Evaluating Managerial Impact: A Study on Sainsbury's Retail Sector

This research project investigates the critical role of managers within the UK retail sector, specifically focusing on Sainsbury's. The study employs a qualitative approach, utilizing secondary data and existing frameworks to define managerial roles and responsibilities. The project examines how managers at Sainsbury's align with Mintzberg's roles, delegate tasks to employees, and implement strategies to enhance productivity and profitability. Findings highlight the managers' accountability for business changes, employee training, and effective time management. The research emphasizes their role in monitoring performance and ensuring smooth daily operations. Through literature review and analysis, the study concludes that effective managerial practices are vital for adapting to market changes and achieving organizational success within the competitive retail landscape.

Research Project

ABSTRACT
To remain competitive within a business, it is necessary for the company to hire or retain
the employees who have enough knowledge and manage the work accordingly. Similarly, the
present study also highlights the importance of manager within a company, as they are key pillar
of a firm and oversees business operations as well. The entire study is based upon qualitative
study in which only theories and framework used in order to define the roles and responsibilities
of manager for a company. Also, only secondary data has been used for the present study that
assists to collect information that leads to derived best outcomes. Apart from this, it is also
evaluated from the literature review that managers complied with roles defined under Mintzberg
and as per the situation they opted the same in order to meet the defined aim and objectives.
Moreover, they also tries to delegate the roles to employees as per their capabilities so that they
improve the profitability as well as productivity of the company.
Through the primary research it has been examined that managers of Sainsbury are liable
for any changes occurred within a business. For that they have to prepare their employees by
providing effective training which in turn assist to increase the productivity as well as
profitability. Thus, it can be stated that they have effective time management abilities which aid
them to manage the entire work in effective manner. So, it is clearly defined that their main role
includes monitor the performance and ensure the daily functioning of a department or group of
employees. This in turn assists to manage the work as well as improve business operations.
Through proper support from senior management, managers always develop strategies that assist
to improve the performance as well as productivity of the company.

Acknowledgement
I would like to thank my University who provide me an opportunity to study on this topic.
I would also thank my teachers who help me to solve many doubts and present the findings in
better manner.
I would also thank my parents who help me economically and non-economically to complete the
study.
Last but not the least, I thank my friends who always encourage me to complete the study in
effective manner.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................................2
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................6
Background of the study..............................................................................................................6
Research aim and objectives........................................................................................................6
Research questions.......................................................................................................................7
Rationale of the study..................................................................................................................7
Significance of the study.............................................................................................................8
Structure of the dissertation.........................................................................................................8
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW.......................................................................................10
Role and characteristics of manager within an organization.....................................................10
Evaluation of manager’s roles and responsibilities in the firm.................................................14
Importance of manager within retail sector firm pertaining to maximizing productivity and
profitability................................................................................................................................16
CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...........................................................................20
Research type.............................................................................................................................20
Research approach.....................................................................................................................20
Research philosophy..................................................................................................................21
Data collection...........................................................................................................................21
Data analysis..............................................................................................................................22
Ethical considerations................................................................................................................22
Reliability and validity..............................................................................................................23

Research limitations...................................................................................................................23
CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS & FINDINGS........................................................................25
Theme 1: Role and characteristic of manager within organization...........................................25
Theme 2: Evaluation of manager’s role and responsibility within Sainsbury...........................26
Theme 3 Importance of manager to increase productivity and efficiency................................28
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS........................................................31
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................31
Recommendations......................................................................................................................33
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................35

Topic: To assess the importance of good manager in an organization with regards to UK retail
sector: A study on Sainsbury
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Background of the study
In the context of business organization, manager is highly accountable for controlling and
administering company’s affairs. For gaining competitive advantage and making optimum use of
resources manager develop specific strategies referring operational aspects. For achieving
success, manager must have skills pertaining to decision making, problem solving, innovative
etc. In the current times, due to COVID-19 performance of retail sector has been affected to a
great extent. Due to pandemic, shopping habits and behavior of customers have been affected
significantly. Hence, manager’s role is significant for coping up with this or other situation
which occur in business. Moreover, effectual retail management is required to the large extent so
that customer can be provided with their desired merchandise.
Along with this, for building and enhancing customer satisfaction avoidance of
unnecessary chaos is must. Thus, manager is responsible for making arrangement in such a
manner which saves customer’s time and thereby evolve satisfaction among them. Along with
this, manager plays a significant role in ensuring that customers are provided with high quality
services from their staff (Warshawsky, Caramanica and Cramer, 2020). The reason behind, in
service sector, personnel are the one who create distinct image in the mind of customers by
offering competent services. Referring these aspects, it can be said that manager plays various
roles for increasing organizational sales and profitability. This project is based on Sainsbury, a
British retailer, which offers wide range of retail products & services to the customers. In UK,
Sainsbury secured second position by providing customers with quality products at affordable
prices. In this, report will provide deeper insight about the role and significance of manager
within organization. It will shed light on how managerial aspects or skills contribute in the
maximization of both productivity and profitability.
Research aim and objectives
Aim

