Leadership, Management, Operations: Next Plc, Semester Report

This report delves into the realms of leadership and management, elucidating the distinct roles and characteristics of leaders and managers. It explores their functions within an organizational context, using Next Plc as a case study to illustrate practical applications. The report examines how leaders and managers navigate different situational contexts, such as rapid change and ineffective communication, and the roles they play in these scenarios. Furthermore, it provides an overview of various leadership theories and models, including system leadership theory and situational leadership theory, to offer a comprehensive understanding of effective leadership approaches. The report highlights the significance of operations management in maintaining daily activities within a company, and how effective management can utilize resources efficiently. The report also emphasizes how leadership and management impact business operations and organizational outcomes.

Management &
Operations

eadership, systems leadership and contingency.

INTRODUCTION
Management refers to a procedure of administrating, organising and controlling business
actions and functions in proper way. So that the management of the organisation can run its
business concern actions in an effective and efficient mode. Operation management refer to the
process of managing those process and actions which are performed by the company to operate
its business in a specific industry (Gillen, Jacquillat, and Odoni, 2016). It is important for the
company because with the assistance of it they can maintain and manage their daily activities.
With the effective management, the company can administrate its resources like capital, human
resource, suppliers and others who make their contribution in effective running of business. This
report is based on Next Plc which is a British multinational clothing, footwear and home
products retailer. This firm was incorporated in 1982 by Joseph Hepworth and headquartered in
Leicestershire, England UK. This report will explain roles and functions of manager & leaders
and roles of them in different situations. Furthermore, define key approaches to operations
management and the components that affect determination devising of leaders and
administrators.
TASK 1
P1. Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager
Leader- It refers to a person who is responsible to direct, guide and able to make control
on a team to encourage workforce in accomplishing a common goal of the company. Leader set a
vision to the employees and communicate to them so that they can do their work and perform
their task by considering vision. The individual is committed to the purpose and motivate
employees to attain the common goal of the team.
Roles of leader
Visionary- Leader play and effective role by setting vision to the employees when
employee perform in a group or team (Chevalier and et. al., 2015). In Nest Plc, the individual set
a vision to the workforce when they are performed regarding a specific task so that they can do
their work as per the vision and compete it in set time duration by attaining desired outcomes.
Motivation- It is an another effective role of leaders. The person encourage employees
when they feel demotivate by inspiring real life example and organising motivational sessions. In
Next Plc, when the management adopt new technology and employees do not ready to adopt it.
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Then, leader provide training and development sessions so that they can feel motivated and do
their by getting information about the use of particular techniques.
Characteristics of leader
Effective communicator- It is an effective quality of leader because at the performing
their duties, they make good communication with the employees so that they aware with the
issues of the employees (David and David, 2016). With the help of it, they can resolve their
issues on time. In Next Plc, leader communicate and share all the relevant information to the
workforce so that the chances of misunderstanding can be minimise and the work can be
complete in better way.
Confidence- It is another trait of leader that they should confident so that they can take
take correct decision in different situations. In Next Plc, leader is very confident about their
decisions because of this workforce follow their decisions and they also ensured what they
doing.
Manager- It indicates to person and individual who is responsible to manage, organise and
control business activities and functions. So that the company can run its business in more
efficacious manner. A manager is responsible designed plans and polices, recruit and fire
workers of organisation.
Roles of Manager-
Resource allocator- It is a crucial role of a manager that in a company the person is
accountable to provide resources as per requirement. In Next Plc, manager of the organisation
play an efficacious role by provide needed resources like finance, human resource, equipments
and others so that the workers can do their work in more impressive way.
Spokesperson- It is another role which is played by the administrator in a company. They
needed to present their ideas, plan, polices, act, laws and others on the behalf of the company so
that all the workforce aware with them (Fu and Wnuk, Red Hat Inc, 2015). In Next plc, when the
company make change in its rules , regulation, frame new policies and other information related
to company, manager of the organisation communicate regarding it to all the staff members.
Characteristics of Manager-
Time management- It is an effective characteristic of manager that come to office on
time so that employees also analyse and understand that it not acceptable to also be late. In Next
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Plc, manager set time duration for specific task so that they can do their work in proper way or
complete it on granted time duration.
Organisation- It is another effective quality and trait of manager because they are
responsible to manage and administrate of actions and operations, resources and others. In Next
Plc, the person organise all the resources of the organisation so that business concern of the
company can operate in proper manner (Radnor and et. al., 2015). They also allocate work and
task to employees as per their skills and knowledge so that they can do them in accurate manner
or set time frame.
