Leadership and Management Strategies for M&S Ltd Operations

This report examines the significance of operation management within the context of M&S Ltd, a major British multinational retail industry. It analyzes the roles of leaders and managers, comparing their characteristics and responsibilities within the organization's structure. The report delves into the differences between managerial functions and leadership roles, exploring classical management and transformational leadership theories. It further applies these concepts to various situational contexts faced by M&S, such as policy implementation, technological advancements, and changing customer preferences. The report also discusses system, contingency, and situational leadership models, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. Finally, it assesses the impact of leaders and managers on the organization, offering recommendations for future improvements in operational efficiency and strategic decision-making. This analysis provides valuable insights into effective leadership and management practices within a dynamic retail environment.

Management &
Operations

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION
Operation management refers to an essential area of administration related with designing
and monitoring the procedure of production and remaking business operations in the
manufacturing of services or goods. In simple word, it is the management of business practices
in order to develop highest level of effectiveness within an enterprise (Akkerman, Farahani and
Grunow, 2010). Main purpose of conducting this report is to analyze the significance of
operation management in organization. In this report, given company is M&S Ltd which is a
major British multinational retail industry. This project is divided into different aspects which
cover function of a manager and role of a leader in different situation which arise at workplace of
company. This report also includes various approaches of operations management as well as its
importance in accomplishing business objectives. Lastly, impact of external business
environment on operation management and decision making process of leader and manager is
also include in this assignment.
TASK 1
LO1 & LO2
1) Introduction to the organization and its management structure.
M&S Ltd is a British multinational retail organization located in the city of Westminster,
London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1884 by Archie Norman, Steve Rowe. Today, M&S
is a leading multi-channel enterprise with sustainability at its heart (Barratt, Choi and Li, 2011).
Company come for their on-trend, home products and high quality clothing.
New manager of the British clothing and food retailer simplifies the management
structure. M&S has shaken-up the duties of their executive team and simplified business
structure as they try to speed-up decision making. Company has made different variation in its
management structure and main roles to enable “speedier decision making” as well as bring the
enterprise closer to its clients. Along with this, Marks & Spencer is also establishing a unique
operating commitment, which will be responsible or liable for the routine running of the
company operation. They will also be accountable for the execution and development of
strategy. Main and initial emphasis of the M&S will be on fixing the homeware and fashion of
retailer. Beside this, there are different roles and characteristics of a leader and manager of the
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M&S. Both, manager and leader have different role and characteristics which are determined as
under:
2) Meaning of leader and manager and comparison between their roles and characteristics
Leader: A leader is an individual that holds superior and dominant position in its field.
Such person is capable to exercise a maximum level of control and influence over others.
Manager: A manager is an individual who is accountable for running entire part of
organization. In each and every company, manager has different responsibility to manage their
all workforce by conducting training and development program to the them (Binder and
Edwards, 2010).
Comparison between characteristics and roles of manager and leader of Marks & Spencer Ltd
Basis Leader Manager
Characteristics Creativity and innovation: It is
another characteristics which is
posse by leader of the M&S in
order to innovate in business
product and services as well as
achieve better outputs within
predetermined time period.
Communicative
characteristics: In M&S leader
has good communicative
characteristics. Beside this,
leader is capable to
communicate the business
vision clearly. Thus, better
communicative quality helps a
leader to achieve better results
for an organization within
predetermined time period.
Communication: A manager
should have proper
communication knowledge
because with the help of this
they can easily communicate
all information to the staff
members.
Management characteristics:
Manager of M&S Ltd has
good time management
characteristics which help
them in managing all work and
activities of employees. With
the help of this quality,
manager is able to see that all
work of their employees are
completed time to time or not.
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Roles Vision Builder: It is a role of
leader to make appropriate
vision for an organization as
well as maintain strong
position of company at
marketplace.
Inspiring people: In Marks &
Spencer, leader also play vital
role in inspiring their
employees to work timely and
willingly. So it is essential for
M&S to maintain long run
sustainability and accomplish
their long term objectives
within given time period.
