Management and Operations: Leader, Manager, and ASDA Case Study

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership and management practices within ASDA, a British supermarket retailer. It begins by defining and comparing the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers, highlighting their distinct responsibilities and functions in achieving organizational goals. The report then examines how the roles of leaders and managers apply in different situational contexts, such as increasing product costs and high employee turnover. It explores various leadership theories and models, including situational, system, and contingency approaches, and their practical applications within ASDA. The report further delves into key approaches to operational management and the roles played by leaders and managers in this domain. It emphasizes the significance and value of operational management in achieving business objectives, and concludes by discussing different factors within the enterprise that impact operational management and decision-making by leaders. The report uses the case study of ASDA to illustrate these concepts, providing a practical understanding of leadership and management in a real-world business setting.

MANAGEMENT AND
OPERATIONS (UNIT 4)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................2
Pl Define and compare the roles and characteristics of leader and manager..............................2
P2 Examine how role of leader and function of manager apply in differed situation context....5
P3 Description on differed theories and model of approach includes situational, system and
contingency.................................................................................................................................6
P4 Key approaches to operational management and role plays by leader and managers...........7
P5 Significance and value of operation management to achieve business objectives................9
P6 Different factors within enterprise that impact upon operational management and decision
making by leaders.....................................................................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13
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INTRODUCTION
Management can be termed out as process that helps to getting things done in formally
and organised groups. It is process that works as to forecast, plan, organise, command,
coordinate and control overall activities within enterprise (Ashkanasy, Humphrey and Huy,
2017). Therefore, Organization is an entity consisting of multiple people, such as institution or
an association in terms to achieve collective goals.
The present report is based on Managerial and operational activities of a chosen firm
named ASDA, British supermarket retailer that deals in grocery products. It is global leading
brand and work as to provide quality products to customers. Presently, the report is known to
work upon things as role of leader and manager, functions of manager, theories and models of
managerial approaches, importance and value of operation. The main purpose is to have effective
handling of operational and managerial activities that leads to maximise profitability and
productivity within enterprise.
Pl Define and compare the roles and characteristics of leader and manager.
Manager- He work as to conduct proper planning, organizing, direction, coordination
and control. Thus, they are one who works as to get things done with help of instructing
employees and he has authority to hire and fire worker. In addition to it, there are number of
managers exists in the enterprise on level as top, project, functional and general. He is core
person of firm and responsible for controlling as well as managing all the function that are need
to be performed by leader, employees and other workers.
The role of manager depends upon nature and type of work. In this, top level managers
are responsible for vision and mission of enterprise. Functional managers are responsible for
differed areas of work as marketing, sales and accounting etc. (Bolden, 2016). Project manager
works as to provide timely delivery of the assignment.
Leader- They are the people who get things done from employees concerning the goals
of the enterprise. He influences his followers in terms to achieve the specified goal. Without his
proper leading the employees to enterprise cannot perform effectively. Thus, leader of Asda
work as to prepare strategic planning to achieve desired goals. He creates teams, motivates
subordinates, develop innovation and trust among stakeholders etc. The leader should work with
employees as team (Clarke and Ward, 2006). He need to keeps track over needs and wants of
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their teammates, timely assistance must be provided to workers so that they can able to undertake
business activities effectively.
Difference between leader and manager-
Basis for comparison Leader Manager
Meaning Leader works as to influence
his subordinates to achieve one
common goal in the enterprise
(Goetsch and Davis, 2016).
He managers all organisational
activities and is responsible for
planning, directing, controlling
and coordinating things
effectively.
Directions In this, leaders needs to
provide the direction to
followers .
The managers work as to plan
the details.
Conflict Leader must have the
capability to resolve it.
Manager should avoid
conflicts.
Focus Leaders should keep their
focus on goals and objectives.
Manager focus on people.
Formulation He works as to formulating
principle and guidelines.
In case of management,
policies, procedures are needed
to be framed and implemented
(Lindebaum, 2016).
Emphasis on Leaders must works to inspire
people.
Manager work as to managing
activities so that all things can
be conducted effectively and
efficiently.
