Analysis of Leadership and Management in Asda Stores

This report delves into the core concepts of leadership and management, meticulously defining and differentiating between the two. It explores various leadership theories, with a particular focus on transformational leadership, examining its components like idealized influence, inspirational motivation, and intellectual stimulation. The report then analyzes a management development program within Asda Stores Limited, a major retail chain, highlighting how leadership development is integrated into its practices. It examines the roles and functions of leaders and managers, emphasizing their impact on organizational culture, employee behavior, and the achievement of business objectives. The analysis includes the importance of setting goals, organizing resources, initiating actions, coordinating efforts, and motivating employees. The report concludes by summarizing the key differences between leadership and management styles, roles, and functions within the context of a retail business environment.

ORGANISATION,
LEADESRHIP AND
MANAGEMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK...............................................................................................................................................3
1. Define and discuss the differences between the concepts of Leadership and Management...3
2. Analyse Leadership Theory ...................................................................................................7
3. Analyse management development program in Asda...........................................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15

INTRODUCTION
Organisation aims at developing skills of manager and leaders as they lead to bring great
impacts on the organisational culture, employees behaviour and brand image of the company.
Management of the organisation is considered as the leading authorities for group of employees
and are responsible for casting vision, implementing change and also plans for future directions.
Leadership is referred as dual focused management methodology that aims at encouraging and
motivating employees towards targeted goals and objectives.
Asda Stores Limited is a retail company and it is British Supermarket Chain business.
Asda was founded by Peter and Fred Asquith in the year 1949. The products offered by Asda
stores include general merchandise and grocery and it also offers financial services. Asda Stores
Limited is considered as the one of the major leading supermarket brands and subsidiary
business of Walmart, the American retail chain. The present report is based on the concepts of
leadership and management and their detail, definitions and differences are explained briefly.
The report also provides brief description about the leadership theories. Analysis of management
development program of retail business is explained further in the report. Particular focus is
being made on the leadership development aspects for the chosen development program.
TASK
1. Define and discuss the differences between the concepts of Leadership and Management
Definition of Leadership and Management
Leadership is the action for leading group of employees within organisation. It is the
ability of individuals for bringing influences and impacts on the employees behaviour and
performance level (Priest and Gass, 2017). The main focus of leaders is to guide and direct
people or employees of the organisation so that they put their efforts in the right direction and
accomplish overall goals and objectives. Leadership is considered as the person quality present
in the individuals.
Management is the process and art for getting things done from people and employees in
formally organised groups. Management of business organisation includes forecasting, planning,
organising, controlling and commanding. Management of the organisation provided with the
responsibility to get the work done by effectively motivating employees and make them work in

co-ordination. Management aims at bringing together the six Ms, i.e. men, money, materials,
machines, markets and methods.
Concepts of Management and Leadership
leadership and management can not be separated in nature. Leadership refers to setting of
new vision and direction for the team members and management controls resources, policies and
human resources of the organisation (Minkenberg, 2015). Asda Stores Limited aims at
effectively encouraging employees so that they put their efforts in business activities and
operations and also satisfy the customers so that it leads accomplishment of target objectives and
goals. The Asda is retail supermarket business therefore, it requires effective and talented
employees who can provide satisfaction to customers through effective customer services. Asda
focus that it recruits and select talented candidates in the business organisation who leads to
bring best outcomes and results through using their skills, talent and knowledge. The skills and
knowledge of employees can be utilised by effectively encouraging and motivating them.
Leaders and managers of company are responsible for guiding and directing the employees and
achieving the great outcomes.
Differences between Leadership and Management
Leaders and managers both aim at motivating and encouraging employees so that they
feel satisfied and focus on achieving goals and objectives of the organisation. Leaders are
responsible for inspiring and leading people of organisation whereas, managers are responsible
for managing different activities within organisation.
Leadership Management
Leadership is considered as the skill of leading
that is followed by others by examples
(Antonakis and Day, 2017).
Management is considered as an art of
systematically planning and organising various
things and activities in effective way.
Leaders focus on principles and provide
guidelines and direction to employees in order
to achieve targeted goals and objectives.
Manager focus on formulating effective plan,
policies and procedures so that it leads to
effective achievement of targeted goals and
objectives.
Leaders are proactive in nature. Manager are reactive in nature.
Leaders aim at encouraging change within Managers aim at bringing stability within

