Leadership and Operational Management at Tesco: A Comprehensive Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership and management practices at Tesco, a multinational retailer. It begins with an introduction to Tesco and then defines and compares the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers, highlighting their common goal of achieving organizational vision. The report differentiates between leadership and management functions using various theories, including Fayol's management functions and John Kotter's leadership theory, illustrating their applications within Tesco. It examines how leaders and managers address challenges such as labor turnover, poor productivity, and task allocation, detailing the strategies employed to resolve these issues. Furthermore, the report explores different leadership theories, including situational, system, and contingency approaches, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. The study concludes with recommendations for future improvements in leadership and operational management, providing valuable insights into Tesco's organizational dynamics and strategies for enhancing effectiveness.

Management and operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK A...........................................................................................................................................1
Brief Introduction of the organisation.........................................................................................1
Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and manager.................1
An Analysis and differentiation between the role of a leader and function of a manager by
applying different theories..........................................................................................................4
Roles of leaders and functions of manager in different situations..............................................5
Different leadership theories that includes situational, system and contingency........................6
Strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to situations.................................................7
Evaluation of different leadership theories.................................................................................8
Recommendation for future improvements................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
TASK B...........................................................................................................................................9
Key operations of the organization.............................................................................................9
Approaches of operational management & their importance and value.....................................9
Business environmental factors that affects operational management & decision-making
process.........................................................................................................................................9
Analyses how different factors that affect the business..............................................................9
Evaluation of ways that leaders & managers can improve operational management
effectiveness................................................................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
This present report is based on Tesco which is a British multinational retailer,
Headquarter of this company is in Welwyn garden City, England and founded by jack Cohen in
1919. This study is going to show different roles & functions of leaders and managers of Tesco
Plc in different situations. Different leadership theories also help them in solving different
problems that occurs at their workplace (De Vos and Cambré, 2017). Roles and characteristics of
leaders and manager differ from each other, but they have a common goal to achieve
organization vision.
TASK A
Brief Introduction of the organisation.
Tesco is the multinational grocery store and commercial store chains in UK and across
the world as well. The founder of Tesco is Jack Cohen who had the idea of creating a grocery
store chain and who went ahead step by making this dream come true. The success behind the
Tesco is its management and selling skills. Once Tesco has started their career goes very
dynamically. Since from starting Tesco has achieved many successes and expand their business
functions into different countries. The USP of Tesco is affordable prices of the product with high
standard quality of services (Ansoff and et.al., 2018). The present plan of the company is to
bring diversified products into its products which include the selling of bio products and the
advocating of healthy list of products which also includes the selling of bio products to make the
customer happy and sustained as long in the market. The further study provides the deep
understanding insight into the supermarket company.
Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and manager.
In within the organization the role of manager and leader are the most important and
essential that brings productive outcomes and opportunities. In other words, leaders and
managers have also played a role to manage the work or lead the team as throughout the running
projects. Leaders are those who inspire other employees within the organisation that also helps to
gain the different opportunity towards the company development (Bratton and Gold, 2017).
Leader who encourage people and enhance their abilities to perform any work. On the other side,
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leader who maintained the positive culture within the workplace environment to make other
motivated and confident.
Particular Leader Manager
Roles  Leader is the person or
a role model that must
be required in every
stage of the
organisation. For
example : At Top level
of Tesco, Leaders are
are required to better
formulate and
maintained cooperation
towards plans and
policies.
 Leaders are the
representative of the
organization
(D’Innocenzo,
Mathieu and
Kukenberger, 2016).
Leader is the
representative of the
company that
represents the concern
at seminars,
conferences etc.
 Leaders of Tesco also
helps to employees to
integrates their
personal goals with
 Manager is the crucial
part within the
organisation that
almost responsible for
managing the work
opportunity and task to
be more normal and
sustaining in within the
business environment.
 Manager at Tesco role
is to monitor the
managing system and
ensuring that all
employees should work
in a systematic manner.
