Comparative Analysis: Leadership and Management in Primark Operations

This report provides a detailed analysis of the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers within the context of Primark's operations. It explores the differences between leaders and managers, highlighting their distinct responsibilities and approaches. The report examines how leaders and m...Read More

Management and
Operations

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTERODUCTION........................................................................................................................3
MAINBODY....................................................................................................................................3
P1 Roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager...................................................3
P2 Roles of leaders and manager in different situational context.....................................5
P3 Different theories and models of approach.....................................................................6
P4 Key approaches of operation management and roles of leader and manager that
play..............................................................................................................................................8
P5 Significance and values of operational management to achieve objectives of
business....................................................................................................................................10
P6 Different factors of business environment that impact over operational
management and decision-making of leader and manager.............................................12
CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................................14
REFERENCE...............................................................................................................................15

INTERODUCTION
Management is the process of planning, organizing directing and controlling
human and resources within business to achieve defined objectives. It performs
numerous functions i.e. recruiting & selecting, reward & punishment, training &
monitoring and strategy development & implementation etc. Management is important
for operations function because they develop strategies and implements in the
workplace to control day to day production process of goods and services. While
operation is one of the important functions in the business with supply chains, marketing
and human resource. Operation and management are the business activities to gain
higher levels of efficiency in the organization. it concerns with transforming raw material
and labour into goods and services and maximizes the profitability of the business. To
understand role of operation and management has an example of Primark. It is an Irish
fast fashion retailer that is headquartered in Mayfair, London, UK. It has wide product
line such as clothing, cosmetics and housewares. It operates in multiple countries and
offers its product to the customer. This brief study provides understanding about
different roles and characteristic of a leader and a manager.
MAINBODY
P1 Roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager
Leaders are generally responsible to lead employees and team members in the
Primark. On the other hand, a manager is responsible to manage people or employees,
so that excellent outcome can be achieved (Atasu and et.al., 2020). Therefore, various
differences between leader and manager of Primark, which are as follows;
 Leaders are unique and manager is copy
Leaders of Primark have various plans which are needs to be gained by the
people prevailing within the company. Leaders always build the activities which results
in becoming unique brand image in different market segments. Manager of the
company duplicates the activities as being followed by the head in the work process for
gaining the final goal.

 Leaders create the vision and manager creates goals
A leader visualize the images which are needs to be gained in the process.
These visualization images can be gained by inspiration which is also given by a leader
within Primark. This company’s leaders make individual think beyond of what they
perform within the process in order to gain the vision. The manager of Primark sets
goals and objectives for the workers prevailing within the process. A manager helps in
gaining of individual goals which automatically leads for the achievement of the group
goal.
 Leaders takes risks and managers control risk
Primark leaders include the risk by attempting new things within the process in order
for obtaining positive results within the market (Demir, 2019). On the other side, leaders
know that, failure is the one big part of the process which will be leaded to success. The
manager of company always works on the minimizing risk within the process. Managers
always avoids and controls the problems which has involved within the process of
Primark.
 Leaders build relationships and managers build systems and processes
Primark stakeholders are being motived by different leaders in order to build the
trust on the company’s activities which results in increasing the investment. The process
of motivation also builds great relationships between leaders and stakeholders of this
company. The manager always works according to the system which is already
developed in the process for achieving the final goal. The system needs to be followed
by different employees with strict rules and regulations within the market.
 Leader coach and manager direct
Leaders of Primark highly inspires employees for increasing the morale or
confidence for achieving final target. Leader’s works on the strength and weakness of
the people or employees so that their performance & productivity can be developed,
and goals of company can be fulfilled. The Manager assigns the work to different
employees according to their respective post (Kim and Kim, 2016). The manager of
Primark directs the workers to gain the high success within the process.

