Leadership and Management in Operations: A Nestle Case Study Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership and management within Nestle, focusing on operational strategies and challenges. It begins with an introduction to the importance of effective operation and management in a dynamic business environment, highlighting the roles of leaders and managers in optimizing outcomes. The report delves into the distinct characteristics and responsibilities of leaders and managers, including their reactions to various operational situations and challenges. It examines different approaches to operations management, such as Business Process Management, Business Process Re-engineering, Six Sigma, and Supply Chain Management, evaluating their applications within Nestle. The report further assesses the roles of leaders and managers in improving operational efficiency, identifying the value of operations management in achieving business objectives and analyzing factors impacting the business environment and decision-making processes. The case study emphasizes the importance of adapting to market changes and ensuring consumer satisfaction through effective management practices. It also includes the role of leaders and managers in different functional levels. The report concludes with a summary of the key findings and insights into Nestle's operational strategies.

Management and
operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
TASK A...........................................................................................................................................1
Different role and characteristic of leader and manager.............................................................1
Examination of examples of how managers and leaders should react to different situations.....2
Reaction of managers and leaders to situations and challenges..................................................3
Analysis and evaluation of approaches to operations management............................................4
TASK B...........................................................................................................................................4
Main approaches to operations management and the role leaders and managers play...............4
Evaluating the role of leaders and managers in improving efficiency of operational
management for successfully meeting business objectives........................................................5
Identifying the importance and value of operation management in achieving objectives..........6
Evaluating the applications of operation management and factors that impact business
environment.................................................................................................................................7
Assessment of factor within business environment which impact operational management and
decision-making of managers and leaders..................................................................................7
Analyse the various factors which affects the business environment and wider community.....8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
In present dynamic, business environment managing different business operation is a
valuable duty that help to reach the valuable outcome in appropriate time. In companies
management level is mainly focused to make effective plans, making activities accordingly,
ensure proper coordination and control all operation to maximise the output. Operation and
management are regarded as process for controlling internal task, activities, system. In this
report, case study of nestle to improve supply chain is discussed. In this report, role of leader and
manager and their function in various business concept are defined. In addition, appreciation to
the role of leader and manager and their understanding in modern business environment is also
discussed.
TASK A
Different role and characteristic of leader and manager
Leader: A leader is a person who works in the organization and is responsible for
managing the people through the ambition and purpose of the organizations.
Characteristics:
 Honest: The leader should be truthful, since the company would struggle to meet the
required goals and targets without integrity.
 Quality to delegate: The leader should be truthful, since the company would struggle to
meet the required targets and priorities without being truthful.
Role of leader
 Effective communicator: The leader serves as a bridge between the leadership and the
workers. It is where the company priorities are conveyed to the managers and employees
and management concerns and problems.
 Team sprite: Leader's job is to inspire employees to work in teams. It strengthens and
develops the team spirit between people and helps them realize that the outcomes can be
produced in a more efficient and effective manner through working as a team.
Manager:
The manager is a person who is in control and accountable for the internal company
activities. They are the ones those are responsible in setting the company's priorities or goals and
prepare correctly in which the targets will be accomplished.
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Characteristics:
 Flexible: Every manager must be flexible as this support them to work in any business
conditions resulting in higher results beneficial for company.
 Critical thinking: The manager seems to have the ability to make choices by making
thorough and relevant considerations into account. This aims to take into account the
various alternatives and compare them while taking into account the benefits and
drawbacks.
Role of manager
 Staffing: Manager use to assign right person to the right job role which support in
finishing the work as per the companies guidelines with maximum outputs.
 Controlling: Manager keep close track of the proposals and the numerous activities
performed within the company. They insure that the whole program is adopted and
conducted in compliance with the agreed procedure, and revisit and track it periodically.
 Planning: Managers have to perform the role of planning which is necessary for efficient
and effective management of operations of the firm. The managers of Nestle need to
make plans for development of firm so that it can stay ahead of its competitors and can
grow in the market.
 Organising: Managers need to properly organise the operations in the firm by using
sound management techniques. It is necessary that Nestle's management uses delegation
of authority, fixes responsibility and accountability so that tasks are carried out
effectively in organisation.
 Directing: Managers need to perform this role as subordinates need regular guidance to
do work allotted to them. Managers of Nestle should direct their employees to find out
issues and problems faced by them.
