An Analysis of Leadership and Operations at British Home Stores

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership and operational management, using British Home Stores (BHS Ltd) as a case study. The report begins by defining management and operations, emphasizing their role in enhancing efficiency and profitability. It then explores the roles of leaders and managers, contrasting their functions and responsibilities within an organization. The report delves into various situational contexts where leadership and management skills are crucial, such as handling employees, problem-solving, adapting to changing strategies, and making effective decisions. Furthermore, it examines different leadership approaches, including contingency theory, and their impacts on the business environment. The report also discusses key approaches to operational management, the importance of operational management in achieving business objectives, and factors impacting operational decision-making. Overall, the report aims to provide a detailed understanding of how effective leadership and operational strategies contribute to business success, supported by references to relevant academic sources.

MANAGEMENT
AND
OPERATIONS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Roles of leader and characteristics of manager......................................................................1
P2 Role of leader and function of manager on various situational context................................3
P3 Several approaches of leadership...........................................................................................5
M1...............................................................................................................................................7
M2...............................................................................................................................................7
D1................................................................................................................................................7
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................7
P4 Key approaches to operation management and role which leaders and managers fulfil.......7
P5 Value and importance of operational management in achieving business objectives...........8
P6 Factors within business environment that impact operational management and decision
making by leader and manager.................................................................................................10
M3.............................................................................................................................................11
M4.............................................................................................................................................11
D2..............................................................................................................................................12
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Management and operations can be defined as administration of business practices to create the
highest level of efficiency possible within an enterprise. It may refer to such aspect in which it is
concerned with covering materials and labour into goods and services more effectively to build
maximum profits for a company. This procedure involves the responsibility to make sure that
business operations are able in order to utilise available resources for meeting client's need.
Operations manufacture goods, maintain quality and generate service (Ashby, Leat and Hudson-
Smith, 2012). It may be considered as a major function of any business which covers along with
supply chains, marketing, finance and human resource of an organisation. This aspect requires
basically several strategies and regular manufacturing of product as well as services. The report
is based on British Home Stores which is commonly abbreviated as BHS Ltd. This may be
considered as British department store chain and primarily selling clothing along with household
products. But in current scenario, firm began to enhance its business into furniture, electronics,
entertainment, convenience groceries and fragrance, beauty product and so on. This assignment
will discuss about roles of leader and manager to achieve goals in order. It will also explain
about various leadership approaches and their impacts on business environment.
TASK 1
P1 Roles of leader and characteristics of manager
Leader: - This term refers to a person who gets work done through staff members concerning
the objectives of an organisation. Leaders have an important role to fulfil for encouraging
workers with help of various kind of leadership theories . They have to build their excellent
communication abilities and inherent in them vision of an enterprise to be completed. Basically,
BHS Ltd. Have to appoint efficient leader and their main aim is to focus on motivating people..
In addition to this, it requires to inspire the sub-ordinates in respect to expand their performance
to create better outcomes on regular basis. This will facilitate to improve the productivity as
well as profitability of company (Ashutosh and et. al., 2016).
Roles of leader Vision: - Leaders have an innovative and unique quality by which they are capable to
generate new vision to enhance productivity of an organisation. Inspiration and Communication: - Leaders have their own unique and creative styles
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by which they can direct their team members to expand working efficiency. It will help
to boost regular outcomes by improving morale of employees. This factor may support
to increase profitability of BHS Ltd. and reduce employee turnover along with it. Ability to challenge: - They have several specialised qualities of introducing new ideas
and concepts. Through accepting various kind of challenges, they put their efforts to
prove their philosophy correct and profitable in company. They have such capability to
grab or utilise effective opportunities and reduce effects of threats as well (Chowdary
and George, 2011).
 Honesty and Integrity: - They always try to consider trust and faith amongst their co-
worker so that they fulfil expectations without any issue. For this, leaders need to work
as supporting factor to its team members on several conditions.
Manager: - This may be described as that person who has responsibilities of designing various
events or processes to manage work. They have an essential task to render correct direction of
completing pre-determined goals or objectives. BHS Ltd. is needed to appoint such efficient
managers who are able to develop and organise relevant strategies or policies to plan
performance of employees. It should be done to fulfil the individual tasks of workers
successfully and attain desired target along with it. They have an important duty of allocating
available resources as well as tasks to staff members as per their field of expertise. This will
result in attaining better performance from them and people can work more effectively without
having any type of mental stress or burden. It also involves various prospects of providing
several appraisal events to encourage workers on regular basis (Cochran, Cox and Kharoufeh,
2011).
