Operations Management: Theory and Practice

This assignment delves into the core principles of operations management. It explores topics such as total quality management (TQM), corporate social responsibility, sustainable supply chain management, and the impact of leadership styles on organizational effectiveness. Students are expected to demonstrate their understanding of these concepts by analyzing relevant case studies, empirical evidence, and theoretical frameworks.

MANAGEMENT AND
OPERATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
P1 Defining and comparison of roles and characteristics of leader and manager.......................1
P2 Manner in which role of leader and functions of manager applies in varied context............3
P3 Application of different theories and models of approach.....................................................4
P4 Approaches to management of operations and role of superiors...........................................5
P5 Significance and values of management of operation...........................................................6
P6 Analysing the factors and their impact on decision making..................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
In order to manage the operations and organization's functional activity in effective
manner there are several issues faced and also immense amount of efforts are needed to be put.
Because of such reason there is significance for the firm in making adoption of systematic and
strategic approach in order to carry out desired operations in the predetermined manner (Hassan,
Mahsud and Prussia, 2013). In the present study management and operations has been discussed
in context of ASDA. The company is British supermarket chain within United Kingdom. The
present investigation demonstrates the role of leader and manager in the operations functions of
the business. Further it entails to under the association among leadership and management.
P1 Defining and comparison of roles and characteristics of leader and manager
As a major retailer ASDA possess several roles and responsibilities which needs to be
carried out by leader and manager of the organization. The management structure of the firm is
complex and has several leaders and managers who possess their own roles and features that
assist them in performance of the work (Mahadevan, 2015). Leadership and management are
considered as varied terms but they can be utilized interchangeably. In order to become sound
manager it is essential for individual to be effective leader. On the other hand for being a leader,
being manager is not essential. Leadership is considered as the person's ability to offer guidance,
direction, assistance as well as affect person in a manner that they comply with the instructions.
In contrast to this management is regarded as art of person through which he gets the work done
by others. Certain roles and characteristics that are being performed by manager and leader
within ASDA are enumerated as under:
Point of difference Manager Leader
Definition of management as
well as leadership
He is regarded as person who
offers direction and controls
the group of people in order to
encourage coordination so that
predetermined targets of the
business can be attained.
Within ASDA leader is
regarded as the capable person
who offers guidance as well as
direction. Further, contributes
in attainment of the business
targets.
Personality style Manager majors acts to be ASDA leader is brilliant and
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rationale and he possesses the
role towards solving the issues
that take place within work.
The major focus is towards
business structure, goals and
presence of resources that is
associated with manpower,
finance as well as technology.
possess mercurial personality
who possess greater charisma
of performing things. He is
considered as lover who has
risk taking attitude. Further he
possesses higher level of
imagination in order ensure
success for the firm.
Focus The role of the manager is
towards ensuring that work is
well managed. This is for the
sake of making sure that no
delay is made in attainment of
the targets (Seuring, 2013).
The major focus of the leader
is towards leading the
individual. This assist in
performance of the task in an
way that management has
desired.
Orientation Manager within ASDA is task
oriented who lay focus on
accomplishment of the task as
they have objective of
attaining business targets.
The major emphasis of the
leader is over the individual
and they make efforts in
relation with performance of
tasks (Söderlund, 2012).
Outcomes He has involvement within
decisions through offering
recommendations but not
within the implementation.
Leader desires for achievement
in one way or another.
Role in decision making Manager is engaged within the
decisions by offering
suggestion but not within the
implementation.
Within ASDA the role leader
is facilitative who are involved
in making decisions and
execution of the same.
Approach towards risk Manager is risk averse and Leader have greater acceptance
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tries to be on saver side. towards risk and possess the
ability to resolve the same.
P2 Manner in which role of leader and functions of manager applies in varied context
Within ASDA the leader is being entrusted with an obligation towards lead the personnel
within the direction that predetermined targets can be attained in effective manner. The main role
that is being played by the leader within the organization is towards enhancing the performance
of employees by means of motivation by means of providing suitable guidance, support,
direction and enhancing the production level. A leader is one who is considered to be effective
within ASDA when they develop clear vision for the personnel so that performance can be
carried out in effective manner and objectives can be achieved within specified time span.
