Report on Leadership, Management, and Operations Management at ASDA

This report delves into the critical aspects of leadership and management within an organizational context, using ASDA, a supermarket retailer, as a practical example. It begins by differentiating between leaders and managers, exploring their distinct roles, characteristics, and the synergies between them. The report then outlines the core functions of a manager according to Fayol's principles, including planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating, and controlling, with examples specific to ASDA. Furthermore, it examines various leadership styles, such as situational, systems, and contingency leadership, and how these styles can influence the effectiveness of operations management, especially considering factors like cost and demand. The report also explores the approaches to operation management, the roles of the operations manager, the importance of operations management, and factors affecting ASDA's operations management. Finally, it discusses how these factors impact the decision-making processes of a store manager. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings and insights into effective leadership and management practices.

Operations Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
a) Difference and Similarities between leader and managers:...................................................1
b) Function of manager according to Fayol................................................................................3
C Situational leadership, systems leadership and contingency leadership ...............................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
1. Approaches of operation management:...................................................................................6
2. Roles of Operations manager..................................................................................................6
3. Importance of operations management...................................................................................7
4. Factors that affects the operations management of Asda........................................................8
5. Impact of above mentioned factors on decision making process of the store manager..........9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
In an organisation to manage financial resources is necessary but to manage the personnel
working in the organisation is also essential. The personnel of an organisation are people at top
level management which includes the directors, mangers and others are employees and workers.
Management is a key for smooth running of a business so is the leadership, both things go hand
in hand. A good leadership ensures a perfect management. In the present report role of
management and leadership in an organisation is penned down. Role, traits, characteristics of
manager and leaders are also discussed here. The importance of operations management in Asda
a supermarket retailer is present in this report. The factors that influence the operation
management of Asda and their impact in decision making process.
TASK 1
a) Difference and Similarities between leader and managers:
Managers:
A manager is a person who is personally liable for all the activities incurred in the
supermarket. He is responsible for day to day operation of outlet. Al the employees and workers
in the store reports to him. It is his duty to make a friendly working environment for employees
working there. A manager is the who is responsible for all the personnel of supermarket.
Leader:
A leader is a person who analyse the strength and weaknesses of the workforce as well as of
organisation. The main motive of them is for developing the operational efficiency of individual
and making suitable changes in the operational practices. Therefore, there will be ascertainment
of appropriate revenue generation and managements of business operations. They motivate the
staff in making qualitative efforts as well as productive gains in terms of analysing the costs
efficiencies of firm. Encouraging the workforce to implicate their innovative ideas of operations
will be helpful in uplifting the goals of firm. They analyse and encourages the innovative ideas
of professionals which in turn will be useful for making suitable changes in the operational
practices.
Role of leader
 Leader is a person who understand
people and motivate the people.
Leaders guide the employee and
Function of manager
 Manager work is to manage the things
in a best and in a possible manner.
Managers work is to organize the

encourage them. Leader is a main
element in the management. A leader
work is to invent and innovates
(Mohammadi, Soleymani and
Mozafari, 2014).
 Leader: A leader is a person who lead a
people and a achieve the goals. A
leader can connect effectively to an
employee. A leader leads to all the
levels of the management.
A leader work in a very friendly
environment with employee. A leader
always cooperates with the employee.
 A leader is a who set a direction to the
employee so that employee can work.
 A leader focus on a people that how
they are working. Leader aim is to
grow and develop the business on to the
new level.
 A leader doesn't take a risk . It tries to
minimize the risk (Parisio, Rikos and
Glielmo, 2016).
system in a systematic and efficient
manner. Managers control the whole
business. Manger is a set of processing
to keep organisation functioning. A
manager work is to organize.
 Manager: A manager role is to perform
a good duties. A manager work is to
take responsibilities of a subordinates
and motivates the employee working. A
manager also shares the information
outsides the organization. A manager
decide what work should be given to the
employee.
 A manager plans a details for the
employee so that they can work on it.
 A manager work is to make a decision
how to work on a business.
 A manager focus on the process and the
procedure of the business. A manager
subordinates employee for the work.
Similarities of Leader and Managers
 Leader and Manager quality works together. Manager and Leader both create the
foundation of organisation.
 Manager and Leader both discuss about the business. Leader and Manager influences and
organizes authority.
 This is clear that Leader and Manager knows the business well.