Style Leader can have the use of
transactional leadership style
in terms to promoting the
activities effectively (Long,
Manager uses the transactional
style of leadership
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Charles and Stephenson,
2015).
The function and role of leader has been presented in below context as-
Planning- It is initial stage in this manager works as to set goals and plans to maximise
profitability and productivity of enterprise. The strategies prepared by Asda managers is
KAIZEN that works as to contributes continuous improvement in operational and production
activities with regard to develop efficiency in products. Herein, role of leaders is to effectively
communicate strategies framed by managers and direct employees to follow it.. It is need to be
framed effectively so that all other process can be done in systematic and efficient manner
(Martin and et.al., 2005).
Organizing- The managers of Asda, should work as to organise, utilize resources proficiently so
it is possible to full fill goals of enterprise. The role of leaders is to allocates resources and to
motivate the employees to perform with better efficiencies (Norbury, Pech and Innes, 2015).
Illustration 1: Management functions
(Source: Five Functions of Management, 2018)
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Staffing- It is action in which managers and leaders should work in one manner to get the best
out of employees recruited in firm. Asda need to make effective recruitment by analysing skills
and capabilities of the candidates. In order to have effective functioning, it is essential to
motivate staff and allocates work as per the skill and capabilities of the employees.
Directing- The manager works as to direct task that to be performed by staff and employees of
Asda and leader performs as to creating team and directs employees that how work should get
done.
Coordinating- The all functions are need to be coordinated to have better outcomes. Thus,
departmental function of production and finance serve the various benefits in terms to have
enhancement in quality of the products and managing resource. Herein, role of leaders is to
develop coordination between workers with help of effective communication and good
leadership skill.
Controlling- In this, strategies are needed to be formulated with help of managers and it is need
to be implemented by leaders in Asda. It is process that helps in identifying gap between planned
activities set by managers and actual performance of employees (Pathan, 2016). To have
effective working it is essential to carry out the all activities effectively and efficiently.
P2 Examine how role of leader and function of manager apply in differed situation context.
The role of leader and function of manager makes the enterprise performs effectively.
There are number of function as traits and style of leaderships that are assistive in terms to
proper functioning of business activities (Stillman, 2016).
There are two differed situation that has been discuses in below context as are-
Situation 1- Asda is facing situation in which price of products and services are rapidly
increasing. It is situation in which effective execution of function of management, skills of
leaders and better strategies are needed to be adopted to maximise profitability of the enterprise.
 Contemporary theory- This theory is need to be applied by Asda, in terms to meet the
current situation of increased cost of purchase and production (Tracey, 2016). It is termed
out as contemporary theory as it is formed in modern times. Thus, manager should work
as to plan strategies as selection of suppliers so that they can provide the product and
services at the lower cost. On the other hand, leader of Asda should works as to motivate
employees to have use of advanced technologies that helps to lower the cost of
manufacturing with help of ensuring about the quality. In this, it is essential to take the
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use of advanced technologies so that innovative procedures can be taken effectively. The
main aim is to eliminate the resistance to change among employees so it can be possible
to creating the environment of trust and effective communication skills.
 Classic management theory- This theory has applied in Asda, in which managers makes
the policies to have enhancement in productivity to the enterprise. Thus, managers has
developed the strategy that names as KAIZEN and it refer as efforts of staff and
management are continuous to improve so that production function of firm can be done
effectively and efficiently. It has applied with the objective to have reduction in cost and
improvising decision making function to lead things effectively (Van Knippenberg and
Van Knippenberg, 2005).
Situation 2- The quoted firm is facing the operational issues due to high employee turnover rate
in an organisation. In this situation function of manager is to analyse the situation and to identify
the root cause of problem. The leader should have use of theories that helps to reduce the issue of
employee turnover rate. It has been presented in below context manner as are-
Management by objectives- It is theory that keep focuses on efforts of manager and employees
towards achievement of one common goal of the enterprise. Manager work as to set the
procedures, standards of performance and leader perform as to delegate the duties to employees
so that they can able to perform the task in motivated manner (Tweedie and Holley, 2016). The
objective are end results that helps the firm to attend one particular aim of the enterprise. With
help of framing objective employees can perform effectively and efficiently.
