Analysis of Leader and Manager Roles in M&S Operations

This report delves into the critical roles of leaders and managers within organizations, specifically using Marks and Spencer (M&S) as a case study. It explores the distinct characteristics and responsibilities of leaders and managers, including team building, decision-making, and strategic planning. The report highlights the importance of these roles in achieving business objectives, optimizing resource utilization, and fostering a positive work environment. Furthermore, it examines various leadership and management theories, such as situational and systems theory, and their practical applications. The analysis also covers operations management approaches and the impact of environmental factors on business decisions. The report emphasizes the significance of effective leadership and management in enhancing M&S's performance, improving service quality, and maintaining a competitive edge in the retail sector. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the key factors that contribute to success.

MANAGEMENT
OPERATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1) Leader and manager roles and characteristics......................................................................1
M1) Differences between leader and manager roles...................................................................3
LO 1 ................................................................................................................................................4
P2) Significance of leader and manager roles in business operations of M&S..........................5
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................6
P3) Theories and models of leadership and management...........................................................6
M2) Critical evaluation on different approaches within working environment..........................7
D1) Critical evaluation on theories and approaches of leadership..............................................8
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................8
P4) Key approaches of operations management.........................................................................8
P5) Importance and value of operation management in achieving business objectives...........10
M3) Importance of leader and manager roles to improve business performance and meeting its
objectives...................................................................................................................................11
P6) Business environmental factors impact on operations' management and decision making
...................................................................................................................................................11
M4) Significance of environmental factors for business operations of M&S..........................12
D2) Critical evaluation operations management applications and factors impact on business
environment...............................................................................................................................12
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCE.................................................................................................................................14

INDEX OF TABLES
Table 1: Leader vs manager ............................................................................................................3

ILLUSTRATION INDEX
Illustration 1: Comparison between manager and leader functions.................................................4
Illustration 2: Operation management key factors...........................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
It is analysed that leader and manager of organisation play crucial role to achieve its
effectiveness and improving business performance. However, decision making regarding
business activities and accomplishing tasks through team building are recognised. The present
report is based on understanding leader and manager roles in management of operations and
improving business performance of Marks and Spencer. It is retail sector organisation of UK
which has several numbers of stores and provide groceries, food items and home products
worldwide. In this regard, roles and characteristics of leader and manager are to be discussed.
Similarly, different approaches and theories for leadership and management will be introduced in
this assignment. In addition to this, approaches of operations management and factors impact on
business environment of the organisation can be identified. Therefore, importance of leader and
manager role in achieving business effectiveness of M&S can be understood in this report
effectively.
TASK 1
P1) Leader and manager roles and characteristics
Leader is an individual who initiate for contribution in meeting organisation's goals. In
accordance to this, he builds team of workers, segments work according to their abilities,
analyses their performances and further work for encouraging them towards better quality of
work (Bon and Mustafa, 2013). Being management consultant of Marks and Spencer, leader and
manager's role can be understood as:
Role of leader:
Leader of the entity is responsible to play below mentioned role as: Team building: It is essential role of a leader to build team of workers and encouraging
them towards goal accomplishment to achieve M&S' goals. In this process, he selects
members as according to tasks and abilities of workers to contribute for working in group
(Cavarretta and et.al., 2015). Therefore, team building is an effective work performance
of leader for contribution in improving business performance of the entity. Encouraging workers for good coordination: After segmenting among team members,
leader encourages them for effective coordination in team work. For this purpose, he
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analyses their performance and for improving it, he conducts training and development
programs.
 Creating positive environment of M&S: Leader is responsible for creating positive
environment of the organisation (Daire, Gilson and Cleary, 2014). As due to occurrence
of issue, he consults with team members and work for reducing the problem for better
quality performance.
Characteristics of leader:
An ideal leader has some characteristics which encourages him for better performance
and accomplishing tasks as of accepting challenges (Harrison, 2013). Some essential
characteristics of a leader can be identified as:
 He is risk taker and accept challenges reducing the issue.
 He has good communication skills to discuss objectives and strategies of team work
among workers.
 He has problem solving skills to solve out the issues and creating positive environment
of team and M&S as well.
 He has ability to get adjusted according to situations and reducing them effectively.
