Analyzing Leadership and Management in Sainsbury's Operations

This report delves into the core concepts of leadership and management within the context of Sainsbury's, a major UK retailer. It examines the roles of leaders and managers in various situational contexts, highlighting the importance of adaptability and strategic decision-making. The report expl...Read More

Management and Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................3
LO2..............................................................................................................................................................3
P2 Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in different
situational contexts.................................................................................................................................3
P3 Apply different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership, systems
leadership and contingency.....................................................................................................................4
LO3..............................................................................................................................................................6
P4 Explain the key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers
play..........................................................................................................................................................6
P5 Explain the importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives.......7
LO4..............................................................................................................................................................8
P6 Assess the factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management
and decision making by leaders and managers.......................................................................................8
CONCLUSION...............................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Management and operation are defined as the business activity where some of the
essential work such as planning, organizing and controlling are being for the purpose of
improvement of a performance of an employee. Mainly business uses it for bringing the changes
in performance of an employee so that desire goals can be accomplished. In any of the
management and operation related work, there is a huge importance of managers and leaders
who can handle all of the task by themselves. For the purpose of completing the given questions
in assignment, Sainsbury has been chosen which is among big four retail sector organization in
UK. The headquarter of the company is located in London, UK whereas it was founded in the
year, 1869.
The file will contain the important information related to role of leader along with the
function that a manager has to play in different circumstances. Number of theories and models
will be also used for understanding the importance of manager and leader within the entity.
Along with it, major importance will be given to operations management that how it helps in
achieving the objectives.
LO2
P2 Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in
different situational contexts
Manager are the one who plays the essential role in the business entity are they needs to
form proper plans and policies including the procedure of controlling within the organization for
attaining the goals. Similar, leaders are the one who always supports management by motivating
the employee and workers so that they can perform effectively in any of the situation for
attaining the goals of an organization. Both, manager and leader need to take responsibility to
deal with different situation so that they can perform wisely for attaining the targets (Ji and et.
al., 2020). Similarly, there are different situation that arises in front of manager and leader of
Sainsburys and they have to deal with those situations for sustaining in the market for longer
time period. The role of a leader and manager in different situation on Sainsburys has been listed
below:

Condition 1: Working on new project: To sustain within the market, it is necessary for
organization like Sainsbury to introduce new project on a regular basis so that they can remain in
the competition. At the time of working upon new project, new employees do not have the idea
that how they need to work on it. Looking at the condition, it is necessary for the leader of
Sainsbury to ensure that they are providing proper training to each of the employees of the
company. It is crucial because it will allow employees to adopt new working condition. Even
manager also has an important role because they are the one who needs to ensure that roles and
responsibility are being given on the basis of skill and talent so that each of the them can perform
their task in the required manner. Leader and manager which are capable of performing this
particular work in a systematic work then there will be less chances that company will have to
face any of the problem.
Condition 2: Increasing employees’ turnover ratio: It is necessary for the organisation
to ensure that they have maintained the employee turnover ratio because in any of the situation if
these criteria does not meet then huge problem can occur for the entity. The same thing is
applicable for the entity like Sainsbury which has been performing quite well in the market
place. Although, company is able to perform effectively but at the same time they need to ensure
that in any of the situation, they will not create any of that situation due to which problem can be
created related to employee turnover (Farag and et. al., 2020). Looking at the situation, there is
huge importance of management where they need to do proper planning regarding the benefits
which they can provide to the employees which they work for the company. As leader of the
Sainsbury also holds the crucial position which means they are needed to ensure that employee
turnover ratio does not exceed. For this, they should ensure about the training and motivation
process which they are using for providing necessary training to the employees. At the same
time, leaders must motive there employee as well so that target can be accomplished.
These are some of the situation which come across the Sainsbury where role of leader
and manager plays the vital role in accomplish the goals. It is because they are the one who
needs to find the solution as per the requirement of situation so that any of the problem can be
resolved.

