Analysis of Leadership and Management at John Lewis

This report provides an in-depth analysis of John Lewis's leadership and management practices. It begins with a brief history of the company and the rationale for the study, followed by an examination of their vision, leadership styles (including autocratic, consultative, and democratic approaches), and management practices. The report then delves into the strategies employed by John Lewis, drawing on relevant management theories such as Motivational Theory X and Y, and provides examples of their implementation. The analysis includes a discussion of how these leadership and management styles have contributed to the company's success, with specific examples. Finally, the report offers recommendations for improvement, suggesting potential leadership styles, management practices, and strategies that could further benefit the firm based on the research conducted. The report emphasizes the importance of effective leadership in fostering growth and sustainability within the organization.

CONTEXT OF
BUSINESS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
1.A brief history and summary of the business and the rationale for choice.................................4
2. According to your research, discuss their vision, leadership style and management practices
and the various strategies making use of various theories you have studied as evidence...........5
3. Analyze how above have been achieved or implemented by this firm giving suitable
examples......................................................................................................................................7
4. Recommendations as an improvement (the proposed leadership styles, management
practices and the various strategies that can be undertaken by this firm based on this research)
.....................................................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
References .......................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Leadership can be defined as the capabilities or skills of leaders of an organization which
stimulates workforce for working together so as to achieving goals or objectives. Main function
of leadership is to establish effective goals or objectives and defining clearly to their subordnates
so that better contributions can be gained from them for achieving goals or objectives of firm.
Chosen organization for this assignment is John Lewis which is a UK based organization and
engages in clothing industry along with headquarters in London that was founded by John
Spedan Lewis in 1929. Present assignment will discuss about the leadership styles like
bureaucratic, transformational, charismatic or transformational along with brief context of firm.
In addition to this, several kinds of management styles will also discuss in this assignment.
Vision and mission of organization so that business should be operated in well manner will also
covered under this report.
1.A brief history and summary of the business and the rationale for choice
John Lewis and partners is a UK based organization which mainly deals in clothing or
fashion sector. The main operated area of organization is UK. Headquarters of
organization are London, UK. Organization is commonly called as John Lewis &
Partners in which each stakeholders of their organization are called partners.
Organization was founded in 1929 and present functions of firm are operated by Sir
Charlie Mayfield who is positioned at chairman position in company.
History
John Lewis and Partners are also known as successful organization which was
founded in the year of 1929. In the mid of 20s, management of organization have
distributed their shares into their employees due to which company is now called John
called & partners. Company is operating its business operations in successful manner
throughout the UK. Main store of organization is called Peter jones which is a department
store and established in Central London.
Summary of the business

John Lewis is a well-known organisation of UK. Company provides well quality clothes and
textile products across the UK. As per the financial report of organisation, company has earned a
revenue of £10.2 billion. In present, organisation has employed approx. 83000 employees who
are providing their services throughout the UK. Organisation’s growth and success is based on
their fair trading (Ardichvili,2018).
Rationale of the study
Organisation is operating its business operations throughout the UK which is a most
appropriate example of partnership. Main reason behind chosen of this organisation is to
analyse several kinds of strategies and leadership styles which are using by their
managers for performing their business operations or activities in proper manner.
2. According to your research, discuss their vision, leadership style and management practices
and the various strategies making use of various theories you have studied as evidence
Vision of Marks and Spencer
Vision of a firm can be termed as statement which provides future and present
performance of organization. Vision of John Lewis and partners is to providing happiness to
their all members so that all functions would be handled in smooth manner. Other companies
of same sector are also using their vision for gaining success and growth in market.
Leadership or management style that are adopted by John Lewis and Partners
John Lewis and partners is operating its operations and functions across the UK. Main reason
behind their success is their management which is very effective in nature. It is also very
essential for each organisations to adopt leadership and management styles and practices so
as to better functioning of firm. Several kinds of leadership and management styles which
can be adopted by John Lewis are given as under:
Autocratic leadership or management style

In this kind of leadership or management style, decision power is handled by single
person that may be managers or leaders of the organization. Team members or employees of
organization have no right to provide any kind of suggestion in decision making process of firm.
Main disadvantage of this style or practices is that most of the employees are demotivated due to
which at some time, they may have left their job and can enhance the conflicts or issues at
workplace (Conger, 2018)
Consultative leadership/management style
In it, leaders and managers take suggestions and ideas from their subordinates in making
decisions which ultimately enhances motivation level of employees. Main characteristic of
this style is that leaders and managers have good listening capabilities due to which they
consider views and suggestions of their employees. Opinions and suggestions from
employees can be taken in several ways like newsletters, team briefing or grievance boxes.
Democratic leadership or management style.
In this kind of leadership style or management practice, teammates of the team have right to
take decisions as per the situations but final decisions are made by managers or leaders of
organization. Leaders or managers of this kind are very understandable in nature and
considers feedbacks and views of employees so that, they don’t feel demotivated or
dissatisfied at workplace.
Leadership or management style which is following by the managers or leaders of John
Lewis and partners are Consultative so as to taking support from the employees in order to
taking decisions. In the context of John Lewis, their managers take suggestions and views of
their employees so that decisions would be made in well manner. Decision which are taken
by managers or leaders of organization are collaborative in nature and taking by the support
of employees of firm. This theory can be explained by an example like if managers wants to
expand their market in other locations of nation then leaders have duty to consider all views
and suggestions which are given by their employees. Company also uses democratic
leadership style sometimes, furthermore, Laissez faire management style is used when
decision have been made by leaders on the basis of their expertise level.

