Management and Operations Report

This report provides a detailed analysis of leadership and operations management within the context of Asda Food Company. It explores the differences between leaders and managers, examines various leadership theories and models, and discusses approaches to operational management. The report also delves into the importance of operations management and the factors in the business environment that impact it. The analysis includes internal organizational structure, technological advancements, and regulatory reforms. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of both leadership and management in supporting the company's goals and objectives.

MANAGEMENT AND
OPERATIONS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
a. Difference between role and characteristic of a leader and manager......................................1
b. Examine the role of leader and function of managers.............................................................3
c. Theories and Models of Leadership........................................................................................5
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
a. Approaches to Operational Management................................................................................6
b. Importance and Value of Operations Management................................................................9
c. Factors in business environment impacting operational management..................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Within an organization there are different type of departments that work together in order
to achieve goals and objectives. In this context, operation management can be determined as an
important function within business as it aims at converting all the inputs for effective output.
Main aim of operations management is to make sure that they use resources and deliver their
customers with high quality services (Hatch and Cunliffe, 2013). In this process manager play
vital role to make employees use their full efficiency and support the firm. There are different
type of issues that are faced by workers and it is essential to make sudden changes are made
immediately and not negative impact is caused to business operations. Present report is about
Asda food company Ltd. This firm was founded in the year 1949 and is headquartered at
England. This report covers different set of roles and functions that are played by managers and
leaders. Further, it covers proper analysis of theories for leaders and managers. Lastly, it also
includes factors that impact operation management and decision making.
TASK 1
a. Difference between role and characteristic of a leader and manager
Within an organization both leaders and managers play vital role. They have different set
of roles and responsibilities and characteristic. They through which they handle workers is
different (Kalra and Kopargaonkar, 2016). However, ultimate aim of leaders and managers to
make sure that they make workers direct towards organizational goals and objectives. Below
given are the different between managers and leaders:
Difference Mangers Leaders
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Role Managers are the one who play
the role of administrator.
They are the one who play the
role of innovator.
Characteristic There are different set of
system and process that are
given. As per the characteristic
of managers, they follow all of
them and make employees
understand about the goals of
Asda
Leaders mainly focus on
encouraging workers and
boosting them up towards
innovation so as to support
Asda.
Vision All the goals that are provided
by management is considered
by managers and this is
generally for short period of
time until the given aim is
achieved.
Vision that are made leaders of
Asda is for long term. They
understand their followers and
deliver their roles as per their
capabilities (Qu, Janssen and
Shi, 2015).
Focus Managers aim at managing and
controlling workers within
Asda.
However, leaders will also
consider their customers and
workers.
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Values Manager does not consider
quality much but they value
towards achieving results
(Stewart and Shamdasani,
2014).
Leaders value for
achievement. Further, they
inspire workers and boost
them so that they work with
their full efficiency.
Targets They make sure that proper
services and delivered to
employees and they develop a
proper culture with the help of
which responsibilities that are
provided to managers are
fulfilled (Stewart and
Shamdasani, 2014).
Targets are set by leaders of
Asda. That will be made in
such a way that future goals
are achieved and so that
profitability is rate is raised.
Motivation level Managers will follow different
set of approaches and theories
in orders to boost up the moral
of workers
Leaders on this side will
understand the factors through
which workers can be boosted
up and they workers towards
common goal.
M1. Some of the theories and models which are relevant to application of management
and leadership in Asda food company are as follows: Management by Objectives: Specific objectives are developed by the managers, in
consonance with the employees. These ascertainments are highly strategic in nature,
which enables the growth of both organization as well as the employees (Goetsch and
Davis, 2014). It is also known with the name of personnel management wherein the
performance of the workforce is directed in a certain manner by presenting them with
specific goals. The managers at Asda food have imbibed this technique in their way of
working. Classical Management Theory: The approach of these managers is highly result
oriented. The primary focus of these personnels laid on the level of production and the
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final performance which is being presented (Leadership theories, 2017). However, the
factor of behaviour i.e. the manner in which the employees are behaving does not hold
any relevance. This objective is achieved by provision of special training and
development programmes. Moreover, the effectiveness of work being undertaken is
achieved through division of labour. Transactional theory of Leadership: The primary focus of these leaders is supervision,
performance and organization. This is achieved through the elements of rewards and
punishment, wherein the leaders promote compliance by the team members (Armstrong
and Taylor, 2014). Also, known as managerial leadership, which is based on the idea that
employees tend to perform better for receiving favourable incentives. Hence, rewards
and punishment formulates to be the underpinning factors of transactional theory of
leadership.