Difference between the characteristics of a leader and a manager
 Personality
Managers performs all the activities to have excellent control on the work for
achieving the final goal. Primark managers have control and coordination in the system
for completing the work. On the other side, leaders within the Primark gives necessary
on instructions to be complete target on the basis of abilities & skills of different
employees. Leaders of Primark fully believes in providing right task to the right person.
 Attitudes towards goals
The manager at Primark have to gain the goal necessarily without including the
personal desires within the process. Manager attitude towards the target depends upon
the employee involving within the process. On the other side, leaders in this company
keeps positive attitude in each situation so as for creating positive environment within
the workplace for achieving the final target.
P2 Roles of leaders and manager in different situational context
Various roles and responsibilities have played by a manager and a leader at the
Primark. So, that the organisation can achieve the large market share and profitability.
Some major roles and responsibilities have been discussed below;
Conflict between employees
Manager at Primark is highly responsible to reduce conflict and confusion
between individual regarding task and activities that needs to be performed (Mumford
and et.al., 2017). So that the company can effectively achieve its targets. The manager
of company by defining definite interrelationship and organisational structure between
employees have reduced chance of confusion, and conflict between employees. There
are continuous supervision and monitoring by Primark’s manager has supported in
bringing new solution to different problems, so that employees work will be coordinated
for all over growth and success of venture. On the other side, leaders perform various
function for building strong relationship, so that they can effectively work in a team for
the common objectives and goals.
Brining new change in the company

In this dynamic and modern world, marketing manager of Primark has decided
for promoting products by social media or official platforms, so that number of
customers can be attracted in the limited time period and cost. As per changes in
technology, the operational manager needs to use different strategies, capital and
resources which is highly required to expand business online. So, that company can
grow and sustain its business operations in the competitive market. The manager of
Primark has planned for enhancing knowledge and skills of different employees by
organising the training and development sessions, so that employees can easily
perform effectively, and the company will gain competitive advantage. Specifically
assigned roles and responsibilities that needs to perform by the particular individual, so
that the best outcome can be achieved.
On the other side, Primark leaders are responsible to guide and provide proper
direction to various employees, that way task can be performed in minimum amount of
cost, resources and efforts (Scott, 2017). So that, needs of customers will be satisfied.
There are leaders have decided different techniques or ways for motivating and
influencing individual. So that, maximum result can be achieved. Therefore, both a
leader and a manager at Primark are working together have supported company for
effectively utilising existing opportunities and gain huge profit within various market
segments.
P3 Different theories and models of approach
Leader in the firm supports in motivating staff by understanding their needs and
desires. In addition, they evaluate change that arises in the external environment and
takes decision so that organization benefits from the change. Leaders of the Primark
uses different leadership styles to maintain effectiveness in the workplace. Leadership
styles are described as follows:
Situational leadership
It refers as the type of leadership whereas a leader adjusts their leadership style
accordingly situations of the employee and encourages them to gain common goal of
the firm. This leadership comprises four type leadership styles i.e. directing, coaching,
participating and delegating which follows by leader to fulfil requirement of individuals in

the firm on the basis of situation (Addo-Tenkorang and Helo, 2016). With directing
leadership styles, operational managers take decision own by own and directs their staff
to put their all efforts in the right direction so that easier to achieve common goal of the
company. In other mean, operational manager adapts directing leadership styles so that
they can aware their staff about decision and environmental condition that leads
effectiveness on staff’s working. With the coaching leadership style, operational
managers organize training classes for the employee and trains them personally how to
deal with complex tasks in the workplace and improves their weak area by supporting
them to overcome. To make employees feel valuable for the organization adapts
participative leadership style by the operational managers. With the leadership style,
managers involve staff in decision-making process and negotiates them to keep their
viewpoint and listen them properly (Choi, ChanK and Yue, 2016). It makes individuals
feel valuable part of the company and retains them prolong time in the organization.
Delegating leadership style follows by operational manager to assign number of
tasks between staff so that they perform their task individually within timeline. Thus,
operational management perform effectively maintains healthy working environment for
the staff in the Primark. They also enable to improve brand image in the business
market through the situational leadership styles. There are several drawbacks of
situational leadership such as operational manager can affect Primark with this type
leadership because here managers adapt different type of leadership styles according
situation that often leads complication for the manager to perform their tasks. Currently
organization has aim to achieve high brand image in the business market and gains
competitive advantage from the competitors i.e. Tesco, Asda and others. whereas this
kind leadership gives high contribution in the following situations (Fettermann and et.al.,
2018).
System leadership
A set of skills or potentials that uses by individuals to catalyse, enable and
supports the process of system. It includes collaborative leadership, coalition-building
and system which directs innovation. Such kind leadership style enables leaders to
develop effective working environment whereas employees or individuals can work