business activities and operations within
business organisation (Fook and Pease, 2016).
business organisation.
Leadership is referred as the virtue for leading
people by providing motivation and
encouragement to them.
Management is the process for managing the
different activities of business and human
resources.
Leaders are provided with role of bring impact
and influences on the activities of business
organisation.
Managers are provided with role of monitoring
and managing the activities and policies of the
business organisation.
Leadership is generally people-oriented. Management is task-oriented (Minkenberg,
2015).
The different styles of leadership are
transformational, consultative and
participative.
The different styles of management are
authoritative, transactional, autocratic,
democratic and dictatorial.
Leaders power in the organisation through
their charisma and influential nature.
Managers power in the organisation through
their position and formal authority.
The differences between leadership and management can be also defined by taking into
consideration their roles and function within organisation, which are explained in detail as
follows.
Roles and Functions of Leaders
Leaders within an organisation are provided with different roles and responsibilities, they
aim at co-ordinating group activities. Leadership occurs and present at every level of the
business organisation and it involves many things. The leaders is the one who is followed by
others in the organisation and everywhere (Prosser, 2016). Leadership is the process of bringing
influences and impacts on the overall working of the organisation. This also includes readiness
for accepting the responsibilities in every situation within the organisation. Following are given
some important roles and functions of leaders in the Asda Stores Limited:
Setting goals: Leaders are provided with the responsibility for setting goals and objectives so
that employees and subordinates persuade this and actively work with confidence and zeal. For
example, leaders of Asda stores sets goals for achieving sales target and according provides

guidance and direction to employees. The staff and employees of Asda stores focus on
accomplishing the sales target and put their best efforts and skills in business activities and
operations.
Organizing: Leaders aim at creating and shaping the business organisation on scientific lines
through assigning duties and roles to abilities and capabilities of employees. The duties are
distributed among group members appropriately so that various components of task are operated
sensitively and it results in effective achievement of goals.
Initiating Actions: The leaders are responsible for taking initiative for all the concerned matters
of interest of group or business organisation. Asda stores ensures that leaders of organisation
does not depend on other for certain decision making or judgement and rather they take initiative
actions as and when required (Frohlich and Oppenheimer, 2015). The leaders also float new
ideas and views in various business activities. The decision making and other processes reflects
the original thinking of leaders.
Co-ordination: Leaders focus on reconciling the interest of group members and employees with
the interest of organisation. Leaders of Asda stores ensures that employees work together in co-
operation and co-ordination by realizing common objectives and put effective efforts in the task
and business activities.
Direction and Motivation: This is considered as the main and primary function of the leaders.
The main focus of leaders is to provide effective guidance and direction to employees so that
they apply their skills, knowledge and talent in the right directions. Leaders of Asda stores also
ensure that employees feel motivated and satisfied in business organisation.
Link Between Management and Workers: Leader also play the role of making necessary link
between the workers and management (Oxenham, 2017). The management of Asda stores
formulates various business policies and procedures that are then interpreted by leaders to the
workers, staff and employees.
Roles and Functions of Managers
Managers are present at every level of the organisation and they aim at effectively
achieving the targeted goals and objectives of the business organisation. Manager play various
roles, responsibilities and functions for achieving the overall objectives of the company. He is
not only the leader but also planner, organiser, coach, cheerleader, decision-maker and problem-
solver. Interpersonal, decisional and informational roles are played by managers at different

levels of Asda retail business. Following are given different roles and functions of managers
within organisation:
Planning: This means looking ahead. Managers of Asda and other business organisation aims at
formulating policies, plan and procedure for business for achieving the overall goals and
objectives of company. Planning is made by keeping in min the available resources, capabilities
of employees or human resources, business structure, flexibility and other important aspects.
Organizing: Managers of the organisation are responsible for organizing the required resources
as per the plans and policies. Assigning work, activities, responsibilities and also providing
authority to individual employees are important elements of organizing function.
Staffing: The management team of Asda organisation are provided with role and responsibilities
for staffing within the organisation. Recruitment, selection, training and development of
employees is considered as the main function of managers.
Leading: Managers are responsible for formulating plans, organising resources, staffing
candidatures and also to lead them effectively (Higgs and Dulewicz, 2016). Asda ensures that
manager of stores are effectively motivating and leading employees so that they get proper
guidance and direction towards accomplishment of goals.
Controlling: The managers of organisation are also responsible for keeping continuous check on
the performance of employees and task against overall objectives and if required taking
corrective action and measures for making sure that plans remain on track.
2. Analyse Leadership Theory
Different leadership theories seeks for explaining how and why people becomes leader.
These theories generally focus on the characteristics and features of leaders, it also aims at
identifying behaviours of people to bring improvements in own leadership abilities and
capabilities for different situations within business environment and organisation. Examples of
leadership theories are Great Man, Trait, Contingency, Situational, Behavioural, Participative,
Charismatic and Transformational theories. The present report aims at analysing the
Transformational leadership theory in detail.
Transformational leadership theory refers that leaders works with team in order to
identify the required change, creates vision for guiding the change by inspiring employees and
also executes the change within the business organisation (Antonakis and Day, 2017). Asda aims
that leaders adopt to transformation leadership so that they identify and implement the needed

