Leadership vs. Management: Roles, Theories, and Operational Contexts

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership and management within the context of Marks and Spencer (M&S). It begins by comparing the distinct roles and characteristics of leaders and managers, highlighting their differences in terms of responsibilities, functions, and aims. The re...Read More

Management & Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager...........................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
P2 How the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in different situational
contexts.......................................................................................................................................3
P3 Different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership, System
leadership and contingency.........................................................................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
P4 Key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers play....7
P5 Importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives............8
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................9
P6 Factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management and
decision-making by Leaders and managers................................................................................9
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Management and operations refer to the business practices which create the high level
efficiency within the business organization. Mainly, it is an effective process of designing and
controlling entire business activities with the aim of attaining set goals and objectives. Along
with this, it is related with converting raw material into goods and services for maximizing
overall profitability level of the company (Chiarini and Vagnoni, 2015). Current report is based
on Marks and Spencer, which deal in retail industry and offer luxurious clothing, accessories,
home products and many more to customers for increasing their profitability level at market
place. Role of leader and function of manager is discussed in this report. Along with this,
management theories and approaches of operation management is also mentioned here. At last
importance and value of operations management are discussed which help in attaining set
business objectives.
TASK 1
P1 Compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager
Marks and Spencer is a retail organization which offer house hold products, clothing, and
many more goods to large number of customers. Along with this, it was established by Michael
Marks and Thomas Spencer in 1884. It has approx 84,939 workers and 979 stores in various
countries. The main purpose of this company is to serve quality products and services to its
customers for attaining their satisfaction level. In addition of this, company also follow flatter
organizational structure for executing their business activities. With the help of flatter
management structure, information is effectively transferred in workers. It contributes in
attaining positive outcomes in appropriate manner.
Leader:
An individual who lead and command to their follow is called leader. They have
designation to monitoring and directing the workers within the business organization (Saucedo-
Martínez And et. al., 2017). Along with this, they also have power to take decision and lead team
members with the aim of making them able to attain set goals and objectives.
Manager:
A person who manage all the operation activities that performed with the aim of attaining
set goals is known by manager. Mainly, they responsible for controlling and organising
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organization and group of staff members for attaining predetermined target. In context of Marks
and Spencer, various manager like project manager, departmental and line manger head entire
business activities (Fernie and Sparks, 2014). In this, all these are responsible for making
decision and guiding team members for attaining set goals and objectives in appropriate time
frame.
Difference between leader and manager:
Basis Manager Leader
Meaning A manager is a person who are
responsible for organizing
planning and directing entire
activities of the company.
A leader is a person who lead
and guide their subordinates
for attaining specific goals and
objectives.
Functions Manager perform various
function in Marks and Spencer
like, planning, organizing,
controlling and many more.
In Marks and Spencer leader
influence and motivate their
workers to perform well.
Aim The main aim of manager is to
attain required results in
appropriate time frame.
In Marks and Spencer the main
aim of leader is to growth and
development of the
subordinates.
Focus The main focus of manager on
entire process and procedures
of the company.
In this, the main focus of
leader to influencing team
members for attaining success.
Role of manager:
Manager play vital and specific role in executing as well as performing business activities
for attaining set goals and target. In context of Marks and Spencer, there are some major role of
manager: Provide training to new employees: It important for manager to conduct training
programs for their new workers to enhance their productivity level (Hitt, Xu and Carnes,
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2016). In context of Marks and Spencer, manager conduct induction program to their new
workers to increase their skills and knowledge towards the job activities. Conduct development programs: It is important role of manager to conduct learning
programs for their workers improve their skills and knowledge. This will help workers to
perform well at workplace.
 Goal setting for future period: In business organization manager is responsible for
setting future goals for attaining better success (Dobrzykowski and et. al., 2014). For this
manager of Marks and Spencer also prepare a plan and evaluate the way to attain
predetermined target.
