Operations Management in Business

This assignment delves into the core principles of operations management within a business context. It explores key topics such as strategic planning for operational efficiency, the design and optimization of production processes, quality management strategies, and the role of technology in modern operations. The provided text references various academic sources and industry best practices to illustrate these concepts.

Management and Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1. Roles and Characteristics of leader and manager.................................................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................2
P2. Role of leader and function of manager in different organisational context........................2
P3. Different theories and approach model.................................................................................4
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................5
P4 Important approaches to operations management and the role of leaders and managers......5
P5 Values and worth of operations management in achieving business aims............................7
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................8
P6 Ingredients within the enterprise environment which influence functional management and
decision-making..........................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
In the amount of competition that is prevailing in the modern business environment it has
becomes essential for the firm to efficiently manage its operations. Role of leader and manager
becomes very essential in this regard. Managing operations includes making plans, strategy
formulation as well as coordinating with workers so as achieve goals of the firm in a better way
that too in the desired time effectively utilising the quality and amount of resources a company
has (Ageron, Gunasekaran and Spalanzani, 2012). Marks and Spencer is one of the biggest
retailers in the world and has originated from UK. There are various operations that is going on
under the roof of cited company and hence it is essential that company manages all these so as to
ensure long term growth. This report highlights the roles and characteristics of leaders as well as
the influences of internal and external environment. It also reflects about the factors that affects
decision making.
TASK 1
P1. Roles and Characteristics of leader and manager
Leaders are the person that has the role of setting up the organisation and guiding every
one towards the path that will help in achieving it. They use their visionary approach for this
purpose. On the other hand managers are the people that is having the role of managing people
so that tasks within the organisations can be completed (Brown and et. al., 2013). Administering
and control is the basic operation of manager. The role of the leader and manager is as follows:
Leaders Managers
Leader is having the role of developing long
term goals.
Managers makes short term goals.
Formulating decision according to the
company.
Managers makes plans so as to achieve goals.
Leader has a role of availing resources so that
work smoothness can be maintained.
They have the role of managing all the
resources and inventories
Leaders are known for making required
changes
Managers have a role of bringing stability to
the firm hence all the changes are adaptable by
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the workers.
They have the role of fulfilling employees
requirement.
Managers is having the role of guiding staffs in
their work.
Characteristics of leader and manager:
Leaders Managers
They have the charismatic individuality Managers are considered for handling program
in a controlled manner.
Nature of leader is flexible They have a nature that is more rational.
They are excellent motivators They are understood for acting as a guide.
They are risk takers They are risk avoiders.
TASK 2
P2. Role of leader and function of manager in different organisational context
There are many kinds of operations that are going on in the industry and leaders and
managers have significant role in managing all these. Due to all these operations various
situations also arise within the firm. Managers and leaders have different roles as per these
situations. Roles of leaders is as follows:
 Conflicts: There are many kinds of conflicts that arises in the daily functionality of the
company. These rise due to mismanagement, ineffective planning or clash of interest
between two levels of organisational structure (Bujak, Carvalho and Sriramulu, 2012). It
is the role of that manager to avoid such kind of conflicts.
 HRM: At many a time it happens that there are several issues related to human resource
is not properly managed which may result in their reduced performance. It is essential
that Marks and Spencer makes use of appropriate strategies so that their most crucial
resource can get managed.
 Globalisation: This has provided opportunity for the Marks and Spencer to grow but has
also increased the competition up to a larger extent. Effective strategies are required for
this purpose.
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 Employment: Managing CSR duties is essential for the reputation of the firm and hence
they are working for removing unemployment from the society (Childe, 2011). Other
than this laws related with employment has changed and hence they have to ensure that
they comply with it.
For facing such situations there are several roles of leaders and functions of managers.
Role of Leader:
 Addresser: Leaders have an quality of speaking in front of masses which they utilise for
motivating them, showcasing them with the plans and objectives of the firm (Gibson,
2012). This is necessary for enhancing the performance of the employees many a times
so that firm can achieve higher productivity. For example: Leaders use this strategy when
they are coming up with any kind of major decision so as to communicate them
effectively. Since Marks and Spencer is having stores in many regions of the world hence
video conferencing is used for interacting with all of them at once.
 Facilitative: There are many kinds of work related as well personal requirements of the
staff members. It is the responsibility of the firm to listen to them and fulfil so that the
smoothness in the work process is maintained. For example if the inflation rate is
increasing then there must be a salary hike of the employees and comparative rewards
must also be given.
 Resolving conflict: It is the role of the leaders to resolve conflict between two parties so
that it may not hamper the business of Marks and Spencer. They need to make strategies
or it. For example in case of lockouts managers and leaders arrange meetings for
resolving problems of the firm.
 Thinker: A leader must be able to think in a better way that assist them in formulating
plans and policies in various situations. This is required for making long and short term
goals. For example if Marks and Spencer requires to make strategies then this role
becomes important.