 Transformational Theory of Leadership: the premise on the basis of which this theory
is applied requires the leaders and the employees to enable to reach at a higher level of
motivation. This enables the leaders to ensure high performance from the end of the
employees (Mihalache and et. al., 2014.). The leaders following this style of leadership
ought to reflect the attributes of visionary, inspiring and daring. The attitude of these
leaders is generally to undertake risks and continuously innovate in their ways.
b. Examine the role of leader and function of managers
Both leaders and managers are highly important elements of the organization. Ultimate
aim of both these elements is to make sure that they enhance sales and profitability of the
organization. Asda falls under hospitality sector and it is essential that they deliver their
customers with high quality services. This is done in order to raise the satisfaction level of
customers (Hatch and Cunliffe, 2013). There are many organizations that deliver their customers
with similar products and services. In order to be better, role of leaders and mangers play vital
role. With this respect, employees are essential as they are the one who preset the products and
service to customers. However, when they do not understand their roles and are demotivated,
then leaders play vital role. They understand the issues or problems that are faced by workers
and accordingly steps are taken through which they perform effectively and efficiently. Leaders
focus on providing their employees with healthy environment in which they perform their roles
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with full efficiency (Qu, Janssen and Shi, 2015). On the other hand, managers will make use of
motivational theories like Maslow's hierarchy of needs, Theory X and Theory Y, etc. with the
help of which level of motivation can be raised. Moro specifically, reward system is made within
Asda to boost up the moral of workers. This helpful to raise competition among employees.
Leaders make sure that all the workers within Asda are involved in decision making.
Leaders understand that employees have direct interaction with customers so they know better
about the issues or problems that are faced by them. In this context, taking suggestion from
workers help to make innovation in the services that they deliver. On the other hand, managers
know the skills and capabilities that workers posses (Stewart and Shamdasani, 2014). As per the
issues that are faced by employees, managers arrange training and development program with the
help of which they enhance their skills and performance level.
Function of managers include staffing, planning, organizing, controlling, etc. (Kalra and
Kopargaonkar, 201). All these are helpful enough to direct workers and management towards the
desired goals and objectives.
M2. It is important to note that different theories are suitable for different situations and
circumstances. For instance, under Situational Leadership the leaders tend to amend their styles
in accordance to the changing circumstance, and apply the most suitable technique or approach
in the given scenario. However, this style of leadership also possesses certain strengths and
weaknesses. With the assistance of this style of leadership, the leaders are empowered to adopt
measures and methods which are more suitable to the situation (Donate and de Pablo, 2015).
There is a possibility that the same style is not appropriate to be applied in another situation, thus
the leader shall have the flexibility to amend the same. But at the same time this style of
leadership is also attached with a weakness in connection to which the motivational level of
employees may get hampered. It is important to note that in organization a leader is required to
be consistent in his manner of working, as this eventually is attached to fairness and justice. This
theory of situational leadership may enable the leader to act with a different approach in every
situation, which may be perceived as unfair in certain situations. Similarly, Theory X and Theory
Y being applied in the instant company is also attached with a weakness as it cannot be
presumed in every case that provision of rewards and incentives shall enhance the motivational
level of an employee (Goleman, Boyatzis and McKee, 2013). Therefore, there always exists an
element of uncertainty which leaves the leaders in ambiguous situations.
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c. Theories and Models of Leadership
There are various theories and models which can be adopted by organizations in order to
effectively manage and efficiently manage the employees, and ensure penanced performance at
the organizational level.
D1.
Some of theories which have found to be applied in Asda food company, have been
enumerated herein under: Situational Leadership: This is one of theories which provide flexibility to the leaders to
act in the manner they prefer, in accordance to the give circumstances. It empowers the
managers or leaders to adjust their styles to make them appropriate for the development
level of the group of employees being handled. It has been observed in Asda Food, that
the leaders and managers of the company have been applying the participative style of
leadership, in order to promote innovation and creativity at all levels. However, in the
event management is required to undertake decisions in respect to a critical matter, then it
may adopt autocratic style of leadership (Antonakis and House, 2013). This shall not
leave any scope of error, and reserve all the rights of decision-making with the top
management. Otherwise, when no such decisions are to be made, the manager shall
follow participative style to ensure high motivational and engagement levels of the
employees. Systems Leadership: This is considered to be one of the most effective styles of
leadership, as it functions with a holistic and comprehensive approach to manage the
entire organization. This form of leadership considers the whole company as one single
system, which is managed through a collaborative approach by creation of a network of
people, placed at varied levels in the entity. With the assistance of this form of leadership,
firms with many inter-connected departments are can create a mutual endeavour which
enable the management to produce a significant outcome (McCleskey, 2014). The Asda
food company is currently operating at a major level, wherein different department of the
company are engaged in separate tasks but are dependent on each other. Hence, the top
management of the company has been following this form of leadership style, which has
enabled them to bind the entire organization in a specific direction, and introduce certain
changes at the macro level.
