Management and Operation in Food Industry

This report discusses the roles and characteristics of a leader and manager in the food industry, using The Restaurant Group Plc as a case study. It also explores different leadership theories and approaches, and key approaches to operation management.

MANAGEMENT AND
OPERATION : FOOD
INDUSTRY

INTRODUCTION
Management is an effective factor of each and every business organisation whether it
operates in food industry or other segment. With the proper management process a business
entity able to run the firm smoothly as well as achieve its goals and objectives. Apart from this
operation is also another important element of the organisation which helps to produce products
and services in an appropriate manner. The present report is divided into major two parts such as
management as well as operations in the food industry. In order to explain the terms there is The
Restaurant Group Plc (TRG) company is chosen which is UK based firm and operated in the
food industry. The report throws light on different types of roles, characteristic as well as
functions of leader and manager at the workplace. Apart from this it shows various leadership
theories and approaches, in the second part it emphasises on key approaches of operation
management as well as different types of factors affecting to the business environment and
community of the country as well.
TASK 1
A) Comparison among different roles and characteristics of a leader as well as manager
Leader as well as manager both are the key persons of organisation and plays a
significant role in order to achieve firm's goals as well as different objectives. Leader is a person
who helps the overall team in order to provide proper and effective guidance towards meeting
the objectives and deadline (Abdelhak, Grostick and Hanken, 2014). On the other side, manager
is a person who takes care of the overall company and allocate resources to every organisational
function. Here, to explain about all these things, a food company is chosen i.e. The Restaurant
Group Plc. In this context, comparison between various roles and characteristics of a leader as
well as manager in the chosen food company is described as below:
Basis of difference Leader Manager
Meaning A person who helps the team On the other side, a manager
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in order to provide proper
guidance and in achieving
objective is known as a leader.
have workforce or people who
complete the task or work for
them. Further, he helps to the
firm in order to run business in
a smooth way and achieve
goals and objectives properly
(Bilezikian and et.al., 2014).
Characteristic Several characteristics of the
leader within The Restaurant
Group are honesty, ability of
delegate, effective
communication skills, etc.
which make the team more
productive.
Further, different
characteristics of the manager
are like at workplace,
providing equal opportunities
to every employee, honesty,
etc. by which objectives of
restaurant can be easily
achieved.
Focus Leader focuses on enhancing
efficiency as well as
productivity of the overall
team (Johnstone, 2016).
Manager focuses on the overall
firm then the business will be
able to become highly
productive in the overall food
industry.
Objectives Main objective of The
Restaurant Group Plc is to
achieve goals of the team in an
effective way on specified
deadline.
While, the manager has main
objective to maximize level of
profitability of company to
grow with high rate in the
respective industry.
Relation with people within
restaurant group Plc
The leader has effective
bonding and relations with
team to provide proper
guidance and achieve
Further, manager has effective
relations with the leaders and
junior managers. Apart from
this, they have relations with
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objectives. individuals of the restaurant
Plc as well (Lindström and
et.al., 2015).
B) Roles and functions of leader and manager in different situations
In the business organisation such as TRG Plc, there are different types of functions that
play an important role to operate business in the food industry in an effective manner. Further,
there are various types of situations that arise in company which are resolve by the leader as well
as manager of respective firm. At the workplace, different situations such as issues, conflicts,
training and development, meeting deadline, providing proper goods and services, etc. arise
which are addressed by the manager and leader of company. In context to this, if individuals are
not able to become highly skilled and productive then at that time, leader plays an important role
in order to provide effective guidance (Miyanabe and et.al., 2015). Further, the leader give
proper training as well as development programs which help the employees to become more
productive which leads to achieve the objective of the TRG in a proper way.
Moreover, in the working environment of TRG, there are various types of conflicts or
disputes that arise due to different causes such as related to wages, working hours, compensation,
allowances, etc. In this context, manager plays an important role in order to resolve disputes at
the workplace. It can be resolved by using collective bargaining or negotiation process which is
adopted by the firm until and unless manager does not give permission. Apart from this, TRG Plc
is a public limited firm and has a brand name in the overall food industry. With reference to this,
to sustain or create high brand image in the respective segment, manager plays the role to recruit
highly skilled employees for providing better goods and services to the consumers. In order to
provide reward or motivation to the employees in terms of monetary or non-monetary form,
manager makes such strategies (Shi and et.al., 2015). These help to become more productive to
the potential employees as well as for the overall TRG Plc.