 Decision making: Leaders have the role of making decisions on the basis of arisen
situation. It helps in achieving goals and objectives on time (Griffin, 2013). Leaders must
empower staffs for participating in decision making. For example: They have to make
decisions when they face any kinds of business failures.
Function of manager in this regard is as follows:
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 Planning: It is the duty of the manager to plan out every activity so as to maintain
smoothness in them even after facing all the difficulties. For example managers have to
make plans for their CSR activities.
 Team leader: They have the role of leading a team at many and time and controlling them
to achieve the desired task (Kerzner, 2013). For example any assigned project always
have a manager so as to control its activities while avoiding any conflicts.
 Staffing: It is the essential requirement of any firm and has to fulfilled at any time by the
manager. For example Managers deploy staffs at each stores when required.
 Organising: It is the manager's role to organise various resources as per the quality,
requirement and its availability. For example managers of Marks and Spencer ensures
that various kinds of finished goods are available at the stores.
P3. Different theories and approach model
There are various theories and approach models that can be applied in leadership. Various
theories in this regard is as follows:
Illustration 1: Leadership
(Source- Blanchard, 2013)
 Trait theory: This theory suggests that some of the qualities of leadership are present with
them from their birth while the others are adopted in due coarse of their life through
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various experiences. Leaders who were successful is having trait like creativity,
intelligence and sense of responsibility while doing their job.( Blanchard, 2013)
 Contingency theory: This theory highlights the fact that leadership must not be on the
basis of some rigid rules and regulation. Rather the leadership must be more flexible so
that various situations can be handled appropriately. This theory is highly realistic and is
used in Marks ans Spencer. It also throws light on the fact that individuals performs best
when they are subjected to be under the pressure.
 Behaviour theory: This theory regenerates the fact related to the behaviour of leader by
doing psychometric analysis (Lewis and Brown, 2012). It suggest that for becoming
leader one must have powerful personality having the ego that is mature with the flavours
of self confidence. Behaviour determines the probability of becoming a successful leader.
 Transactional theory: This theory believes in the fact that leaders must distribute
exchanges in the form of rewards or appreciation which totally must be based on their
performance at the workplace. This is necessary for achieving higher motivational level.
 System theory: This theory understands the firm more like a system that is in the form of
cycle. In this a firm takes inputs in the form of raw materials, then apply processes for
transforming them into desirable products according to the demand of the market and
then delivering it back to the external environment.
 Transformational: It highlights the fact that leaders motivate the employees through their
words so that there motivational level remains on the higher side which is necessary for
the firm to achieve higher productivity (Paryani, 2011).
 Situational leadership: This leadership theory explains that for battling various situations.
It is most widely used theory of leadership since all leaders adopt various roles and
responsibility as per situation's demand and hence their style also differs accordingly.
This theory is suggests that if the leader must take initiatives by checking the maturity
level of the staffs under them. This theory also tells that leadership comes from four basic
behaviour selling, telling, participating and delegating.
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TASK 3
P4 Important approaches to operations management and the role of leaders and managers
Generally, managers and leaders are plays different role within the organisation because
they aids to manage all over business dealing. Additionally, systematically allocate the works
and tasks to staff members as per their capabilities and skills so that they will significantly
perform by them(White, 2016). Along with this, it is necessary to be use and adopt smart
methods and strategies at work place of the company because they will aids to control and handle
critical situations due to this respectively enhance the working performance and skills of
employees. Therefore, as per above define Marks and Spencer is an leading British Multinational
clothing company of UK which can be adopt different approaches and techniques within the
organisation. So that employees of this firm can give proper satisfaction to clients towards their
needs.(Baboli and et. al., 2014) Apart from this, there are systematically elaborating major roles
of leaders and managers in the context of Marks and Spencer which all are representing under
below:
Managers Leaders
 Systematic delegate the rights and
responsibilities to every staff members
as per their positions and job profile.
 Significantly allocation of works and
tasks to employees according to their
capabilities and skills
 Regularly conduct some motivational
programmes at work place
 Manage and control business
operations in an effective mode.
 Lead and provide suitable guidelines to
employees
 Must focus on to create healthy
working environment within the
organisation
 Implement effective communication
system among team so that team
members and leader can easy to
interact with each others.
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On the other hand, there are various type of effective approaches which can be used by
Marks and Spencer such as:
 TQM (Total quality management): This is one of the main method which applicable in
every kind of business firm hence it aids to maintain quality level of the products and
services of company. With the help of this aspect, its customers can get fully satisfaction
towards their expectations.(Lindström and et. al., 2012)
 Lean production: This concept assist to improve production level of the company's
products and goods due to this respectively increase the profit and sales as well. Thus,
Marks and Spencer must use this method in their working surrounding of the business
firm.
 Six sigma: In the aspect of this approach, it assist to increase quality of results and
outcomes of the business firm thus as per the results employers of the firm can take better
decision regrading quality of their work. In this addition, with the help of this Marks and
Spencer can easy to get success in the competitive market place.
