Management and Operations: Leadership, Roles and Approaches Report

This report delves into the intertwined domains of leadership, management, and operational strategies within the context of a business organization, specifically referencing Marks & Spencer (M&S). The report begins by differentiating the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers, emphasizing their significance in driving organizational success. It then examines the situational application of leadership and management principles, highlighting the impact of their skills on business performance. The report further explores various leadership theories, including the situational and systematic leadership approaches, to analyze their suitability in different contexts. Key approaches to operations management are discussed, underscoring their importance in enhancing productivity and efficiency. The report also covers the factors within the business environment that influence operational management. Overall, the report provides a comprehensive overview of these critical aspects of business operations, offering valuable insights into effective management practices and strategies.

MANAGEMENT AND
OPERATIONS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
TASK 1 ...........................................................................................................................................4
P1 Roles and characteristics of a leader and manager................................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
P2 Examination of the role of a leader and function of a manager in different situations..........6
P3 Different theories and models of approach of leadership......................................................7
TASK 3 ..........................................................................................................................................8
P4 key approaches to operations management............................................................................8
P5 Importance and value of operations management.................................................................9
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................10
P6 Factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management.........10
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Operational management is an integral part of business-organization. The way
organisation build its strategies and implementing the same will define their standings in terms of
their rivals. Managers and leaders are like backbone of business. They perform various roles and
functions to make an enterprise get edge over its rivals. Management and operations are branches
of business. Operations manager are always concerned about managing resources, and building
efficient operational system. A leader is concerned about motivating employees and boosting
their morale to get best results from them. M&S is a British MNC, headquartered in London. The
serve customers by offering Clothing, food products and various kinds of home products.
Managing such a vast organization is very difficult. Management and operations are critical for
every business. A manager has to perform various managerial functions such as planning,
organizing, staffing, directing and controlling. While leader always try to get best work from
workers. This overall help to satisfy existing customers and attract new one.
TASK 1
P1 Roles and characteristics of a leader and manager
A leader and manager are handy terms in business. They perform various important roles
in M&S and often regarded as life blood of an enterprise. A manager is one who perform various
managerial functions of planning, organising, staffing, directing and controlling. They ensure
day to day work gets done in specified time frame, and also managing activities of others. They
have more directive and controlling kind of approaches. They are responsible for performance of
business organisation. M&S is one of the largest retailing enterprise, managers have to take
several decisions in making business effective. A leader is one who possess leadership skills.
They are born with skills. These skills can never be created by efforts. They engage in boosting
or charging up employees to perform well. This helps in attaining goals and objectives of
enterprise. A leader always sets an example in front of its subordinates as how to work and create
competitiveness in business.
Meaning of a leader and its characteristics
A leader is a person who possess leadership skills. He is one of the main pillar of
business. M&S always give emphasis on leadership skills. He is responsible for enhancing
efficiency and productivity of employees. They direct employees in their tasks, regularly drive

and motivate them. They also focused on change. Good leadership is not easy to learn hence it is
said that leaders are born not created. They recognise improvement areas in human resources and
activities perform by them. The main basis of leadership is the personal qualities of an
individuals. They build trust among people and inspire them. They have followers who inspired
from their work.
Characteristics of a leader
Vision- A leader is one who always have definite target in mind. They make all possible
efforts to reach there. A leader is engaged in boosting up their employees to perform to their
level best. They sets an example in front of its followers.
Communication abilities- A leader has one of the best way to influence others by their
attitude, thinking, confidence level and communication. They generally make their followers get
inspiration from them.
Creativity- They are creative people and give more consideration on innovation. A
leader always inspire their followers to be innovative and creative and drive business towards
success.
Inspiring abilities- They have power to influence behaviour of people at work. A leader
is engaged in finding weak areas of improvement in human resources and activities. They
implement strategies to tackle them which help in eliminating them.
Meaning of a manager and its characteristics
Good management is critical to the success of M&S. Today M&S is one of the successful
organisation because of its managers. A manager perform managerial functions and take
important business decisions.
Characteristics of a manager
Discipline- Discipline are important in business to work smoothly. A manager always
foster discipline in business-organization. They relies on controlling business fuctions.
Decision making- They take important decision in business. There decisions are vital
and defines competitiveness of business-organization. They plan and implement best strategies to
gain advantage in market.
Commitment- These people are highly committed towards their work. There efforts
make business firm survive. They focuses on system and structure of firm to help firm achieve
its goals.