P3 Apply different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership, systems
leadership and contingency
In an organisation, there are different types of situation which occurs on a daily basis and
it is necessary that each of the activity should be overviewed in systematic manner for finding
out the solution. As, competition in current market is increased at a rapid speed where
management needs to make certain changes for sustaining in the company. In order to sustain,
there are different types of theories and models which can be considered by the management. In
the same manner, this models and theories can be helpful for the entity like Sainsburys as they
are also one of the organisations which has been performing its business activity in retail sector
where huge competition can be seen easily (Chen and Jia, 2020). By looking at the requirement
of situation, there are some of the theories and models which has been categorised below:
Situational Leadership: It is the leadership style which is followed by different
organisation where style of leadership changes on the basis of nature of employees or the
circumstances that arises in front of management. The point which manager and leader needs to
consider under situation leadership is that each of the activity should be performed on the basis
of current organisational situation. In terms of Sainsbury, it is required by the manager and
leaders to ensure that they are able to identify about the situation and according to the
requirement of situation, they take their decision. If all of this activity is being performing in the
respective manner, then goals can be accomplished easily in short time period. Also, proper
plans and polices should be formed which can guide that how any of the work needs to be
performed for attaining the goals.
System Leadership: It is defined as the leadership theory which is quite effective in
current scenario because it creates the situation under which each of the leader try to bring higher
productivity from the employees. Here, all of the work needs to be performed in a systematic
manner so that chances of failure can be reduced significantly. In context of Sainsbury, this type
of leadership can be effective as it emphasis that how any of the existing style of working can be
used in a specified manner so that goals can be accomplished (Shi and et. al., 2020). In addition,
these types of leadership guides that how any of the tough situation can be handled and
according to that goals can be accomplished.

Contingency Leadership: It is the leadership style which is quite different than other
leadership style because suitable talent should be placed at right position. It means that one
person can be successful at one of the position but it is not necessary that he will be successful if
placed at different situation. Discussing it in detail, it s among the leadership style which can be
used within the premises of Sainsbury which can allow them to determine the each of the things
in detail. For example: Sainsbury suffers from higher employee turnover ratio and in this
particular situation, contingency leadership will try to find the exact reason behind the increasing
turnover ratio so that proper measures can be taken.
The above-mentioned leadership styles are quite effective and can be used in different
situation on the basis of situation. In context of Sainsbury, it is necessary for the manager and
leader to decide that which form of leadership style will be effective for them in accomplishing
the goals in given time period.
LO3
P4 Explain the key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers
play.
Every business activity needs to be performed in a systematic manner and for effective
result proper analysis should be done. It is said that leader and manager can play the huge role in
performing any of the business activity where they can use different types of approaches to
operational management so that objectives can be achieved. The different approaches can be
effective because it will allow them to take some of the crucial decision which are necessary in
attaining the targets and goals. Below, key approaches has been explained in detail:
Total Quality Management: It is determined as the management approach which is
mainly used by large business firm for providing higher customers satisfaction. It is mainly
focused that how an organisation can provide work in effective manner so that they can
accomplish their goals by delivering high quality of goods and services to their customers. In
context of Sainsbury, if company uses Total quality management, they give them the additional
opportunity to perform better in any of the circumstances (Tomita and et. al., 2020). The main
reason that company like Sainsbury can attain success is just because it is among those process
where employees and other management works upon improvement plans and policies through

which effective result can be obtained. Also, where there is a requirement of training, it provides
with the help of leader so that performance can be enhanced.
Just in Time: This a inventory management approach which is widely used by the
organisation for attaining their targets. According to JIT strategy, production department holds
the sufficient quantity of raw material so that they can meet out the demand of customers as per
their requirement. It is necessary to understand that whenever company like Sainsbury uses this
particular strategy, they enhance their chances for attaining the goals. It is because chances of
wastage can remove due to which unnecessary expenses can be removed from the company and
result into higher profitability ratio (Lotfi and et. al., 2020). Also, any of the production related
activity will be conducted on the basis of market demand.
Six Sigma- It is the tool which is used by different organisation for the purpose of bring
changes within the organisation. According to this particular approach, it is said that
organisation, continues efforts towards improvement is needed for the organisation in
accomplishing the goals and target. Talking about Sainsbury, they are one of the retail sector
organisations where continues improvement is quite important because higher competition can
be seen within the market. In order to sustain in the competition, company will look that how
they can improve the overall quality of output so that customers can be attracted towards the
organisation. In addition, percentage of defect in the products can be reduced which is quite
necessary in attaining the goals and target on specified time period.
If company like Sainsbury will be able to use all of this technique then there is higher
probability that company can attain their goals and target within the specified time period. It is
essential to understand that these approaches work on the specified area which can provide the
way to bring improvisation in the company.
P5 Explain the importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives.
Operation management has the huge role for business organization because it certainly
provides the way that how any of the organization can work effectively through which goals can
be accomplished easily. Talking it in detail, it is said that operation management emphasis on the
weaker area that how changes can be brought into it so that any of the organization do not faces
any of the problem in attaining the goals. Some of the importance and value of operations
management has been listed below:

 Converting raw material to finished goods: In any of the operational management
related work, it is necessary for the specified department that how they can work
effectively through which raw material can be converted into finished goods with the
help of resources that can be found within the premises of a company (Tokumaru,
Mitsubishi Electric Corp, 2020). Although, available resources should be used but it is
duty of leader and manager to ensure that how those resources should be used in effective
manner. There are number of difficult situations that arises in front of the company and it
is essential for manager and leader of Sainsbury to ensure that each of activity are being
conducted as per the requirement of situation. If they will be able to do so, then higher
possibility will be there to reduce overall waste material through which goals can be
accomplished easily.
 Ability to increase productivity: There are number of occasion where suddenly demand
gets increased and it is one of the situations where higher productivity is necessary. Any
of the organisation will be able to do so in that respective condition where they have
effective operational management team which can handle any of the situation (Yoshida,
NEC Corp, 2020). In terms of Sainsbury, they need to ensure that their quality of product
and services are quite high as it is the only method which can be used by organisation in
improving the overall productivity of the company.
 Waste Reduction: In an organisation, overall revenue generated plays the vital role and
one of the factors where organisation needs to focus is that how they can reduce the
percentage of waste production. If organisation will be able to reduce overall wastage
then they can certainly allow the entity to attaining higher profitability. In short the
operational department of Sainsbury must focus that how they can reduce wastage
material so that effective result can be obtained.
LO4
P6 Assess the factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management
and decision making by leaders and managers.
There is different situation that come across the organisation and it is necessary to ensure
that all of the activities are being performed in a required manner so that organisation do not
faces any of the problem in attaining the goals. Even though there are different internal as well as

external factors of business environment which has an impact on operational management. Detail
discussion has been mentioned below:
Internal Factors:
 Organisational Culture: In an organisation, there is a huge role of organisational culture
as it tells that how any of the entity is performing within the market. It is essential to
understand that it is among one of those internal factors for Sainsbury which can decide
that whether company will perform better or not. For an effective result, it is necessary
for the leader to ensure that they are able to treat equally to each of the employee. If
manager and leader are able to do so then, employee can also put up their maximum
efforts through which goals can be accomplished easily (Yu, 2020). Also, there will be
number of other benefits such as employee can show their maximum support in
performing any of the task. But, organisation is not stable to it and there is an inverse
organisational culture then company have to suffer from losses as well.
 Employee Support: In any of the entity, employees play the vital role which means that
if company is able to support their employees then, certainly employee can support their
organisation in the same manner. For obtaining the support of employee in any of the
organisational work, it is crucial for leaders to support their employee by motivating them
in a positive manner. Also, organisation should take some of the steps so that different
benefits can be provided to the employees.
External Factors
 Customer Demand: The basic source of company in earning profit and sustaining the
market is related with customers. Management of Sainsbury, needs to work in the manner
where they can able to deliver the product which are required by the customers. If
company will be able to do so then there will high chances that company can attain their
targets.
 Sustainability: For any of the organisation, sustainability remains in the hand of
organisation themselves because it related with meeting out the requirement of customers
(Enyinda, 2017). Also, bringing frequent changes to working style as per the requirement
can allow to accomplish the goals.

CONCLUSION
As the above discussion made on different topics, it has been founded that any of the
organization requires manager and leader who can take the responsibility for performing any of
the task. Both, manager and leader are required to be professional in their field so that they can
understand the situation before taking any of the crucial decision. Different theories and model
simply emphasis that whenever any of the entity perform their task, manager and leader needs to
take different types of decision as per the suitability of the situation. The key approaches such as
TQM, KPI and many others can be effective for leader as it will provide them the way to
improve the performance of Sainsbury through which goals can be accomplished.
REFERENCES
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