Leadership and Operational Management at M&S: An In-Depth Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership and operational management within Marks & Spencer (M&S) Ltd. It begins by defining the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers, highlighting the differences and interdependencies between them. The report then explores the functions of management, including planning, organizing, and controlling, and contrasts these with the leadership functions of motivating and inspiring employees. It delves into various leadership theories, such as situational leadership, systems leadership, and contingency theory, illustrating how these approaches are applied within M&S. Furthermore, the report examines key approaches to operational management, including Total Quality Management (TQM) and Six Sigma, assessing their impact on business performance. It analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of different leadership approaches and evaluates the effects of leadership and management on overall operational efficiency. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings and implications for effective leadership and management practices within a retail environment.

MANAGEMENT
AND
OPERATION

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 & (M1) Role and characteristics of leader and manager.......................................................1
TASK -2...........................................................................................................................................3
P2 Role of leader and function of manager.................................................................................3
P3 Theory and approach, model of the leadership.....................................................................3
M2 Strength and weakness of approach......................................................................................5
D1 Analysis and interpretation of the leadership theory and approaches...................................5
TASK – 3.........................................................................................................................................6
P4 Key approaches of the operation management-.....................................................................6
P5 Importance and value of operation management ..................................................................7
M3 Improvement of leader and manager of operational manager..............................................7
P6 (M4) factors affect the decision making of operational manager..........................................8
D2 Evaluation of effect of leader and manager in the operation ..............................................9
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Management and operation are the branches of the organisation. Management formulate
and design the activity while the operation are covert in the action in the business. These term are
co related with each other and both the activity are take place in the business. The present report
specified the management and operation in the mark and Spencer Ltd (M&S). It is public retailer
company in this file described the characteristics of leader and manager and effect of role of
leader and function of the manager in different situation in the business. Also, throwing the light
on the importance value of the operation management for achieving the goal of business.
TASK 1
P1 & (M1) Role and characteristics of leader and manager
Leader is the person who influence the employees and leading the team in the
organisation there are many roles and characteristics of leader and manger of the mark and
Spencer Ltd these are as follows :- Required at each level – Leadership is the function that require the all level it includes the
top level to lower level management(Wang, 2010). Top level manager are getting
cooperation and formulate the policy and rule of the business middle and lower manager
help to execution and interpretation of the policy. Representation of the business- Leader are present and also give the direction in the
business for solving the problem and help to taking decision(Wang, 2010). They
communicate all result in the business which are engaged in the firm and they also
responsible for his own department which he leads the employees. Integrate the personal and organisational goal – A leader build a bridge between the
employees and manager(Chaouachi, and et. al., 2013). Leader try to effort of individual
with the common goal of the organisational. In these ways he integrated and reconciles
the personal goal with the objectives. Solicits support- A leader is also a manager and along this he is person motivate and
invite supports from the subordinate in operation of the business activity. They can
complete the task related to personality, experience and positive attitude of the work in
the business.
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 As a friend and guider – A leader trait by him and he can be share the ideas, feeling
between the employees in the desired way. Leader can supervise and communicate the
policy rules of the business. They can also secure the information related to goal of the
business.
Role of Manager :- Team development – Manager is responsible for develop of individual employees in team
in the business through training and development programmes(Zhang, and et. al., 2014).
Because the team work give the higher productivity in the individual work. Performance management – It is the part of Human Resources management. In this
process manager take the decision related to the incentives, bonus, commission and also
evaluate the standard and actual performance of the employees in the business. Improve process and quality – Manager take the responsibility to take the action in the
business related to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the business. He can
take analysis and evaluation and correct judgement in the business. For achieving the
goal
 Manage resources – Manager have duty to assure that the optimum utilisation of
resources. They can overspend and wastage of the resources by the employees of M&S
Ltd.
Different between characteristics of manager and leader
Characteristics of manager Characteristics of leader
A manager is administered of things Leader make innovations
Managing the employees Leading the employees
Do the right thing Do thing right
Focus on system and structures Focus on people
He usually asks how and when He asks what and why.
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TASK -2
P2 Role of leader and function of manager
The function of management that includes planning, commanding, organising, staffing,
developing and controlling. On the other hand leadership includes leading and motivating
building relationship, team work and give the direction to the followers for solving the problem.
Management and leadership both the term are interchangeably in the business.
Leader plays a crucial role in the business for leading and managing the employees. As it
has mentioned above the leadership is required the all level of management. A manager cannot
perform properly with the leader and employees because the manager doing the right thing but
leader goes the right way. The leader is creative and innovative ideas apply in the business for
solving the problem. They take initiative in the planing and analysing the strategic plan of the
business. They also help in operation department for solving and implementing the policy in the
business.
