Roles, Characteristics, and Impact: River Island Leaders and Managers

This report delves into the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers within River Island, a prominent UK-based fashion brand. The report, based on interviews with the company's Human Resource manager, examines the differences between leaders and managers, their responsibilities in various situational contexts, and the application of management theories. It explores the impact of leaders and managers on operational management, the importance of operations management in achieving business objectives, and the factors influencing managerial and leadership decision-making. The report also evaluates different management approaches, providing a comprehensive analysis of leadership and management in the context of River Island's operations. Key areas covered include low productivity, rewarding, contemporary management theories, and the application of empirical and systems approaches.

Management and
Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Roles and Characteristics of Leaders and Managers.........................................................2
P2 Roles of Leaders and Manager in situational context.......................................................4
P3 Application and Evaluation of Management theories and models of approach................5
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................8
P4 Key approaches to operations management and role of Leaders and managers...............8
P5 Importance of operations management in achieving business objectives.........................9
P6 Factors impacting Decision making of Managers and Leaders......................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13
Books and Journals...............................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Leaders and Managers are personnels of strong prominence in any organisation who
undertakes various roles and responsibilities to bring organisation on levels of healthy efficiency
and achieve continued growth and prosperity. Roles that they perform have matter of trusts,
humanity, willpower and discipline. Their roles are significant in shaping organisation as per
competency required by modern times (Alefari, Salonitis and Xu, 2017).
This report deals with impacts of Leaders and Managers in operations of River Island and
findings are based on number of interviews conducted by Human Resource manager of River
Island. Report starts discussion with understanding roles and characteristics of leaders and
managers in general along with highlighting differences between two, followed by
comprehending their roles in different situational contexts applying management theories. A
clear discussion of management theories with evaluation of their strengths and weaknesses is
next discussion in report. Roles of leaders and managers in operation management function and
importance of management operations in organisational objectives are also part of report.
Following is impact of business environmental factors on decision making process.
TASK 1
River Island is one of the very renowned clothing brand of United kingdom
headquartered at London. The company is a high street fashion brand for Men and Women
outfits. Other products in companies list includes bags and footwear also. Not just at high street,
River Island is worldwide recognised brand, having its business operations in more than 18
countries across the globe. In United Kingdom only, company has more than 300 stores in
operation (Andriukaitienė and et.al., 2017) (Crews, 2018). Looking at products offered by
company and satisfaction level that its customer have with company's services, River Island can
easily be interpreted as very Innovative and efficient business organisation, becoming fashion
favourite of users worldwide.
For achieving its goals and objectives, River Island follows a specific organisational
structure with establishment of clear line of authorities and responsibilities. Organisational
structure of company is divided in different departments that have their specific roles, these
departments are Production, Sales, Finance, Human resource and Technical department, headed
by respective mangers or directors. Subordinate to them are staff of teams of respective
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departments like production and marketing, accountants and clerks in finance department, team
of advisors in Human resource department etc. Supreme administrative authority in River Island
in Chief Executive officer who overview all planning and implementation functions. CEO have
its accountability towards Board of Directors, Executive and Non-Executive Directors possesing
major shareholdings of company.
P1 Roles and Characteristics of Leaders and Managers
Leaders
Leaders are basically those individuals who undertakes function of leadership, which is a
process of influencing person or a group of persons at a given point of time and under particular
circumstances or at time of crisis, which stimulates and motivates those persons to behave in a
certain manner for achieving some common goals and objectives (De Nobile, 2018). Leaders
have their role in energising, channelising and mobilising individuals in a direction.
Characteristics of Leader
 It is a personal quality of any individual.
 It do not exists without followers.
 Influences behaviour, attitude and beliefs of followers.
 Work in order to achieve specific goals. Leaders have ability to accept all responsibilities.
Roles of Leader
 Primary role of Leaders include setting up common goals and agendas towards which
they work and stimulate others to work.
 Secondly, leaders organize different individuals and levy them responsibilities as per
their abilities.
 Leaders are one to initiate all actions that are in line with goals of group. A leader cannot
rely over decisions of others.