change and ensures that organisation achieves competitive advantage and sustain profitability.
James MacGregor Burns introduced the theory of Transformational leadership while studying
political leaders and he described two leadership styles, i.e. transactional and transformational.
Illustration 1: Transformational Leadership Theory
Source: (How to Manage Better with Transformational Leadership, 2018)
Transformational leaders are well-organized and they expects that their followers are
creative and innovative. The elements or components of transformation leadership are explained
as below:
Idealized Influence: The effective and transformational leaders can bring great influences on the
employees and followers. Leaders of Asda Stores have the capability and ability to win the trust,
respect through actions. The idealized influence in transformational leadership includes integrity
in form of moral and ethical conduct of business activities. This can also be defined as
transformational leaders behave in such a way that result in being role model for employees and
followers.
Inspiration Motivation: The transformational leaders aim at effectively inspiring and
motivating employees through providing them with meaning and challenges to employee's task
and work. The spirit of employees arises when optimism and enthusiasm are displayed by the
leaders. Asda Stores Limited ensures that leaders focus on building effective relationship with
employees through making interactive communication. This will also form cultural bond
between two parties and makes flexible organisational structure of Asda Stores that leads to
shifting of values towards common goal by both parties.
Intellectual Stimulation: The transformational leaders of Asda organisation focus on
encouraging and motivating employees so that they come up innovative and creative ideas that

can bring effective results and outcomes (Bolman and Deal, 2017). The main aim of
transformational leaders is to stimulate efforts of employees to be creative and innovative
through questioning various assumptions, approaching some situations, re-framing problems.
Intellectual stimulating leaders encourages and motivates employees for trying new approaches
and also emphasizes rationality.
Individualized Consideration: Leaders within Asda Stores pay out personal attention on
employees on basis of their needs for growth and achievement. Employees are treated differently
as per their performance, talents and knowledge. Focus of leader is to coach the developing
employees and make supportive climate for getting higher level of potential. Transformational
leaders delegates challenging tasks to employees and monitor their performance for checking if
any potential and additional support is needed.
Characteristics of Transformational Leaders:
 transformation leaders aim at establishing clear values and develop ethical working
environment.
 They aim at encouraging employees to move self-interest to common goals and
objectives (Deutscher and Lafont, 2017).
 Transformational leaders provides coaching and mentoring to employees and enables co-
operation and also open communication within organisation.
 Transformational leaders aims at maintaining high moral standards and expects from
other as well within business organisation.
Importance of Transformational leadership applied within Asda
Asda Limited Stores aims that transformational leaders exhibits certain behaviours and
traits that inspires and encourages employees and team towards achievement of common goals
and objectives. The transformational leaders are considered as important factor for micro,
individual, macro, organisational and societal level.
 Individual development and growth: The leaders with transformational style can lead
to bring effective impacts on the development and growth of individuals within Asda
store organisation. For example, transformational leaders aim at improving and
developing individual's moral (Edmunds, 2018). And they also play crucial role for
developing the learning climate within Asda organisation so that employees are ready to
accept the changes.