Role of leader:
Leader is responsible for provide guidance and way to execute business activities in
effective manner. They also help in influencing as well as encouraging workers to perform well
and attain set goals. In this context, there are some major role of leader in Marks and Spencer are
as follows: Motivate team members: In Marks and Spencer, leader is responsible for motivating
workers for encouraging towards the goals and objectives. For this, leaders also apply
new and innovative styles to execute activities. With the help of this they easily motivate
their workers and increase their participation as well. Make plan for perform task: Marks and Spencer perform various operations for attaining
goals. Thus, it is important responsibility of leader to prepare an effective plan for
evaluating the best alternative ways to perform activities. This will aid in enhancing
growth of the company.
 Influence employees: It is also vital role of a leader to influence and encourage their
employees to execute their task appropriately (Langabeer and Helton, 2015). In this they
provide better guidance and at the time of performing activities. With the assistance of
this workers can easily attain set goals and objectives.
TASK 2
P2 How the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in different situational contexts
In business organization, leader and manager both are played important role in managing
and leading entire activities performed by the workers. In context of this, Marks and Spencer
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having good image in market place because they effectively perform their operational activities.
As they use Just in time approach for executing their activities in effective manner (Brandenburg
and et. al., 2014). In this manager and leader are also consider a vital role in operating
operational activities. Along with this, in business environment number of changes are occur that
directly impact on brand image. Thus, it is crucial for manager to effectively accept all the
changes by making alternative plan and policies. This will help in improving the chances of
attaining favourable results. In this context there are some important role of management are as
follows: Planning: It is important function of management through which company can easily
attain set goals and target in appropriate manner. In this context, planning refer to the
entire activities which help manager at the time of guiding workers at workplace. For
attaining positive outcomes, it is vital for manager of Marks and Spencer to prepare
appropriate plan to improve the chances of attaining favourable results. Organizing: Under this management function, manager organize all the set activities with
necessary resources. With the help of this, Marks and Spencer can easily improve their
productivity level at market place. Commanding: It refer to monitoring and guiding workers within the business
organization. As Marks and Spencer is a big organization in which all the targets are set
by the manager of the company (Kerzner and Kerzner, 2017). With the help of this,
workers are easily perform their task and attain positive results. Coordinating: This management function is important which help in making better
coordination among all the department in Marks and Spencer. It aid in reducing the
chances of arising nay kind of issues and obstacles in departments.
 Controlling: It is one of the important management function which help in maintaining
overall cost by developing appropriate and systematic budget. By using this function
manager can easily evaluate the workers performance.
Apart from this, there are some role of leader and function of managers in different
situation in Marks and Spencer: Decision making: It is an important situation within the Marks and Spencer as manager
and leader play vital role. Mainly, this situation is help in attaining the set goals and
objectives in appropriate time frame (Gao and You, 2015). In addition of this, all the
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decisions are taken by the leader with the aim of improving overall performance of the
company. As leader also play vital role in implementing and executing all the decision in
effective manner. This will contribute in making performance of company competitive. Policies Formulation: It is also an important situation for Mark and Spencer to execute
all the activities is systematic manner (Bromiley and Rau, 2016). For implementing and
formulating policies, manager play vital role in providing suggestion and alternative
option towards the policies. In addition of this leader also responsible to making effective
policies by analysing all the alternative ways that provide by manager. With the help of
this, Marks and Spencer can easily enhance overall productivity level of workers and firm
as well. For example, leader can guide and motivate their employees to accept the
changes which are occurred due to the impact of Brexit. This Will aid in acceptance of
same policies which are already \exist in organisation.
 Technology up-gradation: This situation is relate with the process of replacing a
technology with a new version of the same technology. It consider as a vital situation
which help in improving the chances of attaining success in market place. In this manager
play vital role in evaluating the technology to ensure that it effectively working or not.
Along with this, leader of Marks and Spencer conduct training and training programs for
their workers so that employees can easily access and implement within the business
activities (Gunasekaran, Irani and Papadopoulos, 2014). This will improve overall
performance of the company at market place.