Leader needs to make adoption of appropriate style that can assist in leading the person in a
manner that they would be motivated and carry out performance of the tasks as per the direction
provided by the leader (Dale, 2015). The style of leadership needs to be suitable for the sake of
dealing with conditions in effective manner. For instance, within ASDA situational has been
taken into account by the leader in order manage the operations in each and every condition with
effectiveness. This is due to the reason that as a retail industry, preferences and taste of the
customer changes and in accordance with such the procedure related to work needs to be
enhanced in order to enhance the survival for long term.
In contrast to this, manager within ASDA are one who can function in effective manner
and remain strategic and systematic in their approach. The managers of the firm possess the
accountability in relation with maintenance of the healthy working environment in the workplace
so that personnel would work with higher motivation and would also assist in attaining the set
and objectives within specified time. In addition to this the focus of the manager is on assigning
suitable duties and authorities to the personnel. The major aim of the manager within ASDA is
towards making delivery of the quality products to customers and also provides greater
satisfaction to them (Fernie and Sparks, 2014). For instance, when making application of
approach that is Management by objective, manager in ASDA would devise target that needs to
be attained in the firm. In this approach, manager in addition with personnel develops goals at
individual level in line with the end goals to be attained by the firm. Under this method manager
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set specific time in which he carries out monitoring of whether the work is as per the standards or
not. Thus, it is being stated the leader and manager makes adoption of varied leadership and
management style in accordance with the demand of the condition.
P3 Application of different theories and models of approach
Within ASDA in order to run the firm in a manner that it ensures growth and
sustainability in the competitors it is essential to make utilization of suitable theories and models
related with approach. In case of ASDA appropriate theories and models needs to be used so that
activities of firm can be attained in appropriate way. Situational leadership: In this theory the leader determines the follower's task level as
well as psychological maturity. This implies that such kind of style of leadership act as an
aid in determination of the manner in which the personnel acts when making performance
of the task. When the leader assess the maturity level that is being possessed by the
worker then decision is made by him on the work style that can be allotted to particular
person so that greater efforts with higher level of potential and effectiveness can be
attained from him in relation to his performance (Sun, Zhao and Zhang, 2015). However,
in accordance with such ASDA leader is required to make adjustment of the behaviour in
a manner that improvement can be bought in the behaviour of followers for performance
of task. Such will benefit the business in terms that when personnel have greater maturity
then they need lesser direction as well as assistance. Systems leadership: ASDA is considered as multi-agency that possess stores within
several parts across the globe. In this regard it needs standards related with excellence in
order survive within the market through sustainability. For the sake of making this
possible it is significant for the leader to work around the sectors and make the team to
work in coordinated manner though they are from diverse stores that exists at varied
locations. Through the assistance of such theory suitable association is being maintained
among diverse professionals within ASDA that makes sure that business, users have
major emphasis when giving the services. Such theory is considered most appropriate for
the manager to gain well equipped with new skills as well as knowledge (Wieland and
Marcus Wallenburg, 2013).
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 Contingency theory: In accordance with the particular approach there is no appropriate
manner of carrying out and organizing firm. This is because such is dependent over the
changing environment wherein firm operates as it alters on regular basis. For the sake of
going in direction of target set, changes in the style of leadership is important in case of
ASDA. For leading the firm and develop the best decision regarding this use of such
approach is advantageous. Under this theory the main three factors that come are leader
member relations, the structure of task and the position power. The major focus of such
theory is over the personality of the leader and condition in which business operates.
P4 Approaches to management of operations and role of superiors
There are various key approaches which are used by managers for operation management
within ASDA. Such approaches have essential role in ensuring the success of the firm towards
task performance in effective manner. The effective approaches to the operation management
which can be used by ASDA in order to enhance its efficiency, productivity and increase in
revenue are enumerated in the manner as under: Total quality management: Approach associated with total quality management is
regarded as total productive maintenance that makes sure that business would attain
greater success through offering higher level of satisfaction to the customers. In this
approach all the organizational members take part in accordance with the leader's
instruction in order to enhance the product and service quality through amendment in the
procedure and work culture. Such is regarded as the suitable approach which the business
can use (Asrar-ul-Haq and Kuchinke, 2016). In case ASDA employ TQM within the firm
in accordance with instructions offered by leader then workers would be able to make
delivery of higher quality of products to the target market that would enhance their level
of satisfaction. Such would assist in retention of customers for long term. In this way
business would earn greater profit and revenue and attains competitive advantage over
the rivalries.