TASK 2
P2 Examination of the role of a leader and function of a manager in different situations
The role of a leader and manager are act as a pillar of M&S. An enterprise succeed
because of its leaders and managers. The way in which organisation deals with different
situations showcase their competitiveness. The skills and abilities that both managers and leaders
possess have severe impact on performance of business. A manager is responsible for effective
decisions and managerial functions while leader is one who inspire their followers. Delegation of
responsibilities to individual according to their knowledge and skills are important.
Involvement- It is the main work of a manager and leader to involve people in various
aspects of business. M&S engaged in making their human resources committed towards work
assigned. They should be dedicated towards their tasks. In the same way organisation will
perform well. Various strategies are being build and implemented. Effective implementation of
these strategies in various departments are necessary. For example- M&S is introducing
performance rewards for employees. Finance department should seek how much will be related
expenditure in such methods. Human resource department have to forwards names of employees
who are performing well. A manager should supervise them effectively.
Interest- Every individual should be assigned work according to their knowledge and
skills they possess. Implementing new strategies in business firm is always difficult. Manager
and leader plays a critical role in effectively implementing new policies and strategies. Such
situational contexts are important. A good decision with regards to encourage and training
employees will make business firm competitive enough to achieve their goals and objectives.
Monitoring- Effective implementation of strategies will require massive amount to be
spent on monitoring functions of every department working. They have to supervise different
work performed by employees. It is an important role of a leader to evaluate monitoring system.
They should have to analyse the information collected and make necessary timely changes to
make them effective.
Directing- Direction of employees towards right direction is an essence. An organisation
should give more consideration on directing activities. If an employee is working but not
effective enough or towards wrong direction. It is of no use. Thus, manager role is quite
important in smooth functioning of operations. For example- A firm is focusing on newer ways

to create products. If an employees is not applying the same and using obsolete technology of
production. His work is just useless with regard to firm.
Next step- Implementing strategies is vital and generally done in phases. Each phase is of
utmost importance as next step cannot be applied before fulfilment of first phase. Planning of
strategies are of no use if implementation is not effective. This contributes to success of firm.
P3 Different theories and models of approach of leadership
A leader is an individual who possess leadership skills. A leadership plays a critical role
in influencing behaviour of people at work. They continuously charge up their workers to
improve performance for firm. Different leadership theories will help administration to analyse
which is best suitable approach in given situational context. This contributes in accomplishment
of organisational goals. Some of the major theories of leadership can be described as under-
Situational Leadership approach- Situational Leadership approach helps leader to take
necessary steps in right time. An individual who possess leadership skills are leaders of firm.
They have vision in their mind and try to accomplish those targets within definite time frame.
They have to seek possible outcomes of a given situation and analyse them effectively. It
contributes to lead from front and influence their followers. The situational leadership approach
considers various leadership styles based on situations. A firm faces numerous situation and
effective planning is needed to deal with contingencies, hence also termed as contingency model.
The leadership under such approach has four styles i.e. Telling, Selling, Participating and
Delegating. Telling style consider Instructions and guidelines as the main tool of leader. Selling
style give emphasis on two way communication (Zurich, 2017). In participating style, followers
give their opinions and suggestions while Delegating style of leadership is dependable on
assigning of responsibilities to subordinates.
 S1- Telling
 S2- Selling
 S3- Participating
 S4- Delegating
There are levels of development that determines effective leadership style.
 High competence, High commitment
 Low competence, High commitment
 High competence, Variable commitment