P3 Different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership, System
leadership and contingency
As per dynamic nature of the business environment, changes are rapidly take place. Thus,
it is important for manager and leader to accept changes as per market. In context of Marks and
Spencer, company has good brand image in market place because they serve quality products
and services to its customers as per their needs and wants. In addition of this, it is also important
for manager to motivate and encourage their workers to perform well and accept all the changes.
With the help of this, company can easily improve workers performance and also attain success
at market place. As there are some effective theories and model which used by the manager of
Marks and Spencer to lead their workers at workplace:
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Situational leadership: It is an effective leadership which refer to the changes within the
organization as per situations. In this, leader act as per changes and circumstance at workplace
with the purpose of improving overall performance of the worker (Grant, Wong and Trautrims,
2017). Along with this, it also relate with the Hersey and Blanchard's leadership theory which
consider various styles are as follows:
 Telling: This step is based on flow of information. In this leader provide information to
their group about the task and target as well.
 Selling: Under this approach, manager develop ideas and sell it to their workers so that
they easily perform their operational activities in effective manner.
 Participating: As per this approach, manager of Marks and Spencer influence their
workers to take participate in business activities to make the able to their suggestion. This
is relate with the democratic leadership approach (Renz, 2016).
 Delegating: Under this, leader give responsibilities to workers with the purpose of
attaining positive results in effective manner.
The main advantage of this style for Marks and Spencer is that it increase participation of
the workers within business activities. With the help of this, employees also give their new and
ideas. On the other side, if workers participation and ideas are not implement by the manager
then it raise the dissatisfaction among all the workers. For example, in organization new workers
are join that required monitoring and training as per situation that occurred at workplace. In this
leader provide proper guidance to their workers so that they can easily perform their task and
attain set goals.
System leadership: This style includes various set of working which performed by manager with
the aim of motivating their workers towards the specific target. It is more effective when all the
operations are performed in specific way. This will help in giving positive and favourable
results.
The main advantage of this that workers are easily perform their task and does not waste
time in implementing as well as executing new and innovative methods. On the other side,
disadvantage of this style is that it reduce the workers interest towards the regular working
activities.
Contingency leadership: This type of style is evaluate the effectiveness of leadership which is
based on the leader style to accurate situation. In addition of this, leader needs to effectively
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apply their own style as per right situation (Leadership and The Contingency Theory, 2018).
Thus, it is vital for leader to effectively motivate their workers so that they easily handle
complex situation and attain positive outcomes.
In addition of this, the main advantage of this leadership style is that it help in dealing
with external elements in effective manner. It also help in motivating workers to accept
challenges. On the other side, the main disadvantage of this style is that it increase dissatisfaction
of the workers because it does not give chance to take participate.
TASK 3
P4 Key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers play
Operation management is an important part of management which help in creating better
coordination among all the department in business organization. Along with this, it also provide
better guidance to the workers to perform operational activities of the company in syntagmatic
manner. It also aid in making proper flow of information through which leader can easily provide
information to their workers at workplace (Martínez-Jurado and Moyano-Fuentes, 2014). On of
the main advantage of operation management is to increase overall performance of the company
by attaining set goals and objectives. In this context there are some key approaches which used
by the Marks and Spencer with the aim of attaining business objectives. All these can be
understood by following approaches: Total quality management: It refer to the managing quality products because it focus on
maintaining standard of the services. By this company can easily establish their positive
brand image. Thus, it is important for manager and leader to evaluate as well as improve
the process of manufacturing for improving the products products. By using this Marks
and Spencer can easily satisfy customers needs and wants. Continuous improvement: It is an appropriate approach which contribute in improving
product quality. With the help of this company can easily attain set goals and objectives.
Mainly it is ongoing process in which employee involvement is important to improve
quality of the products and services. Lean production: This is an effective management approach which used by the
company with the purpose of reducing wastage and at the same time also improve the
products quality. As per this approach, it is based on the five principle such as wastage
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are unnecessary transport, over production, excess stock and defects (Langabeer and
Helton, 2015). With the use of this approach Marks and Spencer can easily reduce the
wastage at the time of producing products and services.
