to
motivate its team mates for efficiently completing their assigned job by putting their best
efforts and dedication towards it. For fulfilling this role a leader asses the personal
aspirations and objectives of its employees, induce them with necessary skills and
knowledge through proper training and development and align firms goals with their
personal aims. This motivates employees to work with full dedication and enthusiasm to
attain those assigned objectives.