Besides that, it also
helps to develop the
major goals and
opportunity that can
help company to deal
with any challenges.
 Dissemination is the
role of manager in
which manager collects
all information through
means. All such
information or data is
collected by the
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organizational goals. It
makes the business
system normal and
profitable.
 Leaders has always
represent itself as a
friend,as a philosopher
and guide. That must
required to be more
productive and
energetic that required
to be more effective
and influencing.
manager from the
environment.
 Another role of
manager is to be
entrepreneurial which
is innovator who take
initiatives towards the
better places and goals.
Characteristics  Leaders has one special
quality or
characteristics which is
supportive and helpful
kind off nature, that
always needed by an
organisation (Teece,
2016).
 Leaders are honest
towards work, task and
towards their team as
well.
 Leaders have ability to
delegate the work
among employees on
the basis of employees
skills or qualification.
 Managers are decision
decision maker while
the uncertainties
happened within the
organisation.
 Managers having the
good written or oral
communication skills
which must be required
for the business.
 Experience of a manger
helps to gain its
knowledge and skills.
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 Leaders are very much
confident towards their
work that motivates
others.
An Analysis and differentiation between the role of a leader and function of a manager by
applying different theories.
Fayol Management Functions & the role of managers
Planning : Planning is the foremost function of management in which manager
responsible to foresight the vision based on their experience and facts of the company. Planning
bridges the gap between where the company are and where they want to go. According to Fayol
The role of manager in planning is very crucial that also very required at each other functional
level (Kurtessis and et.al., 2017).
Organizing : Once the planning is done, next function of Fayol is organizing the
resources required for the organization development that also motivates the better work
objectives and achieve the business functional task. The main focus of Manager in Organizing to
think how the goal and objectives is going to accomplished. For that some resources are required
like raw material, human resource, capital funds etc.
Commanding : The next function of management is commanding that controls the
management system which is handle by a manager. Manager role is to give instruction to other
employees regarding work.
Coordinating : In this function manager coordinating the activities among other
employees and ensure the proper work system. Managers should coordinates internally and
externally to handled the business.
Controlling : Controlling is the last function of the management in which manager role
is to take follow up the things to examine the work outcomes.
John Kottere Theory & the Role of Leader
 According to John Kottere the main function or role of leader is to focus on change and
try to ensure the better environment and growth. That makes the business more reliable
growth that also makes the business (Northouse, 2018).
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 According to theory leader role is to create a vision for the organization to make the
business more profitable and enlarging.
 Leader role is to communicate with people to motivate them other than guiding as a
manager did.
 According to theory the another role of leader is to motivate and inspires the business
with good environment. However, the business can also helps to get the best opportunity
to deal with the management goals to be more effective and leading.
 The role of leader is to retain the employee retention goals and build-up the good
relationship, To get the better output and performance outcomes.
Roles of leaders and functions of manager in different situations
Tesco is a multinational groceries and provides services in different countries so it is
important for them to manage its brand image and make its business more sustainable. For
accomplishing its organizational it is essential for Tesco Plc to solve all problems and situations
that occurs at its workplace. This company has to face several problems and situations like
interpersonal conflicts, allocation of tasks, poor productivity, staff turnover, absenteeism etc. In
all situations leaders and manager perform several functions and roles for solving effectively.
Labour turnover: Labour turnover means a proportion of an organization workforce that
leaves during their tenure. When employees leave the company that time it decreases the
company's brand image. It has several reasons which make employees bound to leave the
company. Tesco Plc more focuses on their employees and recruiting skilled workforce. In this
situation, leader of this retailer company finds out reasons of turnover and then inform to
manager (Kadiri, Isiaka and Jimoh, 2018). They also try to motivate them by supporting in their
work. On the other hand, manager give them rewards and benefits for motivating them. Manager
believes that there should be a reason behind performing things effectively and motivation is the
best thing and reason of performing productively. They reward them for their excellent
performance in the front of other employees which encourage them and help them in solving this
problem.
