Management Structure, Functions, and Culture: Debenhams Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Debenhams, a large retail company, focusing on its management structure, business functions, and organizational culture. It begins with an introduction to management principles and then delves into Debenhams' organizational structure, including hierarchical and divisional structures, discussing their advantages and disadvantages. The report examines key business functions, including marketing, HR, and talent management, highlighting their roles and responsibilities and how they interrelate. It also explores Henry Fayol's five functions of management (planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, and controlling) and their application within Debenhams. Furthermore, the report defines organizational culture, referencing Handy's culture theory (role, task, person, and power cultures), and discusses the consequences of strong versus weak organizational cultures within the context of Debenhams. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of effective management and talent management in achieving organizational goals and objectives.

Introduction to
Management

INTRODUCTION
Management is the defined as administration of organization where all functions and
activities are organised by an manager in order to operate the business and increase the
productivity. It is needed for every business industry to analysis the different functions and bring
the innovation which helps to develop the business performance in the competitive environment
(Anderson and et.al., 2018). The management should be analysis the needs of their customers
and provide the products accordingly which supports to manage the all functions and activities.
The report is based on Debenhams that is large size retailer company, operating their business by
providing different types of products and services for developing profitability. The report covers
structure amd business functions, marketing functions, HR and talent management and
organizational culture that helps to operate the business.
2.0 Management structure and Business functions (350 words)
Organisational structure: This can be defined as system and structure that outlines how
certain activities and functions are directed in order to achieve the organizational goals and
objectives. This involves rules, roles and responsibilities so that all workings can be complete in
certain time.
Management and discuss management theories
Management could be explained as non-stop process of organising and arrangement the
people at workplace that helps to develop the business activities and performance in changing
environment. In relation to Debenhams, management is responsible person for organization as it
analysis the needs of customers and employees then make efforts to complete the task effectively
(Bharagava, Saxena and Mulla, 2020).
Management theories:
Scientific Management theory: This can be explained as important management theory
that uses by management to analyses work flows for the purpose of improving economic
efficiency and labour productivity. This theory is given by Frederick Winslow Taylor for
managing all functions and activities effectively.

System management theory: This theory offers an alternative approach for the planning
and management of organization. This can help to manage the all functions with the help to
operationg all activities effectively. In relation to Debenhams, management is required to
evaluate patterns and events in their organization that can help to bring higher performance and
productivity.
Identification of different types ofl structure in relation to organization and outline on
disadvantages and advantages
Hierarchical: This can be defined as pyramid shape structure where management defines
level of authority and responsibility. In this, chain of command goes from top to down that can
help to manage the all activities and functions.
Advantages Disadvantages
 Debenhams motiovate the employees
with clear career paths and brings
changes for promotion.
 This can help to allocate the authority
and responsibility among people by
analysing skills and abilities.
 This can be use by Tesco where it face
the slow down innovation and
important changes.
 Employees have less ownership and
feel not good while operation.
Divisional: This can be explained as important structure which uses by organization by
assigning work in to different department and having control over their own resources, capital
and human being. Each organization is having their own team and department which can help to
develop the business (Easterby-Smith and et.al., 2018).
Advantages Disadvantages
 Debenhams can increase their
performance as all functions are
operated effectively.
 Esprit de corps is following by
organization that boost employees
morale and knowledge.
 There is chances of conflicts between
people that reduces organizational
productivity.
 This can be create the challenge for
organization as people have different
behaviour.
2

2.1 Business Functions
Business function: This can be explained as activities which are carried out by an
enterprise as it can be divided in to core functions and support functions. The core
functions of organisation helps to get the yield income like production of final goods and
services that increases profitability (McGovern, 2018).
Roles and responsibilities of each business function: The roles and responsibilities of
marketing function is to understand the requirement and needs of customers then provide
the kind of products which can help to increase the productivity. The roles and
responsibility of HRM functions is to identify the vacant position and fill them by
analysing skills and abilities of applicants.
3.0 Marketing Function (350 words)
Discussion of how the marketing department must work with other business functions for the
purpose of getting success
Marketing is the important function for each organization as it involves various activities
which are performing by management in order to increase the productivity and profitability. The
management should be analysis the needs and wants of their customers in changing environment
then bring the products which can help to increase the performance. The marketing department
works with other business functions as it develop the success and higher productivity. In relation
to Debenhams, marketing function works with production and sales functions as it identify the
needs of their customers and bring the change in their products as well as services which can
help to develop the productivity and profitability.
The marketing function must work with HRM function as it give the advertisement about
vacant position and profile in organization and get the highly qualified and experienced people at
the workplace which can help to increase the sales and profitability. The management of
Debenhams are conducting interview rounds and select the best employees who can handle the
all functions (Richards, 2020).
The marketing function also must work with finance function as it is important function
which uses by Tesco to allocate the funds between other activities and task that can help to
increase business productivity as well as profitability.
4.0 Management Functions
3