productively at numerous levels and fulfil firm’s goal over the time period (Fisher,
Olivares and Staats, 2020). Operational managers of the Primark control the working of
employees and communicate the situation of firm and enables individuals to put efforts
accordingly requirements of the business. With this kind leadership organization easy to
achieve sustainable business performance in the global market. The major drawback of
the leadership is that it has high cost in research and leads slow growth in changes as
result unable to obtain result with defined time frame.
Contingency leadership
This leadership style access on the various situations that arises in the business
while promoting brand in multiple countries. This leadership style supports leaders to
find out best solution for dealing with random issue or case. This approach is used to
find out numerous paths in respect to accomplish all organization’s goals. Itr is one of
the effective and attractive approach that basically depends on matching a leadership
styles with appropriate situations (Gozukara, 2016). It plays essential role in the job
place such as it enables leader to identify challenges and opportunities and assists
them to resolve all issues by following right leadership style. Operational managers
follow this leadership approach in decision-making process so that they can develop
objectives for meeting organization’s mission over the time period. This leadership has
less trained and unskilled staff that causes leaders unable to take right decision for the
random issues which is major drawback of leadership approach.
P4 Key approaches of operation management and roles of leader and manager that
play
There are various approaches that are used by the operational management to
get optimum results. These approach supports in evaluating the situation in the firm and
takes action accordingly. Approaches are described as follows:
Just in Time Inventory
This method is specially organized to focus on production process or delivering
process. It is quite effective approach that is used by operational management to
maintain inventory in optimized quantity that fulfil targeted users’ objectives. With this

approach, operational managers enable to obtain the expected result which has sated
earlier in planning. It helps to reduce high wastage of resource and uses them wisely to
maximize profitability in the company (Jansen and et.al., 2016). Whereas leader
enables their staff members to utilize resource in optimized manner by offering training
class. It helps individuals to learn how to use each resource effectively while
manufacturing product so that quality can retained for long time. The major drawback of
the approach is that it focuses only production process instead of output quantity. It
causes productivity of products reduces and unable to give high availability of products
to the customer.
TQM
It is another approach that helps operational management in planning to achieve
high profitability and competitive advantage from the competitors. The main objective of
the approach is to earn high profit in the firm in predefined time. Operational managers
of the Primark use this method to set time frame of planning so that gets desirable
outcomes in the company (Körösényi, Illés and Metz, 2016). With the approach,
managers maintain quality along with price of products and services which are offered
by Primark. The major drawback of this approach is that it has strict time frame that
causes unable to focus other business activities. To use this approach needs expertise
of manager then they can generate profit in the firm.
Lean Production
It is best approach for the constant improvement in production process and use
to get best output in the firm. There are various factors that impacts outputs positively
such as reduces wastage is one of the important factors that automatically improves
quality of outputs in the business (Majukwa and Haddud, 2016). To reduce wastage
needs effective selection of resource which can implement effectively according to it’s
capacity and potential. Operational management uses this method in the production
process that declines wastage of inputs and improves quality of products effectively.
Managers and leaders of the Primark aware their staff about resources that how to use
resource efficiently and declines the wastage of input. This approach enhances the