C) Theories and models of different leadership approach
In the business environment such as TRG firm, there are different types or situations
occur which are necessary to resolve. In such case, there are various types of models as well as
theories that are adopted by the leader which help to overcome difficulties and meet the
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objectives in an effective way. There are different types of models or theories of leadership
approaches like contingency, situation and system approach which are mentioned as below:
 Contingency leadership approach: Very first theory of the leadership is contingency in
which there is not any best way is settled out as well as not any parameter is there. The
theory depends on the things which are suddenly occurs or happen in the business
environment such as The Restaurant Group Plc (Slack, 2015). In this type of approach the
situations of the firm are unpredictable by the manager or leader that in the future what
will be happen etc. While occurring unpredicted terms such as team unable to achieve
objectives, labour union is on strike etc. then the leader has to change its style in order to
give guidance to the overall group. Hence, the respective leadership style is effective for
the TRG group in order to achieve its goals as well as objectives in the appropriate
manner.
 Situational leadership approach: According to the respective theory of leadership,
leader plays the role as per situation occurs in The Restaurant Group Plc. In this, the
leader modifies his skills as well as abilities according to changes in situations in the
working environment. As per the approach, there are majorly four types of styles perform
by the leader in the working environment which are based on the supportive as well as
directive behaviour (What Is Situational Leadership? - Theories, Styles & Definition,
2017). The major four styles of situational leadership are telling, participating, selling as
well as delegating in TRG Plc.
 System leadership approach: Further, another theory and approach of the leadership
style in The Restaurant Group public limited company is system approach. On the basis
of the respective theory the leader complete its duty according to the level of his
understanding. Further, the company make proper rules and regulations as well as set the
goal to achieve it, in this the leader thinks as per his understanding and then achieve the
target. For example, in the production process of food items there are lots of wastage
material is going. At this situation the leader uses its brainstorming and then start to solve
the problem as per his understanding level. This helps to the overall TRG in an effective
way as well as enhance level of productivity and profitability in the food industry.
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D) Difference between role of a leader as well as function of a manager
In the business of TRG Plc there are leader as well as manager both plays an effective
role for meet with the targets and objectives. In the above analysis we have seen that there are
various characteristics as well as roles plays by the manager and leader in the TRG. Further, the
manager has various functions which are such as follows:
Role: In the company there are various types of roles plays by the leader which helps to
the management of TRG in order to meet with its targets and objective in the proper way. Very
main role which is plays by the leader in the firm is such as prepare of formulate effective team
and lead to them to become highly skilled as well as efficient at the working environment
(Morschett, Schramm-Klein and Zentes, 2015). Further, the leader helps to the overall team in
order to become more productive by which organisation can easily achieve its goals. The leader
always has skills such as innovative and creativity by which he can put new ideas to make more
effective strategies for meet with the objectives.
Functions: Furthermore, there are different functions which are plays by the manager
and leader in the TRG for run the company in a smooth way as well as meet the objectives. With
the manager the company can manage overall business in order to earn higher profit and increase
sales as well as revenue. There are mainly five functions plays by the manager which are such as
planning, organising, staffing, controlling, coordinating etc. In the planning function the manager
makes effective business plan which helps to the company in order to achieve objective in proper
way. Further, he organises and recruits personnels which helps to implement plan in the firm.
After this the manager coordinate and control the plan which is implemented in TRG and
evaluate that whether it is profitable for firm or not (Peng, Y. and et.al., 2015). If he fount any
types of obstacles or problems then take corrective actions.
E) Assessing strengths and weaknesses of different approaches
Different theories of leadership have various strengths as well as weaknesses which are
enumerated below:
 Contingency leadership theory: Strengths of the theory are such as it is most widely
used approach by the leaders because it helps to resolve unpredicted conditions of TRG
Plc. Apart from this it is based on the empirical evidence which is the most helpful for the
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leaders. However, it is not suitable theory in order to provide appropriate explanation of
the particular things as well as it is very less preferred theory by the leaders.
 Situational leadership theory: The approach of leadership style has different types of
strengths and weaknesses by which the company is able to achieve objectives as well as
sometimes hamper. Strengths of the approach are such as it is widely used approach by
leader, helps to resolve numerous kinds of situations of conditions occurs in The
Restaurant Group Plc. Further, it is easily applied in the company in different context by
which targets of the team are easily achieved (Carela-Español and et.al., 2015). However,
it is based on various assumptions, it has ambiguously formulation, unclear model etc.
Apart from by this leader cannot compare with another situations and it is unable to deal
with the different factors of demographic as well.