Role of manager:
A manager functions as planning, staffing, directing and controlling the business
performance (Burke, 2013). As he analyses business performance of M&S and further make
planning and decisions for its improvement. In this regard, role of manager for organisation's
growth and effectiveness can be understood as: Analysing and managing: Manager of the company analyses entire business operations
and further makes decision for its improvement (Jardine and Tsang, 2013). Likewise, he
is also responsible for analysing and issues occurred within work place to solve out.
 Decision making: Manager of M&S is responsible for decision making on investment
plan and its efficiency. However, variety of ideas are generated for proper balance of
production and distribution system.
Characteristics of manager:
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It is essential for a manager to have following characteristics as:
 He should be a good observer and planner for organisation's growth and its effectiveness.
 He must have knowledge of business related to what is right and wrong for it.
 He should be good decision maker and future oriented planner in terms of investment and
business operations specifically.]
 He should have characteristic of handling the situation occurred in organisation and work
for its implementation.
Comparison between leader and manager roles:
Some differences are identified between leader and manager role, can be understood as:
Table 1: Leader vs manager
Bases Leader Manager
Purpose Task accomplishment Managing business and
making decisions for further
implementations.
Functions Team building, work
segmentation among workers
and encouraging them as well.
Analysing entire business
operations, planning, directing,
staffing and controlling.
Emphasis on Long term decision making Short term planning
Power to make decisions Leader is limited towards
team building and workers'
performance.
Manager makes decision for
investment, creating
innovations in business
operations.
However, leader and manager play efficient role in achieving entity's effectiveness. For
instance; in terms of analysing M&S' performance and further preparing plan for managing
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entire business operations. Including this, it is effective for increasing productivity, profitability
etc.
M1) Differences between leader and manager roles
As both leader and manager work to achieve organisation's effectiveness and improving
its performance. However, management of entire operations is recognised by coordination of
both of them (Kwon, Lee and Shin, 2014). On critical evaluation, some differences are
determined between performances as analysing business performance is done by manager while,
leader is responsible for accepting challenges and accomplishing tasks for effective contribution
in organisation's growth. Leader would never be worried about the quantity of work which the
people are doing rather they focus on quality of work and their performance. Managers on the
other hand need to focus on both these aspects as they want that work of their superiors must be
having both quality and quantity of work.
LO 1
Leader vs manager's role
Leader and manager of M&S play different roles to achieve its goals in terms of decision
making and team building. In accordance to this, manager analyses company's performance and
makes decision for improving business operations. Including this, he also works for reducing
issues occurred in business activities for impacts on proper balance of demand and supply.
Moreover, he makes decision for controlling over wastage of resources and fund influence
company's productivity and profitability (Arnold and et.al., 2015). Likewise, leader accepts
challenges, builds team of workers as well segment task among them to achieve goals
effectively. In addition to this, leader works for managing team and workers' performance to
meet goals efficiently.
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P2) Significance of leader and manager roles in business operations of M&S
Performances of leader and manager remain significant for organisation's growth and
proper balance of its entire operations (Marchetti and et.al., 2014). However, importance of
manager and leader roles for M&S can be of understood as:
 Effective planning and decision making:
With the coordination of leader and manager, it is easy to make appropriate decisions and
creating effective planning for it. In accordance to this, several ideas are generated for planning
and decisions to increase organisation's efficiency (Reichard and et.al., 2016). Therefore,
productivity and profitability of M&S can be increased effectively by preparing strategies in
consideration to its longer term market position. For example; manager of the entity plans for
business operations and decision making regarding further operations. Further, it is to taken as
challenge by leader to accomplish tasks for improving entity's performance efficiently.
 Optimum utilization of resources and fund:
5
Illustration 1: Comparison between manager and leader functions

Manager and leader perform their job for decision making and working for management
of entire operations. In this regard, utilization of resources and fund can be gained in context to
in which quantity and what quality of resources are to be used (Slack, 2015). Likewise, planning
related to investment and expenditure is created affected production and distribution of goods.
Thus, leader and manager of M&S work for action plan regarding use of resources and fund
appropriately for the entity.
