M&S: Leadership, Management, and Operations Analysis Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership and management practices at Marks and Spencer (M&S). It begins by differentiating between the roles of managers and leaders, highlighting their respective responsibilities in achieving organizational goals, planning, organizing, directing, staffing, coordinating, and controlling various aspects of the business. The report then explores the importance of leadership in conflict resolution and the application of different leadership theories, such as situational leadership, systems leadership, and contingency theory, to improve M&S's performance. Furthermore, it examines the operational approaches and frameworks used by M&S, including cost control, quality management, innovation, and customer relationship management. The report emphasizes the critical role of leaders and managers in ensuring effective operations, communication, and resource allocation to drive continuous development and success within the retail environment.

MANAGEMENT &
OPERATIONS

INTRODUCTION
Operation and management are two main factors which strengthen an organization. Without
optimum level of perfection in these elements it is hard to achieve a competitive advantage in the
market. Operations management is necessary to reduce cost of production while maintaining the
quality of production. The purpose of this case analysis is to select and apply proper tools and
techniques for strategic choice making after thoroughly identifying and evaluating the major
forces at Marks and Spencer(M&S). Some standardised procedures are applied for having a
control over the suppliers to maintain identical layout of store and designs. This report is
conducted in context of function of managers and leaders in M&S to help the firm improve their
production capacity and improvement of product quality. It also explains the role and functions
of leaders and managers in the organization along with theories and approaches with their
importance which all can benefit the company's growth and improvement.
TASK 1
P1
They both plays an dominant role in a company for the smooth functioning and proper
management.
Manager- They are professionals in M&S who manages and design work in a
pre-determined way to achieve goals and targets of the company. For accomplishing and
attaining the desired objectives they develop and establish many strategies and plans. They also
plan work of employees with a purpose that they perform the assigned work or duties according
to a developed programme. Every department of M&S has respective managers to manage tasks
at each level which all comprises total working of the company. They are also concerned with
the employee performance appraisal and conducts this through implementing assessment process
at regular time intervals (Ageron, Gunasekaran and Spalanzani, 2012).
Leader- They are people who gets the work done by employees or workers and are
concerned with goals of M&S. Leaders motivates staff through their leadership and
communication skills as they are focusing on a vision of the organization. Their main function is
to lead team or group and make them work in a way to achieve the objectives. They influences
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and inspires manpower to improve their performance thereby increasing the efficiency and
productivity in M&S.
Comparison in between Managers and Leaders
In every organization, leadership and management has a major role in achieving goals
and objectives. The roles of a leader and manager often can be interchanged but there are some
differences in between their functions. Managers performs task of setting certain objectives
according to mission and vision of the company and leaders further communicates this vision to
the employees and inspires them to make that as their sight and follow the steps given by
leadership.
Manager Leader
Manager sets objectives of company Leader induces the plans developed by
managers.
They convey policies to the leaders Their task is to communicate and influence
employees to work as per the policies.
Managers gives direction to groups and creates
ideas for the improvement of organization.
Leaders provide instructions in team and play
the role of implementing ideas into reality.
They are focused on things and major role is
designing in the organization.
They focuses on people and their role is to
stimulate employees to work.
Directs work to the employees. Motivates the workers to work.
Manager organizes the activities by
maintaining what is already been established
and controls employees and workflow in a
company.
Leader innovates by the way of bringing new
ideas to a forward thinking and develops fresh
thoughts and strategies.
They executes the decisions taken by top level
management with supervision.
Take decisions for the transformation of a
company and it can be of high risk.
Managers are not free to take decisions. Leaders are free to take any decisions.
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P2
Role of leadership is to communicate with their team in solving the issues of
members and sometimes they have power of taking high risk for any improvement in an
organization and it may bring conflicts due to incorrect application (Bozarth, Handfield and
Chandiran, 2013). If a leader fails in execution of duties they try with better and improved
resource possibilities and achieves results for the firm. Leader provides opportunities to the team
members to take part in the handling of situations and conflicts with effective plans avoiding
these problems. It is important for them to have a focus on the application of diverse quality
standards in increasing motivation of team. They stress on having power over better results with
the motive of systematic functioning.