 System leadership theory: It is a very simple as well as straight forward model of the
leadership in which the leader is easily able to make effective business decisions as well
as achieve objective of the TRG. Apart from this in the working environment employee
relations is also established in the proper way. On the other side, it is not based on any
types of parameters as well as very lesser used by the leader in the workplace.
F) Critically analysis of different approaches and theories of leadership
Apart from the various strengths as well as weaknesses there are different benefits and
drawbacks of the theories by which the leader and restaurant group both become beneficial and
sometimes influence as well. It can be critically evaluated that above mentioned all the theories
of leadership such as contingency, system, situational etc. are highly beneficial for the company
such as The Restaurant Group Plc in order to achieve objectives. These theories are very helpful
for the leader in order to resolve unconditional and typical problems, provide better as well as
effective plan to minimize problems, establish proper relations between employer and
subordinates etc. Further, all the theories are helpful in order to identify or know skills related to
leadership and make the overall team highly efficient and productive (Choudar and et.al., 2015).
Such advantages will lead to the TRG in order to achieve the objectives in proper way as well as
enhance image in the food industry.
It can be critically evaluated that apart from several benefits the theories create some
problems and have various draw backs as well by which firm hampers in negative way. The
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theories are not future oriented by which it is able to lead current team as well as there are not
any type of external factors are involved in it. The system approach of leadership is unable to
apply in the service industry and the TRG group provide services to the consumers as well.
Hence, it leads to influence overall business entity in the adverse manner. Further contingency
theory is not based on any assumptions as well as there are not any literature and research by
which the leader cannot take effective decisions and lead to the team towards achieve objectives
of the restaurant Plc.
TASK 2
A) Key approaches to operations management and various roles plays by leader and manager
Operation management plays a very significant role in each and every organisation in
order to manage the production process in an effective manner. In this context different
approaches used by the Restaurant Plc are given as below: System approach: As per the approach the TRG is able to purchase raw material and
produce finished goods in the systematic way (Che and Mays, 2015). Here transportation
process of inbound and outbound is also very effective due to using specific system
which helps to the company in order to manager overall production process. With this
approach TRG is able to make proper products and services in an appropriate time which
lead to increase its profitability in the food industry. Dynamic approach: Another approach of the operation management is dynamic where
the firm able to apply updated as well as various new strategies in order to meet with
current needs and objectives. As per the dynamic approach the TRG is able to focus
another criteria like as learning program, provide better knowledge to employees in order
to use updated techniques for make production process very effective etc. With this the
firm will be able to make improvements as well as adopt new technologies in the
business environment such as TRG which lead to enhance quality of the products and
services (Chung, Wong and Tam, 2015).
Role of leader in operation management
Very main or primary role plays by the leader in order to manage operation process of the
firm is to set out vision as well as mission of the firm. These both the elements are linked in the
business with day to day activities of the production process. In this the leader formulate
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effective business strategies in order to meet with the vision, mission as well as targets and
objective of the TRG Plc. Further, another role plays by the leader is to formulate group or team
and provide proper guidance to individuals in order to complete task and meet objectives.
Role of manager in operation management
Apart from the leader, manager also plays a vital role in order to manage production
process of The Restaurant Group Plc. The manager used various laws as well as rules and
regulation of the business in order to achieve targets and objectives of the respective company.
Further, it plays role in the operation management is to allocate all the resources which are
required in order to produce finished goods and services for customers (Shen and Khaligh,
2015). Apart from this the manager check out quality as well as standards of products and
services. In context to this another major role plays by the manager is to control or reduce total
cost of production and increase profit of The Restaurant Group Plc.
B) Significance as well as value of operations management in order to meet with objectives of
the restaurant Plc
Operation management is an effective element for each and every business organisation
in order to produce better products and services as well as achieve goals and objectives of the
firm. In The Restaurant Group Plc with helps of operation management the company is able to
utilize its resources in an effective way and control over the cost of production. When the
management produce goods and services at lower cost by utilising resources in proper manner
then it will able to increase its profit in the food industry which lead to achieve objective of profit
maximization. Apart from this, better operation management lead to increase quality of the
goods and services offered by TRG group. Higher the quality of products as well as services lead
to attract more number of customers towards the firm (Ehrhart, 2015). Higher consumers helps to
the company in order to enhance sales and revenue of the business entity as well as increase
market share which lead to achieve goals and objectives of the company.
Furthermore, with proper operation management the firm is able to adopt new and
updated technologies and techniques which lead to increase output level with using same
resources. In this the TRG able to achieve economies of scale, it is a parameter in which total
level of output increases and total cost of production reduces. Hence, it helps to increase
financial performance in the overall food industry simultaneously it able to attract more number
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of shareholders to make an investment. Hence, it can be said that the effective operation
management is very helpful for The Restaurant Group Plc in order to produce better quality of
goods and services as well as achieve its goals and various objectives.