 Just in time: It is one of the effective approach which help in reducing the production
time because company serve bulk production as per market trends and changes as well.
With the help of this, Marks and Spencer easily deliver their quality products in right
time. By using this approach, Marks and Spencer can easily satisfy customers demand
(Brandenburg and et. al., 2014).
In addition of this, there are some roles and responsibilities of leader and manager within
the Marks and Spencer which may contribute in making overall performance of the company
appropriate:
Both manager and leader played vital role in Marks and Spencer to attain set goals and
objectives. In this manager is responsible to analyse market trends and demands to implement
policies and strategies effectively. Along with this, leader also provide training and development
programs to their workers to improve their working activities. This will directly contribute in
maintaining quality products.
P5 Importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives
Operation management is an effective activity to perform all the activities of operations
effectively. It also important for organization growth and development as well. In context of
Marks and Spencer, it also help in providing ways to improve the changes of attaining success.
As there are some importance of operations management: Competitive advantage: Marks and Spencer is famous business organization in market
place and has high competition with Tesco and many more companies. Thus, it is
important for company to use continuous improvement approach within their business
activities to improve product quality frequently. This will help in making competitive
image of the company as compare to its rivals.
 Profitability management: It is important for business organization to mange their
profitability level at market place. In this operational management also help in
maintaining better coordination among all the department. This will help in reducing the
wastage within the organization (Saucedo-Martínez And et. al., 2017). Along with this,
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manager of Marks and Spencer also give responsibilities and authority to staff members
so that they can easily perform their task and attain set business objectives.
TASK 4
P6 Factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management and
decision-making by Leaders and managers
As per current scenario, Marks and Spencer is big organization and having good image.
In competitive market, it is complex for firm to manager their same image because various
factors of business environment are large impact on operations management (Hitt, Xu and
Carnes, 2016). All these are as follows:
 Political: This factor refer to the government policies, rules and many more. As Marks
and Spencer operate their business various countries so that they have to understand all
the policies and regulations. In addition of this, difference in taxes is also affect the
decision making process of the Marks and Spencer.
 Economical: It includes GDP, inflation rate and many more that directly affect the
product cost. Thus, it is important for manager of Marks and Spencer to consider all the
factors within their business activities so that they can easily maintain their positive brand
image. For example, if the inflation rate goes up than the company set their higher to
attaining the profitability, On the other side, if the inflation rate goes down the than they
company gets free their workers to maintain their task in order to attain set goals and
objectives. As it directly affect the decision making process of leader and manager as
well within the organization.
 Social: This factor is relate with culture, religion, customers taste. As it also change the
customers needs and wants. As Marks and Spencer deal in various sector but the clothing
sector is largely affect because market trends are continuously change which also change
the customers taste and preferences towards the products. Thus, it also affect the decision
making process of manager. For attaining better satisfaction, manager needs to deliver
quality products as per customers needs and wants.
 Technological: It is one of the important factor because as per current scenario, change in
technology is rapidly take place which help in reducing the time and at the same time also
make the entire activities of the company smoother (Fernie and Sparks, 2014). With the
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help of this, Marks and Spencer can easily enhance their productivity level at market
place.
CONCLUSION
From the above mentioned report, it can be concluded that management and operation
play important role in increasing higher efficiency level of the company at market place.
Basically, it is an process of converting material into quality goods and services. This will aid in
increasing profitability level. In this context, different role of leader and function of manager also
help in improving the overall performance of the company. As both manager and leader are
important for Marks and Spencer to achieve set goals and objectives. Various leadership theories
are also help in performing entire business operations in systematic manner. Some management
approaches such as JIT, Lean production and many more are help in attaining positive outcomes.
All these will contribute in enhancing the overall brand image of the company at market place.
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REFERENCES
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Online
Leadership and The Contingency Theory. 2018. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.villanovau.com/resources/leadership/leadership-and-
contingency-theory/#.W6XXmS0zab8>.
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