 Just in time inventory: It is regarded as the operation management approach as per which
demand within the target market is being determined by the operation manager and later
based on same activities of firm are carried out. In accordance with such tool operations
manager enhances work efficiency in order to decrease the waste by means of attaining
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the goods while they are needed for the sake of production. It avoids keeping of the larger
inventories that minimizes the chance of wastage to greater extent. Further the business is
saved from the risk attached with alteration in customer demand. In case ASDA
implement such approach within operations management then it would benefit in terms
that warehouse storage cost is minimized. Six sigma: It can be referred to as methodology that act as an aid in enhancing the quality
level which the business offers within management of operations. Such tool assist in
minimizing the chances of mistakes with minimizing the cost and saves greater time. In
case ASDA employs this tool within the business, operations manager has to offer
training the personnel in a manner that work quality is enhanced (Du and et.al., 2013).
Thus, business can attain greater profitability through increasing satisfaction among
customers by providing value to them in exchange of money that is being spend by them.
Higher cost is involved in implementing such tool. Lean production: The particular method is major utilized for the sake of elimination of
the waste that is created by means of over burden or unevenness in case of work load.
The technique includes elimination of everything from operations that is not making
creation of any value. However, such tool is utilized by manufacturing department
(Importance of Operations Management, 2012).
 Queuing theory: Being supermarket retailer such approach to operation management
proves to be effective as it is considered as mathematical study related with waiting lines
through the assistance of which the estimation can be done regarding the length of queues
and waiting time of individuals involves in purchase of the product (Johnston, 2005).
This is regarded as operations management branch whose outcomes are being utilized for
taking fruitful decisions by executive in relation with resources required to offer services.
P5 Significance and values of management of operation
ASDA is dealing with the design and management of provided services and products as
well as supply chain. It has important role towards taking into account acquisition, development
and use of resources in optimum manner that ASDA requires so that products and services can
be made available to the target market on time. Through the assistance of operations
management, suitable control as well as management of distribution system can be done. Raw
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material transformation into finished product become effective with such concept. In addition,
this the business is able to develop its process through which greater profit can be attained at
minimum cost. Moreover, company would take the advantage of capacity management that will
prove to be beneficial for management of work in effective manner. Besides this inventory and
logistic management become easy by carrying out the operations in scheduled manner. The
manager of operations within the company is dealing with distribution, support as well as other
task which are not developed and affects the quality as well as cost. Operations management
adds value to the firm by means of effectively allocating and managing the resources. The
objectives of the firm cannot be achieved in case the organization is not providing focus over the
suitable tools of operations management. ASDA'S departments are interconnected that are quite
routed deeply (Pansiri and Temtime, 2008). There is greater significance for ASDA to maintain
rhythmic functioning in the firm in order to attain the targets in specified time span and with
effectiveness which is possible by means of operations management. When leaders and
managers organize as well as manages several procedure then business is in the position to make
detection of the barriers within the strategy with ease. Along with this operation management,
accountability of the manager and leader for varied processes enhances towards correcting the
errors.
Within ASDA in order to carry out operations in effective way introduction of the new
technologies and equipments can be done so work can be done faster and in smooth way. In case
the st aim and targets are attained then such proves that operation management is effective for
the firm (Ravi, 2008). In operations management that starts with resource allocation till their
effective use suitable planning is carried out for all the activities that are carried out
appropriately. Thus, there is clarity that in order to attain targets of firm such as customers
satisfaction along with value added product, need of operations management is greater within
ASDA.