Planning- Important function of a manager of M&S is to plan as well as set goals and
targets of the firm that focus on increasing the sales and revenues. Leader's role is to
communicate objectives set by managers with employees and focus on effort of workforce for
the accomplishment of these fixed targets or aim.
Organizing- Manager of M&S organizes and utilizes company's resources effectively in
order to fulfil goals set by the organization. Leader's duty is efficient allocation of these
resources and motivate staff to perform work by maximum utilization of available resources in
an economic manner (Fernie and Sparks, 2014.).
Directing- Managers direct tasks that are to be performed by employees and staff of
M&S but leaders play the role of creating a team or group by directing them in a way to
accomplish work.
Staffing- This is the function of managers and leaders as they are required to get best out
of employees who are recruited into M&S. They recruit staff and assign job responsibilities on
basis of skills and capabilities that they possess.
Coordinating- Managers of M&S coordinate functions in the firm for better and
improved outcomes. Duties of different departments like production, and finance also serves
company with the benefit to manufacturing and operational activities. Leader's function of
coordinating activities lies in the implementing best practices and methods with help of
communication and leadership skills.
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Controlling- Strategies are formulated and implemented by leaders in M&S, managers
control or monitor these in the company. Leader's verify the outcomes in performance of staff
with standards laid down by professional manger and guides employees according to it.
The leaders and managers perform various roles in the establishment. M&S deals in retail
sectors with large size of business operations (Harrison and Lock, 2017). Leader and manager
are responsible for all the consequences in an organization. There are many functions of
management and different leadership styles which aid the company in its proper functioning and
purpose of establishment. Size of the organization plays a main part in generation of conflicts
and other problems. In such a case the leader and manager should take a decisions with
effectiveness and responsibilities to carry back lost position of firm to normal. They may also
need to deal with the customers and stakeholders of M&S and must not concentrate on small
issues as their team may accomplish tasks in a better way. Situational leadership brings improved
outcomes as these leaders save the firm in all struggles with their best decisions. Whatever the
situation may be in the company managers and leaders have to control difficulties thereby
making team and employees performance better to face such problems in coming future too.
P3
To have a compelling improvement in M&S the foundation must spotlight on different
speculations to look after norms. On the off chance that a business firm is missing of suitable
determination authority hypothesis it might influence the general procedure of strength. For
better upper hand M&S's administration need to investigate the significance of various
hypotheses inside the working organizations(Lujan and et.al., 2010). This will assist them with
leading the association to a superior level of progress and development by guaranteeing change
and market execution.
 Situational leadership is a sort of administration relying on the aptitudes and capacities
inside a representative and pioneers are required to impact finishing the assignment.
Tasks administration in M&S can be influenced with this kind of authority as the
pioneers receive a few styles in driving on various circumstances. To enhance tasks and
cut down cost acquired in assembling, some administration capacities alongside styles of
authority are connected in bringing changes of their systems and approaches. M&S can
have choice of strategy and structures as indicated by the need of circumstance.
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 Systems leadership is one style where the pioneers control working of representatives and
impart certain circumstances of M&S and influence staff to work as indicated by the
necessities of the firm like operational changes and executing these techniques for
satisfaction(Naphade and et.al., 2011).. This authority is a strategy that permits to have
activities in a composed and sorted out way. Pioneer principally centres around the social
and social factors in aggregate way for great thought of judgement making action. It is
additionally useful for rising coordination among unit with the goal that exercises can be
finished in a coveted way. This style utilizes standards about conduct of human to make
great administration, hierarchical methodology, frameworks plan and social process.
 Contingency theory of leadership is alluded to as a thought that enables M&S to have
working in way which manages different clash circumstance. It proposes that there is no
best style of administration. Fruitful pioneers will utilize diverse styles as per the idea of
circumstance and adherents. This implies such sort of initiative is advantageous for M&S
at the conditions where they have to manage issues. These hypotheses in the connected
the diverse route in the M&S in which the contentions are not on handle by the
administration it will be illuminate where it has been emerged.