 Effective environment of M&S:
As manager analyses all business performances including employees' contribution for
M&S. Similarly, leader builds team and consults with members related to occurred issues in the
workplace. Thus, environment of the entity create positive and peaceful. Besides this, it is
analysed that workers coordinate for working in group more efficiently (Abualrub and
Alghamdi, 2014). Hence, leader and manager play effective roles for decision making and
organisation's growth at maximum level.
Therefore, leader and manager are responsible for planning, directing, staffing and
controlling over business operations. In accordance to this, various positive impacts are
identified in business operations as; improving quality services, balancing of entire activities etc.
However, with the coordination of leader and manager, entity's effectiveness can be increased at
higher level impacts on further implementations.
Both the role of leader and manager within the operations of M&S would be very
important and motivating at the same time they are the one without whom business is not making
good amount of profits.
Assessing profits
This is also be part play of both of them especially that of manager who is ensuring that
there must be significant and sufficient amount of profits to run the business of firm.
Motivating people- they are also engaged in motivating and enabling all employees to work in
accordance with planning and setting of the targets of firm. If the people are motivated then it is
easy to govern and control them as they would not be making any haphazard or issues relating to
small things and they would understanding things and situation of company.
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LO 2
Applying role of leader and manager within M&S
Manager of M&S recognised entire business operations including finance, production-
operation of goods, performance and so on. On behalf of this, he prepares strategies to create
balance and enhancing efficiencies to meet company's goals. Including this, manager plans to
overcome the issues incurred in the entity influences its financial and business performance. In
addition to this, he controls over excess production and wastages of resources and fund to
implement business strategies efficiently (Christopher, 2016). While, on the other hand, leader of
M&S takes challenges and builds team of workers to meet its goals and reducing the issues
occurred. Moreover, it impacts on employees' performance positively also encourages for
effective team building and meeting entity's goals.
P3) Theories and models of leadership and management
Leadership is an approach of team creating group and accomplishing tasks. In accordance
to this, different theories are applied as; situational, system and contingency theory. These
theories can be understood as: Situational theory: Under this leadership theory, leader makes strategies for getting
adjusted according to occurred situations in the workplace. In accordance to this, he also
encourages team workers for efficiency and completing tasks according to strategic plans
(Arnold and et.al., 2015). Therefore, leader behaves as being flexible and adjusting
according to occurred issue in the workplace. System theory: According to this leadership approach, leader discusses objectives and
team strategies with its members. It is effective for emerging an individual's interest for
contribution in team work (Marchetti and et.al., 2014). However, good coordination
among workers is recognised by which team efficiency and group development is
determined. Contingency theory: This leadership theory is considered as autocratic style of leader for
managing team work and meeting goals of M&S effectively (Sekar and et.al., 2014). In
this regard, leader segments work and instruct workers for a specific task. Therefore, goal
is accomplished in a systematic disciplined manner.
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 Behavioural theory: According to this leadership theory, behaviour of leader is analysed
in terms of leader's behaviour towards his/her team. In this regard, it is recognised that
how he/she behaves for team building and encouraging its members towards effective
contribution for group effectively.
Leader of M&S uses system theory at maximum level for team building able to emerge its
workers' interest towards group. It impacts on group's efficiency as well entity's effectiveness
efficiently.
Approaches of management:
For management of business operations, several approaches are used can be identified as: Administrative approach: In this management approach, managers essential functions
are discussed as; planning, directing, staffing and controlling. Therefore, proper
management of entire business operations is done administratively for M&S.
 Behavioural approach: This management approach is related to give importance to
human behaviour and performance management of workers (Jokisaari and Markku,
2013). In addition to this, he emphasis on establishing and maintain relations with other
business parties of M&S. Therefore, behavioural approach is for managing behaviour and
improving business performance of the entity.
M2) Critical evaluation on different approaches within working environment
Different approaches of management and leadership are effective to achieve
organisation's effectiveness and managing its entire operations. Moreover, it is benefited to
create positive and effective environment of M&S also related with efficiency and further
implementation. On critical evaluation, it is recognised that choosing the best approach
according for team leading and behaving with members is difficult (Bolman and Deal, 2014).