Theory X and theory Y- These are two opposing motivation spectrum. To deal with this
situation, Asda has applied this theory to make difference between likes and dislikes among
individual. The firm is facing the issues of employee turnover with help of selected theory X
they can analyse the reason about disfavour working. Thus, Leader should take the initiatives to
supervise each steps performed by them. With help of theory Y, they can establish participative
style of management. It helps the employees to feel self motivated, creative and enjoy working
with great responsibility.
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P3 Description on differed theories and model of approach includes situational, system and
contingency.
There are number of theories and model of approaches that has been applied by Asda in
order to perform organisational activities effectively and efficiently. It has been defined in
following manner as are-
Situational leadership- It is that type of leadership in which style of leadership is totally
depends over skill and capabilities of employees (Jensen, 2017). In this, leaders must influence
employees so that task can be accomplished in timely manner. Hence, operational working of
Asda can get affected with help of this kind of leadership as leaders adopts differed styles in
diverse situation. Currently, quoted firm is facing issues as increment in cost of product and
services so it is essential to play major role in following situation.
System leadership- It is also need to be applied by leaders in Asda, the leader work as to control
working of enterprise and to make effective communication in order to meet needs of the
enterprise. It is need to be done in effective and efficient manner so it is possible to maintain
long terms sustainability. The leaders and manager should perform their work in a systematic
direction (Mohammadi, Soleymani and Mozafari, 2014). Thus, main goal of the enterprise is to
achieve and maintain brand image of enterprise. In addition to it, managers of Asda also
implement KAIZEN strategy to bring effective operation by improvising activities relates to
production and manufacturing process. It enables the leaders in an organisation to create the
conditions in which individual at all levels can perform work as per their potential. This
leadership style creates working condition in an organisation within which others can make
progress toward social change.
Contingent leadership- It puts major focus over determining the effectiveness of leadership and
dependent on matching leader style to right solution. This is very helpful in order to examine the
internal and external situation so that overall productivity of enterprise can be maximised (Long,
Charles and Stephenson, 2015).In addition to it, success of leader is function of various
contingencies and it is under form of subordinates, task and group variables. In this, success of
leadership relied on specific situation at hands and it also helps to determine that how this factor
helps to determine the success and failure.
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P4 Key approaches to operational management and role plays by leader and managers.
Managers and leaders have to use key approaches while running operational activities.
Asda can use such approaches so that they can run operations management by optimally utilising
available resources of the company. It is important to ensure that systems in this department has
to be run smoothly because products and services have to be delivered in this stage. One of these
key approaches include lean management. In this, long term strategies are created so that small
alterations can be done in a systematic manner, which will lead to improvements in efficiency
and quality of products and services sold by Asda. The primary goal is to improve standards of
goods that are manufactured and remove anything that can lead to increase in defects.
Lean production- Lean management has principles which have to be followed by Asda, so that
they can distribute work among employees and share various responsibilities. The managers use
this approach to maximise productivity and profitability. It is an approach that focuses on
cutting out waste and ensuring quality of products (Ashkanasy, Humphrey and Huy, 2017).
Thus, one of systematic way that helps to minimize the waste at time of manufacturing without
sacrificing productivity. In addition to it, principle of lean production is also about to improve as
to increase speed, efficiency and quality by elimination of waste components. Leader is
responsible to track over perform of employees with use of lead production system. The basic
principles include:
 Identifying value
 Mapping value stream
 Creating a flow
 Establishing pull Improving continuously
Six sigma- It is method that will be helpful in improving the quality of operation management by
effective elimination of errors, defects, cost and saving time (Pathan, 2016). In addition to it,
quality plays essential role in success and failure of an organisation. On the other hand, it can be
termed out as disciplined, statically based, data driven approach and continuous improvement in
technology helps to improvise quality of products. The managers has the huge responsibility in
driving six sigma culture in the enterprise. Thus, Asda puts its major consideration over
achievement of high quality products with help of effectively measured, analysed, improved and
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controlled. With help of it, firm can have effective control quality and continuous improvements
can be taken into place.
Illustration 2: Six sigma
(Source: Background Info – Why Apply Six Sigma to Marketing?,
2018)
P5 Significance and value of operation management to achieve business objectives.