 Both Manager and Leader work with people
Characteristics of Manger and Leader :
 .Leader: Leader have a strong character. Leader shows honesty , integration, trust.
Leader includes a communication skills. Leader first listen and understand the point of
views of staff member and then respond to there question (Zare and et.al, 2016). Leader
use a effective communication skill to move the company forward and achieve a new
levels of success.
 Manager: Manager motivates people or employee by providing them the meaning of a
business. A manager always plan every step of business. A manager knows the gaol of
business and understand the business. Manager used to always identify the problem and
solve that problem.
b) Function of manager according to Fayol
According to Fayol there are five functions of managers:
 Planning: planning is the one of the hardest function from all the five function. A
manager needs focus on the planning so that the business should be work properly.
individual should plan , implement and review the work continuously. Planning can be
short term also and long term also but should be in a continuous process. For example:
ASDA company main goal is to improve the company sales (Albrecht and Dasigi, 2016).
So, now a manager needs to first decide which step would be important to improve the
organisation to come across with goal. So for the improvement of ASDA company
important things can be done like increase the company advertisement, inventions , sales
staff employee. So that the company can improves there sales in the organisation.
 Organizing: The organizing function can only perform well so that the organisation
perform there business well. This means that there should be sufficient staff member so
that organisation can work smoothly and can build good working structure. Organization
requires different types of leadership. For example: ASDA company mangers now needs
to arrange the staff member in a team so that the company can organize there business in
a well manner (Yari and et.al, 2015). After the plan is done the organize a team division
for the work so that the company goals come across.
 Commanding: When given instructions and orders are clearly given to the employee then
employee will able know what exactly the company required from them. Commanding is

the essential function of management. Manager of ASDA needs commands so that the
employee know how to act on the work and what targets should be needs to achieve the
business. For example: A company manager will command the work to an employee so
that there should be no confusion occurs between the manager and the staff member. So
the ASDA company managers will now command the staff member to work in a proper
manner (Shikano and et.al, 2015).
 Coordinating: Coordinating requires a clear communication and good leadership.
Coordination means that the company should coordinate with employee and there work.
Coordination should properly done in a sequence and time to determine the work. Lack of
coordination can affect the negativity for the employee performance and to the organisation. For
example : if policies get changed in the company them it becomes duty of manager that to
coordinate with employees and make them understand with new practices. This will help in
improving knowledge of workers and minimizing confusion in workplace (Mohammadi,
Mozafari and Solimani, 2014).
 Controlling: A manager should be responsible for controlling the work of an
organisation. Controlling means the the manager should check that everything is working
according to a plan . Should take appropriate correct action . To check that plan is
working according to the company. For example: Now ASDA manager will check all the
process done by employees whether they are up to date or not. If the working is not going
well then manger will have to make changes and have to control over operations so that it
can give good results.
C Situational leadership, systems leadership and contingency leadership
Situational leadership the operations' management of ASDA company can affected
with this leadership style. This leadership style is depended on the skills and capabilities of the
worker who help to completed the task in effective manner. This situation leadership styles
showing the current issues in company like increased their cost, decreasing the demand of good
and services. So this theory is also played an important role in following situation. Leader and
manager of this organisation adjust this style for the growth of the company and increasing the
work efficiency. It will be help to influences to other employees who help to achieve the
common gaol of the businesses. This leadership style may change in according to situation. This

theory is applied by ASDA company to deal with the current situation increasing the cost of
products.
Systems leadership according to this is provides a framework for the generating their
relevant ideas. ASDA is also applied this theory it is considered with skills and abilities of the
employees and leader help to increasing the skills of the employees and defined all the policies
of the business through effective communication way. Leaders also control their working
system of the employees describe the current situation of the business. They also help to
improve the quality of product with effective cost. ASDA main motive to increasing their
profitability margin in systematically manner, it will help to increasing the skills and knowledge
of their employees. ASDA system is very complex they operate their business in several
countries. So this theory can help to manage their work in proper way. Management of this
company is also play a very important role in removing the operational issues. Leader and
manager both are play a very essential role in this aspect.
Contingency leadership this theory is depended on when company change their business
strategies in according to changes in situations. ASDA company is also play vital role in
influencing their employees for a face the current challenges in the market. Leader and manager
is also focused on this style for changes the policies of the organisation in operational and
production department. This theory is very helpful for the maintaining the interpersonal
relationship and motivating their employees. Manager of this organisation is also the main
reason increased the cost of manufacture and follow this aspect for changes in operational
activities. It is a very essential aspect for understanding how leader work and how to apply this
theory. This leadership theory show the qualities of leader it is also included ability to motivate
their employees.
These are the theories of leaderships when ASDA is applied this aspect for the
betterment of the company. It is also helpful to achieve the objective of the organisation. These
are theories are help to changes in the market. The organisation main objectives to provide
motivation among worker with feeling that they are also more valuable. These theories are also
focused on the management for managing all the operation in effective manner.

