Marks and Spencer: Leadership, Management, and Operations Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership and management, comparing the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers within an organizational context. It explores the application of these roles in different situational contexts, highlighting the importance of adapting leadership styles to specific challenges. The report delves into various leadership theories and models, including situational leadership, system leadership, and contingency models, and discusses significant approaches to operations management. Furthermore, it examines the role of leaders and managers in operations management and evaluates the impact of the business environment on operational management and decision-making processes, using Marks and Spencer as a case study. The report concludes by synthesizing the key findings and emphasizing the importance of effective leadership and management practices for organizational success.

UNIT 4 - MANAGEMENT
AND OPERATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Defining and comparing the different role and characteristics of leader and manger......1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................2
P2 Determining the way role of leader and function of manger apply in different situational
contexts...................................................................................................................................2
P3 Applying various theories and models of approach including situational leadership, system
leadership and contingency....................................................................................................4
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................5
P4 Discussing the significant approaches to operations management and role of leader and
manager .................................................................................................................................5
P5 Explaining the significance and value of operation management in achieving Marks
spenser business objectives ...................................................................................................6
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................8
P6 Assessing the factors within the business environment that impact upon operational
management and decision making by leaders and mangers...................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Management refers to the process of dealing with and controlling various activities in an
organisation. Management includes various functions such as planning, organising, directing and
controlling various resources and actions in order to achieve goals and objectives for
organisations. Operation management is the field of administration which includes designing and
controlling the process of production and redesigning business procedure for producing goods
and services. Management is the act of getting done through others.It includes various activities
such as planning, organising , directing and controlling.
Planning refers to the process of making out plans. It includes setting of goals,
procedures, policies for social and economic unit.
Organising is defined as the relationship between people, work and resources used to
achieve common goals.
Controlling include determining the activities of other people in organisation. It can also
be referred to as systematic efforts by business management in order to compare performance on
the basis of predetermined standards,Plans and objectives.
The Marks and Spencer company is being selected for explaining the management
concept. Marks and Spencer is a major British multinational organisation situated in London.
The study has focus on explaining the concept of operation and management. The study
will include comparison between roles and characteristics of leader and manager. The report will
use some illustration in Order to develop the understanding about role of a leader and function of
manger .The various approaches and models will be used by the project to describe the concept
of operation management. The assignment consists of various audit to identify factors that have
great impact on decision making process of management.
TASK 1
P1 Defining and comparing the different role and characteristics of leader and manager
Leadership include skills of influencing other people behaviour so that objectives and
goals can be achieved in effective manner. Leadership is the part of management. On the other
hand management include quality of managing activities in appropriate manner. Management
includes the ability of getting work done by other people. Management consist of formal and
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organised group of individual whereas leadership consists of both formal and informal
group(Park and et.al., 2014).
Basis of comparison Leadership Management
Meaning Leadership include guiding
and directing people.
Managements refers to the
skills of managing and
controlling various activities in
an organisation
objective Encouraging change Maintaining organisational
stability
Focal point Inspiring and influencing
individual behaviour
Managing and controlling
various process in enterprise
Nature of Plan of action Proactive Reactive
Role To prepare principles and
guidelines.
To formulate policies and
procedures.
Visual aspect Foresightedness skills are
required for becoming
effective leader.
Individual only requires
managing skills and
knowledge for becoming
effective manager.
Ability To influence other people
behaviour
Ability to rule other
Requirement It requires gaining trust of
followers
It requires developing faith
among subordinate.
Outcomes Effectiveness is measured on
the basis of achievements
Effectiveness is measured on
the basis of results
Orientation People oriented Task oriented
Functions Reviewing problems and
finding innovative solutions.
Formulating policies,
strategies, and encouraging
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people to work together in
order to achieve goals for
enterprise.
Styles Transformational, Advisory,
Participative
Directorial, Authoritative,
Transactional, Democratic.
Generation of power Power is gain from
Attractiveness and influence
Power is provided by authority
and position
Influence on People heart Employees head
Characteristics Leader has emotional
intelligence and they apply
these skills in order to get
work done by other people.
They emphasize much on
implementing positive change
at workplace.
Characteristics of leaders are
more challenging.
They have very basis sense.
They have given authority on
the basis of nature of job.
They have focus on tactical
activities and posses directive
and controlling power.