Functions of Manager Provide correct direction: - Manager has an essential role to record regular outcomes on
daily basis to fulfil them on time. BHS Ltd. have to appoint such managers who can
render correct direction for completing various objectives as well as targets. Focussed to employees: - They have a task to solve issues and problems of worker so
that they can work effectively. Managers of BHS Ltd. have to create such policies which
are able to sort out conflicts or issues of sub-ordinates to facilitate efficient performance
of them. Manage processes: - There are different types of functions and procedures which are
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necessary to conduct them in correct way. It is essential to complete the pre-defined
goals or objectives of BHS Ltd. more effectively as well as efficiently.
 Execution of vision: - BHS Ltd. has to appoint such managers possessing ability to
build better plan for properly executing desired events and procedures. It is necessary to
complete essential aspects of an organisation (Crevier, Cordeau and Savard, 2012).
Firms need to make several innovative or creative visions which are able to expand
productivity as well as profitability if an enterprise. For this, they have to implement
certain change or modification into such factors to attain benefits.
Comparison between manager and leader
MANAGER LEADER
 They have task to convey information
about policies or strategies to leaders.
 They need to communicate and
influence employees to perform as per
policies.
 Managers have to provide direction to
groups.
 While leaders need to render directions
to their reams as well.
 They have generate ideas for
improvement and growth of
organisation.
 They have major role to focus on
employee’s growth and apply ideas into
reality.
 Managers have responsibilities to make
planning for several aspects of
company.
 While leaders have duty to inspire their
co-workers to enhance performance to
create better outcomes.
P2 Role of leader and function of manager on various situational context
It is necessary to appoint both efficient managers and leaders to build an effective
organisational working aspect in correct direction as per desires. This criteria should be
considered because it is an essential factor to meet several objectives of BHS Ltd. An enterprise
has various management functions along with different theories and styles of leadership
(Davidson and Olsen III, 2013). It will render support to attain appropriate functioning of
prospects of administration as well. Many times, firms have to face certain conditions which
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may includes prices of fuel, raw material and equipment are increasing on rapid stage. Such
situations are responsible for few threats so that leaders and managers have make various
effective or efficient strategies and policies. It will helps in building better plan to apply which
may handle cost of production. This may facilitate to improve sales and revenue of BHS Ltd.
Successfully. Leaders have their unique qualities by which they can implement innovative
techniques to work faster and effectively. By this, workers can perform in better way to
generate outcomes ion regular basis. All these aspects become possible due to loyal and
supporting behaviour of team leader and they tries to motivate their team members to improve
working efficiency as well. There are different types of conditions and circumstance arises
which may results in several changes in BHS Ltd. It is necessary to enhance goodwill of
organisation along with grabbing more market share by making innovative strategies for
attaining desired targets (De Roover, 2017). Some of situations which are usually facing by
firms are given below:
Handling employees:- There are various kind of issues regarding role or duties which is
necessary to completed by staff members of company. And these procedures are allotted to
them as per their efficiencies as well as abilities in respect to their field of expertise. Some
times, it is observed that an employee get frustrated due to continuous technical error then it
becomes most important to solve such problems by manager and leaders. The BHS Ltd. Have to
appoint such candidate who are able to sort out issues of workers in every smooth or critical
situation effectively and facilitate efficient performance of them to generate better outcomes
regularly.
Problem solving:- The firm have to make several strategies or rules which are able to sort our
various needs to staff members which they expect from company. It is important to observe
certain issues due to working condition of various equipments in firm which are important to
cleared by managers or leaders. BHS Ltd. need to hire more capable manager so that they can
solve different threats on their own behalf immediately in proper way. This will help to make
better outputs for improvement of firm's profitability as well as productivity (Ellis and et. al.,
2016.).
Strategies and technologies:- Every organisation have their different strategies and norms
which are needed to be followed by its all workers. Such rules are bale to create specific
business environment of an enterprise. It is well known that current scenario of market is
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relevant to changing trends which is quickly accepted by clients. According to that, BHS Ltd.
have to make several essential changes or modifications into their particular policies to enhance
qualities of their products.
Decision making:- Organisations are required to build different types of decisions as per need
to situation facing by them. There are various aspects for which they have to build certain
techniques by deciding more effective and efficient technique to sort out specific threat. BHS
Ltd. Is needed to make its several decisions as per current condition with implementing suitable
factors to attain expected goals or objectives of the company (Glasstone and Sesonske, 2012).
From the above discussion, it is analysed that leaders and manager have necessary prospects to
solve various kind of issues, problems and threats. And this can be done through several
effective tools or techniques by applying to suitable circumstance to gain desired aspects.
