Analysis of Leadership and Operations Management at M&S

This report delves into the leadership and management practices within Marks and Spencer (M&S). It begins by defining and contrasting the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers within the organization, emphasizing their significance in achieving business objectives. The report then examines how leadership and management functions are applied in various situations at M&S, highlighting the importance of effective communication and conflict resolution. Furthermore, it explores different leadership theories and models, such as situational leadership, system leadership, and contingency theory, and their application in the retail sector. The report also discusses key approaches to operations management, including business redesign and Six Sigma, and their impact on improving efficiency, productivity, and marketability. Overall, the report provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership and operations management at M&S, offering insights into how these elements contribute to the company's success.

MANAGEMENT AND
OPERATIONS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................1
P1 Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and manager for
M&S............................................................................................................................................1
P2 Examine how role of a leader and the function is applied in different situation of M&S.....3
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................4
P3 Different leadership theories and models in M&S................................................................4
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................5
P4) Key approaches of operations management.........................................................................5
P5) Importance of operations management in achieving business objectives............................7
LO 4.................................................................................................................................................8
P6) Factors within business environment impacted on operational management......................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Management of business operations is essential impacted on its effectiveness and growth
at higher level. It impacts on business performance and market position of the entity on which
further decisions are made regarding business operations. Present report is based on
understanding roles of leader and manager for decision making regarding business operations of
Marks and Spencer (M&S). It is private and retail sector organisation of UK provides services of
groceries, food items and home products to a million customers across the country. In this
regard, key approaches of operations management are to be discussed for improving entity's
business performance. Moreover, various leadership and management approaches will be
introduced in this assignment. However, significance of management of business operations is to
be understood in this report for improving business performance of M&S.
LO 1
P1 Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and manager for M&S
Marks and Spenser is one of the key player in the retail sector, other than that the venture
is focusing on the continuous development in the different operations of the venture. When it
comes to the different business activities, managers and employees are well focused on their
different roles and responsibilities so that they can able to grasp long term opportunities and able
to cope with the different threats. It has been founded that leader and manager plays very
significant role in the venture so that all the activities can be done in effective and efficient
manner. Leader and manager plays very different roles and responsibilities in the venture
(DeAnna, 2010). When it comes to the manager, then he or she need to take care of all the
activities and operations are being done in appropriate manner so that they can able to achieve
the goals of organisation. On the other hand when it comes to the leader, then he or she is one
who motivates, guide and lead the employees so that they can put their maximum efforts in the
venture. Other than that when it comes to the group development, then also leader plays very
significant role.
MANAGER
Manager is the individual who is in charge of the particular group if the task, or a certain
department of the venture. A manager is the person who have some workers under him or her.
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They are responsible to develop the organisation's strategy so that vision and mission of the
business can be achieved
Role and responsibilities of the manager
There are several roles that are being followed by the manager so that operations and
activities can be fulfilled in an effective and efficient manner, the roles of manager are as
follows:
 Administration: A manager must be able to oversee, or administer the operation of the
area that he is responsible for (Hallinger and Heck, 2010). It is being known that day to
day operations of the business vary, so he or she must be able to change the different
task. Most of the operation of manager is to reporting and serve the financial information.
Other than that legal and personnel obligations must be fulfilled by the manager on the
timely basis.
 Delegation of authority and responsibilities to the middle and lower level: Another
roles of the manager is to delegate the activities and operations which need to be done by
every individual. He finds the capabilities of every worker under him and then provide
the different task so that they can able to achieve in proper manner. With that he is
responsible to delegate responsibilities and resources to the workers which serve as a
support to complete the task (Jing and Avery, 2011).
Characteristic of the manager
 Planning: Planning is the primary function of the management for which manager is
responsible for. A manager is the person who need to plan the different activities so that
all the employees can able to complete all the activities which is being planned by the
manager. Manager need to plan for the resources that how many people will be required,
which machinery will be needed, how much raw material will be required to completed
the task.
 Problem solving: It is also another attribute of the manager, a good manager is able to
identify the issues and find the different alternative to solve the problem. A good
manager find the creative solution of the problem so that it can not arise in the future.
LEADER
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A leader is an individual who have capabilities to influence the group of people in order
to achieve the personal and organisational goal. There are three P's which can define a leader. He
is individual who is committed to the person in order to influence the people to achieve the
purpose of venture
Roles and responsibilities of the leader
 Representative of the organization: A leader has to represent the concern at seminars,
conferences, general meetings, etc. a leader need to communicate the different
information about the organisation to the internal people as well as to the external
 Guide, motivate, influence and lead the employees: It is key role of the leader to guide
the employees on the correct path, motivate them to put maximum efforts, influence then
to achieve organisation's goal and lead them to fulfil all of their roles and responsibilities
(Kark and Shamir, 2013).
Characteristic of the leader
 Creative: A good leader need to be creative, there are several decisions that need to be
taken by the leader in respect of management and employees. He need to maintain
effective co-ordinative between the manager and employees. Thus, he need to make
effective decision.
 Confident: It is another key attribute of the leader, if the leader is confident, then all the
followers can able to trust on him and can keep faith on him.