 Leaders establishes coordination between oneself and other individuals, between
individuals and common goals and between goals and decisions.
Managers
Managers are those individuals in organisation who heads any particular department of
organisation or sometimes they heads the business as a whole. They are responsible for discharge
of managerial functions like hire, fire, discipline, monitor performance and make appraisals.
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Characteristics
 Possess qualities of leader in leading subordinates.
 Have strong and articulative communication skills.
 Managers always carry work with proper planning and effective analysis.
 Problem solving abilities of Managers are very efficient. Sticking right over logics and
reasons with positive approach. Managers always have result oriented attitude. Their all decisions are focused towards
accomplishment or organisational goals.
Roles
Roles of Manager are those which basically pertains to management functions. They
include:
 Planning- Managers analyse situations, make objectives and plans accordingly.
 Organising- Identifying, availing and arranging all sort of resources needed for achieving
goals.
 Staffing- Obtaining, setting roles and training employees and compensating them.
 Directing- Leading and motivating employees and subordinates in organisation to work
as planned.
 Controlling- Evaluating actual and planned results, finding deviations and take corrective
measures.
Leadership V/S Management
Understanding roles and nature of Leaders and Managers, it appears that both have
similar type of functions and attitude. But there are some basic differences between two.
Leaders Managers
Leaders have a vision towards a situation that
they communicate to followers and help them
understanding their own roles.
Managers have executive function of
implementing that vision. Preparing roadmap
and setting specific responsibilities of
subordinates.
Leaders have perceptional attitude and thought
processing. Sometimes seen challenging status
quo.
Managers set rules and frameworks, make
procedures to implement status quo.
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Leaders reflects sense of inspiration, tries
gaining trust and spark excitement in
followers.
Managers have Power, through which they
induce subordinates to perform.
P2 Roles of Leaders and Manager in situational context
Leaders and Managers through their roles and skills perform functions that helps
achieving organisation, like River Island, its goals and objectives in timely and effective
manners. Thus, these individuals and their discharge of duties are utmost important in River
Island (Gibbons and Hazy, 2017). The report have attempted gaining insight of their significance
in different situational contexts of River Island. With the help of several theories of management
combines with skills and functions of Managers and Leaders can help River Island conduct
operations effectively and overcomes hurdles faced by company in different situations.
Mentioned below are some situational contexts in which managers and leaders plays significant
roles and functions:
Example 1: Low productivity: It indicates that resources of company are not effectively
using their competences and abilities for maximum potential that enhances organisational
resourcing costs. One of reason for low productivity at workplace is stress. In case with River
Island, managers perform all roles so to convert the low productivity situation into high
productivity. They plan all activities for future, organise all kinds of resources required in
practices, recruit or select effective talents, direct them in working and control deviations. At
same time, leaders of River Island perform role of encouraging people to share issues and
provide them solutions to minimise stress leading to solving low productivity concerns.
Example 2: Rewarding: Reward refers to an incentive plan conducted to reinforce
desirable behaviour of staff in return for their service to the venture. In River Island, rewarding is
done so to attract, maintain as well as retain high performing workforce along with motivate
employees. Herein, managers of the company have functions to perform that are planning criteria
of rewarding, selecting people that have contributed in high performance, directing others to
carry out practices for achieving rewards and controlling biases among leaders in rewarding
people. Similarly, leaders of the entity have role of communication in which they communicate
or exchange information about rewarding between superiors and subordinates. Also, leaders have
role of analysing each performance and then rewarding high ones.
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Applying Contemporary theories of management, which includes quantitative
management and organisational behaviour, Managers in River Island can help preventing
increasing cost of purchase of raw materials and production cost thereon. Managers in River
Island can select specific suppliers and dealers who can make raw materials, such as textiles and
leather, available at low cost. Burden of increased cost of production fall ultimately over
consumers therefore it is important to cut cost for River Island to secure its consumer base
(Grint, 2020).