 Some competence, Low commitment
This overall showcase what leadership style is of best fit in given situational context
based on leadership approaches and development levels of subordinates.
Systematic leadership- It is one of the main approaches of leadership. Generally such
leadership is based on the aspect of systematic working. Effective organisational structure is
necessary for taking importing decisions and also for reporting purpose. A business firm will
function smoothly with its various divisions (Sheu, 2010). Every division should have clear
targets. Employees under different aspects of organisation know their roles and responsibilities.
Thus, contributes to achievement of goals and objectives.
TASK 3
P4 key approaches to operations management
Operations management contributes to competitiveness in business. It is the management
of practices to creative effective level of productivity. It gives emphasise on optimum utilisation
of business resources. Every firm has limited number of resources to use. Converting materials
and resources into output as efficiently as possible is the main motive to improve overall
profitability. The operations management team balances revenue and cost to generate best
possible outcomes. M&S is a largest multinational organisation serving areas worldwide.
Smooth functioning of various operations will help business to provide quality products and
services to its customers. A firm can able to create value in market only by satisfy customer
through their innovative variety of products. Making existing consumers loyal and attracting new
one to maximise organisational profitability. Operations management helps to develop abilities
to resolve operations related problems and issues. Operations management is the heart of
business. It helps in making improvements in various aspects of business organization. Different
divisions of business also work effectively and efficiently with operational management.
Generally it covers all the activities performed in a firm (O'Fallon and Rutherford, 2011). To
maintain level of products and services is the key. M&S follow various strategies to make
functioning smoother. These activities help business to achieve its goals which in turn create
value for firm. The various roles played by leader are as follows-

Motivation- A leader plays a very crucial role in inspiring its followers. He boost up the
morale of employees and influence the behaviour of people at work. This helps in operation
management of business-organization.
Guidance- A leader continuously guide and instruct its followers and make them
effective and productive. Guiding improve the weak areas of performance and it will result in
accomplishment of targets in stipulated time.
The various roles played by a manager are as follows-
Coordination- A manager always try to make coordination among various activities of
business. This in turn help to achieve targets in specific time frame. Ensuring that different
aspects are running as per standard are key to success (Krajewski, Ritzman and Malhotra, 2013).
Healthy environment- A manager always try to build coordination and cooperation
among employees. The process of interpersonal interactions and having healthy environment in
business is needed for smooth functioning of operational activities.
Training and development activities- A manager arrange training and development
activities of individuals working in a firm. M&S consider such activities as essence of
management. To achieve optimum utilisation of resources, workers should be trained and
groomed as an individual with knowledge and skills.
There are basically two approaches that M&S apply to have smoothness in operational
activities are as follows-
Lean management- This is one of the approach of management used by most of the firm
to achieve higher productivity with minimum use of resources. Optimum utilisation of limited
resources is the key (Hill and Hill, 2012).
TQM- Total Quality management focuses on quality in performing various operations. It
helps in providing quality products and services to ultimate customers. Improvement in quality
of processes used for production is also one of the objective.
P5 Importance and value of operations management
Operation management is of utmost importance for business concern. Every firm has
limited resources and efficient use of same is necessary to achieve higher productivity. Also
making customers satisfied by facilitating them with quality products and services is necessary.
Operations management give emphasis on effectively managing various processes to produce