P2 Examine how role of a leader and the function is applied in different situation of M&S
It is very important for the organisation to maintain sustainability in the business so that
they can able to gain competitive advantages. Manager of Marks and Spencer need to ensure that
different and innovative kinds of operations and functions are to be taken into account. Other
than that it is very important for the leader to maintain proper communication with the other
members so that data and information can be shared in proper manner. Issues need to be resolved
and handled with an application of collective measures. In addition to this, it can be said that
positive thinking also assist in improving the overall performance. It has been founded that are
different disputes that are arisen in the venture which need to be solved on a particular so that it
can not increase at higher level (Kopardekar, 2015). The reason can be in effective co-ordination
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in the team members. At that time it is role of the leader to understand the causes of conflict and
then solve it. Other than that manager also plays significant role in dispute handling, sometime
the issues may arise in employer and employee, at that time manager is responsible to solve that
issues.
Other than that it is very important for manager, employer and employees to achieve the
organisation gaol and objective. At that time manager and leader both are responsible. When it
concerned about the manager, he need to plan, organise and delegate the different activities and
task to the employees. Whereas leader need to motivate employees to complete the different task
and activities which are delegated by the manager. Thus, it can be said that venture can able to
generate more profit and have more productivity when manager and leader work in co-ordinated
manner.
LO 2
P3 Different leadership theories and models in M&S
There are different theories and models that are applied by the leader and management of
the organisation which helps the employees to be more efficient and productive. As the
participants increasing in the retail sector, the competitions become tougher and it is important to
take down such theories while carrying out operations in appropriate manner, the theories are as
follows:
1. Situational leadership: This leadership tells about the works that perform according to
the current situation that exists under the organisation. This style tells that manager and
leader need to adopt those leadership styles which is bet applicable to the situation,
different leadership style consist under it are as follows:
 Telling: In this leadership style, leader have responsibilities to take all the decision and
then delegate to all the followers (Müller and Turner, 2010). In this style employees have
no right to make the decision.
 Selling: It is the style where leaders are involved in the day to day activities. Ultimately
the decision are taken by the leader but some inputs are given by the employees.
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 Participating: In this style leader passes roles and responsibilities to the employees. In
other words it can be said that roles and responsibilities are delegated to the employees
and they are liable to take their own decision.
 Delegating: It is the style where leader is involved the least amount with the employees.
The employees are responsible for choosing the tasks and the directions they will take
2. System leadership: This types of leadership style states that all the employees and leader
work in very productive and innovative manner. Leader set the specific goal and
objectives with that some cultural and social aspects are being taken (Murray, 2016). It is
very crucial for the organisation, these aspects have great impact over the business and
employees. The leader need to take the responsibilities to remove the different difficulties
in the task.
3. Contingency theory: It is the leadership style which helps the employees and managers
to service and face the different difficulties. As this style is applicable when the case is
diverse and it is very difficult to solve the diverse case. The decision are made on the
basis of different internal and external factors (Nakayama and Bucks, 2012). Thus, in
such situation choices, tastes, favours and preferences of the consumers are not similar.
So, due to this situation the principles as well as the managers have to bring changes
under this process.
LO 3
P4) Key approaches of operations management
Operations management is suitable for managing entire business operations of any
organisation (Albrecht and Dasigi, 2014). It influences productivity, profitability and
marketability of the entity at higher level. In this regard, different approaches are used for
operations management for M&S can be discussed as: Business redesign structure: Under this approach, current business performance of M&S
is analysed on which structure is designed for business operations. Therefore, variety of
ideas are recognised for decision making to manage business operations and improve its
effectiveness. It is effective for creating balance between production and distribution
system of entity (Arribere and Gilbert, 2013). Similarly, it is beneficial for appropriate
decision making in terms of further planning in relation to cost effectiveness. However,
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optimum utilization of resources and fund impacted on its productivity and profit earning
level positively. Including this, effective structure can be framed to implement planning
and achieving entity's effectiveness. Six Sigma: It emphasis on quality in goods and services provided by M&S also linked
with demand for products in wide range. In this regard, ideas are generated related to
adopt new technologies and improve quality of groceries and food items (Bah and Fang,
2015). Moreover, it is effective for enhancing efficiency of the organisation as well
decision making for the further years. Along with this, this approach of operations
management impacted on public relations and decision and increasing quality level of
products efficiently. Therefore, six sigma approach is beneficial for appropriate decision
making in context to further implementations and improving its goodwill in market for
longer time period. Management of integrated business operations: Operations management approach is
appropriate for managing entire business operations of M&S. In accordance to this, all
activities are identified including production and distribution of goods, technologies used
for producing products, market position and customers' attraction etc (Bongiorno, Bain
and David, 2014). Therefore, several ideas are generated for appropriate decision making
and managing entire activities. However, competitive advantages can be gained in terms
of its expansion and further decision making for enhancing business' efficiency.