Characterstics of managers are
les challenging.
TASK 2
P2 Determining the way role of leader and function of manger apply in different situational
contexts
Leader and manager are both important part of organisation. They both have their
specific role and responsibility and take important action and measures according to different
situation . In different situation leader and manager play their specific roles that help in smoother
and efficient working of organisation. Mark and Spencer is a leading organisation and have to go
through many problem on daily basis leader and manager both have their own way to tackle this
problem.
To compete in this ever changing market it is necessary for organisation to keep updated
to the latest technology in market. This not only increase the productivity of organisation but
also give them competitive advantages in market. When new technology is introduces in market
its become the job of manager to organise special training and work shop so that workers of
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employee can become acquainted with the working of this technology this will increase the
efficiency of workers. At this time leader is responsible to provide proper guidance and
encouragement to their employees so that they can feel motivated and work more efficiently.
Mark and Spencer in current time has loss big no. of their employee which has increase
the employee turnover of company, through a proper analyse it has come to the notice that
because of the increasing turnover the cost of company has been increased and much money is
wasted on recruitment process and the training of new employees. To overcome this issue
manager try to find the reason behind such a big change in organisation. What is the reason
behind employees leaving, is the company a reason behind employee disappointment and what
changes could be made to overcome this issue without affecting the performance of company.
On the other hand leader try to encourage employees and motivate them so that they can
perform better they listen to the problem of employee and bring them to management to solve it.
They fill them with energy and try to create positive environment for them. To retain their
existing employee manager uses reward system and recognition to motivate there workers. This
system helps in increasing the working satisfaction of client and also bring healthy
competitiveness in work place this also help in increasing the overall performance of firm.
Leader has it owns way of encouraging and motivating its team. They provide their team with
vision and knowledge which is required to finish the given task, leader support its team and give
them space to work freely and present idea this increase the productivity of worker and increase
their overall performance. Leader also provide regular monitoring and assessment of its group
through which continuous development is possible.
Manager and leader both have their own way through which they contribute in company
so that it can achieve these objectives (Iqbal and Sharma, 2012).
The role of manager has changed with change in time span in context of various
business activities. Human resource manger has to maintain the record of performance and other
information related to employees. If any worker is not performing well its the responsibility of
manager to support such employee. In case any worker or group of employees facing any issue it
is the duty of personal manager to conduct meeting with top level management and find
appropriate solutions. With increase in size of organisation the functions of human resource
manager has become more autocratic. Manager has to play creative role in order to direct firm
towards expansion. Role of leader is to motivate employees and ensure workers satisfaction. As
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this factors have great effect on enterprise performance. It the duty of leader to maintain their
team performance and have controll on various activities that are performed by his team
members.
P3 Applying various theories and models of approach including situational leadership, system
leadership and contingency
The purpose of leadership includes inspiring and motivating people to achieve goals and
objectives for Mark and Spencer organisation. Leadership is a very complex and difficult
process. Effective leader consists of all the quality and skills that assist him in connecting with
people and catering their needs as well as fulfilling the demand of leadership position.
Leadership theory has focus on all these complexities. The leadership approach emphasizes on
the qualities and behaviour that is required by individual in order to become effective leader. The
leadership theories has been formulated on the basis of various consideration:
 Requirement and belief of people at work
 Consequence of different leadership styles on followers and the way attitude, behaviour
and ability of followers influence leader
 Powerfulness of different leadership styles in different situation
The various approaches to leadership styles are
Functional approach- This concept states that leadership can be learned and formulated. This
approach has focus on the function, role and responsibilities of leaders. The object of this
concept is to determine the way leader’s behaviour and attitude has influenced by its followers.
Adair Action centred leadership is the part of functional approach. This concept includes
emphasizing on the role of leader and its need of directing individual, group and task.
Situational approach and contingency models- The name of the approach itself explains the
effective leadership styles. It states that single leadership styles is not applicable in all situation.
Every situation demands for specific leadership style.
Contingency model -This model states that group effectiveness is depended on appropriate
match between a leadership styles and demand for the situation. This concept considers that need
of situational control is based on leadership determination about the action of groups. This
framework is a dynamic theory where the individual characteristics and motivation of leader are
considered as interacting with each other with the present circumstances that is faced by team.