Management by objective is theory emphasising of joint efforts of Managers and employees in
order of accomplishment of goals and objectives of River Island. In a situation where results of
operation in organisation are seen being deviated from planned results Managers in River Island
should standards of performance for employees in different departments as per their skills and
abilities so they can discharge their duties accordingly. Also delegation of some authorities and
decision making powers can make employees take appropriate decision regarding their functions
on their own which will help saving time in accomplishment of objectives as planned.
Contingency theory is that theory which focuses on changing policies, plans and strategies of
River Island according to needs rose by different situations by time. In this context leaders of
company plays very important role in motivating employees for changing their attitude and
influence employees for adopting new developments. For example, in modern times
sophisticated and rich customers of River Island are seen preferring designer clothes more.
Leaders in company by using their skills can influence their designers and developers to design
clothes accordingly (Harkin, 2020). Similarly, in times where people are becoming more and
more conscious about animal rights leather clothes and jacket production can be seen affected
and employees are needed to motivate for making shift in production style.
Besides these most common theories, there are many more theories of management, that
apply in different situational contexts in an organisation through which Managers and leaders of
organisation can adopt to fulfil particular goals of organisation. Unforeseen challenges can also
be met by combining theories with skills of managers and leaders.
P3 Application and Evaluation of Management theories and models of approach
Over the time management and its function have gained attention of many scholars,
psychologists, politicians, businessmen, researchers etc. who have made their own interpretations
and studies from individual viewpoint and this have shaped management in such a way that have
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developed different approaches and theories of management. Report have made discussion on
few important approaches with evaluation of their strength and weaknesses (Jabbar and Hussein,
2017).
Empirical approach- This approach deals with study of case histories of successful mangers in
past who have reacted to different situations arose in meantime of their tenures as manager and
tackled by them in best suitable manner. Managers and leaders in River Island can seek guidance
from these managers by studying their approaches and outlook to different situations.
Strength- This approach is helpful in offering steadfast solutions to many problems.
Weakness- This approach have no alignment with dynamics of modern times.
Thus, it is not suggested to use this approach always and neither following it blindly in
problems arose by current scenarios. However, a vision to solution of particular problem an be
developed with help of this approach,
Systems approach- Systems approach views an organisation as a system. Since, any system is
made up of many related and independent elements that work in a particular manner as per set
standards (Liu and et.al., 2018). Also, in system different elements have sub-elements in them.
Similarly, an River Island is also composed of different departments that are independent in their
functions and have different sub-departments in them. They al are motivated to accomplish pre-
determined goals.
Strength- This approach can help achieving goals in specialised and organised manner.
Weakness- This approach is devoid of understanding and humanitarian aspects.
Although, this approach is one of the most efficient approach to avail results for River
Island, but for establishing coordination between employees and goals of organisation some sort
of flexibility must exist in organisation in communication as well functions.
Contingency or Situational approach- Contingency approach is latest approach in field of
management. This approach tells that there is no any specific way to deal with any situation and
there are no steadfast solutions. Every problems have their own characteristics and brings crisis
in distinct manner (Luo and et.al., 2017). Therefore, Managers in River Island should not think
that managerial principles have universal applicability and they must take accordingly necessary
steps with regards to particular problems.
Strength- This approach have sense of flexibility. It also increases participation of managers and
improves their decision making skills.
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Weakness- It requires tough analysis by managers on every situation differently. And, also
requires continuous innovations in problem solving.
It must be noted that, in following this approach managers must not forget basic
principles of management in discharging their duties and ethics of management.
Management Science approach- This approach believes that every function involved with
management like planning and decision making can b represented in mathematical symbols,
providing calculated solutions to all problems. Managers in River Island by using this approach
can give equation to many problems of market and production functions using different constants
and variables involved and help finding calculated solutions and then make decisions thereon by
actualising variables.
Strength- This approach is very helpful in complex decisions in big organisations.
Weakness- Mathematical knowledge are not possessed by everyone.
There are not many solutions offered by mathematical formula and theorems to
marketing and human resource problems. In production management this approach can be
helpful.