P6 Analysing the factors and their impact on decision making
There are several factors which are present in environment of business and have greater
influence on the operational management within decision making procedure of leaders and
managers within ASDA. Amongst all the most significant factors is related with corporate social
responsibility. Firm is required to carry out activities related with CSR on time in case they are
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not carried out the stakeholders of the firm would not be satisfied. Therefore, leader and mangers
need several efforts for keeping the firm competitive in the business environment. On the other
hand in case ASDA carries out performance of CSR activities in effective manner then such has
positive influence on the operation management and over the decision making. Culture is
considered as another factor within business environment in which operational management is
influenced in the manner that is as per the culture to which target market belong to, products
required to be offered by ASDA and thus they would attain success within the market. It can be
stated that as per culture of customer, leader and manager need to take the decision within the
organization in relation to the operations (Heizer and et.al., 2009). Values, ethics as well as
sustainability are considered as the factors in the business environment that influence operations
management and decision making among the managers and leaders. The firm is required to give
respect to customer's value and it needs to perform activities of firm in an ethical and sustainable
way. This is essential for the sake of maintaining the association with the stakeholders and
fulfilling their expectations in order to encourage, develop as well as sustain entrepreneurship
within organization.
Stakeholders
Stakeholders are considered as most significant factor and management will get their
involvement in decision making. They are significant for success of strategies business of firm
and managing business operations.
Business ethics
It has been recognised that business ethics is also an important factor which has major
impact on making decisions. Managers of ASDA will take the decisions on the basis of ethical
principles that serve values of persons who are affected by decisions.
Environmental factors
Various external factors also affect environment of business such as political, economical,
social, technological, environmental and legal factors (Krajewski, Ritzman and Malhotra, 2013).
It will describe the external analysis of ASDA and analysed by managers while making the
decisions. It can be said that there is a great impact of political and social factors on the
company. It has been recognised that managers will consider policies of regulating the business.
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It can be said that economic condition of ASDA is very good and the managers will have
appropriate funds to accomplish the strategies. Therefore, these are factors which impact on the
decisions of managers within organization.
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded from the present study that it is crucial to make adoption of
systematic approach in order to have suitable operation management in ASDA. Leaders and
managers within the firm has important role in managing the operations within the firm. Lack of
their efforts can results in reducing the possibility of attainment of targets. However, it is
significant for them to make adoption of suitable leadership and management style. It has been
inferred that several approaches such as situational and transformational leadership are
considered appropriate for the firm. In addition to this firm needs to make adoption of approach
that is management by objective to gain suitable outcomes. Beside this in order to possess higher
quality within the operations, six sigma, just in time and total quality management approach
would be beneficial for ASDA.
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REFERENCES
Journals and Books
Asrar-ul-Haq, M. and Kuchinke, K. P., 2016. Impact of leadership styles on employees’ attitude
towards their leader and performance: Empirical evidence from Pakistani banks. Future
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Dale, B., 2015. Total quality management. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Du, S. and et.al., 2013. The roles of leadership styles in corporate social responsibility. Journal
of business ethics. 114(1). pp.155-169.
Fernie, J. and Sparks, L., 2014. Logistics and retail management: emerging issues and new
challenges in the retail supply chain. Kogan Page Publishers.
Hassan, S., Mahsud, R. and Prussia, G. E., 2013. Ethical and empowering leadership and leader
effectiveness. Journal of Managerial Psychology. 28(2). pp.133-146.
Heizer, and et.al., 2009. Operations Management. Pearson Education India.
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Operations & Production Management. 25(12). pp.1278 – 1297.
Mahadevan, B., 2015. Operations management: Theory and practice. Pearson Education India.
Pansiri, J. and Temtime, T. Z., 2008. Assessing managerial skills in SMEs for capacity building.
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Seuring, S., 2013. A review of modeling approaches for sustainable supply chain management.
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Cognitive Ergonomics. Springer International Publishing.
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Wieland, A. and Marcus Wallenburg, C., 2013. The influence of relational competencies on
supply chain resilience: a relational view. International Journal of Physical Distribution &
Logistics Management. 43(4). pp.300-320.
Krajewski, L.J., Ritzman, L.P. and Malhotra, M.K., 2013. Operations management: processes
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Online
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<https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/explain-importance-role-operations-management-
355104>. [Accessed on 11th April 2017].
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