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System approach- This model is based on consideration that Marks and Spencer organisation is
system that uses organisational development approach in order to improve both leadership and
enterprise. This concept includes the way firm affects the method leadership styles is applied,
managed and formulated. The objective of this theory is to have focus on Marks and Spencer
enterprise in order to apply appropriate leadership style in order to assist enterprise to select
effective leader. It helps business unit in analysing need of leadership and providing an
appropriate source or solution .The perceptive of this approach is that it considers leadership as
an important resource that are need to be managed. It states that managing and controlling
leadership necessitate actuation on a wide scope of levers in Marks and Spencer business unit
that have direct consequences on the delivery of applied leadership(Ghosh, 2015).
TASK 3
P4 Discussing the significant approaches to operations management and role of leader and
manager
Operation management is an important field in managing business operations. It includes
various activities such as designing and operating business processes in producing goods and
services. It includes converting input in form of raw material and generating output in form of
results. The operation management process includes various responsibilities. These
responsibilities include ensuring efficiency in business operations, focusing on efficient use of
resources, catering customer demands and need according to set standards. This procedure also
includes various activities such as managing people, enhancing their skills, knowledge and
creativity in order to help them increase their productive efficiency. This method can assist
Marks and Spencer firm in enhancing their productivity and improving quality of their products.
(Harwiki, 2013)
The various approaches of operational management are-
Six sigma approach-This concept has focus on improving quality of product and services. The
word six reference's defines the controlling limit which are arranged in six sigma deviations
from the method of normal distribution mean. This theory consists of financial target such as
generating profit or minimising costs. The six sigma approach includes various tools such as
graphs , charts, ratios and other calculation methods.
Business process redesign approach-This theory aims at examining and designing workflow
and business procedures within a Marks & Spencer organisation. The purpose of this approach is
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to assist Marks and Spencer firm in restructuring their business by creating various business
operation.
Reconfigurable manufacturing system approach- It refers to the production system develop
to incorporate speeded change in structure, hardware and software constituents. This theory
enable Marks and Spencer organisation system to adjust quickly to the change in order to
continue their production process in effective way.
Lean manufacturing approach-Lean manufacturing theory is an effective approach as it
ensures elimination of waste produce from manufacturing process. This concept has focus on
efficient utilisation of resources and transforming waste into value creation for consumers as
well as minimising unnecessary expenses.
Total quality management approach-This theory is also known as total productive
maintenance approach. It defines operation management as approach to long term success of
firm that can be achieved through customer satisfaction. This theory seeks to enhance the quality
of product and performance which will assist Marks and Spencer organisation in meeting or
exceeding customer expectations. This approach considered that this can be achieved by
grouping quality related functions and procedures throughout the enterprise. The total quality
management system have focus on identifying quality measures considering all departments and
encouraging workers to participate in Quality management procedure. The objectives of this
concept is to help Marks and Spencer firm in correcting the methods adopted by them for quality
management. The approach suggests that company can appoint quality inspector for production
department in order to minimise the level of failure that has occurred due to quality (Agarwal
and et.al., 2012.).
P5 Explaining the significance and value of operation management in achieving Marks and
Spencer business objectives
Tradition concept of operation management considered that it was significant only in
manufacturing organisations. This thinking was supported by fact that manufacturing business
unit has to conduct various procedure and activities from allocating raw material to delivering of
goods to ultimate consumers.
Operation management is important for managing various business activities within
manufacturing industry. Operation management involves various functions such as planning,
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organising, directing, and motivating employees to increase their productivity in order to achieve
Marks Spenser goals and objective. (Arnulf and et.al., 2014)
This management process is important as it ensures minimising the waste and eliminating
unnecessary expenses that helps firm in eliminating and reducing various expenses as well as
cost. It enables enterprise to achieve its objectives of fulfilling social corporate responsibility.
This provides an opportunity to business entity to attract more numbers of customers and to
reduce the impact of social factors on business operations.
This process has focus on enhancing quality of product and services, hence support
organisation to maintain its quality of products and its performance in the market.It aims at
increasing productivity (Blanchard, 2010).