TASK 2
P4
Approaches
M&S one of the largest retail chain in UK is focused towards diverse frameworks of
application for a continuous development in process and leads the business to an amazing level
of success. The firm tries to modify the operational beliefs through transformation of technology.
To solve issues in a desired way and attain long term opportunities application of such aspects
can be beneficial (Ptak and Schragenheim, 2016). Efforts in terms of cost control are also being
implemented by M&S. Effectiveness in cost control helps in the advancing of financial
opportunities by the use of cost management techniques. The firm is also having betterment
efforts in the product line and quality where tools like quality management has been used. This
aid in making quality standards and its proper maintenance as a result long term opportunities
can be attained.
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Innovation and inspiration are key values which promotes the management of M&S
since years. Innovation, integration and inspiration are major beliefs which are promoted by the
management in recent times as these values may help in resolving workplace issues in a well
manner. Acknowledgment of such values helps the workplace issues solving in a desirable
manner. Innovation at work permits to accept challenges in more cost-effective manner which
render sustainable development (Singhal and Singhal,2012). Advancement in business to success
can be attained through the integration in work activities which also improves coordination
among departments.
Customer relationship management is another factor that facilitate resolving situations of
conflicts. It also got improved due to effective record keeping of client information. Decisions
with regard to satisfaction of customers are promoted efficiently through customer relations.
M&S has also focus on development in allocation of resources, labor and machine allocation
which all will improve the overall performance of the company.
Role of leaders and managers
The most important aspect of every organization is the operation management.
Continuous development in operations of the business helps in the attainment of better
opportunities (Starr and Van Wassenhove, 2014.). For effective operational activities leaders
must ensure that members are aware about the guidelines, if not it may affect effectiveness of
overall activity. It is also seen that improper references regarding the purpose of activity affects
total output. Which means leader needs to make sure that exact and accurate information is being
shared with employees so that the significance of the act can be known. Also manager stresses
on utilization of different measures and practices for attaining better results. With reference to
observation a manager needs to ensure ethical working is completed in all teams.
Managers needs proper allocation of budgets and resources for the overall operational
performance advancement. Leader focuses on allocation of responsibilities so that resources can
be optimized in a well manner. It alters the productiveness and lead business firm to impressive
level of success (Stevenson and Sum, 2015). In order to have continuous development the
manager works as a mediator between government and organization.
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P5
Operation management is which assist in leading business towards impressive level of
success and is required by every organization. With effectiveness of this the company can easily
ensure productivity advancement. The role of this is crucial for a service or product to be
impressive or economical and affect the profitability in any organization whether its large, small,
public or private, profit, non profit. Without operation management no business can succeed.
Responsibilities of this governance is to keep strong supplier relationship to ensure that the raw
material is timely supplied (Tummala and Schoenherr, 2011). This aid in the day to day activities
completion so that goals and objectives can be accomplished. It is important to have proper
allocation of resources for better opportunities. Operational management is essential to leaders
and managers for identifying their roles and responsibilities in a critical way. The operation
manager is the person who supervises the production, take decisions on operational activities and
connecting to other departments.
They are important for maintaining the operations of business to keep certain activities up to date
and has a major impact on profitability of the firm. Operation management deals with production
of outputs that are valued by a user of the company products or services its scope is attached to
this factor. Thus main duty of organizations involved in management of operations and
production activity is creation of value for the business through outputs. Modern business
establishments are engaged more in the operation management helping them in deciding plant,
capacity, workflow analysis, and maintaining quality of end products. The more focus on
operational activities results in the increasing of productivity which assists in gaining
competitive advantage over competitors.