 Just in time (JIT): Its an important method which helps to increase utilisation of
resources as well as reduce the level of wastage. Thus, according to this method
employees of the production department produce their products and goods as per order
level. They does not believe on to store their final products as large stock. (Cruz and
Marques, 2011)
 Management by objectives (MBO): According to this method has to be clarify the
objectives and aims to all over staff members of the business firm. So that they also can
set their short and long term targets for the future. Without any decided targets a person
or a company cannot get success.
 Queuing theory: Generally, this is totally based on mathematical tools and techniques
with the help of this aspect employers and employees of the firm can easy to calculate
financial information and data in an impelling way. At the last this method also can be
adopted by the Marks and Spencer organisation for managing business and unnecessary
cost in an systematic way.
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P5 Values and worth of operations management in achieving business aims
Management and operation can be carried as a effective aspect for every kind of the
business firm because it assist to manager and control business operations and activities due to
this respectively enhanced the profit and sales organisation. Therefore, must be focus on to
implement effective and smart management system at the work place because with the help of
this employees will systematically complete their decided targets and tasks as well as get success
in the competitive markers place.(Chen and et. al., 2010) In order to this, employers can expand
their business firm in different areas of the organisation due to this respectively increase the
chances of the success. Thus, there are elaborating benefits and values of the management
operation in the context of Marks and Spencer which is all are stated under follows:
 Increase organisation productivity: Operations management assist to increase
productivity of the company because with the help of this systematically manage and
control business dealing due to this employees significantly complete their decided
targets within high quality. (Ming and et. al., 2013)
 Management of customer's satisfaction: This concept helps to give proper satisfaction
to customers as per their needs and demand so that they can set an effective image in
their mind. This method assist to attract large number of clients towards organisation due
to this significantly improve profit and sales.
 Expensive but important: Operations management an costly method which is not afford
by every business firm but it assist to maintain quality of products and services. Due to
this, clients are make faith on the company's facilities as well as they can easy to buy for
getting satisfaction.( Ale and et. al., 2010)
 Attracting high number of consumers: Marks and Spencer can easy to get large
number of attention from its clients through adopting operations management concept at
the work place.
 Compete with the major competitors: At the last Marks and Spencer can easy to
compete with its major competitive within the market place. In this addition, they can set
a effective brand image in the external environment.
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TASK 4
P6 Ingredients within the enterprise environment which influence functional management and
decision-making
Within the business environment has included several type of factors which might be
affect on employee's working performance as well as company's profit level. Therefore, it is
compulsory have to be significantly analyse and evaluate the all major causes through using
methods and techniques. (Handschin and Petroianu, 2012)With the help of evaluation employees
of the Marks and Spencer will take better decisions towards any critical situations. It assist to
increase profit and sales of business firm. Hence, organisation surrounding categorised into two
major environment such a internal and external. These both type of environment has concluded
different factors which may be affect on company wither positive or negative thus these are
elaborating under below such as:
 Internal environment: In the aspect of internal surrounding in which involves different
factors which affects on organisation as well as working system of the company.
Therefore, should be try to use and adopt effective management system within the
organisation so that employers of the firm can manage staff members as well as focus on
their working quality.(Chen and et. al., 2011)
 Employees
 Employers
 Working system
 Rules, regulations and polices
 Management system
 Communication system
 Employee's relationship
All these aspects are decided by the employers or top management of the company which
have to be followed by every staff members of firm. Thus, it is necessary to be implement and
regulate effective polices and rules at work place so that employees will easily and
systematically complete their targets and get success as well.
 External environment: It also can be known as macro environment because in which
included large number of factors which largely affect on company as well as its
employees. Due to this, should be systematically analyse and evaluate all macro factors
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through using smart methods and techniques. Thus, Marks and Spencer can be adopt
PERSTEL analysis tool for measuring the macro causes in an significant mode.(Smith,
Rahn and Wang, 2010) Apart from this, there are demonstrating main external factors
which all are following under:
 Customers
 Competitors
 Market condition
 Market trends
 Economy of the nation
 Political issues
 Society ethics, values and norms
 Environmental causes
 Technological development
 Legislations of the country
In the other words, all these factors are basically uncertain in the nature because all these
are depends upon different things thus, it is mandatory to be systematically analyse and evaluate
because sometimes due to these causes company might be face different critical situations in the
business as well as may be suffered by huge losses. All these causes are the part of macro
environment which can be consider as large number of factors because they affects on company
as well as their working system. Due to this, must be try to adopt smart and better analysing
techniques at work place of the enterprise because it assist to improve quality as well as
performance of the business firm. At the last, employees will impressively provide better quality
of services and products to customers as per their order and requirements.
CONCLUSION
From the above mentioned report it has been concluded that management and operations
is an impressive aspect which applicable within the every business firm because it assist to
manage and control business activities. Thus, it has been elaborated about several roles and
functions of the leaders and managers in the context of Marks and Spencer. In this addition, has
been defined appropriate leadership methods which ahas been used by selected organisation for
providing guidelines to staff members. At the last has been demonstrated environmental factors
which has been categorised into two sections.
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REFERENCES
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