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 Contingency Theory: The followers of this style of leadership are of the opinion that
application of a particular style of leadership is dependent on the kind of situations which
arise in the course of work. This also varies with the limit of control which can be
exercised by the leader (Characteristics and Attributes of a Good Manager, 2017).
Hence, the success of this form of leader is sensitive to different contingencies which
may be faced in the form of subordinates or group variables. Hence, the pattern in which
a leader shall act is completely contingent upon the needs and requirements posed by
given condition. It is important to note that application of this form of leadership is also
dependent on the factors of nature of task to be undertaken, formation of the group being
governed as well as the composition of such a group (Daft, 2014.). Another important
attribute which plays an instrumental role in this form of leadership is that of behaviour
and preferences of the person leading the group. The management of Asda food company
is of the opinion that there is a basic presumption on the basis of which this theory
functions and in accordance to the same success and failure of any form is highly
situational. It is dependent on the manner in which the employees react, the market forces
move and such other factors which have the potential to influence to the task being
undertaken.
TASK 2
a. Approaches to Operational Management
Operation Management is the term accorded to administering the business practices
which are being undertaken by the organization in order to achieve the highest level of
performance and efficiencies. It enhances the process of transformation of materials and goods
into final products in the most efficient way possible. This further ensures maximization of
profits and increment in the quantity as well as quality being produced. This responsibility to
manage the operations in an effective manner is imposed on managers of the company, who can
adopt the following approaches of managing the operations in the most effective and efficient
manner possible: Principles of Total Quality Management (TQM): This an approach which requires the
processes to undergo continuous improvements. The primary focus of this approach is on
successfully achieving long term goals as well as enhanced customer loyalty. In
accordance to the principle every person involved in the operations shall be committed to
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accomplishment of high standards in the work being delivered in connection to every
single aspect of operations (Sallis, 2014.). Therefore, every effort is undertaken to
enhance the quality of work being delivered, which in turn shall ensure the success of
entity in the long run. Each and every member involved in the operations is under an
obligation to be part of the process of improving the products, services, organizational
culture and such other factors which have an impact on the end product being delivered
to the consumer. This is a continuous process is undertaken by the managers or leaders of
Asda food company. Moreover, it is their responsibility to keep the employees engaged
in this process, and imbibe the same in their manner of working. The operation's
management team of the company has been working to ensure that the quality of food
being delivered to the customers is not degraded, and is in fact always enhanced with
each coming day (Johnston and Marshall, 2016.). The entire human resource of the entity
is a part of this approach of managing the operations in the most effective and efficient
manner. Just-in-time inventory (JIT): This is one of the inventory strategies which is adopted by
the management in pursuance to effectively undertake operations management in the
company. In pursuance to this strategy the business organizations reduce their inventory
costs by receiving them only when required in the process of production. This further
enables the management to increase their efficiencies and reduce investment in managing
the extra inventory. However, in order to actually benefit from this approach, the
producers are under an obligation to accurately forecast the needs and requirements of the
production process. This approach is attached with several benefits as production runs
can be comparatively shorter, which shall enable the companies to make a shift in the
product being manufactured (Burke and Barron, 2014). Moreover, there is reduction in
the cost being incurred, as there is a direct elimination of storage costs. In addition, the
liquidity being spent on gathering raw material shall also be reduced as only a small
amount would be required to be procured. Asda food company has been following this
approach and in pursuance to the same have successfully achieved effective management
of all the operations. This in turn has enhanced the quality of final product being
produced, thereby increasing customer satisfaction.
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 Concept of continuous improvement: This can be determined as process in which
organization have frequent improvement made for all the type of business operation,
services or products that are delivered by the firm. It is difficult process as it requires
effective analysis and timely analysis. This is done in order to know the areas in which
improvement is required. With proper analysis, it becomes easy for the organization to
understand that areas which improvement is required (Buble, Juras and Matić, 2014).
There are many organizations that deliver their customers with similar products and
services. In order to be better, they make use of different set of strategies that enable to
attract more and more customers. To be better from other continuous improvement is
very important. There are different areas in which improvement can be made. In this
context, it includes product development, improvement in the type of services, etc. When
there are improvement made effectively, then it becomes helpful for the firm to develop
strong customers base with the help of which huge profit is gained. Main aim of
companies is to gain maximum profit and this is possible when customers are satisfied.
With continuous improvement it is possible.
M3. Leaders and managers play a highly crucial and vital role in the manner in which an
organization is functioning and performing. Similarly, in order to effectively undertake the
process of management of operations of the company, the approaches of just-in-time, TQM and
continuous improvement shall be imbibed in the manner they function within the organization
(Krajewski, Ritzman and Malhotra, 2013). Asda food company is primarily engaged in
production of food items, and therefore their prime focus is on maintaining the quality of product
being delivered. In pursuance to the same the manager of the company shall undertake every
effort to adopt the principle of TQM, in maintaining the quality of items being produced.