Comparison between leader and manager
Basis Leader Manager
Meaning The person who have the
ability of leading, guiding,
directing and motivating
employees so that they can do
their work proper manner.
The individual who is
responsible to administrating,
directing and controlling a
group of people and more than
one for the motive of achieving
a goal.
Personality style Leaders are risk take, decision
maker, good communicator
and consist different styles.
Mangers are problem solver,
analyser, organiser and
controller etc.
Focus Leader concentrate on people
and team member that how
they perform their work.
Manger focus on process and
procedure that employees work
by considering specific
process.
Objective The purpose of leaders are to
accomplish growth and
development.
Manager work for achieving
for needed outcomes.
Transformation leadership theory- This concept is beneficial to organisation because, leader
adopt different leadership style as per the situations (Nakagawa, NEC Corp, 2015). So that they
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can do their work in effective manner and encourage workers to execute their work and assigned
work as the situation. It will assist in exploding net profit and productivity of the company.
Classical management theory- This theory supported values and beliefs of employees who
requires economic and physical resources. If the management of the company apply this concept
then then the social needs of the employees does not consider within it (Venkat and et. al., 2015).
It is effective concept because in it, the management only concerned about productivity of the
company rather than other needs of employees.
TASK 2
P2. Role of a leader and function of a manager apply in different situational context
Manager and leader are effective determinant of a business and they perform for the
improvement of the business of the organisation. In Next Plc, leaders and administrators play
effective role in various situations. Some of them are defined as beneath:
Rapid change- It refers to the situation when changes are occurred in the specific sector
on continuous basis and due to those changes the organisation also make modifications in its
business. When the situation of fast change occurred in the organisation, employees are not ready
to adopt modifications in easy manner. Then, in this situation leaders and mangers play and
effective role so that workforce adopt these changes in easy manner. For example, in Next plc,
the situation of rapid change arise due to change in consumer needs and company adopt new
technology to fulfil the needs of their potential clients. In this situation leader provide training,
learning and development sessions so that they can make developments and increment in their
skills. With the help of it they can get information about the new technology and use of it. The
leader conduct motivational sessions so that they can encourage workforce to adopt these
changes in easy manner. Manger play effective role in term of supporting leader and provide
financial and other resources to leader so that the activities which is performing by the person
can be conduct properly.
Ineffective communication- It refer to an unhealthy workplace where there is not
effectiveness communication and employees are not aware with all things an activities of the
company. When this kind of situation arise in the company leaders and managers play different
important roles (Reid and Sanders, 2015). In Next Plc, when these kind of situation arise and the
level of conflict arise then leaders and make communication to employees so that they can get
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information about their issues and provide resolution on time. The manager of the organisation
can provide effective sources of communications so that all the needed and required information
can be transfer to employees. It will help in minimising unnecessary issues and conflicts among
employees. By making transparency in communication, the leader can deal with this respective
situation of ineffective communication. To make effective communication at workplace, the
administrator of the company can adopt different channels of haring information like email,
memo, chat box and others. So that all the relevant information can be transfer to all employees.
The manager of respective company can organise decision making process and provide chance to
make participation to employees so that they can discuss their complexities and difficulties with
seniors of get resolution on time (Gibson and Parkman, 2018). They can adopt open
communication option which will help in making good relation among employees and employer.
This will beneficial to make proper communication and make good relation.
P3. Different theories and models of approaches
There are several concepts and theories which can be used and adopt by the leaders and
mangers to provide correct direction and guidances to workers so that they can perform their task
in efficacious way to gain maximised level of fulfilment among workforce. In context of Next
Plc., explantation of theories and models are mentioned as below:
System leadership theory- It is related with organising all task and work in systematic
manner by determining workers ability, knowledge and potentiality that assist the organisation to
perform its business concern activities and operation in efficacious way. It will assist the
organisation in sustaining and surviving in competitive marketplace till long term duration. In
Next Plc, by applying this leadership theory, leader can assign work and task as per their skills
and knowledge. So that theyeadership, systems leadership and contingency. can do they work on
time in effective way by achieving its aim.
Strengths- This theory make focus on workforce and objectives or goals of the company
that are efficient for improving level of employees performance as well as company.
Weaknesses- The limitation of this concept is that it is complex in nature and lengthy so
it relates different inter-connected invariables in it.