For instance the M&S Ltd. Want to Improve performance of business. So that they
increase the work efficiency of employees. Manager are improved the process and system and
work. Leader are person who are motivated and influence the employees for completing the task
in the organisation(Chaouachi, A., and et. al., 2013). He will guide employees that how they can
enhance the skill and knowledge. On the other hand manager tells what and when is the work.
He understands the problem of employees and obstacles the way of followers in the business for
achieving the target in business. Leader inspires the trust and challenging situation on the other
hand manager relies the control.
P3 Theory and approach, model of the leadership
There are different theory and approach for applying the leadership approach in the M&S
Ltd. These are follows :-
Situational theory – This theory proposed by the Dr. Paul heresy. It described the leader are
flexible and can display the work related to the situation and environment. It applies the all level
of people like – sales manager, operation and lower, top and middle level manager in the
business. It models used the M&S Ltd. Satisfied the employees in the business.
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Situational leadership is based on the two dimension which are included the relation and
behaviour(supportive and task behaviour) The analysis of the situation is base on the these model
like -
 The direction and guidance given by the leader(it is related to the task)
 Socio emotional provided by the leader
 The readiness level existing in performance a particular task, function and objectives amd
followers.
In this model there are four quadrants -
S1 – Telling -: The flow of information from the leader to the group member is in directional.
Telling take place when the leader demonstrate high effective behaviour and low of supportive
behaviour.
S2 – Selling -: In this block the leader tries to convenience the group member by giving them
emotional and social support(Chaouachi, A., and et. al., 2013). He is highly focused on the
directive and supportive behaviour.
S3 – Participating – The leader allow to the participation of the followers in decision making
process. The leader is highly focused highly supportive and low focus on directives behaviours.
S4 – Delegating - In this model the leader give the responsibility to the follower to taking the
decision. The leader is less focused on the both the supportive and participative behaviour.
Systems leadership – This is style are collaborated the two function which are collaborative and
attributes and boundaries. The leader of M&S Ltd. Extent use the limit of authority and
responsibility at the organisational, professional. This leadership is required specific mindset to
the performing role as a leader. This can judge by the following evidence- Personal core value – It includes the value of person like risk taking and sharing
information through in front of others.
 Ways of thinking – it analysis them is to be considered the creditability and sharing the
vision through the communication Behaviour and action – Their behaviour and action are to be considered such as
succession, developing, capability can be identified.
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 Personal quality – Develop the collaborative agenda in the business for maintain agenda
and ways to analysis the result in different situation.
Contingency theory – This is proposed by the Fiedler's and chemers in 1974.This is alos known
as the leader match theory(Riffonneau, and et. al., 2011). In the leader relation with the follower
and leader in different situation. The model high light the use of most effective leadership style
in various action. With the help of this model M&S Ltd. apply suitable style of leadership as per
situation. The theory is all about based on the sum assumption-
 Leader are set the priority between people and task-focus
 There are three factors which drives effective style of leadership- relation and task
oriented.
 Leader are support and motivate the employees in create and trust relation with the
employees
 They also relate the task structures, documentation in the business.
 In this theory leader have power to punish the followers.
M2 Strength and weakness of approach
Leadership approach is the lead to the manager and they direct the conductor of rth
business this situation are different that time the style of leadership is also changed that the time
and It is the hard for charging style of the leader drive in the business. It is the difficult and also
organised by the other multiple sources in the business.
D1 Analysis and interpretation of the leadership theory and approaches
In this concluded that the leader are who lead the people and also influence the
employees for completing the task in the business. The leader takes the decision related that
affect the business in the sufficient manner that the leader are that achieve the goal in business
for that reflect the overall performance of the business(Riffonneau, and et. al., 2011). Manager is
the different perception for solving the business problem that they plan, organising, staffing,
controlling the business operation and manage the different task at that time. Manager are affect
the business with the procuring and motivating the employees in the business. The leadership is
the part of leader to manage the overall performance in the business. Trait may be required the
leader for enhancing the motivation and leadership skill for maintain the relation between in the
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business. Communication and multitasking skill are required maintaining the different work and
that may also affect the business. The leader takes the decision not part of the distributing the
business. Leader are not managed but they take the responsibility and affection the business
environment that may reflect the overall performance of business.
TASK – 3
P4 Key approaches of the operation management-
There are many approaches related to the operation M&S Ltd. These are follows- Total quality management approach – The application of approach company can
achieving the long term objective with the satisfaction of the employees and
customers(Wang, F. Y., 2010). This help to company can generate the effective and
efficiency in the operation in the business. He improvement of process, system, product,
service and culture all to be made by the members of M&S Ltd. On the basis of
suggestion leader and manager taking the decision in the business for the conducting
operation effectively. Six sigma approach – It provides the techniques and tools to organisation for improving
the process of business. In this method leader and manager can increase the performance
level and decrease the process level in the business. It focuses on the improvement of
work level and performance level of employees so that the overall profitability is increase
in the business. Stock management approach – The M&S Ltd. has also focused on the management of
stock the company understand the purchase and sale of the company(Wang, F. Y., 2010).