Poor productivity: Poor productivity is other main problem which Tesco has to face due
to several reasons. The main reason which is being identified is lack of experienced work force
and non-innovative way of performing. In this situation, the manager of Tesco Plc give training
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to all employees with the main aim of increasing their skills and knowledge. When employees
feel that they have increased knowledge and can perform tasks easily then they lay keen
emphasize on working more productively. Leader on the other side, guide them and try to make
them able to bring innovation and creativity in their work. When employees perform work with
innovation then it makes the company able to being in a competition and increase productivity.
Allocation of tasks: Allocation of tasks and authority is the main situation that occurs
daily and weekly. It is very important for manager of Tesco Plc to allocate tasks among
employees on the basis of their skills and knowledge. In this situation leaders make a list of
employees along with their abilities and qualifications and give it to manager. Manager makes
different team according to the tasks and employees with having different skills. They also give
authority of handling team of an experienced person and employees in order to make qualitative
products and productive work. Manager oversees and control on all processes which is the main
function of manager of Tesco Plc. On this basis and by performing roles and functions they
handle this situation (Ruiz and Vargas‐Silva, 2018).
Different leadership theories that includes situational, system and contingency
Leadership theories can be defined as a model that shows different ways to leaders for
leading and guiding. There are several styles of leadership that make the leader able to lead and
guide their followers. Some leadership styles includes contingency, system, situational,
transactional etc.
Situational: Situational leadership style refers that when the manager and leader of the
company need to change their style in order to fit the development level of employees.
According to this theory style of leading is all depends on the leaders not to the followers to
adapt to the leader's style. There are mainly 4 styles of leading employees such as directing,
coaching, supporting & delegating. According to the situations leaders change their styles and
switch styles of leading (Meier, 2016). For example when leaders feel that there is no
requirement of coaching and are skilled & experienced employees then they follow delegating
style in which leaders of Tesco Plc take less initiative and get involved in any type of processes.
On the other hand when leader feels that there is requirement of motivating employees then they
follow participating style.
System: System style is also called the best style of leading. According to this theory,
leaders of Tesco Plc focus on making a system and conditions where all level of their employees
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can work together and productively. The main aim of this theory is to predict human nature and
attitude towards the company and its policies in order to satisfy them. With the help and
following this theory, leaders of Tesco Plc it also builds and develop string relationship and trust
of employees with the company.
Contingency: Contingency theory believes that leadership style is uncertain as there is
no best and single style of leading and handling all type of situations. It depends upon goal and
effectiveness of leaders to match with the leader's style with a compatible situation. There are
some factors that shows and define whether leadership style will be effective in the given
situation. According to this style, leaders of Tesco Plc makes themselves effective to fit with
situations (Villoria, 2016).
Strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to situations.
It is said that each coin has 2 parts that has strengths and weaknesses and which make
leaders able to increase their skills and abilities to decrease their weaknesses.
Strengths of situational
 The main strength of situational leadership is it is intuitive method.
 Leaders can easily switch their styles of leading according to the situations.
 This theory put more focus on flexibility of leaders.
Weaknesses
 Due to switching styles it seems that it does not focus on long term goals and styles.
 It takes time for employees to change themselves according to leadership styles.
Strengths of system leadership
 The biggest strength of system leadership theory is it more focuses on accomplishing
individuals and organizational goals as well.
 It is adaptive as well as dynamic in the nature as it focuses on multiple dimensions
(Kananenka, Gull and Zgid, 2015).
Weaknesses
 Sometimes this theory leads to delay in the processes
 Functional unity and harmony is not possible at all level and in all type of situations.
Strengths of contingency.
 This theory has widened the scope of leadership.
 It allows the company to be more flexible and adaptive.
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Weaknesses
 The main weakness of contingency theory is it is complex and difficult to implement
because it has inadequate literature.