Situation leadership theory- This leadership theory and concept is formed by Paul
Hersey and Ken Blanchard in 1970. This concept states that leader should accept leadership style
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as per the situation of the company (Roda and Macchi, 2016). So that they can motivate
employees to work in that situation. This theory explains four main leadership approaches:
Telling- It is the first approach which is directive and autocratic approach in which
leaders make decisions and direct workforce that what should they do.
Selling- In this leadership approach, leader is decision maker but they make discussion
with the employees rather than guiding and directing them simply.
Participating- It is as democratic approach in which leader make discussion with team
members then take decisions.
Delegating- In this leadership approach, leader provide the responsibility of decision
making to group members but they oversees and analyse the work of them.
In Next Plc, the leader of the company can adopt this model of leadership so that with the
help of it, they can take decision as per the situation (Hitt, Xu, and Carnes, 2016). It is a flexible
and adaptive leadership style which intends attitudes of leaders towards the organisation's
situation. With the assist of this concept, they can make better plan and strategies without
impacting morale and values of workforce.
Strengths- If the leader implement this theory then the person can improve and increase
determination devising ability which help them to create a effective workplace where employees
can perform their roles and responsibilities in effective manner.
Weaknesses- This leadership theory can not be good for those compands which follow
task oriented environment it mainly concentrate on intimidate requirement of consumers rather
than long period demands.
Contingency leadership theory- This model of leadership is framed by Fred Fiedler to identify
skills, knowledge, abilities, competencies in the workforce of a company. In Next plc, this
concept can be used and implement by the leader to motivate and inspire workers so that they
can do their work and task in more efficient way by attaining its aims and objectives. It is
beneficial to leaders because it provide a extent of ways to respond to issues, it will also help in
giving them significant discretion in their determination devising.
Strengths- This theory helps leaders to proactive rather than reactive that indicate in
implementing effective evaluation to maximise productivity of the company.
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Weaknesses- This concept is not able to motivate employees because there is lack of
innovation (Adebiyi, Oyatoye and Amole, 2016). In this concept, there is lack of literature
sources that generate complexity among leader regarding resolving problems.
Chos theory- this concept states that at certain points of time the marks undergo certain changes
and disturbances which can be related to global economic showdown or change in consumer
changes or recession in the market. It refers that the company must able to adopt the changes
which are rapidly occurred in the market.
This concept is beneficial because it is easy to change as the company gets adaptable in
nature. It is effective and able to adjust in different situation cause of flexibility of the company.
The drawback of it is that there is no clear overview of what changes has to be adapted within
and what time.
TASK 3
P4. Key approaches to operations management and the role of leaders and managers
There are various approaches to operations management that can be use and implement
by the management of the company. In context of Next Plc, there are several operations
management approaches that can be apply in the firm, are characterized as below:
TQM(Total Quality Management)- It is known as the activity that have a goal and objective
for the effective development of the business (Slack and Brandon-Jones, 2018). TQM is a
process which is organised regular basis to minimise the conflicts and problems in
manufacturing activity. Therefore, it also develop the demands and supply in an appropriate
manner and the administrator of Next Plc can make concentration on making development in
production activity to mange and main the demand an supply of the organisation.
Roles of leaders- In context of maintaining TQM, leaders play an efficacious role in
context of motivate and encourage workforce to complete the allotted work in set time duration.
Leader focus on creating efficacious workplace so that workers can perform their roles and
responsibilities in more efficacious manner.
Roles of managers- The manger play an effective role for efficacious development and
success of organisation. The administrator of the company hire skilled and knowledgable
workforce so that the process of production can be run in effective manner and the employees
make their contribution in growth and success of the company.
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Just in time- It is explained as a plan of action which maximises efficiency and minimises
wastages in production process by offering products when they are required. It helps in
minimising the storage space of the company as the products are stored at the time of their
utilisation. In Next Plc, if the administration of the respective organisation follow and use this
approach of operation management then it assist in decreasing wastages from manufacturing
process in term of producing products as per requirement. It will also help in decreasing
production cost and managing inventory.
Roles of leaders- The leader play an effective role by assuring that the products and
goods are produced by using effective manufacturing process and there is not wasted more
resources (Bromiley and Rau 2016). The leader ensure that employees are aware with their roles
and responsibilities.
Roles of managers- The manager of respective company play an effective role by
making effective management of raw material so that goods can be produce on time. They make
good relation with suppliers so that they supply needed material on time.