It maximizes the use of manpower, machines and minimizes production costs, time delays etc. In
addition, operations of M&S are mainly dependent on its skilled manpower which makes them
deliver the best and quality products to be offered in the market (Wu and Pagell, 2011). It can be
seen that operation management permits M&S to gain strengths in diverse factors which can be
classified as Planning, Directing, Staffing, Controlling and Motivating. If operation management
standards are maintained properly it improves smooth working and progress satisfaction among
the employees due to advanced quality of work.
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P6
There are many factors and reasons which affect the business environment of M&S
Ageron, Gunasekaran and Spalanzani, 2012(). Knowing these causes are important for the
administration to have an understanding and for the improvement of the firm or long-term
development, it is necessary that the management understand factors which hinder their
operations.
Globalization- Other than this, market conditions can also be a reason which can affect
the overall business activities. Overcoming such kind of issues, the management must alter the
standards and take decisions to make sure that quality is being advanced. It is essential for the
administration of M&S to have production accordingly with occurrences in market to fulfil
needs. If these beliefs are not being taken care then it may affect the overall outcome and may
force firm to bring change in standards (Bozarth, Handfield and Chandiran, 2013).
Technological- Introduction of new technology in the market for better production of
retail goods. The manager must take investment decision so that such technological
advancements can be introduced within the organization for an impressive production. It helps in
the attainment of sustainability and make the business firm to grow.
Economic conditions- These are also considered as an important factor which have a
greater influence on the business and its working status. If economic aspects are not stable it will
force the business to reduce or cut down the price of its goods and services so that customers can
afford the commodity (Fernie and Sparks, 2014.). This condition makes the manager not to take
any investment decisions or expansion strategies to implement as the conditions of the economy
are not favorable for the firm.
Socio cultural- These elements includes the style of living and culture of the people and
this may affect the demand and operation in the organization.
CONCLUSION
In accordance with the report, it can be articulated that organization should take into
account many factors when engaging in the production activities among which cost control is an
essential as it helps to raise its profitability. Further, company should conduct their recruitment
and selection in an effective manner so that they can support the firm to grow. Apart from this,
employees should be monitored to determine the areas in which they lack and proper training
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and development should be provided to enhance their skills and for better performance. They
must form decisions to balance the cost and quality of their product or service when deciding
whether to outsource or be innovative with new technological advancements.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Ageron, B., Gunasekaran, A. and Spalanzani, A., 2012. Sustainable supply management: An
empirical study. International journal of production economics, 140(1), pp.168-182.
Bozarth, C.C., Handfield, R.B. and Chandiran, P., 2013. Introduction to operations and supply
chain management (p. 387). Harlow: Pearson.
Fernie, J. and Sparks, L., 2014. Logistics and retail management: emerging issues and new
challenges in the retail supply chain. Kogan page publishers.
Harrison, F. and Lock, D., 2017. Advanced project management: a structured approach.
Routledge.
Lujan, D.T. and et.al., 2010. Rodent eradication on Cocos Island, Guam: integrating wildlife
damage management, resort operations, and non-target concerns. In Proc. Vert. Pest
Conf (Vol. 24, pp. 9-13).
Naphade, M., and et.al., 2011. Smarter cities and their innovation challenges. Computer, 44(6),
pp.32-39.
Ptak, C.A. and Schragenheim, E., 2016. ERP: tools, techniques, and applications for integrating
the supply chain. Crc Press.
Singhal, K. and Singhal, J., 2012. Imperatives of the science of operations and supply-chain
management. Journal of Operations Management, 30(3), pp.237-244.
Starr, M.K. and Van Wassenhove, L.N., 2014. Introduction to the special issue on humanitarian
operations and crisis management. Production and Operations Management, 23(6),
pp.925-937.
Stevenson, W.J. and Sum, C.C., 2015. Operations management. New York: McGraw-Hill
Education.
Tummala, R. and Schoenherr, T., 2011. Assessing and managing risks using the supply chain risk
management process (SCRMP). Supply Chain Management: An International
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Wu, Z. and Pagell, M., 2011. Balancing priorities: Decision-making in sustainable supply chain
management. Journal of Operations Management, 29(6), pp.577-590.
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