TASK 2
1. Approaches of operation management:
Operation management is the administration of business to create high level of efficiency
possible within an organization. It is a management that design and control the process of
production . This management focuses on the how the organization produces goods and services.
An operation management involves planning, organizing, coordinating and controlling all the
resources needed to produces goods and services by the company . This the management process
that create value the company and its customers (Mohammadi, Soleymani and Mozafari, 2014).
 Lean manufacturing: Lean manufacturing is a system for managing manufacturing
operations. It is a technique that enables us to deliver the high quality product at very low
cost. Lean manufacturing focus on the process of improving company business. ASDA
company identifies errors in operations through lean process. This supports in identifying
issues such as over production, wastage etc. By this way it takes action to minimize such
problems and improve operational efficiency (Parisio, Rikos and Glielmo, 2016).
 Six sigma : It is a discipline method or approach defect in any process . Six sigma is an
innovative set of method towards improving effectiveness of a process. Six sigma process
involves measurements , improvement and validation. Six sigma provides benefits to to
Ikea company by helping the organisation. The ASDA company can able to transform the
organisation and identifies the customer satisfaction and loss to the business. ASDA
company identifies that this approach can improve the business and quality of a business .
 Kaizen: Kaizen is a Japanese word which means 'improvement' .Kaizen is refers as effort
of each and every employee to improve the process of a business. Kaizen main meaning
is to improve productivity, reduce waste material. ASDA company identifies that if the
the manager wants to improve the work in there business can make a team to maintain the
business , can take suggestion to improve what all things are there in ASDA company to
be change. (Shikano and et.al, 2015)
2. Roles of Operations manager
Operation manager of ASDA plays role of mediator between the companies and various
departments. Operations manager play a senior role which involves overseeing the production of
goods and services. Generally operation manager play a leading role in managing the business .
Individual's role is in controlling cost and keep the organisation on the track financially.The

store manager of ASDA company is the in charge of entire store of a company and the employee
working in the company. Store manager in ASDA company is responsible for keeping records of
inventory and controlling over stock. Individual always ensure to minimize wastage so that profit
of entity can be increased. A store manager in a ASDA company is a person responsible for the
day to day operation of a store. For example : as a store manager of ASDA company the role is
to solve problems and handle the unusual circumstances of the company. As compare to
operation manager store manger play a role in managing the overall function is processed in the
company. The store manger is responsible for the to make sure that the store should be clean.
Employee working with store manager should also know where the store are to keep .
3. Importance of operations management
In the retail store Asda, operations management plays a key role in sufficient utilization
of material and man resources for achieving better profitability with ensuring consumer
satisfaction. The key importances of operations management in organisation are: Reduces cost of production and services: by being efficient in the operations of the
management of the cost incurred in production of goods and services rendered in form of
financial assistance and mobile phones (Pilkington and Meredith, 2018). For reducing the
cost most grocery products are purchased from local farmers and other products directly
from the company to cut in between cost of transportation. This helps in achieving the
group. Departmental and organisational goal in an efficient and effective manner. The
reduction in cost ultimately reduces the sales piece which results in charging less price
from consumers. Increase revenues through improving consumer satisfaction by production of quality
goods and services:the main aim of Asda is to provide the best quality of good and
services to its consumers (Operations Management, 2018). The product which are put in
supermarket are full of variety which is necessary because every consumer have a
different need and choice regarding to same product. So to provide them various variety
of a single product with the best quality results in consumer satisfaction. A satisfied
consumer will surly visit the supermarket again and this will create a chain of consumer
to consumers that visit the store on a regular basis. To retain old customer and attracting
new customers is the main aim of supermarket. All these factors will eventually increase
the revenue of supermarket.