Different strategies made by using various theories
Management can be termed as a procedure of handling the business operations so as to
achieving organizational goals or objectives in timely manner. Management process is
mainly required various kind of resources such as availability of funds, effective knowledge
of employees, skills of marketing teams etc. so as to accomplish the tasks. Managers of
organization also perform various functions in the organization like controlling, organizing,
planning or leading so that all assigned task to the employees will be done in systematic
manner. In an organization, managers take support from several management practices so as
to motivating or encouraging their employees for getting better contribution from them for
achieving organizational goals. Company is mainly using career policy in which their
manager mainly focuses on fulfilling the needs and wants of employees and for this they
provide various kind of perks, rewards or incentives to their employees so as to increasing
their motivation level. Mainly two type of benefits are provided by the managers of John
Lewis which contains financial reward and training or development. Both these are essential
in order to increasing productivity or profitability of organisation. Managers and leaders are
mainly following Motivational Theory X and Y so as to providing support to their
employees. This theory was given by McGregor in 1960 in which they have categorise the
employees in two parts, which are briefly explained as under:
Theory X
Employees which are included in this category are mostly lazy and not devoted towards
completing any task which is given to them. These kind of employees can be motivated through
providing them rewards and incentives (Conger, 2018).
Theory Y
In this style, employees are consisted who are hard working in nature and taking proper
support of their colleagues and superiors for accomplish a given task. Staff member of this
kind are taken proper training so that all preset goals or objectives of organsiation can be
achieved in a proper time-frame.

3. Analyze how above have been achieved or implemented by this firm giving suitable examples
Managers can be adopting various kind of leadership and management style because these
are very beneficial for their growth and success. As John Lewis is UK based organization so that
they have duty to provide better support and guidance to their employees so that goals or
objectives of firm will be achieved in specific time-frame. Main objective behind adoption of
Leadership style and management practices is to enhancing competitive advantage over their
rivals. In John Lewis, managers are using bureaucratic in which managers assign the roles and
responsibilities to their employees and hold all authority of taking decisions so that if any
situation is occurring then important decision taken by them. Mainly managers of John Lewis are
using Theory X and Y in which they have categorized their staff members in two parts. In X
category those employees are taken who have potential of working hard but they are not using
their skills because of less consumptions are given by the management and in Y category are
mainly included those employees who are devoted towards organizational goals and provide
their maximum efforts so as to completing given tasks. Employees of X kind can be motivated
by the leaders through providing them incentives and perks of their working so that they can be
encouraged and provide better support in achievement of organizational goals. With the help of
this theory, management of John Lewis can make positive environment at their workplace due to
which they will able in making decisions for the betterment of organization (Hood, 2012). This
gave opportunity to managers for establishing a positive environment and making effective
decisions for the business. Apart from that, leadership and management practice which is
followed by the managers and leaders of John lewis are Consultative leadership style in which
managers or leaders have to take decisions by taking views and opinions of their employees. In
the context of John Lewis, various ways like ballet box, newsletters, team briefs etc. Apart from
that, manages and leaders are also uses democratic leadership style in some cases so as to
gaining better support from their employees in achievement of organizational objectives.
Furthermore, company also uses Laissez-Faire leadership styles in which managers or leaders
uses their high talent and skills for taking decisions in which they also support their employees
so that better contributions can be gained from them in achievement of goals.

4. Recommendations as an improvement (the proposed leadership styles, management practices
and the various strategies that can be undertaken by this firm based on this research)
It is very necessary for the company to have effective leaders who have ability
and skills of taking effective decisions so that better growth or sustainability can be
achieved by the firm. Leadership can be defined as the ability and skills of individual
from which they can convince other individuals for working as per their requirements.
Apart from that, managers have good interpersonal skills which assists in building good
relation with the employees and influencing them to work. There are various kind of
characteristics of leaders of John Lewis that are given as under:
Personality- It is very essential for the leaders and managers of each firm that they
should have good personality. A good manager is one who have ability to support their
subordinates and assist them in attaining success in their work.
Knowledge- Leaders should have good knowledge and skills about the tasks which are
allotted by them for their subordinates. It will help them in explaining goals and objectives to
their teammates for smooth functioning.
Communication skills- Managers or leaders of John Lewis should have good
communication skills so that employees are aware regarding goals and objectives of organization
and provide better supports in achievement of them.
Motivational Skills- Leaders or managers should have good motivation skills so that
better guidance can be provided to their teammates in that situation when they are facing trouble
in completing their task (Long, 2012)
Decisive Skills- This is an important need of managers or leaders in which they have to
take effective decisions so that organization can achieve growth and success in marketplace.
It is highly recommended to the managers or leaders of John Lewis to adopt democratic
leadership at workplace. In this kind of leadership style, power is hold by the managers and
leaders but all employees have authority to provide their support and suggestion so that effective
decisions can be made. Managers of John Lewis can take support from Theory X and Y for
providing motivation or support to their employees. They can use this theory for motivating their

subordinates so as to gaining better efforts from them for achieving goals in a specific time-
frame.
CONCLUSION
It has been summarised from the above report that leadership is an essential skill which
indirectly helps organisation in its betterment. Different kind of leadership and management
styles like democratic, consultative, autocratic and Laisses-faire helps the organisation in taking
better decisions. Motivational theories like Theory X and Y should be implemented by the
managers so as to identifying non-performer of the organisation.

References
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