productivity of the staff’s working and assist them to improve their skills properly. It is
quite costly process because it requires continuous development in the products or
production process as result create uncertainty and complexity for the staff while
working in workplace. It requires high maintenance while using this approach in the firm
(Merigó and Yang, 2017).
Roles of manager
Manager plays essential role in the organization such as recruits highly skilled
and talented applicant and appoints them for the vacant seats. Manager has main goal
of the recruitment strategy is to put right talent in the right place at the right time. To
manage resource effectively uses right skills by managers according their skills and
potential. Manager oversees all business activities so that easy to complete all tasks on
time and achieves desirable outcomes in the firm.
Role of leaders
The main role of the leader is to understand needs and expectation of employees
for the job and motivates them by fulfilling their objectives accordingly. They have to
work on promoting the potential and productivity of the staff and train them through
employee orientation program. This program is specially designed to develop skills in
individuals as per organization’s needs. Leaders monitors performance of staff which
they perform in working while dealing with tasks and supports those employees who
have skills but unable to apply effectively (Nair and Reed‐Tsochas, 2019). Thus, leader
builds base of staff and makes them enable to achieve rewards in the firm.
P5 Significance and values of operational management to achieve objectives of
business
Operational management is the procedure or function of the business which is
responsible for supplying of goods and services along with limited timeline. This
approach assists in effectively transform raw material or input into finished product or
output and services as result expected outcomes can be given to the consumer of the
company. The main goal of the Primark is to generate high profit margin by offering high
quality products and services to the customers. So, it can be quoted that there has more

importance and values of operational management in the Primark to achieve it’s goals
and objectives as described below:
Increase profitability
Operational manager plays effective role in the organization because they
concern for the organizational productivity as well as performance. Therefore, managers
utilizes resources and maintains standards of final products and services as result
enable to improve profitability and market share of company in the competition market.
Operational managers introduce various training and development program in the
organization so that individuals enable to adapt change and supports to achieve one of
the main objective profitability in efficient manner (Pärn, Edwards and Sing, 2017).
Whereas leaders of the Primark also perform effective role towards enhancing
profitability and encourages staff to put more efforts in their working performance which
helps to achieve goals over the time period.
Influence operation production efficiency
It is another objective of the Primark that demonstrates high values and
significance of operation management in the business and supports to achieve
organization’s objectives. Operational manager personally supervises and monitors
performance of staff to analyse that their performance is sufficient or not to meet
organization’s requirement. It finds recent trends and improvement in technology which
can be apply in managerial operations so that overall wastage of raw material or final
products can reduce and maintains quality of products effectively. In contrast, leader
supports operational management to motivate staff to accept numerous external
environmental changes as result firm can achieve competitive advantage properly.
Build strong brand image of Primark
Operational management maintains effectiveness of operations by supervising all
activities of business which helps to lead sustainability in the firm. Managers of Primark
manage their operation management effectively and builds good brand image of
corporation in retail sector. Operation manager constantly lead innovation and creative

style to produce and supplies goods and services to the customer so that it enables to
satisfy needs and preferences of the customer beyond their expectation. While leaders
of Primark give high contribution by coordinating all efforts of different employees
towards common objectives which helps organization to meet it’s commitment and
influences purchasing behaviour of existing customers and new customers as in the
company. However, organization offers loyalty card to the customer who always buy
products from the particular firm that make them feel valuable for the company and
encourages them to stay in a brand instead of others (Suhardi, Juhriyah and
Hardhienata, 2019)
Optimum utilization of available resources
Operational management gives high contribution to fulfil this objective in the firm
such as it supports in optimum utilisation of available resources by declining quantity of
wastage of time, efforts and cost. To overcome the issues finds out different methods by
manager that can save time and energy of employees and they can focus on other
business activities. While leaders play effective role in the objective by proving proper
guidance and directing that supported in saving time and energy of staff members and
reduces chances of human errors and defects. So, it can be stated that operational
management and leaders support company to achieve it’s objectives in predefine time.
P6 Different factors of business environment that impact over operational management
and decision-making of leader and manager
There are several factors i.e. culture, organizational structure, ethical practices,
satisfaction of stakeholders needs and availability of resources which promotes
operation management of Primark. Operational manager and leaders make decision
based on the external factors and implements successfully so that organization can
grow and sustain in the business market. Factors are:
Organizational culture
Primark has good organization culture because it promotes friendly and
supportive working environment in the workplace which promotes individuals to work
effectively and can perform their tasks perfectly (Thomé, Scavarda and Scavarda,