Similarly, there can be lack of coordination among team members affect its efficiency and
reaching out of set goals remain challenging. Therefore, it is essential for manager and leader to
apply effective approach in a specified time influences business operations and their
management. Behavioural approach would be best suited for M&S as this would be giving
importance on the performance of employee which is governed by their behaviour. So they
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should be including this aspect or approach so that they are coming to know what are the
different behaviour are helping them to work.
D1) Critical evaluation on theories and approaches of leadership
It is critically evaluated that selecting the best leadership and management approaches for
business management and achieving entity's effectiveness is difficult. However, lack of
coordination and required fund is challenging task for M&S. Including this, uncertain changes in
business environmental factors affect business operations and their management adversely
(Abualrub and Alghamdi, 2014). Thus, it is required to choose appropriate approach for a
specified time regarding business operations and managing activities as well team. It will be
effective to encourage workers for team building and coordinate in team work effectively.
TASK 2
P4) Key approaches of operations management
Operations management is systematic tool for managing entire business operations and
improving business performance of M&S. It influences integrated management of production
and distribution of goods (Jokisaari and Markku, 2013). Similarly, appropriate planning and
decision making is done by leader and manager to achieve effectiveness of entity and enhancing
efficiency. In this regard, different approaches are identified some essential of them can be
discussed as:
 Business process redesign:
It is business management strategy which emphasis on identifying and framing structure of
design. In accordance to this, decisions are made regarding business processes within M&S.
Besides this, it is benefited for preparing strategies for improving quality services, management
of entire business operations and so on (King and Farrel, 2015). Therefore, a structural
framework is prepared by manager for implementing strategies as cost incurred and time
consumed for business operations. For which, leader accepts challenges and builds team of
members for accomplishing tasks to achieve organisation's goals.
 Six Sigma:
This approach of management operation emphasis on quality of business performance and its
services. In this regard, manager analyses market trend and further planning for adopting new
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technologies and investment on purchasing new machinery equipment (Kwon, Lee and Shin,
2014). Thus, quality of groceries and home products can be improved efficiently. Further, leader
organises training session for workers to implement new technologies. Thus, six sigma is an
effective approach for improving quality services and efficiency of M&S.
 Lean manufacturing:
Under this operation management approach, appropriate planning is prepared for manufacturing
process including purchasing and using raw materials, cost incurred on business operations,
labour cost and so on. Likewise, he generates different ideas for manager to create planning
regarding optimum utilization of resources and fund (Kwon, Lee and Shin, 2014). It influences
production and distribution system as well effective for reducing wastage of materials. Thus,
10
Illustration 2: Operation management key factors
(Source: Operations Management, 2016).

lean manufacturing approach is useful for managing business operations and enhancing
efficiency of M&S systematically.
Therefore, operation management approaches are effective for M&S to integrated business
management and effective planning regarding its performance. It influences productivity and
profitability of the entity on larger scale as well management of its business activities (Reichard
and et.al., 2016). In addition to this, quality services of its services can be improved impacts
marketability and competitiveness.
P5) Importance and value of operation management in achieving business objectives
It is significant for manager for planning of business operations of M&S appropriately. It
impacts on business performance, profit level and quality services of the entity effectively
(Marchetti and et.al., 2014). However, importance of usefulness of management in achieving
business objectives can be understood as:
 Balance between production and distribution system:
Management related to production and distribution of groceries, home products is needed for
M&S. It influences productivity, profit level and demand for its services. Including this, it is
linked with demand and supply of the goods and services of M&S (Renz, 2016). Therefore,
effective management is quite required for business operations and reducing wastage of
resources as well excess production.
 Coordination in team work:
Analysing and managing workers' performance is efficient for creating understanding and
coordination among workers to meet M&S' objectives. In this regard, workers' performance get
improved as well they remain able for supporting each other and team building efficiently (Sekar
and et.al., 2014). Therefore, leader's work will be easy and effective for performance
management and increasing workers' efficiency at maximum level.
 Clear and effective direction towards further business operations:
It is analysed that if business operations of M&S are managed then a clear and effective direction
is determined towards improving business performance. It is able to make future oriented
strategies and development of entity effectively (Slack, 2015). Moreover, sources are recognised
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for clear and effective direction in the future time. Along with this, integrated management of
business entity can be obtained.