Implement policy and strategy:
It is another role of manager to
implement effective strategies
and policies as well as
accomplish better results
within predetermined time
duration.
Coordinate and management:
Manager has different role in
Marks & Spencer such as to
make better coordination or
cooperation among their
stakeholders including
suppliers, workers,
community, government,
clients etc.
3) Differences of managerial functions and leadership roles
Classical management theory: It is mainly based on beliefs that an employees in a M&S
only have economic and physical requirements. This theory is more essential and in which role
of manager is to improve productivity and performance of their workers.
Transformational theory of leadership: It is refer as an effective theory which mainly
causes changes in social and individual system and it develops valuable variation in the
employees. It is best suitable and essential in M&S that purposes for succession planning in
enterprise. So there us better abilities and qualities of leadership which help an enterprise in
future growth and development.
4) Role of a leader and function of a manager apply in various situational context
Marks and Spencer is a British multinational organization in across the world (Burke,
2013). In the company there are some situation that highly effects on business operations and
activities of company. M&S is a retail sector that face some challenges including changing in
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market trends, sorting out its stores and so on. All these effect on profitability and performance
level of company. Some situation and in which role of leader and function of manager are
determined as under:
Situation 1: M&S face stable situation which is mainly related with business policies like
performance appraisal (Chen and et. al., 2011). This situation not modify on daily basis in which
manager of the company give performance appraisal to their employees as per its work at
workplace. There are some role of leader and function of manager to deal with this situation in
easily. Few are determined as under: Role of leader: In this situation, leader play vital role by providing accurate information
about the performance appraisal policy to the staff members. Function of manager: For dealing stable situation, manager prepare an effective strategy
or policy about performance appraisal. Beside this, they decide to develop 360 degree
appraisal of performance to their staff members.
Situation 2: Fast changing is a second situation that all effect on business functions and activities
in a direct manner. In the organization such type of situation is mainly related with changes in
advanced technology such as mobile application. It is one of the main technology in M&S that
effect on performance and productivity of company (Chen and et. al., 2010). This type of
situation also impacts on employees productivity because in which some workers has lack of
knowledge about technology. In order to deal with this situation leader and manager has some
role and functions which are explained as under: Role of leader: Main role of leader in this situation is to provide accurate and appropriate
guidelines to the employees about how to follow technology at workplace. Thus, it is
essential for the employees to improve their productivity and manage long lasting relation
with M&S Ltd. Function of a manager: In order to deal with fast changing situation coordination is
identify one of the best function of manager. In this administrator of the M&S develop
coordination among all workforce and provide proper knowledge about the technology.
Thus it will support an employee to easily deal with customers and accomplish better
results within predetermined time period.
Situation 3: This situation is mainly linked with the moderate condition which is face by
M&S. This situation includes changing in preferences and taste of clients. For example:
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company produce lingerie, women wear,menswear, kids wear, beauty and home products, so
there are more chances about changing in customer's taste. Thus it will highly impact on business
performance and productivity at marketplace.
Role of leader: To compete fast changing situation in the organization, leader play vital
role by analyzing market situation and customer's trends (Cruz and Marques, 2011). Thus, it will
help an enterprise to maintain better relation with customers and retain long run sustainability at
marketplace.
Function of manager: Manager has different functions such as planning, coordinating,
controlling, commanding and many other. All these are essential but in this situation manager
organize research activity which help in identifying customer's preferences and market trends.
5)Different theories and models of approach, including system, contingency and situational
leadership
System, contingency and situation, all these are important part of the leadership theory
which help M&S to deal with different situation in an easy manner. All these theories and its
strengths and weakness are determined as under:
System Leadership: Such type of theory enables business leader in the company to create
an effective situation where people can perform productively and easily (Galindo and Batta,
2013). System leadership model follow some principles about the human behavior to develop
theory of business strategy, system design, good leadership etc. With the help of this theory
leader of M&S increase knowledge and skill of their employees by adopting different techniques.
Contingency Leadership: This model is developed by the Fred Fiedler in the mid-1960s.