2016). Operational manager of Primark company develops creative working
environment for the staff whereas they create creativity and transform into reality in term
of innovation of new technology or products. Operational manager ensures that staff get
such kind working environment which motivates them to give productive performance. in
addition, employees can work in team as coordinating team and puts their all efforts
towards achieving common goal. While leader of the Primark supports individuals in the
workplace to improve their weak area and encourages them to give high performance at
the job place. Leader also assures that staff have strong relationship with each other
and eliminates conflicts between them by giving two-way communication channel so
that they can give productive performance. Apart from this, Leader and operational
manager works together to take appropriate decision to keep hope that they get
expected outcomes in the organization. Thus, both leader and operational manager
perform different functions but keeps common goal to lead sustainable business
performance in the competitive environment.
Availability of resources
Operational manager keeps control on utilization of resources and ensures that
efficient resources are available in the company so that staff members can use these
resources to achieve their task without delaying. When resources are limited in the
business environment, in that situation operational manager use different tactics/tools to
decline high wastage of resources and optimize utilization of them so that maintain
quality of the final products. these final products can deliver to the final customer or
users for consuming perspective. Leaders also plays effective role in the organization
when availability of resource are limited, in that situation they make better plan to
effective utilization of resources so that it can generate maximize profit and sustain in
business environment.
Preference and needs of customers
It is one of the most important changing factors of the business environment
which impacts operational management such as when customer trends change as
result it has to manufacture and supply those products which meets their objectives.

Constantly change in customer trends often lead uncertainties in the business
operation. Primark’s manager decides to launch organic products along with varieties so
that individuals can buy these products as per their requirement. Company focuses that
today’s world people become more concerning for their health perspective. So,
customers expect such organic food products which improves their health and reduces
negative impact biological factor. With deep research of market helps to understand
customer’s concern and their desires for the food and it’s services. operational manager
has planned to launch organic food products which meets customer’s objective and will
support to gain differentiate positioning in business market (Wang, 2016). So, manager
organizes training and development program for the staff which helps to improve a set
of skills and influence their working efficiency in the workplace. These skills help staff to
manufacture organic foods that fulfil customers’ needs. While leader directs staff to
perform numerous activities properly as result receive profitable outcomes in the
organization.
Development in technology
Operational management of the Primark have to change it’s technology in
respect of current trends in the business environment so that organization can influence
customers’ shopping experience by offering best shopping technology services.
Currently online marketing platform becomes more famous for the shopping
perspective, so organization decides to offers home delivery services to the customer
which impacts on selling revenue of the company positively. In addition, online
marketing improves engagement of customers with the company as well as builds good
relationship with them. At the same time, leader makes plan to motivate staff to apply
innovative techniques or accept change by introducing rewards strategy which improves
overall productivity and market share of the business effectively.
CONCLUSION
It has been summarized different roles and responsibilities of leaders and
manager in the report. Different theories and models of approach, comprises situational
leadership, system leadership and contingency leadership theory can be concluded in

report. It provided understanding about significance of operational managers and
leaders in the organization such as management functions improved profitability and
efficiency of the organization as result raised goodwill of the company in the business
market. It has been summarized that operational managers and leaders performed
numerous functions accordingly situation and resolved all complicated challenges
effectively. Leader has different leadership skills and qualities to promote employees to
work in efficient manner so that achieved qualitative outcomes properly. In the last
report has been discussed about value of operational management in the
successfulness of Primark’s objectives.

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