The aim of current study is to ascertain the extent to which good manager contributes in
organizational success with regards to Sainsbury.
Objectives
On the basis of above aim following objectives have been drafted with the motive to
address research issue prominently:
 To develop understanding about the role and characteristics of manager within an
organization.
 To evaluate roles and responsibilities of Sainsbury’s manager in the firm
 To ascertain the significance of manager within Sainsbury pertaining to maximizing
productivity and profitability.
 To recommend aspects to manager for self-development and learnings which helps in
gaining competitive edge.
Research questions
Q.1 What is the role of manager in managing and handling people to empower productivity in
Sainsbury?
Q.2 What are the responsibilities of the manager to take decisions regarding maximising
efficiency from the operations and driving out success?
Q.3 How capable are they of being able to manage tasks along with self-development and self-
learning?
Rationale of the study
The main reason behind conducting current study is to analyze the significance of
managerial aspects within Sainsbury. In the context of business unit, manager plays a significant
role in relation to developing strategies, motivating personnel, decision making etc. This is
considered as an issue because retail sector filled up with high competitive situation. Further, it is
an issue now because technological advancements are taking in the retail sector with very high
pace. In this regard, it is an accountability of manager to develop competent strategic and policy
framework which leads organizational success (Jahan and Jahan, 2020). Moreover, if firm fails

to comply with current technological trend then it may result into loss of market share and
thereby productivity as well as profitability. Thus, current study will present the role of manager
in improving overall performance of an organization. Further, currently, due to pandemic
business units are doing several changes in the existing operational aspects. From customer
safety to employee performance manager is required to come up with sound framework. In this
situation, manager’s role is vital in making arrangements pertaining to customer safety
(Glinkowska, 2017). Hence, through the means of thematic perception test technique this
research could shed light on how organizational effectiveness and performance can be enhance
via managerial skills.
Significance of the study
Findings of the current study would be significant for several stakeholders namely other
scholars, retail sector firms etc. Moreover, researchers or scholars who are interested to conduct
study on similar topic can use this study. By this, scholars can develop understanding about topic
and find out area for further investigation. Along with this, companies within retail sector would
also become able to understand the extent to which manger’s role is important for achieving
goals. Hence, with the help of such study business units can set competent roles and
responsibilities of manager for getting desired level of outcome or success. Further, through
undertaking such study organizations can understand the role of manager with regards to change
adaptation and implementation as well.
Structure of the dissertation
Chapter 1: Introduction
It is the first chapter of the dissertation which highlights the purpose of doing study and
defines aim and objectives which needs to be addressed. Further, section also describes the
rationale for conducting the study along with the significance.
Chapter 2: Literature review:
The second chapter which relied upon the secondary research and with the help of
author’s point of view, scholar tries to meet the aim and objectives. In this, different themes will
be designed and to address the questions, different secondary sources will be used which
includes books, scholarly articles and company’s official websites etc.

Chapter 3: Research Methodology:
Another chapter that identifies different data collection methods used by the scholar to
accomplished the aim. In this, researcher assesses the type of research method, philosophy,
approach, data collection methods, data analysis etc. Through such methods, scholar is able to
conduct the study in precise manner.
Chapter 4: Data analysis and Findings
One of the most important section of a dissertation through which scholar identify the
roles and responsibilities of Sainsbury’s manager. Along with this, themes will be designed
considering research objectives and different diagrams or images will be added in order to make
the research more presentable.
Chapter 5: Conclusion and recommendations
Last chapter of the dissertation which summarize the entire findings through a study and
also then suggest the ways that helps manager to enhance learning in order to gain competitive
edge.