Operation management is the most essential and long lasting process that helps to keep
the all management goals effective. Operation management assist to regulate daily routine
activity that help to sustain long lasting performance of company goals.
Operation management process involves planning, organizing managing and controlling process
(Jensen, 2017). The main objective of operation management is to ensure delivery of products
and to successfully turn raw materials into the finished products and services goals. Dealing
direction plays a most important role to run the business into more successfully. Operation
management helps ASDA to improves overall productivity level of the company employees.
Such as raw material, money and other resources that makes the best effective process goals. It
manages the daily routine activities.
Significance and value of operation management to achieve business objectives
Activity to increase productivity level: Operation department assist company to make the
better and effective (Mohammadi, Soleymani and Mozafari, 2014).
Quality Control
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It is the another value operational functional growth that will be more helpful and
challenging following goals. Operational management helps to design better services for
employees that gives motivation and performance appraisal goals. This gives the best leading
resourceful ideological goals (Nepal, and Chotiyaputta, 2016). It helps to generate new value
preposition and leading resourceful growth. Operation management would helpful to eliminate
the unwanted activities so that, company would make better service growth. This management
can easily find out human error or functional level during the implementation process. This
makes the quality valuable and best leading source.
Effective distribution channel
Operation management would also help to keep effective distribution channel and also
managed effective productive management end and best performance cognitive content. The
operation management is best leading process that helps to make the best productive or
developmental goals.
Value creation
Major problems managers face is how to initiate process of enhancing value or also
improving the performance goals. Operation management helps to select the best resourceful
goals and best effective performance. This would help to decontrol process and makes the best
effective source (Zhang and et.al., 2016). Operation manager initiate process of enhancing value
or improving value of marketing goals. This would help to full fill the business objective in
systematic manner.
On the basis of above section goals, helps to keep the value of proportion sustain and
long lasting. Besides, it also helps to keep the distribution channel smoothly. It helps to distribute
final product or services to the end users. Through which ASDA can easily keep its value sustain
and long lasting. Overall, this also helps to keep the best resourceful ideological goals. All the
functional process of operation management would help to full fill the business objective goals.
Operation management also helps to maintained supply chain management that starts to
make the better decision making approach.
P6 Different factors within enterprise that impact upon operational management and decision
making by leaders.
Internal or external origin are those cause that affect the business operation management
due to which leaders have to make their changes according to present scenario. Internal factors
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are the most challenging for the company to be handle in an systematic manner. Besides,
company requires to sustain the resources productively and best leading sources (Jin and et.al.,
2015). Various factors influence decision making approach. On the other hand, leaders are the
another role model that affect the business opportunities and best leading resourceful ideological
goals. Leaders needs to adopt all changes according to market situation and try to give up from
the issues. Internal factors affect the enterprises decision making approach. They also affect
enterprise organisation goals and decision making process of concern.
Impact of factors affect business decision making by leaders
Leadership
Leadership refers to the people in the organisation that make all the major decision
making process. Leaders needs to apply different motivational strategies in order to ensure the
better performance level of employees growth (Keahey, Riteau and Timkovich, 2017). Overall, it
helps to full fill the long lasting goals.
Employees
Employees are the another internal factor that affect the decision making process taken
by leaders. This affect the business overall profit oriented. Unsatisfied employees might be
harmful for the company. Through which customer might be affected and get dissatisfied with
the company performance. In order to sustain employees motivational level upgrade and
innovative, it required to make all level up and sustain. Employees needs to be satisfied and
motivated in order to full fill the best company outputs (Keahey, Riteau and Timkovich, 2017).
To get hire the best employees for the company performances. It is very much required for
leaders to hire the best employees who meet expectation level of company. When employee feels
satisfied or valued they automatically encourage and get motivated towards the company
interest. Besides, low productivity level of employees creates low performance due to which
leaders needs to face low productivity level.
Mission statement
This is the another internal factor that affect the business decision making approach.
Mission of the ASDA helps to clear about that which factors become specific products or
services as well. Both the learning and better quality goods makes the mission successful. For
example, if company needs to enhance profit margin for the organisation. So in that case they
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