Hence, it is recognised that management of business operation is an effective approach for
creating balance between demand and supply of goods (Bolton and Thompson, 2015). Similarly,
effective use of resources and fund can be recognised for increasing its productivity and
profitability on larger scale. Besides this, wastage of resources can be reduced which impacted
on business performance and management of demand and supply of goods efficiently.
M3) Importance of leader and manager roles to improve business performance and meeting its
objectives
Leader and manager play vital role in improving business performance and reaching to
set goals of M&S. However, they make decisions for managing business operations and
strategies to adopt new technologies. In this regard, leader builds up a team of workers as well
segments work among them effectively (Burke, 2013). Moreover, he encourages them for
effective contribution in team work. On the other side, manager analyses entire business
operations and further plans for improving performance as well managing integrated operations
of M&S.
P6) Business environmental factors impact on operations' management and decision making
Different environmental factors are identified which as internal and external which
impacted on business performance. In this regard, internal factors including performance of
employees, fund and resources are analysed which remain controllable (Christopher, 2016).
However, lack of fund and resources can be managed for business operations of M&S. Similarly,
lack of coordination can be overcome by leader to overcome their issues, encouraging them
towards effective coordination for team building and working in group. Therefore, internal
business environmental factors can be managed for management of business operations and
increasing its efficiency.
While, on the other side, external environmental factors remain beyond control including
political, legal, socio-economic, technological and legal factors affect business performance bot
positively and negatively (Harrison, 2013). For example; increasing interest and income tax
rates affect financial performance of the entity negatively. Similarly, decreasing in these rates
influences its economic position positively. Therefore, changes in government policies, market
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price etc impact on business performance of M&S also decisions are made for future business
activities. Including this, differences in people's attitude, interest, choice towards groceries, food
items and home products of the entity get changes by time to time. In addition to this, due to
changes in technologies from time to time impact on product and services' quality (Jardine and
Tsang, 2013). It is related with production and distribution of goods as well management of its
operations.
Thus, business environmental factors impact on business performance and quality
services of M&S. On the basis of analysing these factors, decisions are made regarding future
business operations and implementing its services (Bolman and Deal, 2014). Including this,
management of entire business operations get impacts also generate different ideas for business
operations. Hence, analysing impact on business operations due to changes in environmental
factors impact on business performance and integrated management of its activities.
M4) Significance of environmental factors for business operations of M&S
It is significant for decision making regarding business operations of M&S influences
production and distribution system, performance management, quality services, customers'
requirements and market position of the entity. Therefore, variety of ideas are generated for
proper balance between demand and supply as well integrated business activities. In addition to
this, it is effective for improving quality services and business performance (Jardine and Tsang,
2013). Moreover, optimum utilization of resources and fund can be identified which impacts on
its production and distribution system. Apart from this, it is benefited to reduce wastage of
resources and appropriate management of its tools. Therefore, environmental factors are key tool
for decision making and managing business operations as well improving its efficiency at
maximum level.
D2) Critical evaluation operations management applications and factors impact on business
environment
It is recognised that operation management approaches are beneficial for integrated
management of business operations, improving business performance and so on. On the contrary
to this, it is also considered that emphasis on overall business operations including workers'
performance, production and distribution, demand and supply is difficult for M&S (Daire, Gilson
and Cleary, 2014). In addition to this, lack of coordination among workers is ineffective for team
13

building and coordination among workers. Therefore, it is essential to analyse actual business
performance and appropriate decision making for further business operations. It will be effective
for creating positive environment of M&S and managing its entire operations appropriately
(Cavarretta and et.al., 2015). Thus, management operation plays vital role in improving business
performance and its effectiveness at higher level.
CONCLUSION
It is concluded that leader and manager play effective role in management of business
operations and improving efficiency of Marks and Spencer at higher level. In this regard,
different approaches of leadership and management has been identified for decision making and
team building of workers to reach out organisation's goals. Moreover, key approaches of
operations management are understood impact on integrated management of entire business
management. Along with this, importance of operation management for business operations of
M&S has been discussed impacts on further implementations. Apart from this, leader and
manager's role for analysing business environmental factors and further decision making for
organisation's effectiveness is determined. Therefore, significance of operation management has
been understood for managing business operations of the entity and improving business
performance in this assignment.
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