and distribute products and services. It helps M&S to add value which results in profitable
output. The importance and value of operations management are as follows-
Quality of products and services- Operations management helps in improving quality
of products and services provided to customers. This make them happier and loyal. Obviously if
a firm is providing better quality of goods and services, consumers will get attracted and results
in increased profitability (Heizer, 2016). Following TQM approach also help in attaining quality.
Resource management- Every firm has limited resources to use. Operations
management helps in utilisation of those resources in a best possible manner. Lean production
can be one of the best example of effective resource management. M&S is a vast firm in retailing
sector. Resource management is an integral part of business. Thus, operation management
provide such advantage to firm.
Finance management- Finance management is needed to meet out various expenditures
of business. It helps in identifying revenues and prepare budgets accordingly. This contribute to
control cost. Every enterprise build budgets to manage financial resources. Management of
shorts falls or deficit is also required (Hamilton, Holub and Blunt, 2011). A firm should have to
go with the budgets and if find any deviations, corrective measures are to be taken.
Coordination- Operations management helps to create coordination among various
aspects of business. This results in working as a system and achieve targets. M&S serve
worldwide area, thus coordination among various division is necessary for smooth functioning.
Innovation- Operations management foster innovation in production processes, products
and services. Since operation management is concerned about all aspects of business. This helps
to improve effectiveness in operational activities.
Achievement of goals and objectives- Operation management helps in smooth
functioning of business components. This make every division to work effectively and efficiently
and overall contributes to achieve organisational goals and objectives (Dekker, Bloemhof and
Mallidis, 2012).
TASK 4
P6 Factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management
The environment in which a firm is working is dynamic. There are various factors that
highly impact smooth functioning of business activities and decision making by managers. A

firm needs to build appropriate strategies and implement them to the best possible way. In order
to survive in highly competitive market full of rivals, enterprise has to think differently that make
them ahead of others. Also managing strengths and weaknesses of business is crucial. The
factors that impact operational management and decision making of managers and leaders are
political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, Competition and Environmental. The details
of such factors are as follows-
Political factors- M&S have operations in various part of globe. Nation government
have their own set of rules and regulations to be followed by corporates. These are also called as
do and don't for firm (Chiarini and Vagnoni, 2015). M&S Company have created their goodwill
because of their CSR activities . But government approval on same have impacted their activities
in a huge way.
Economic factors- M&S have impacted with various price cuts by rivals. Inflation rates,
employment in a nation are some of the economic factors. Changes in economic conditions will
affect purchasing power of customers. Thus, important to analyse economy in both short and
long term. Also expenditure on purchasing inputs will impact prices of outputs.
Socio-cultural factors- Social factors have severe effect on operations of business. These
are the factors that one cannot control directly. Trends in social factors influence demand of
products and services offered by M&S. An enterprise work for fulfilment of society needs. Every
nation have their own set of culture and designing products and services according to those
nations are important.
Technological factors- Technological factors have impacted business operations. M&S
is also influenced with technological up gradation in market. Consumers are now technologically
focused and prefer online mode of purchasing. Since technology up gradation finds newer ways
to produce products and services (Brandon and Mullan, 2013). Adapting newer technology is
important otherwise results in failure of business.
Legal factors- There are certain legal issues from which company have to deal with.
Legislation is of utmost concern for organisation like M&S which serve world wide. Legislations
are always changing. Disobeying the same will result in wind up of business. Changes in tax
procedure and practices are also important from business point of view (Barratt, Choi and Li,
2011).

Competition- The environment in which M&S is working is dynamic. There are lots of
competitors present in market and adopting newer strategies to have edge over others. M&S is
successful today because of its strategies that have been adopted and implemented. These
strategies will definitely put organization in most favourable situation.
Environmental factors- Environment factors are needed to be considered. Even
government are also more concerned about environmental factors (Alderton and Saieva, 2013).
There should not be exploitation of resources. Business operations should not affect environment
of a nation. M&S is successful by facilitating quality products and services to ultimate
consumers (Akkerman, Farahani and Grunow, 2010). They are also one of the sustainable brand
in market.
CONCLUSION
By this report, it has been concluded that management and operations are important for
any business organisation. Management is an art. It also include process of directing for day to
day functioning of business. Operations involves all the business activities performed by a firm.
Managers and leaders are act as a backbone or pillars of M&S. M&S is a multinational
organisation serve various nations. Management and operations of such vast business is difficult
to handle. A manager is responsible for managerial functions while leader is engaged in inspiring
and charging up subordinates to perform well. This overall contribute to achieve organisational
goals within stipulated time.