This type of model should be followed in a particular situation which is depend on maturity level
of subordinates. For example: If employees of the Marks and Spencer has lack of skill and duty
then business leader used directive leadership style in such situation. In this leader of the M&S
play vital role in enhancing knowledge of their workers through arranging training and
development program to them.
Situation Leadership: The situation leadership model was developed by Ken Blanchard
and Paul Hersey. Such type of theory performs on the hypothesis that the most essential style of
leadership modify from situation to situation (Giegerich, 2010). In M&S, these situation is
mainly related to stable, fast changing and moderate that highly impact on business operation
and profitability. This type of leadership style is adopted by the leader in order to deal with
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above situation by organizing research activity, developing 360-degree performance appraisal
and providing data about new technology to the employees.
6) Strengths and weaknesses of different theories and approaches
System leadership
Strengths Weaknesses
System leadership model beneficial for M&S
and its manager to perform all activities and
functions in proper format.
To develop new and effective approach in
M&S Ltd, such type of model is require more
money and time.
Contingency Leadership
Strengths Weaknesses
Contingency Leadership model provide a
better way to measure leaders style that could
be essential to the M&S Ltd.
Contingency leadership theory is not essential
and valuable for training and development
because it need skilled workforce.
Situation Leadership:
Strengths Weaknesses
The group environment remains effective and
comfortable as it supports in building better
and strong team unity.
This style need more time period to deal with
different situation in easily and timely.
7) Managers and leaders make impacts on the organization and make recommendations for
future improvements.
All these theories are essential and important for M&S to upgrade the work quality of
their employees. It will also impact on productivity and performance level of enterprise in a
direct manner. For achievement of this, manager play essential role in managing daily basis
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activities and developing new policies in the organization (Ivanov, Sokolov and Kaeschel, 2010).
Beside this, leader is also accountable for guiding and directing their all employees about
achieving long term goals and objectives on company in limited time period.
Recommendations: From the above mentioned data, it can be recommended that leaders
and manager play essential role for the success and development of M&S Ltd. There are some
recommendations to the company that determined as under:
 Company should invite their all workforce in planning and decision process of
implementing new strategy in the organization.
 M&S should use different technology which help them to easily deal with customers by
providing accurate knowledge and information about the business.
TASK 2
LO3 & LO4
1) Operation management of M&S and key approaches to operational management
Operation management in Marks and Spencer is mainly concerned with converting
labour and materials into services and goods as efficiently as possible to increase the profitability
of a company (Jacobs, Chase and LumTask 6 and 7 are the same suggmus, 2011). There are
some key approaches to operations management in which role of leader and manager are
determined as under:
Just-in-time inventory: It refers to an effective strategy which maximize efficiency level
and reduce wastage. It is possible by getting goods when they are highly required in the process
of production. In operational management such type of approach is beneficial for the M&S by
decreasing storage space. As the products are differences of managerial functions and
leadership roles only stored at the usage time and also save money of the company.
Continuous improvement: It is defined as a unique approach which applied by company
in workplace to enhance their daily basis functions. By implementing the continuous
improvement activities in operations management the M&S can inspire the development of
group work, accomplish higher levels of innovation and quality (Kang, 2010).
Lean production: It is defined as an essential approach which assist in the reduction of
wastage and increasing of profitability within a production system. It is essential method and
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help a M&S in operational management by enhancing product quality, reducing use of
manpower, improving visual management and etc.
Six sigma: It is also identified as an effective and essential approach which is disciplined
in nature. Implementing of this approach in operations management a M&S Ltd can accomplish
maximum level of customer's satisfaction by improving return on sales, minimizing the defects
and improving production process.
2) Roles and responsibilities of managers and leaders in successful management of the operation
In Just-in-time inventory, main role of the manager is to order the accurate amount of
products after evaluating the demands. Along with this, role of leader is to ensure that entire
employees are properly cognizant of their responsibilities in the whole process. In Continuous
improvement role of manager is to identify and determine the scope of task and measure the
progress of the Kaizen team. Beside this, leader also play vital role in supporting the employees
in any issues or situation.