 Lean manufacturing: These operations' management approach works for reducing
wastages of resources and fund impacts on M&S' management. In this regard, optimum
utilization of resources and fund is created influences its productivity and further
implementations. Including this, it is suitable for decreasing incurred in expenses and
increasing sales revenue of the entity (Enoksen and Lynch, 2017). However, variety of
ideas are created for effective decision making and implementing business operations
efficiently. Apart from this, cost incurred in purchasing materials, labour cost and on
additional overhead are identified. It is linked with increasing sales revenue and
profitability of the entity impacts on its effectiveness positively.
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P5) Importance of operations management in achieving business objectives
It is significant to use operations management approaches for meeting business'
objectives. For instance; different ideas are created to increase productivity and profit level of
M&S at higher level. Including this, business performance and its efficiency can be improved on
larger scale impacts on further implementations (Galindo and Batta, 2013). However, operations
management in reaching out to business' objectives are to be discussed below: Getting current business performance of M&S: It is effective for analysing actual
business performance of M&S in terms of production and distribution of goods, public
relations, competitiveness and so on. On the basis of analysing its actual performance,
different ideas are generated to improve business' effectiveness. It impacted on creating
balance between production and distribution system of the entity (Gopalakrishna and
et.al., 2013). However, it is suitable for appropriate decision making related to further
implementations and sustaining its market position for longer time period. Improving business' efficiency: Operations management is effective for improving
M&S' efficiency and quality services of its products. In accordance to this, several ideas
are generated for improving its services and business operations (Haksever and Render,
2013). Moreover, it is suitable for enhancing competitiveness and marketability of the
entity at higher level. In addition to this, business and marketing strategies of the
company can improve at higher level impacts on further operations effectively. Management of entire business operations: It is identified that operations' management
approach is effective for managing integrated business operations of M&S. In addition to
this, it is beneficial for reducing wastages of resources and fund and utilizing them
efficiently (Heizer, 2016). However, appropriate balance can be maintained between
production and distribution of goods. It is impacted on productivity and profit level of the
company at higher level. Therefore, marketability and competitiveness of the
organisation can be increased on larger scale for the entity's effectiveness.
 Optimum utilization of resources and fund: It is recognised that operations' management
approach is valuable for reducing wastages of resources and fund and further decision
making to utilize them adequately. Including this, proper decisions can make to
implement business operations and managing inventories efficiently (Legood, Thomas
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and Sacramento, 2016). However, it is suitable for creating planning in term of how
much quantity of materials are to be used and of which quality etc. In addition to this,
clear description of cost incurred n manufacturing and production process is identified on
which price determination can be created appropriately. Therefore, productivity and
profitability of the entity can be enhanced at maximum level.
Thus, operations management approaches are beneficial for appropriate decision making
and improving its performance at higher level. Including this, it is suitable for managing entire
business operations and adopting technologies to increase customer loyalty towards groceries
and home products of M&S effectively (Management and leadership approaches, 2016). In
addition to this, wastages of resources and fund can be managed appropriately impacted on
further implementations. Thus, various ideas are generated to achieve effectiveness of the
company and improving quality of its goods and services at maximum level,.
LO 4
P6) Factors within business environment impacted on operational management
It is essential to analyse business environmental factors including internal and external by
which appropriate decisions are made regarding further business operations. Here, internal
factors remain as controllable such as; business performance, workers' performance, available
fund and resources etc. As external environmental factors are considered as beyond control
including political, socio-economic, technological and legal factors etc. However, changes in
people's choice towards groceries and home products of M&S impacted on its productivity and
profitability. Likewise, changes in government's policy and market prices affect business
performance and financial performance both positively and adversely (Bongiorno, Bain and
David, 2014). Therefore, analysing these factors impacted on business and monetary
performance of the entity. On which, appropriate decisions are made in context to further
implementations and improving business' performance.
In addition to this, it is suitable for cost effectiveness as reducing expenses on business
operations and increasing sales revenue of the entity. Moreover, different ideas are generated for
enhancing efficiency and competitiveness in the future time. Along with this, analysing
inventories and stock of M&S remain effective for reducing wastages on resources and fund
(Galindo and Batta, 2013). Therefore, effective management of production and distribution
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system can be obtained for the entity. Besides this, for working on enhancing working
efficiencies of company's workers, there can be good coordination created among them towards
meeting business' objectives. Similarly, positive and effective environment of the entity can be
created linked with its growth and further implementations. However, manger and leader of
M&S analyse all operations and business performance on which decisions are made for effective
management and improving its efficiency.
Thus, analysing business environmental factors is crucial for creating effective planning
and implementing its operations at maximum level. In accordance to this, several ideas are
generated for proper balances and enhancing quality services for longer time period (Legood,
Thomas and Sacramento, 2016). Including this, effective and positive atmosphere of the entity
can create which impacted on further implementations. However, manager and leader of the
organisation can make effective planning to solve business related issues and maintaining its
reputation in market for longer time period.
CONCLUSION
It is concluded that manager and leader of Marks and Spencer play effective role in
improving its business performance. In this regard, significance of manager and leader roles has
been discussed impacted on business' operations and their implementations. In addition to this,
leadership and management theories are identified in relation to manage business operations of
the company. Moreover, several approaches of operations management are recognised which
impacted on further decision making and entity's effectiveness. However, importance of these
approaches for enhancing business' efficiency has been understood in this assignment.
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REFERENCES
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