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
LR may be presented as an analytical which includes evaluation of scholarly articles for
gaining deeper insight about the topic. In this chapter, information includes in books and articles
pertaining to managerial skills have been evaluated. It shows the manager roles and
responsibilities towards organization and evaluating them. Further it will discuss about the
important of manager to increase the productivity and productivity. It fulfills research aim &
objectives from theoretical perspective and thereby helps in analyzing data more effectually.
Role and characteristics of manager within an organization
According to the views of Takaoka and et.al., (2020), manager is the one who controls
the acts of departments and guide people for better performance. In business unit, manager has
accountability to overseeing all the aspects associated with operations. Along with this, manager
also has responsibility pertaining to planning and developing policies as well as systems about
business aspects. Güllü and Yildiz (2019) defined manager as an individual who is assigned with
the responsibilities of ensuring effective management in organization. Hence, manager need to
ensure that all the departments and their representative are offering high quality services to the
customers. Moreover, main motive of manager includes customer satisfaction enhancement and
positive shopping experience within retail sector. For this purpose, manager makes focus on the
development of competent policies. Manager is having motive to provide with high quality at
lower prices that attract more of customers towards companies and providing with a service that
motivate customers to get more purchase from a particular retail store. The experience of
customers towards retail store that increase the goodwill and promote with mouth to mouth of
promotion by customers and leads to high customers from this strategies.
Edinger-Schons and et.al., (2019) stated that manager has strong leadership qualities that
help them to lead employees in an effective manner. As they are consider as key pillar of an
organization and that is why, it helps them to provide direction to their employees. Moreover, an
effective communication is another feature of manager. In this, they are able to share their views
to others and also listening to their team members in order to produce the best results within their
position. Through this, all changes should be shared with each other with an aim to increase the
performance. On the other side, Warshawsky, Caramanica and Cramer (2020) emphasized that

meeting deadline is another feature of manager that also contributes towards an effective
performance. Thus, time management is an important factor that contributes towards prioritizing
the work and accomplishes the work as per the defined deadline. Further, such characteristic
assist manager to meet the defined deadline and also sustain the brand image of a company as
well. The manager plays an important role organization is working towards working effectively
to save time and cost of organization and prevent wastage of resources within working. This
leads to make an effective manager for organization and played an important role that trained
employee to save time and cost frim working and learned cost effective methods to every
employee.
In the opinion of Meng and Boyd (2017) Delegation is another feature that helps
employee to be aware about their daily task. Managers have strong ability to perform the task
and delegation is the major responsibility which they performed. Though, they do not have
strong vision which leaders possess and this somehow leads to take wrong results as well. Thus,
with the help of delegation, company is able to deliver the right job to leaders and employees.
However, Călugărescu (2020) argued that Confidence is consider one of the most important
feature that helps to become an effective manager. In the companies, having a strong confidence
towards a work will aid to manage the work accordingly and also inspire the team as well.
Moreover, they also respect other employees and communicate with them in order to determine
any loopholes within a work which can be improved by implementing effective strategies.
Therefore, it is reflected that managers have different characteristic that makes them different
from the other leaders and employees. As manager are working with employee to achieve the
target goal of organization where communication with employees is clear and understandable
and work to solve employee problems and challenges that are facing by during working.
Motivation to employee are major roles and have a high responsibilities towards employee that
help to increase the efficiency of each individual and accomplished that assign task. The
manager is successful in organization only if they work together and bring up with team to
complete task by helping each other. Manager provide trained employee to work together for
better work and result in increased efficiency in work.
There are different roles played by the manager within large as well as small business
such that they are only responsible to integrate all activities performed in a firm. As per the

Mintzberg, there are three roles played by a manager which assemble all the key roles within an
organization.
Figure 1: Mintsberg Roles of manager
Interpersonal roles: As per the view of Schäffner (2020) manager need to maintain good
interpersonal relations with their employees and other stakeholders. Such that manager play a
role of a leader in order to lead their team which in turn build relationships with employees and
communicate the same with different levels. Also, motivates and oversee the progress of team
and offer promotions thus it helps to balance the effectiveness in an organization (Management
Principles: Role of manager, 2020). Moreover, a liaison is another role within interpersonal role,
in which they maintains network of contacts outside the department that helps them to obtain
information. This in turn helps to generate new ways of growth and development for a business
manager is working on employee satisfaction level to get satisfied within organization culture
and with employee working with. The connection between employees is very important and