The case of Marks and Spencer company can be used to develop understanding about
importance and value of operation management. As manufacturing and production level the
purpose of the company is to reduce the waste, enhancing production capacity and it also
includes managing time and ensuring effective utilisation OF resources. The objective of the
organisation include reducing cost, eliminating unnecessary expenses, and minimising cost of
production. The Marks and Spencer organisation ensures that their warehouse is being utilised in
effective manner, reduce shifting cost etc. The company has focus on customers' satisfaction that
can be achieved by Marks and Spencer by adopting various approaches of operation
management (Bonanni and Cafazzo, 2014). Operation management theories ensures that
business unit in catering and exceeding the customers' expectation. It also ensures that
organisational resources and warehouse has been effectively utilises. As If resources are
ineffectively used then it may lead to increase in cost of production and it may have great impact
on the profit of firm (Khan, Asghar and Zaheer,2014).
The aim of Marks and Spencer also include ensuring the quality of products and services
and managing time that can be possible using operation management system. These systems also
provides supports to organisation in order to increase its operational efficiency and overall
effectiveness. It assists business unit in gaining customer loyal and provides opportunity to retain
its existing clients (Mahembe and Engelbrecht., 2014).
Operation management integrates all other functional activities within enterprise in order
to produce product according to the proposed specification according to the budget by utilising
various resources in effective manner. It allows business unit to fulfil its objective of cost
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minimisation and effective use of resources. It also provides organisation an opportunity to
increase its profit margin. The role of employees in operation management is to help market
department in fulfilling their marketing objectives. They provide guidance to workers in
marketing department to target specific market segment (Randeree and Chaudhry, 2012).
TASK 4
P6 Assessing the factors within the business environment that impact upon operational
management and decision making by leaders and managers
The internal factors comprise various elements that are present within business unit.
These elements are controllable in nature. The company can control this factors.
There are various factors within business environment that has great impact on
operational management:
Bad quality of services and products that have bad impression on customers may lead to
loss or Marks and Spencer firm. There are various elements which have influence on the quality
of product and services. These factors include lack of motivational reward system, unskilled
employees and managers, Illiterate workforce etc. In such circumstances it becomes difficult for
manager and leaders to make various decisions (Ghosh, 2015).
Organisational direction- Leadership is a major element in internal organisational factors.
Leadership style have great impact on the enterprise culture. Various elements such as behaviour
of leader, leadership style, leadership approaches have great impact on manager and leader
decisions. The positives or negative nature of leader and method of communication, values for
employees are some cultural implications are the outcomes of leadership approaches. These are
the major internal factors that have great effect on companies decision making process (Harwiki,
2013).
Others organisational factors-The other internal factors includes strength and weaknesses of
workers. Self-motivated, enthusiastic, hard-working and talented employees often produce
effective results. The various business processes, worker relation and coordination between
employees have great impact on the decision taken by leader and manager. This factors have
also great influence on growth and success of Marks and Spencer enterprise (Hatchand Cunliffe,
2013).
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The marks and Spencer business unit comprises high performing environment. The
workers in the organisation works in team and coordinates with each other in order to achieve
firm objectives.
The internal factors also includes various elements such as availability of various
resources such as financial, technology, machinery, human resource, natural and various process
that are required to implement operational activity has great impact on various operation
decisions.(Hogan and Coote,2014.)
It is essential for Marks and Spencer to considered various other constituents such as
organisational culture, brand image, efficiency and potential of operational activities (Hsu,
2014).
The various administrative and operational procedures that may have impact on decision
making process include disorganised and ineffective method of record keeping use of outdated
technology etc.
Strategic risk-This internal factors have great effect on the goal achieving and risk
bearing capacity of organisation. This factors include customers perception about company
product, client demand etc. These elements have great impact on decision making process of
firm (Dietrich, 2016.).
Employees behaviour within organisation has great impact on various decisions and
policies framed by manger and leader. Workforce performance and abilities have great impact
on the operational management and efficiency. Educational background, knowledge of staff have
great effect on decision making by leader.
CONCLUSION
The study has concluded that operational management plays significant role in achieving
the goals and objectives of Marks and Spenser organisation. It has successfully explained the
role of leader and manager in different situational context. The report has demonstrated the
various approaches and models in order to develop understanding about various leadership styles
and approaches. The project has also concluded the various operational management approaches.
It has successfully has presented the various internal factors that may have great impact on the
operational management process and the way it affects the decision making process.
The assignment has suggested the various leadership styles that can be used by individual
for becoming the effective leader. It has suggested the various ways that can be used by Marks &
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