Examination of examples of how managers and leaders should react to different situations
Different type of situations related to operational challenges are faced by managers and
leaders of organisations. In Nestle, there are a lot of issues and problems which the management
needs to face. The examples of reaction of managers and leaders in different situations are as
follows-
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Managing overheads- This is a issue which is faced by organisations when their
overhead expenditures increase rapidly. Managers and leaders of Nestle should identify the areas
where the costs are increasing and absorption of extra costs is not being done.
Monitoring of performance- There is sometimes a laxity in performance of individuals
and teams in an organisation. Managers and leaders of Nestle have to identify the reasons due to
which performance has been impacted. This is necessary to take rectifying actions to improve the
performance.
Listening to feedback- It is a problem generally faced in organisations due to lack of
attention paid to feedback. Managers and leaders of Nestle should listen to the feedback that
arises due to complaints, grievances of employees and also must look forward to developing a
mechanism where issues can be resolved quickly.
Responding to competition- It is an issue where the managers have to develop strategy
for facing high-level competition in the market. Managers and leaders of Nestle should use an
effective approach for countering their competitors.
Reaction of managers and leaders to situations and challenges
In different type of situations and challenges in an organisation, the reaction of managers
and leaders in dealing with them becomes very important. The models and theories which they
can use in dealing with situations and challenges are as follows-
Situational theory-
Situational theory means that managers and leaders must act according to situations.
Nestle company's managers and leaders should take action according to the prevailing situation
in the organisation. The organisation's managers and leaders can use it to act according to
circumstances which they can encounter.
Systems approach-
This approach can be used by individuals or organisations to analyse the process required
for an overall system-level change. Nestle's managers and leaders can use it to bring an overhaul
in the system.
Contingency approach-
It is a management theory which states that there is no set way of leading an organisation.
The behaviour of managers and leaders depends upon the context of situation. The managers and
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leaders of Nestle can adopt this approach in dealing with different type of challenges faced in
company.
Great man approach-
This approach states that certain people are born with the required skills and qualities for
leadership and management. Their followers must obey the directions given by them. Nestle can
adopt this approach if it has a dynamic leader who can effectively lead a team.
Analysis and evaluation of approaches to operations management
The approaches to operations management in the context of Nestle are as follows-
Business Process Management- Nestle's managers and leaders can analyse the various
processes in their organisations to see the areas for improvement and achieving maximum
efficiency.
Business Process Re engineering- Nestle' managers and leaders can re-engineer
processes of business by starting from the scratch to facilitate complete overhaul.
Six Sigma- Nestle's managers and leaders can use it to detect defects in manufacturing
process and bringing more efficiency in processes.
Supply chain management- Neslte's managers and leaders can adopt it to manage
strategic processes by which goods flow between suppliers and the customers.
Role played by managers and leaders at functional levels-
Top-level management- The managers and leaders of Nestle here perform the role of
giving directions and making the plans for organisation to grow in future.
Middle-level management- The managers and leaders of Nestle perform the role of
delegating authority and allocating tasks.
Lower-level management- The managers and leaders of Nestle can perform the role of
supervision of workers in the organisation to ensure that they are working properly.
TASK B
Main approaches to operations management and the role leaders and managers play
Approaches of operations management help the leaders and managers of an organisation
to effectively play their role. These approaches in the context of Nestle are as follows-
Business Process Management- It is a model which is used in management and the
leaders and managers of Nestle can use it to improve their processes to achieve maximum
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efficiency and output. The steps in BPM are analysing, re-designing and modelling,
implementing, monitoring, managing and automating. This can help Nestle in improving
productivity which in turn can maximise the profit level.
Business Process Re-engineering- It is a model which states that the system should be
completely overhauled. Nestle's leaders and managers can use it if they feel that a complete
change in system is required. Its steps are refocus values on needs, redesigning of core processes,
reorganising a business, rethinking of issues and improvement of processes. It should be adopted
only when a total overhaul is required.
Six Sigma- It is a process which can be used to bring efficiency in the process of
manufacturing in the organisation. Nestle's leaders and mangers can use it to bring effectiveness
in production process to ensure that workers are working properly and optimum production
levels are being followed. It is mainly followed by manufacturing firms in their processes.
Supply chain management- It is a modern approach adopted by organisations in order
to improve the time between supplies and delivery of goods to customers. Nestle's leaders and
managers can adopt it so that optimum management of processes in the organisation can be
ensured.