Decision Theory approach- This approach thinks management as centre of making all decisions
in an organisation. It mentions that focus of management shall be on taking right decisions at
right time in right manner. River Island's Leaders and Managers should note that, this approach
not only includes taking a decision but everything that precedes it and everything that follows a
decision.
Strength- This enhances efficacy in righteousness of decisions and reduces unnecessary delays.
Weakness- It ignores other functions of a manager (Malyar and et.al., 2020).
The main responsibilities of a Manager is not to take decision but keeping balance in
different things involved in implementing plan and achieving desirable results. They undertakes
various activities which are involved from planning of goals to achieving goals, including
leadership and motivational functions.
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TASK 2
P4 Key approaches to operations management and role of Leaders and managers
Operations management are set of practices that nan organisation undertakes in relation
to its production activities and increase efficiency there on. Approaches related to production
management deals with controlling production processes and business operations in most
efficient manner. Three main approaches in relation to operation management are Six sigma
approach, Lean production approach and Total quality management. A discussion over these
approaches and role of Leaders and Managers in this context are made in report (Sebastian and
et.al., 2019).
Six sigma- This approach ranks amongst the foremost one in improving efficiency of business
enterprises. This approach establish a system of continuous improvements in organisation. Six
sigma offers such tools and techniques that helps organisation to reduce variance in their
operations, eliminate defects and help identifying root cause of any problem of deficiency arise
in implementation of plans and carrying business activities. In this way River Island can create
better products and services for their customers. Most of the leaders and managers associate Six
sigma approach with production functions to identify and correct errors. Managers in this case
use two techniques mostly, DMAIC and DMADV. Through these, Managers are able to
determine problems associated with goals, measure every aspect in detail, make analysis on basis
of data and statistics to find root cause, make improvements in current process and controls
process for next time. Managers also develop designs to test details of processes and verify
designs by carrying stimulations and through pilot programs.
Lean production- Lean production is an approach dealing with production activities completely.
It focuses on cutting out wasteful operations and materials in production, therefore ensuring
quality results at best. This approach deals with production as well as production design and
distribution methods as well (Suwal and et.al., 2020). This emphasise role of Production
manager in organisation. Production Manager by cutting all activities which are not adding any
value in process, these could be hoarding of stock, unnecessary movement of people and
product etc. Managers in big organisations like River Island can develop Lean leadership team,
which will analyse production processes in organisation along with all other aspects involved
with production, which will then advice Production managers to take necessary steps. Managers
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can also take steps to impart necessary training to employees involved in production. However,
Managers should not take any decision without consulting personnels at the ground level, as the
burden of lean production will eventually fall over them.
Total quality management- Total quality management is a long term approach of company in
managing its production processes such way to make best quality production and achieve
customer satisfactions for future. This requires participation of every player and department in
organisation especially production department for working in improvement of quality of product,
services and culture of River Island and improve image of business in overall market for long
term. TQM is identified by managers as one of the organisational strategies. Role of Managers
and topmost leadership includes assessment of current culture in organisation, level of customer
satisfaction and quality management systems prevailing in organisation. Through this managers
identifies lacunae in current system of organisation and figure out what is needed to achieve in
building long run efficiency. Therefore, topmost management frames a master plan in this order.
Hence, Managers and Leaders in River Island or similar big organisations, with help of
these approaches can control production activities or operational management in organisation in
support of availing long run efficiency of business enterprise.
P5 Importance of operations management in achieving business objectives
By Planning, controlling and supervising manufacturing process and service delivery
operations management helps organisation in achieving better efficiency in consumer market and
securing competitive edge. Operation management is a universal tool in this concern applicable
to all businesses in all industries. Operation management can help business organisation in
achieving goals in following ways (Ahmed and Jiang, 2018).
Product quality- Durability and reliability of products in the firm is first ever unit to verify.
Operation management helps in getting that quality in product and services of company which
remains suitable for consumers on and after delivery. This way River Island can secure better
competitive edge comparatively.
Productivity- Operations management ensures appropriate placement of employees, meaning
right person at right job, so that their ability can be best utilised in production process,. This
supports River Island in optimal utilization of human resources and maintain input and output
ratio efficiently.
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