Moreover, they shall be capable to effectively forecast the needs and requirements of
productions, so as to effectively manage the inventory. This shall further held in operations
management. It is the obligation of the managers to motivate the employees to work in a specific
manner, and ensure that each of the employee is trained to apply these approaches. Hence, a
prominently significant contribution can be made by the managers and leaders, for enhancing the
process of operations management.
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b. Importance and Value of Operations Management
A highly instrumental role is played by operation's management in any business
organization. Its application is not limited to just manufacturing units, but can be utilized by
other businesses as well for realizing enhanced results. With the assistance of this process, a
company enables itself to explore the best of its potential and abilities (Brown, Bessant and
Lamming, 2013). Adopting an appropriate approach within an entity enables the business to
utilize resources in an optimum manner, and deviate all the efforts in the most productive
direction. Since this form of management is a multi-disciplinary field, it functions to cover all the
possible aspects which exist in the company. In essence it assures the quality of production,
reduction of costs, improvement in the flexibilities, satisfaction of customer needs, assuring
safety at workplace and assisting the consumers with high quality services. This has been made
possible in Asda food company, by as it covers the operation process starting from the
procurement of raw materials to satisfying the customers with quality of product as well as
services being made available.
One of the specific benefit which has been realized by Asda food company is that the
entire process of designing the product has been expedited through effectively implementing
operations management. Moreover, the supply chain is also effectively managed. One such
element which is provides assistance in managing the supply chain is the approach of just in time
(Bromiley and Rau, 2016). Apart from execution of this approach, the process also enables to
effectively coordinate between the stakeholders and maintain the right amount of supplies.
Another important aspect which is covered by operation's management is in connection to
quality management, which is measures through operational quality, financial quality and
customer quality measure. Some of the specific barriers which are installed for quality
management are quality inspection, assurance and total quality control.
D2. The business environment of any organization shall also be significantly influenced
by the manner in which different approaches to operations management are applied. The
resources being utilized by the production is at an optimum level, thereby reducing the over
exploitation of resources or mitigation of negative effect on the forces prevalent in the market.
All the errors which may arise in the process shall be eliminated, which in turn shall enhance the
performance of the business and the quality of product made available in the market (Dale,
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2015.). The specific factors of organizational culture and structure may have a specific impact, in
result of which the performance of employees shall be enhanced or improved.
c. Factors in business environment impacting operational management
There are various factors which function in a manner that the operation's management as
well as the decision making process of the managers: Internal Organizational Structure: the structure existing in a company has the potential
to influence the manner in which the operation management is undertaken within a
company (Oakland and Morris, 2013). In Asda food company there exists different
functions which are interdependent on each other. Hence, a small gap in communication
can have a high impact on the application of different approaches to operations
management. For instance the flat structure existing in the company impacts the
effectiveness with which the management of operations is undertaken. Technological Advancement: This is one of the most fragile factors which has a direct
impact on the operations management. It disrupts the current manner in which various
operations are being undertaken by the company. At the same time, it also has a benefit
as it enhances the manner in which operation management is being undertaken.
 Regulatory Reforms: This is another factor which poses uncertainties by amending the
governing policies, regulations, legislations applicable on the specific activities of the
company (Talib, 2013). For instance in the event there is a change in the policy in
respect to production of a food material, the operation management shall be required to
assure compliance with the same and install new measures in accordance to the new
requirements. The managers and leaders are also required to undertake reforms in the
manner the work was being undertaken.
M4. The factors that present in the external market place have a direct impact on business
environment of Asda food company and that also leads to several transformations in business
practices. Since, technology has been changing on higher extent; therefore it is crucial for Asda
food company to adopt new measures and techniques. This could aid the business to manage the
practices effectively in external market place. However, in a few cases technology seems to be a
pessimistic dimension for Asda food company as that leads the business entity to adopt new
methods on immediate basis. Considering the same, it impacts the employees and as a result,
they resist for the same.
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However, cultural dimensions are also changing and demand of people have switched
towards healthy food. Therefore, this leads Asda food company to adopt new provisions for
managing the business operations. Apart from this, competition level is also increasing in the
domain which also enhances the level of substitute products; therefore considering this aspect,
Asda food company needs to focus more on bringing better and appropriate food products. This
is essential in terms of keeping the customers satisfied and retained (Gould, 2013). Thus, from
the discussion it is evident that changes in external environment have a direct impact on business
operations of Asda food company.
CONCLUSION
From this report, it can be articulated that leaders and managers are highly important.
Both have different set of roles and responsibilities but they aim at supporting the company.
Employees within the organization face different set of issues but management should have
healthy interaction so that they understand the requirements and take appropriate steps to
overcome the problems. Further, there tools that should be used by management to determined
where they stand. In this context, they should make use of PESTLE analysis that helps to
develop steps to reduce the negative impact.
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