Evaluating the role of leaders and managers in improving efficiency of operational management
for successfully meeting business objectives
Operation management is concerned with transforming direct expense to capital
generation with maximisation of profits and wealth. It is referred as the process to direct and
control the activities performed in accomplishment of desired result. The managers and leaders
of Nestle implement operational management to manage and monitor activities properly which
increase efficiency in achievement of goal and objectives. Some of these activities are describe3d
below:-
 Effective utilisation of scarce resources:- This is the process to utilise scarce resources
effectively which creates competitive advantage to compete from competitors and to
remain stable. The managers and leaders of Nestle are benefited by planing with more
new innovative ideas and manage the performance of workers by monitoring them
regularly which increase efficiency.
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 Directing and monitoring the actions:- It is meant to direct and control the actions
performed by employees. The managers and leaders focus and monitor their actions and
analyse the errors which creates unnecessary delay in goal achievement.
 Eliminating and rectification of errors:- This leads to determine errors and to take
corrective measures to solve them. The managers and leaders of Nestle eliminate the
errors by implementing corrective measures which leads to increase efficiency in
achievement of target.
Identifying the importance and value of operation management in achieving objectives
Operation management plays very essential role in accomplishment of organisational
goals. This helps to improve productivity with total quality management which attracts
consumers and increase their satisfaction level.
Some importance of operation management are explained below:-
 Consumer Satisfaction:- The consumers are satisfied with qualitative products at
minimised cost attracts them to purchase more of products. The managers and leaders of
Nestle are benefited with operation management as it increase satisfaction level of its
end-users with cost reduction.
 Waste reduction:- It is considered as to minimise waste produced while production
which leads to minimise cost and improves efficiency in goal achievement. The
managers and leaders of Nestle focus on eliminating waste and cost which results in
maximisation of revenue and profits.
Some value of operation management are described as under:-
1. Total Quality Management:- This quality management leads to increase brand value
through monitoring on superiority of products. The managers and leaders of Nestle focus
on quality as its leads to compete with their rivalries to remain stable.
2. Supply Chain Management:- This process focus from its manufacturing till its served to
its end-users by removing the hindrance of place. The managers and leaders are
advantageous as it create value by its brand positioning.
Evaluating the applications of operation management and factors that impact business
environment
Operation management is implied in business to determine strategic decision-making
which helps to achieve success. It leads to develop and improve qualitative productivity which
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increase consumer satisfaction. The external factors that impact business environment of Nestle
positively and negatively are as follows:-
 Political factors:- This factor which includes elements such as government rules and
regulations, corruption, international trade, tax policy, environmental law and
legislations, etc. The managers of Nestle are adversely affected by these elements as the
change in government regulations create negative impact as the prescribed goal is
stopped as the new goal has to be implemented with new legislations.
 Technological factors:- This factor which consists of determinants such as automation,
change in technology, innovative idea etc. The managers of Nestle are positively affected
with the change in technology as they also adopt new machines which leads to increase
efficiency.
Assessment of factor within business environment which impact operational management and
decision-making of managers and leaders
There are different factors which affect operational management and decision-making of
managers and leads of Nestle are as described under:-
 High competitive market:- There is high competition in the global market as every
organisation target to achieve success and remain stable to compete from its competitors.
The managers and leaders of Nestle are adversely impacted by this competition as it
effects the business environment negatively in strategic decision-making.
 Scarcity of resources:- It is ability for every organisation to utilise these scarce
resources effectively which leads to accomplish goals and objectives efficiently. The
managers and leaders of Nestle are affected by the increasing competition challenged by
the organisation which impact on its sustainability.
Analyse the various factors which affects the business environment and wider community
Business environment is considered as the internal and external surroundings of an
organisation that creates creates strength, weakness, opportunity and threats. The various factors
which affect the business environment and wider community are explained below:-
 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):- The organisation must take care of CSR by
being aware of health issue of society and welfare camps. The manager of Nestle must be
careful with societal issue by reducing unemployment.
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 Environmental Pollution:- This is meant to prevent from pollution of environment such
as air, noise, water, etc. The manager of Nestle implement this to reduce unnecessary
pollution which may affect society health, hygiene and safety.
CONCLUSION
From the above assignment, it can be concluded that operations management is an
approach of achieving maximum efficiency possible in an organisation. It aims for improvement
of processes to achieve the desired productivity level. In this report, different elements related to
management of operations have been analysed. Also, the role leaders and managers have to play
in different situations and the challenges faced in the context of firm have been covered. The
reactions of management in circumstances and the way it handles them has been discussed.
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