 Reduction in amount of investment: an effective operation management focuses on
creating a balance between cost and revenue for maximizing the net operational profits,
while ensuring good quality for goods and services. The amount of investment can be
reduced by Asda retail in their supermarket is through reduction in their cost of purchase.
The cost or investment in product which they put for sale in supermarket shall be kept
minimal to ensure that customers are charged with fair amounts.
 A base for innovation: in Asda all the employees and customers are always welcomed
for giving feedbacks (Simpson and et.al., 2015). Operation management process is one
which do not change rapidly so it a has a wide scope for innovation, so that without
changing the process new ideas can be introduces and implemented. The innovation base
can be made stronger by a solid ground of operations and knowledge. An innovation
includes improvement in sales process, attracting the consumers to purchase from their
supermarket and rendering services from them only.
4. Factors that affects the operations management of Asda
The operations management is related functions performed in an organisation. These
functions can be related to finance, marketing and personnel. This deals with management of all
these function for production and delivery of goods and services (Ngai, Tao and Moon, 2015).
With this operations management also focuses ion consumer satisfaction with achieving its
motive of attaining higher profits. All these activities involved in operations management are
influenced by many factors which are as follows:
Competition at global level:the main factor that influence business is global competition.
The competition faced by Asda supermarket in the same industry is growing day by day. Every
country has its own trait for competition so to face and cope with competition at different level
and with different have a major influence on the operations management.
Quality, consumer service and cost challenge:to provide consumers with quality product
and service is a main motive of operations management. The focus is on keeping cost of product
and service minimal provide consumers with quality product and achieve desirous profits. This
is a tough task as to achieve all this in one time is getting difficult in present day.
Technological development :to keep a pace with modern world and tough competition
advancement of technology is necessary. This technological changes sometimes are welcomed

by organisation and sometimes not (Kwon, Lee and Shin, 2014). With the implementation on
new and advance technology Asda can achieve better profitability with less cost.
Service sector growth: in present world the service sector have grown immensely. With this
growth the completion have also increased and survival have become difficult. The main
functional areas of an organisation are manufacturing and services. Organisation used to give
preference to manufacturing. With the growth of service sector it has to chance its focus and
concentrate on both.
Issues related to social responsibility: every organisation is responsible to the society and have
some duties towards the society. The responsibility are because it receives its material from the
nature or society also the manpower for running an organisation is also provided by the society.
Moreover, it operates in a society so as corporatise citizen it is responsible to society as a whole.
Shortage of materials and capital:an increase in competition clearly shows that number of
firms operating in same field have also increased. With this increase in competition and number
of competitors the raw material scarcity is a normal scenario.
5. Impact of above mentioned factors on decision making process of the store manager
In the above question the factors influencing operations management is discussed. With
influencing the management it have a major impact on decisions taken by the managers at Asda.
The decision taken by the managers for the organisation are taken by keeping in mind these
factors so that with changes in the external environment of organisation can be accounted. The
decision taken shall be such with incorporation of these factors.
Impact of global competition: strategies shall be prepared and implemented to survive the
global competition (Rezaei, 2015). First analysis of competition at global level shall be done.
Then the main factors of that competition shall be evaluated. With such evaluation Asda can
fight the competition.
Impact of cost and consumer: a decision regarding production and service cost is most
important decision for Asda. Analytical tools and accounting techniques shall be considered and
applied to minimize cost. With cost reduction a desired profit margin can be added and provide
consumer with a price acceptable to them. This decision will achieve the cost reduction with
consumer satisfaction.

Impact of technological advancement: this is a factor which influence the decision
regarding adaption of new technology and retiring old and obsolete technology. This is a difficult
decision to make as new technology demands new skills and ability.
Impact of social responsibility: with increase in social awareness it is important for Asda
to take in to account corporate social responsibility (Nil and Van Wart, 2015). The government
has made rules and regulation for this also, a non compliance with this can draw legal attention.
Impact of availability of material and capital: for a business capital and materiel are two
factors which ensures its operations. A decision as how material can be made available at
supermarket to sale shall be taken. Manager have to take decision for keeping some spare and
advance capital so that it can be used at times of scarcity.
Impact of growth of service sector
CONCLUSION
The report clearly states that in an organisation management and leadership are two
crucial part for successful operation of the business. A powerful leadership endures an effective
management. A manager is a person who is responsible for making people of organisation
together, while a leader is a person who is followed by people at work. A manager can be a
leader and a leader can be a manger but this is not necessary every time. By this report it can also
be concluded that operation management plays a vital role in Asda as by this the managers at
Asda supermarket were able to maximise the profit by operating in a cost effective and efficient
means to reduce cost while satisfying its consumers. So it can be said that with operation
management an organisation not only ensures its own circumstances and financial position but
also the demand of its consumers