Continuous improvement or Kaizen- It is an operation management approach which is used by
companies to to develop business functions. The primary aim of this approach is to reduce
wastages in all systems of the firm by developing standardised actions and processes (Bazargan,
2016). In Next plc, if the administration of the organisation implement it in operation
management then it can motivate the improvement of the team work and help in accomplishing
higher levels of quality and innovation in business.
Roles of leaders- The leader play an effective role of team designing that which
employees will be in the team in context of performing particular task. They help the team
members in resolving any kind of issues so that the work an task which they perform, will be
complete effectively.
Roles of managers- They work to find out scope of task and assuring that each team
member aware about the work and strategies which is used to do work. They play an effective
role by evaluating the development of the Kaizen group.
Lean production- This system described as simple and systematic method which assists in the
elimination of wastes within a manufacturing system. The implementation opf the lean process in
the production can assist in the operational management of a company by developing he quality
of the product, improving the visual management and increases efficiency in the production
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processes. If nest Plc adopt this method then leader play an effective role by assisting workers to
understand their actual responsibility regarding lean production and providing direction to them
regarding their work. Manager play their role by carrying out the effectiveness of products and
checks so that no useful material are elimineated.
P5. The importance and value of operations management in accomplishing business objectives
The importance and value of operation management in context of attaining business aims
and objectives can be characterized by different operation management function and explantation
of them defined as beneath:
Process design- It is essential for the organisation because it help in creating and
devising manufacturing process of organisation. In Next plc, it is important because it help in
making manufacturing process of goods and services accordant to wants and demands of
customers. It will assist in provide satisfaction to needs of potential clients by supplying products
and services as per their requirement (Hübner, Holzapfel and Kuhn, 2015). If the management
of the respective company produce good as per customer requirement then it will help in
maximising customer base, profit margin ratio and productivity of the firm.
Logistic and inventory- It is an essential utility of the organisation because if the
company will not have efficacious support of logistic and goods then it will not able to fulfil the
needs of it customers by offering goods and services as per their requirement on time. In Next
plc, it help administration to make focus on product management regarding stock of worthless
goods and manufacturing of those products which are not required. It is essential for the
company because it help in minimising wastages of resources and cost of production. With the
assistance of this function, the organisation can manage the production of those goods and
services which are needed in the marketplace. So the company can make their contribution in
fulfilling consumers demand on time.
Control and distribution system- It is an efficacious function in operation management
that help to make control on production activity of the organisation. It is crucial for the
organisation because it is accountable to managing and dominating all the manufacture activity
in context of analysing the allocation of resources which are necessary and required for
production of products (Radnorand Bateman, 2016). The effectiveness of this function can be
developed by accepting a better method and concept to improve distribution infrastructure of the
organisation to attain set objectives of business. With the assistance of it, the management of
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Next plc can manage its production resources effectively and administrate wastages of the cost
and resources.
Management by objective model- it is a model and aims of it its to improve the performance
and productivity of the company by clearing defining the objectives which are agreed both the
employee and the management. In next plc, it is important because management and employees
together create and define the aims objective of the company that they will work on accomplish.
The objectives must be defined in such a way that bit complies with the resource of the
component. With the help of this model the management can set objectives and employees work
as per considering them to accomplish trhe susses of the firm by monitoring at which level they
are able to attain their objectives.
TASK 4
P6. The factors within business environment that affect decision making of leaders and managers
Corporate social responsibility
CSR refers to a type of self regulating business model that helps in integrating an
environmental and social concerns in business operations and interactions with their
shareholders. It is important for company as it improves the morale of an employees that helps in
maximising the profits and also beneficial to customers who lives in the society because they
work as a community welfare. In context of Next Plc, manager ensures that the employees will
follows proper hierarchy level in an organisation so that they easily achieve the task on time with
maximum profit without harming the social environment and this organisation also aim to
deliver support through charitable donations.
Culture- It refers to the knowledge that encompasses norms and social behaviour that
found in human societies. It is a symbolic term which include customs, communication,
knowledge, behaviour, traits of racial and religious of a particular place or an individual people.
Culture drops a major impact on decision making process of manufacturing a product that an
organisation delivers to its society by keeping in view the cultural background of that place
(Gillen, Jacquillat, and Odoni, 2016). In context of Next Plc, they follow the task based culture
that motivates and develops an employee. On the contrary, an organisation firstly learn the
culture of that place where it established and after that modified & design the cloths, footwear to
earn a maximum returns.
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