P3 Several approaches of leadership
There are different kind of theories and models of leadership which have their own impact on
organisation. Leaders can apply these approaches as per circumstances face by an enterprise to
clear threats and issues. It is necessary to first observe and analyse the negative along with
positive aspects of every model before applying. It is important because every leadership style
has its unique as well a dissimilar impacts in different conditions of firm. Then it become
mandatory aspect to study about situation of firm and match it with that approach which is
going to be implemented. Some of leadership approaches whichmay implemented by BHS Ltd.
are given below:
Contingency theory:- This theory was primarily introduced by Fred E. Fiedler's and it focus on
such criteria which belief that there is no better technique for manager to lead. This model is
also known as Fiedler's contingency theory of leadership. Firms are facing different conditions
which may generate various leadership requirements for managers. This approach is considered
on few elements which dictate leader's situational control are as follows: Task structure:- This term may involves various kind of job structures such as highly
structured, fairly unstructured or somewhere on between. It may relevant with several
tasks or duties of company. This can be defined as favourable details required of sub-
ordinates affects task composition (Golicic and Smith, 2013).
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 Leader or member relations:- It refers to those components which implement to
amount of loyalty, dependability and support receives leader from employees. It is
needed to maintain favourable relationship in which suitable rewards and punishments
can be applied without any issues. But in case of unfavourable relation, there is
provided to leaders.
 Positioning power:- This term may expressed as to calculate amount of power or
authority which is generally received by managers. It perceives the company to render
purpose of directing, rewarding and punishing the co-workers as well.
Situational theory:- This model was proposed by Hershey Blanchard which is based on
amount of direction and socio-emotional support. It must be provided by a leader in specific
condition and level of maturity of followers. It indicates that to determine appropriate
leadership style for utilise in particular circumstances (Greene and et. al., 2014). It should be
done by identifying level of m,aturilt6y if followers. Some of levels are given below: Telling:- It can reflect about high risk or low relationship behaviour. Leaders have to
render proper orders and particular direction and telling style which match with low
follower readiness level. Selling:- It refers to high task or high relationship behaviour in which leaders have to
motivate two-way conversation. It will support to build confidence on part of workers,
although they still has duty and controls decision making. This style of selling best
matched with moderate follower readiness stage. Participating:- It reflects style of high relationship or low task behaviour in which
leaders and sub-ordinates share decision making. It is best matched with moderate
follower readiness stage.
 Delegating:- It will shows low relationship or low task behaviour. It includes that
leaders and employees are ready to accomplish specific task and both competent as well
as motivated to bear total obligation.
System theory:- This approach of leadership can be defined as particular system which has
several sub-systems (Hill, 2012). It will perform to enhance efficiencies of internal business
environment as well as certain small divisions of an enterprise to complete more successfully.
BHS Ltd. May apply this theory to handle all aspects of different situations as well.
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M1
There is basic difference between role of manager and function of leader is that they have
different styles of working and focus in dissimilar aspects. Manager have to make required
plans to conduct various activities and focus on organisational growth. But leader have ability
to motivate people to perform efficiently and focus on employees also.
M2
As it is mentioned above that different kind of approaches have dissimilar impacts on various
situations facing by an organisation. Every leadership theory has its strengths and weakness
according to several conditions. Firms have to match strengths or weakness with elements of
these models to reduce negative impacts and expand positive affects as well.
D1
There are various types of situations according to which different approaches or models have
their irrelevant negative to positive impacts (Hoyos, Morales and Akhavan-Tabatabaei, 2015).
Due to this, leaders have to determine such theories which may support to solve current
situational aspects and render methods to attain better productivity as well as profitability of an
organisation.
TASK 2
P4 Key approaches to operation management and role which leaders and managers fulfil
Operation management have to adopt various kind of approaches to fulfil requirements of
regular activities and procedures to be conducted in BHS Ltd. There are several factors which
are needed to be determined and analysed in order to know about negative or positive impacts
of them. Managers have to build effective plans by studying such components which may affect
the criteria of organising necessary activities of production. Leaders have role to inspire staff
members by their own effective techniques of performing and generate better outcomes on
regular basis. BHS Ltd. may implement method of Six Sigma which id described below:
Planning:- It refers to that part in which manager shave to make an effective as well as efficient
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blue print plan (Hugos, 2018). This will provide support to execute any event or activity more
successfully. This will become possible because they can analyse various threats or
opportunities of it before applying that practically. By this BHS Ltd. Can reduce impacts of
problems and utilise positive aspects properly to gain better profits.