In lean production, role of leader is support the employees to know their actual duty
about this. Manager is also play effective role in reports the progress to the top authority
regarding lean production. In six sigma, role of leader is to communicate the significance of six
sigma among all employees. Role of manager is to monitor the development of the six sigma
method in the Marks and Spencer.
3) Importance and value of operations management in accomplishing business objectives
Operations management consists the designing, overseeing and monitoring the
manufacturing process and designing the business operations in manufacturing of products and
services (Lind, 2013). Operation management is more essential and significant for the M&S to
achieve better results by providing quality products to the customers. There are some values and
importance of operations management which are explained as under:
Distribution and control systems: This is a type of function which is more significant in
operational management. As it is accountable in monitoring process of production and ensuring
accurate distribution of goods. It will be important and beneficial for the M&S to accomplish
their long term objectives and goals within predetermined period. It can be enhanced by using a
strong control system of the organization in order to fulfill business objectives and targets.
Capacity management: It is identified as one of the main and essential functions in
operations management. It qualifies the capability of manufacturing procedure so that no
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additional products are manufactured in a specific process of production. It fulfills the objectives
and goals of M&S by developing quality products (Mendis, Muttaqi and Perera, 2014). Further,
it supports the organization to manufacture the accurate capacity of goods for the clients as per
the market demand of goods.
Proceedings of raw material into finished products: It is another essential function in
operations management of Marks and Spencer. It help them in analyzing the demand of the raw
materials products are applied to produce the finished goods of the company after applying the
resources effectively. It helps an organization to meet with the objectives by manufacturing
quality goods for their potential clients.
4) Managers and leaders could be effective in improving operational efficiencies
Beside this, leader and managers could be more effective in enhancing efficiency level of
operations management in order to successfully meet business objectives. There are some points
which are determined as under:
Creating incentives programs: It is identified as an effective and major tools that
managers requires to apply in order to maximize efficiencies level of operations. As it performs
as a motivation towards the workforce who is move to perform more efficiently for the M&S for
their benefits which maximize productivity of workers. This will help in achieving objectives of
the organization to motivate workers to work harder for welfare of the business.
Clearing labor redundancies: It is more effective for a leader of M&S to abolish entire
useless hierarchical place that is existing in the bottom level of business structure. It is available
during the course of any essential projects as the business leader will be capable to communicate
with their workers about business objectives in direct manner (Nakayama and Bucks, 2012).
Thus, it is essential which supports in maintaining the productivity and efficiency of the
operations management.
5) The impact of external business environment on operational management and decision-
making
PEST Analysis is a main part of the external business environment that highly effect on
the operational management of M&S and decision-making power of manager and leader in direct
manner (PEST Analysis, 2018). PEST Analysis and its impact are determined as under:
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(Source: PEST Analysis, 2018)
Political: This factor is run, changed and made by the legal authority (Shuxin, 2011).
Political factors show the anticipation level by the government in various business and trades. In
regards of M&S, this was the first organization to accomplish fair trade policy path which is cut
fat and salt in Marks and Spencer food (Chen and et. al., 2010). Beside this, manager and leader
of the company take an effective decision to implement another policy about operation
management in the organization. Thus, it will effect on business operations and productivity in a
direct manner.
Economical: This factor includes interest rates, inflation rate, economic growth patterns,
foreign exchange rates etc. In this Marks and Spencer requires to evaluate a complete analysis of
economic. It is important to include the state of economy in long and short terms. Beside this,
company require to concentrate maximum in the fashion field as latest generation spends their
disposable incomes in clothing products. It will effect on operations management of the company
by manufacturing more products as well as influence the role of manager and leader by
introducing new products in marketplace.
Social: In Marks and Spencer, social factor is mainly related with culture aspects, buying
patterns and population demographics. Beside this, manager play essential role by analysis the
market trends and customer's need through market research (Cruz and Marques, 2011). In during
the research, this factor impacted on manager or leader role by evaluating client's needs. It will
also effect on the operation management of the M&S while manufacturing quality and variety of
goods.
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Illustration 1: PEST Analysis