 In the context of nature it is reactive not proactive.
Evaluation of different leadership theories
It is analysed and shown that Tesco Plc have to face several situations like labour
turnover, allocation of tasks and poor productivity. Managers and leaders of Tesco Plc perform
their roles and functions for solving problems and make their organization peaceful. It can be
evaluated that with the help of leadership theories in different situations, leader can handle all
types of situations with more efficiently.
In the labour turnover situation, leaders can adopt situational theory. This theory has
mainly 4 styles of leadership and it is identified that due to lack of motivation and proper
guidance employees leave the company. By changing styles according to the reasons of labour
turnover, leaders of Tesco Plc can make them able to motivate, employees by guiding, leading
and participating styles (Samantara and Sharma, 2015).
In the context and situation of allocation of tasks and authority, leaders of Tesco Plc can
take help of system theory. According to this theory, leaders make & create a system and
condition where employees can work productively. According to the system, it can easily
allocate tasks and authority to employees on the basis of their skills. In this theory, employees
make themselves able to follow that system so it can be suitable in this problem.
Other situation and problem which Tesco Plc face is poor productivity. It is also
evaluated that there are several reasons of creating this problem. According to the reasons and
problem, leaders make themselves able to solve this problem if it uses contingency theory.
Contingency theory enable them to increase effectiveness and fit them to situations.
Recommendation for future improvements
According to the above study it can be recommended to Tesco Plc that it should more
focus on team working and collaboration for labour turnover and poor productivity situations.
Collaboration and team working make all employees able to learn something new from their
seniors and increase their skills. It can also improve their interpersonal relationship by which
employee feels happy and encouraged. It should also focus on participating style and give
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opportunities to their employees in their decision-making process for motivating them and make
them feel respected.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it has been summarized that leaders and managers played a critical
role in accomplishing pre determined goals of the company. They have different roles &
characteristic which has made them able to solve different organizational situations. It has also
shown different leadership theories like contingency, system which supported them to adopt
different styles of leading their employees. Recommendations told the company to make further
changes in their styles and decrease weaknesses.
TASK B
Key operations of the organization
Covered in PPT...
Approaches of operational management & their importance and value.
Covered in PPT...
Business environmental factors that affects operational management & decision-making process
Covered in PPT...
Analyses how different factors that affect the business.
Covered in PPT...
Evaluation of ways that leaders & managers can improve operational management effectiveness
Covered in PPT...
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References
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forms of shared leadership–team performance relations. Journal of Management. 42(7).
pp.1964-1991.
De Vos, A. and Cambré, B., 2017. Career management in high‐performing organizations: A set‐
theoretic approach. Human Resource Management. 56(3). pp.501-518.
Kadiri, I.B., Isiaka, S.B. and Jimoh, A.L., 2018. Relationship between Talent Management and
Labour Turnover in Nigerian Banking Sector. KIU Journal of Humanities. 2(2 (A)).
pp.155-162.
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Kurtessis, J. N. and et.al., 2017. Perceived organizational support: A meta-analytic evaluation of
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Meier, D., 2016. Situational Leadership Theory as a Foundation for a Blended Learning
Framework. Journal of Education and Practice. 7(10). pp.25-30.
Northouse, P. G., 2018. Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage publications.
Ruiz, I. and Vargas‐Silva, C., 2018. The impact of hosting refugees on the intra‐household
allocation of tasks: A gender perspective. Review of Development Economics. 22(4).
pp.1461-1488.
Samantara, R. and Sharma, N., 2015. Talent Management at Tesco: A Case Study. Parikalpana:
KIIT Journal of Management. 11(2).
Teece, D. J., 2016. Dynamic capabilities and entrepreneurial management in large organizations:
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Villoria, M., 2016. Contingency theory of leadership. Global Encyclopedia of Public
Administration, Public Policy, and Governance. pp.1-7.
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