 Increases performance: Transformational leaders can bring effective impacts on the
performance level of employees. For example, Asda stores aim at introducing new
products in the target market and requires effective and talented staff who can manage
providing satisfaction to customers and increasing the sales and profitability of company.
Transformational leaders can ensure developing the skills and talents of employees and
making them work towards common goals.
 Organisation change: Transformational leaders can lead to bring positive and great
impacts on every level of the Asda stores. For example, if Asda stores aim at reorganising
its strategic direction or meeting new challenges then transformational leaders can focus
on stimulating, inspiring and motivating employees for effectively accepting the changes
and bringing better outcomes. The transformational leaders at upper level aim at
formulating vision and direction that may bring influences on the working ad operation at
lower level of organisation (Engeström, Lompscher and Rückriem, 2016).
 Wide Applicability: The transformational leadership is applicable to variety of settings
within business organisation. For example, transformation leadership can bring
improvements in capabilities of sales force, assist in formulating policies, assists in
making and implementing required changes, reshaping image of company in target
markets and also creating positive working environment for employees.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Transformational Theory
There are many advantages and disadvantages of applying transformational theory within
organisational context. With the help of this theory the Asda can achieve their desirable and
determined results in very effective manner. This type of leaders focus on motivating and
inspiring their employees in order to achieve remarkable and unexpected results.
Advantages
 Transformational leaders focus on changing the system that helps them in better
utilization of their resources.
 They also supports their employees in improving their capacity and capability.
 They also have ability to communicate new ideas.
 Transformational leadership helps ASDA retailer company in building and maintaining
strong relationship with their employees.

 Transformational leaders have empathy and high emotional intelligence that is very
important for the company for decreasing staff turnover.
 They encourage development and learning of employees (Fook and Pease, 2016).
 Transformational leaders have the ability to change low morale situations.
Formulation of new vision: Transformational leaders possess the ability to incorporate a new
vision into their current situation of business environment. They also can find the gap and
problems in their process of vision which help them in taking corrective and immediate decisions
to change and solve the situation.
Disadvantages
 Transformational leadership become ineffective in initial stage.
 It has disadvantage as employees are more dependent on their leaders and are not able to
work independently (Frohlich and Oppenheimer, 2015).
 Sometimes leaders take wrong decisions because they have authority and over confidence
to take decisions.
 The another disadvantage is it requires to give continuous feedback to its followers.
 Transformational leaders are not always detail oriented.
There are some another disadvantages of this style or theory such as:
Assumption of motivation: This style of leadership tries to let their employees and subordinates
feel that all they have the same and common goals that need to be achieved. Leaders assume that
their employees will always agree with their views and ideas. In some situations they require to
make changes in their strategies but due to their assumption that all employees will agree with
their views it leads failure. All the employees do not have the same views all the time so it
becomes the reason of demotivation and failure (Goody, 2018).
3. Analyse management development program in Asda
Asda retail supermarket aims at implementing various training and development for its
leaders and manager so that they can improve their capabilities and skills. The improved skills
and talents of leaders can lead to bring effective results and outcomes for overall organisation.
The different leadership development and training programs ensures that it provides in-depth
knowledge and experiences of the leaders so that can improve their ongoing mentorship and
across the range of areas within retail business.

Asda organisation aims at conducting leadership training and development program in
order to ensure that it empowers leaders to achieve success, increase valuable and important
skills, help in leading to next level, clarify vision and also encourage introspection skill.
Management training and development programme are implemented by Asda retail stores to
build and improve the capabilities of leaders. Asda aims at implementing Custom Leadership
Development Programme for bringing improvements in the leadership and management and in
the overall performance within organisation (Custom Leadership Development Training
Programs, 2019).
The Custom Leadership Development Programme aims at introducing the concept of
leadership behaviours. Asda implements the custom development program in order to improve
the confidence level, increase communication skills and also improve employee engagement
which results in higher performing employees and teams within organisation (Higgs and
Dulewicz, 2016). This development program helps in improving the art of leading, empowering,
encouraging and motivating the workforce of Asda retail stores. The development program
ensures to bring improvement in the skills of leaders so that they can bring further innovation,
have improved vision and can effectively communicate business strategies within organisation.
The format of Custom Leadership Development Programme are intended for providing
leaders with concrete and practical knowledge and skills for implementing in business and
leadership practices. Four primary learning procedures are used by keeping these goals in mind,
such as: Kick-off and Capstone Sessions, Leadership Learning Sessions, Online Resource and
Learning Session and Action Learning Application Team (Macdonald, Burke and Stewart,
2017).
Kick-off and Capstone Sessions: The participants of programs are invited for attending 2
workshops in the conference style events. This are designed in a way that it engages leaders with
range of activities and discussions which are related to organisational leadership. The kick-off
events' participants are also introduced to action learning application team and they work on for
identifying suitable projects. The Capstone events participants present back the results and
outcomes of their action learning application team to the larger group.
Leadership Learning workshops: The participants need to attend 7 workshops of leaders
learning (Minkenberg, 2015). Theses workshops use various learning activities that includes
paired, instruction, small-group and large group discussions, role-playing sceneries and hands-on