C) Assessing various factors which influence in decision making by managers and leaders
In the working environment there are several factors affects to the company which lead to
influence decision making process of managers as well as leaders in the firm such as TRG Plc.
The elements which affects such process in the company are given as below: Internal relations: It is very necessary for the firm to have an effective employee
relations in the working environment. It helps to coordinate as well as communicate with
employer and subordinate in the TRG Plc which lead to take better business decisions
(Blomme, Kodden and Beasley-Suffolk, 2015). When internal relations within workplace
gets hamper then manager and leader are not able to take effective business decisions
which lead to influence overall firm in negative manner. Competitors: Another element is the competitors which lead to make changes in the
business decisions which are taken earlier. For instance, if rivalry firms reduce prices of
good and services offered by them then TRG group's manager and leader must make
changes in the pricing strategy or decisions in order to provide goods and services to
users. Financial position: Further, strong financial performance of the firm lead to make better
business decisions in the workplace. But in case if firm is unable to generate higher profit
and comes under the loss then it will lead to influence decisions made by manager and
leader in the TRG company.
 Market Trends: Apart from this market trends also impact on the firm as well as business
decision process in very adverse manner (Wong, 2015). With this company must
formulate rules and regulations according to the trends of market and business
environment. Hence, by this overall company and business decisions affects in negative
way.
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D) Methods to improve operational management's efficiencies
In the business such as TRG there are various ways or methods which helps to the firm in
order to enhance efficiencies and productivity of the operational management. The methods are
enumerated below: Total Quality Management Approach: It is a method in which the management able to
increase quality of goods and services offered by the TRG. It is a widely used approach
by most of the firms in the production process which helps to reduce defective items and
increase quality of the overall output level. Lean production: Another method for improving efficiencies of the operational
management is lean production which helps to reduce wastage products which are occurs
during production process (Five simple ways to improve warehouse efficiency, 2017).
Further, it helps to produce better quality of goods and services which lead to make more
number of products using same resources.
 Six sigma: Most of the firms uses respective approach in the production process where
ratio of defective products and services is very low i.e. 0.06% per 1000 units. When the
TRG firm use six sigma method in the production process then its productivity will affect
highly and improve up to greater extent.
E) Different factors affecting business environment as well as community
In the business environment there are various factors which are affects to the firm in
positive as well as negative manner. With the several elements of business environment the TRG
is unable to earn higher profit as well as become more financially strong in the overall food
industry. Very main factor of business environment is economical where mainly interest,
exchange and inflation rate are affects to the company (Orr and Cleveland-Innes, 2015). When
these all rate increases then prices of the products and services also increase which lead to reduce
company's profit. Further, flow of money in hand of community also fluctuate by which their
decisions to purchase goods and services change as well. Apart from this social, environmental,
technological, legal as well as political factors also influence to The Restaurant Group Plc in
both adverse and beneficial manner. For instance, if tastes and preferences or consumers get
changes then it leads to make changes in overall production process. Apart from this as per the
legal factors if government make changes in taxation policy then it also affects to the TRG.
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F) Critically evaluating application of operations management and factors affect to business
From the above analysis it can be critically evaluated that the operation management is
very important for each and every business in order to produce better quality good and services
by eliminate wastage products. In order to improve quality as well as enhance efficiency of the
TRG there are various methods and strategies plays an important role. However, if the
management is unable to adopt different types of methods as well as new technology then
company will unable to produce better goods and services and will hamper in negative ways
(Peng and et.al., 2015). Further, it can be critically evaluated that various factors such as
financial position of the TRG, current market scenario and trend, relations between employers
and individuals of the firm as well as various suppliers and competitors are affects to the
company and operation management up to greater extent.
CONCLUSION
From the above research report it can be articulated that both the elements such as
management and operation are very helpful for The Restaurant Group Plc (TRG) in order to
achieve its goals and objectives in an effective manner. There are different types of roles,
functions as well as characteristic plays by the manager and leader in the company to meet with
objectives. It can be analysed that different leadership approaches such as situational,
contingency and system approach used by the leader in TRG firm which helps to meet with
targets and objectives in very appropriate manner. Further, it can be concluded that in order to
improve efficiencies of operational management six sigma, total quality management, kaizen
approach as well as lean production are very effective methods. Moreover, different business
environment factors are lead to affect company and decision making of manager and leaders.
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