Organising:- This techniques can be defined as to organise various desired tasks or procedures
in practical manner. This refers to such criteria in which they have to allocate available
resources and tasks to employees as per their field of expertise to attain better outputs.
Directing:- This techniques can be considered to direct the efforts of all staff members in
correct direction. It will facilitate to gain overall outcomes of an organisation. The company
have to lead in front of other competitive firms by putting handwork in desires direction to
attain profits of it.
Staffing:- It is important for BHS Ltd. to appoint various kind of candidates to build manpower
team so that they become able do every tasks properly in time. They have to provide various
training and learning programmes to enhance working of their workers (Jørgensen and Zaccour,
2012).
Coordinating:- The firm have several different departments to conduct dissimilar activities but
they are putting their working abilities towards same goal of specific firm. It is important to
coordinate with each other to attain desired targets of an enterprise. It is necessary because all
of these events are interdependent of one another.
Controlling:- When the firm is capable to implement various kind of processes which have
their own opportunities as well as challenges. Then it is necessary to grab these positive aspects
and they have to control those challenges to reduce their negative impacts in firms productivity.
The above mentioned six sigma factors are necessary to be considered by BHS Ltd. To organise
all of activities more properly as per need of the company.
Lean production:- This term can be refers to identify the wastage of resources and reduce it.
Because it may be implement at the place where required to generate better outcomes on regular
basis.
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P5 Value and importance of operational management in achieving business objectives
These days the demand of customer is changing very frequently so it is important to take
care of customer need. There are various departments in BHS which help company to complete
task and objectives. Operational management deals with watching activities of different
departments. It is important that BHS Ltd. has to give emphasis on quality of product and
services. In organisation there are various activities which has to be performed by various
department and they are interlinked. It is important to create good environment in association so
employee know their code of conduct (Mitsuo and et. al., 2014).
Operational management has to plan, organise, direct guide activities of different
departments which help company to achieve its targets and goals. There are department like
purchase, production, store, distribution, etc. which have activities related to each other. BHS
Ltd. Deals in clothing and house hold department, so they must apply strategies which are helps
in providing better satisfaction to employee. Company has to purchase material from out source
and then there is important role of logistic and distribution channel. Operational manager must
give take care that order must be put on time and there must not be over and out of stock. There
are various transportation channel, out of which best must be opted. Operational department has
to take care of such steps which aims at achieving profit in company.
IMPORTANCE OF OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT
 Optimum utilisation of resources- There is utilisation of different resources to achieve
goals and objective. There is requirement of financial, natural, etc. resources which must
be utilised in best way. This has to taken care by manager and motivate workers to
perform task in best way. This will increase goodwill of company in market.
 Cooperation among departments- Operational management has to keep eyes on
working style of employer and it is important to create good relations among workers so
that they do not feel conflicted while working in team.
 Good employer employee relationship- It is important that there must b e good
relation among employer and employee. This has positive impact on operations of
company. If there is good relations in company, communication among departments is
proper and there is no confusion in activities (Muller, 2014).
 Customer satisfaction and profit motive- Operational management is important for
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creating trust of customer in brand. This ultimately helps to achieve profit and get this
ultimate make competitive image in market. When there are proper services from
company, customer prefer to take services from BHS Ltd.
From the above discussion it is clear that the role of operational management is
important in today's era. Manger has to motivate personnel to give their best which is beneficial
for their own growth. There are possibilities that workers does not like to work under team due
to personal conflicts, then leader tries to remove their conflict. They must use latest technology
and then guide workers regarding its use and its benefits.
P6 Factors within business environment that impact operational management and decision
making by leader and manager
Business operates in society. Company can resist in market only if plans and policies are
modified according to need of society. There are many factors which affects business operations
and decision of top level manager. There are possibilities that person does not like to accept
changes but manager has to motivate them to work under dynamic nature. It is important that
manager must be of dynamic nature so that they can convince employees as well to work under
different style. There is important role of employee in company, in case any problem arise due
to factors then chance must be given to employees to provide their views. It is important that
manger must provide leadership in such a way that it is impactful for employees and operations
of company (Olhager and Johansson, 2012).
The culture and ethics of organisation also affects business operations. There must be
good environment in BHS Ltd. so that employees feel comfortable in company and they are
aware about working style. Business environment impact business in their sustainable growth
and this will affects their image in industry. There are many competitors in market so manager
has to see their plans and policies and then make rules accordingly.
 Sustainability- There are many goals and objectives of company. It is important that it
manger has to keep all those aspects at priority. There must be overall development of
company so employees also feel motivated to give their best.
 Corporate social responsibility(CSR)- There are many resources which has been taken
from society and these days as per government norms it is essential that company has to
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