Introduce Henry Fayol’s Five Functions of Management and their roles and responsibilities
Planning: This is main function of management that uses by management to formulate
the effective planning in order to operate their business and increase the organizational
performance. In Debenhams, management is performing their role by formulating effective
plans and strategies which can help to develop the business effectively.
Organising: This is another function which uses to organise all activities and arranging
the people at a workplace which can help to develop the organizational productivity. The roles
and responsibility of HRM management in Debenhams is to arrange the people at right place so
all working can be done timely.
Directing: This means management should be direct and advise their staff what they
need to do and how their problems can be resolved. In relation to Debenhams, management is
needed to direct their staff and employees which can help to develop the organizational
productivity and profitability.
Coordinating: This is another function of management which uses by management to
maintain the effective coordination between people who are working at workplace and develop
the organizational performance. In relation to Debenhams, management maintains the effective
coordination between employer and employees which can help to develop the business
productivity (Papa and et.al., 2018).
Controlling: This can be explained as main function which uses by management to
control over all activities which are decided by management. In relation to Debenhams,
managers is responsible for arranging activities and control over all function which increase the
performance in changing environment.
Interrelation of Management Functions
In relation to Debenhams, HRM, marketing and sales functions are interrelated as
marketing function is uses to identify the needs of their customers and provide the products
which helps to increase the sales. HRM function is related to marketing and sales as management
recruits skilled and talented people who satisfy the customers and supports to increase the sales
and profitability.
HR and Talent Management
Discuss the role of HR and its responsibilities
4

HR management is playing an important role as it identify the needs and wants of their
employees who are working at workplace which can help to increase the organizational
performance. In relation to Debenham, HR management analysis the needs of their employees
and provide them compensation and benefits which helps to increase the organizational
performance and productivity in changing environment. This also contribute in ideas and
innovation that leads in attaining the organizational goals effectively.
Define Talent Management and how it helps to achieve business objectives
Talent management is the methodology of organising, strategic process and getting the
right talented people onboard which can help to operate the business and increase the
performance effectively. In relation to Debenhams, HR management is important aspects which
uses to formulate the effective planning and developing the performance in changing
environment.
The management is responsible to identify problems of their staff who are working and
provide them optimum solution which can help to develop the organizational performance in
competitive environment that supports to attain the business goals and objectives.
5.1 Organisational Culture
Define organisational culture
Organization culture means behaviour, attitudes, and code of conduct of employees who
are working in organization. This states how employees are reacting towards performing special
kind of behaviour that can help to manage all functions and activities. To understand this Handy
culture theory has been used by Debenhams that are as explained:
Role culture: In this, management of Debenhams, should allocate the roles and
responsibilities of employees by analysing their task which helps to complete the project on time.
Task culture: This can be used by chosen organization by assigning task between people
at workplace which can help to develop the organizational productivity.
Person culture: This culture is related to manage the organisational activities as people
see themselves to be superior to the business (Feng, 2018).
Power cukture: In this, power is having in the hand of few people which helps to make
right business decisions. This can be create the conflicts between people as not effective decision
are made by top management.
5

Discuss the consequences of a strong vs weak organisational culture
From the above Role ans task culture are identified as strong where as power and person
culture as weak as it can create the conflicts between people who are working at workplace and
manage the functions. The role and task culture is beneficial for Debenhams as it allocate the
role and responisbilities of employees and getting the work done effectively which increases
performance.
CONCLUSION
The above report has concluded that management is the process of identifying vacancy
and placing the people at right place which can help to increase the organizational performance.
Talent management is uses to get skilled and talented people so they can work effectively and
maintain the higher productivity by attaining goals and objectives.
6

REFERENCE
Books and Journal
Anderson, D. R., and et.al., 2018. An introduction to management science: quantitative
approach. Cengage learning.
Bharagava, R. N., Saxena, G. and Mulla, S. I., 2020. Introduction to industrial wastes containing
organic and inorganic pollutants and bioremediation approaches for environmental
management. In Bioremediation of industrial waste for environmental safety (pp. 1-18).
Springer, Singapore.
Easterby-Smith, M., and et.al., 2018. Management and business research. Sage.
Feng, R., 2018. An introduction to computational risk management of equity-linked insurance.
CRC Press.
McGovern, N. Y., 2018. Radical collaboration and research data management: An
introduction. Research Library Issues. 296. pp.6-22.
Papa, A., and et.al., 2018. Improving innovation performance through knowledge acquisition:
the moderating role of employee retention and human resource management
practices. Journal of Knowledge Management.
Richards, G., 2020. Events as platforms, networks and communities: Introduction. Event
Management.
7