Operations Management Marks and Spencer

Management &
Operations

INTRODUCTION
Operations management implies with performing business operations to achieve high
proficiency in commercial activities. It helps in converting raw stuff in useful product and
services. There are many activities such as manufacturing, purchasing, storing, marketing, etc. in
business organisation which jointly helps to attain good profits and brand image in industry. This
can be done effectively when business operations are organised in efficient manner. With
managing business operations, there are less possibilities of misuse of resources and workers are
aware of their roles and responsibilities (Bealkowski, Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore)
Pte Ltd, 2015). In managing business, leader and managers plays vital role. In this report, Marks
and Spencer is discussed which deals in retail sector such as home furnishing items, luxury
clothing, home products, etc. It has head quarter in London and listed on London Stock
Exchange. In this report there is discussion about difference between role of leader and function
of manager, different leadership theories applied at work place, relationship between leadership
and management in business environment.
TASK 1
P1 Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager
Introduction to organisation
Marks and Spencer is good name in retail industry. This organisation was set up in 1884
by Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer in Leeds. It has around 979 stores all over world. There
are around 84,939 employees working.
This organisation has flat organisational structure in which there is less levels of
hierarchy.
Meaning of leaders
An individual that holds superior position as compared to other person. This person has
more roles and responsibilities as compared to other team mates with more power. Leader is the
person who has to lead team mates and motivate them to use different approaches through which
they can achieve targets in more effective and efficient manner (Caniani and et. al., 2015).
Meaning of manager
Manager is the person who works with group off people as per set standards in order to
complete task. Staff members report to managers regarding business operations. They have to
check whether business operations can be performed in effective and efficient way or not. Top
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level managers give instruction to middle level managers and accordingly they ask subordinates
to work.
Difference between manager and leader
Basis Leaders Manager
Risk taking/ controlling Leaders of Marks and Spencer
are risk takers.
Managers of Marks and
Spencer are risk controllers.
Path follower/ makers Leaders are path makers. They
think of new and creative ideas
to accomplish assign duty and
responsibility.
Managers are path followers.
They perform task on the basis
of set standards and
benchmarks.
Focus Leaders of Marks and Spencer
focus on promoting changes.
While managers of Marks and
Spencer does not support
change.
Strategy Leaders on the basis of
proactive strategies.
Managers of Marks and
Spencer works on the basis of
reactive strategies.
Role of a leader
Guiding employees- Leader plays important role in motivating employees. There are
many workers in Marks and Spencer having different mind-set, so this helps to perform
operations in synchronize and desirable manner.
Applying innovative approaches- Leader is another name of innovation. There are
different aspects through business operations can be performed in effective and efficient manner.
Leader provides innovative path through which workers can accomplish target on time and in
appropriate manner (Fayol, 2016).
Role of manager
Motivating- Manager is the person who manages business operations of different person.
In Marks and Spencer, there are numerous worker working in different departments so
departmental managers has to keep eyes on working style and motivate workers to give best.
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