It relates the reducing the cost of warehouse in the business. This include the three
elements like -Just in time, minimum stock level, stock review level. That there are not
even the shortage of the stock and material in the factory.
 ERP System – It is also known as the enterprises resources planning it is the software that
help to organising the different integrated services and transfer of the information related
to different department. This software manages the overall function related to finance,
human resources and sales function etc. It promotes the function related to managing and
controlling the business activity in the business.
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P5 Importance and value of operation management
Operation management is the important and more valued in the organisation in the M&S
Ltd. That the action for the proper utilisation of the optimal resources in the business. This is the
important task the company produce the product timely and supply the consumer in right time
with the better quality with reducing cost(Wang, 2010). The company can conduct the activity
with the efficient manner in the business. The manager function related to the launching new
product and development of product in different category in the satisfying the customers.
It can improve the product process and using the different determination of the production
It improves the effectiveness of the function related to the increase the business effectively for
generating the profit for the product.
It can help the organisation in meeting the customer preference and demand of the target market
in the business.
Because of that reason the operation management is plays vital role in the business. Operation
management take the decision according to the cost which are generated by the production
process and it also includes the maintenance cost of the machinery that increase the cost of
product in the organisation and reduce the profit in the business(Smith, Rahn, and Wang, 2010).
The manager can take the decision according to the demand and preference of the person in the
business. The operation manager are take the decision relate to the past data so that they forecast
the demand in future for particular product in the market. The manager can select the future
estimation regarding plant, workers and raw material for producing the product in the process.
M3 Improvement of leader and manager of operational manager
Operation manager also help the manager to taking the decision related to the recruiting
and selection of the employees(Wang, 2010). They help to control the all inventory system that
reflect the company as well as the manager to taking the decision which are affected by the
people and business efficiency to procuring the knowledge about the segment of tar\get market
for particular product and services.
P6 (M4) factors affect the decision making of operational manager
There are some factors that affect the operation management by the leader and manger of the
business. Some of these are follows :-
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 Personal - This is the essential of the every type of business for making the product the
manager can take the decision related to the demand and perception of the customers for
particular product(Chaouachi, and et. al., 2013). It also affects the business ability and
skill of the business. It includes the convenience power of employees, communication,
analysis situation, soundly taking decision and the relationship with the customers also
affect the business. The manager and leader also ensure that the employees are well verse
and have a sufficient skill for business. Technology – It also affects the decision making process the company used the update
and better techniques like- Email, ERP system etc. so that they generate the highly profit
with affect the business increase the productivity in the market. They used the techniques
and also affect the company and they also plan the training and development programmes
of the employees. Capital – It is the essential element that required the sufficient capital lead the operation.
The company must maintain sufficient cash reserve in the business for making the
continue sly process in the business(Mayo, and et. al. 2010.). It is the blood of the
company without it the operation of business are not conducted in better manner. It helps
the manager to working in the business for acquiring the knowledge related to the sources
of the business for acquiring the fund. Corporate objective – Every company can generate the profit with the achieving the goal
of business. It is also affected the company as well as individual that they are promoted
for the beneficially manner for producing the cost of production that may relate the
business operation(Rani, and Moreira, 2010). The manager and leader have duty and
responsibility to take and communicate the objectives and expectation of the employees
and what they want to the employees in the managing the efficiency in the business.
 Marketing issues – These are also affected the company to producing the product in the
market. It includes the customers demand, need and perception, economic condition of
the market that reflect the business efficiency and that include the economic, salary, and
performance and consumers challenges related to the particular goods and services in the
business(Smith, Rahn, and Wang, 2010). It may also affect the operation in the business
that reflect the services of the business. In the current market condition there are the
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many product mixes that also influence the customers in different situation. The company
can conduct the research and also take the decision related to the creative and innovative
product in the target market.
D2 Evaluation of effect of leader and manager in the operation
Operation manager are the responsible for the production of goods that relate the process
of business that they undertaken by the manager that affect the performance that may relate the
operation and also depending the condition that may affect the plant and ideal time and also
affect the business for maintaining the business deal and preferences of the business and making
the product and services in the business for maintaining the relation that affect the business and
marketing situation that also affect the business(Chen, and et. al.,2011). There are the issues that
relate to the decision for help the store the material and where we sell the product and also take
decision regarding the promotion of the product and services.
CONCLUSION
It can be conclude from the above the report that the management of the operation is the
main essential part of the business. It is concluded that the manager and leader are play a
different role in the business for solving the problem and leader are related to the different
situation in the business. Operation manager are who they take decision for the product
developing, product management and decision related to the process of input converting in the
output related particular product and services.
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