Operation Management: Leaders, Managers, and M&S Case Study

This report provides an in-depth analysis of leadership and management within the context of Mark and Spencer (M&S). It begins with an introduction to operation management, emphasizing its role in converting inputs to outputs to achieve organizational objectives, and then focuses on the roles of leaders and managers within M&S. The report compares the functions of managers and leaders, highlighting their importance in motivating employees, monitoring business activities, and achieving both short-term and long-term goals. It also explores how managers and leaders apply their roles in different situations, such as conflict resolution and addressing low sales. Furthermore, the report delves into various leadership theories, including situational, contingency, and system leadership, and how M&S utilizes these styles. The report also discusses the importance of leaders and managers in operation management, including their roles at different organizational levels and their function as integrators, representatives, and guides. Finally, the report analyzes the impact of environmental factors on operation management within an organization.

Operation Management

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................3
P1 Role of leader and functions of a manager in an organization...............................................3
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................4
P2 Role of leaders and functions of managers apply in different situations................................4
P3 Theories of leadership............................................................................................................5
Task 3...............................................................................................................................................7
P4 Role and functions of leaders and managers in operation management.................................7
P5 Importance of operation management towards achieving business objective........................8
Task 4...............................................................................................................................................9
P6 Analyzing the impact of environmental factors makes an impact on the operation
management of an organization...................................................................................................9
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12
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INTRODUCTION
Operation management refers with the designing, execution and controlling of business
activities that convert inputs into desired output in order to accomplish objective of the
organization. It is management function that works for increasing profitability of the company. It
is very important to identify needs of consumers and to deliver the products accordingly, that
supports in enhancing satisfaction level of clients and make them loyal towards the brand.
Present report is based on Mark and Spencer (M&S) which is multi-channel retailer that provides
high quality products and services to consumers through physical outlets and e-commerce
platform. Current assignment will compare the role of leader and function of managers in
reference to M&S. Different theories and approaches of leadership and management will be
illustrated in this study. Significance of operation management in achieving business objectives
will be emphasized in this report. Ion addition, several factors that impact on business
environment will be assesses in this report.
TASK 1
P1 Role of leader and functions of a manager in an organization
Managers and leaders are the key players of an organization. They put their best efforts
for accomplishing goal of the company. Manager is the person who takes responsibility of
managing workforce of the company. Individual has to motivate staff members so that they feel
encouraged and utilize their skills well. Leaders are the persons those who lead a team and guide
them well so that they can improve their efficiency level (Zhang, Shah, and Papageorgiou,2013).
M&S treats its employees as assets of the company, it tries to build healthy and positive
environment in the workplace so that people feel happy and like the workplace to great extent.
Leaders play significant role in the cited firm. Individual plays a role of motivator. In the
organization leader encouraged its workers or team members so that feel happy and put their best
affords. On other hand managers of M&S play role of instructor. Individual gives training and
guidance to the employees so that they can improve their work efficiency and can perform their
duties well.
M&S is well known for its quality products and excellent services. In the cited firm
managers function is to monitor the business activities so that it can maintain its quality
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standards and can offers products to consumers as per their needs and demands. On other hand
role of leaders are completely differed from function of managers. In the organization leaders to
develop optimistic environment where people can work effectively and can improve their
working efficiency (Sedaghati, and Kavousi-Fard, 2014). Managers of M&S work for
accomplishing short term goal of company on other hand leaders lead the team in such manner
so that long term goal of the entity can be achieved.
Manager in the cited firm has to perform like an administrator, they have to follow the
guidelines and regulations of cited firm and accordingly they have to complete their function.
Whereas leaders in the cited firm plays a role of risk taker, they face critical situations as
challengers and their innovative ideas help the M&S in improving its working performance.
Function of managers in the cited firm is that set goal and objective and direct people so that
these objectives can be accomplished. On other hand role of leaders are to find ways to perform
the task effectively in order to achieve main purpose of the company. It is the responsibility of
managers in the M&S that to make effective communication with staff members so that
confusions and misunderstandings can be minimized. Whereas leaders have to understand the
effectiveness of their instruction and accordingly they have to lead the team so that they perform
their duties well.
TASK 2
P2 Role of leaders and functions of managers apply in different situations
It is necessary for the organizations that mangers and leaders perform their
responsibilities well so that firm can sustain in the corporate market for longer duration and can
achieve its objective soon (Costa, Keane, Torrens, and Corry, 2013). Critical situations may take
place any time, it is essential to deal with them properly. For instance whenever conflicts
situation takes place in the M&S then in such situation managers can work as problems solver. It
is the function of manager that to understand the reason of conflict and accordingly make both
parties understand so that issues can get resolved soon. On other hand in such type of critical
condition leaders have to play ole of challenger and they have to gives innovative ideas to
management that can help in resolving the problems soon.
The another situation may take place in the workplace that is low sales volume. For
example; M&S can face the situation where its sales get down, in such condition company can
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plan to adopt advanced technologies so that efficiency of the products can get improved. It will
help in increasing sales of the organization. But in such situation employees resist the changes
that would create problems in the workplace. At that time, managers of cited firm has to conduct
meetings with the staff members and they have to make them understand benefits for them of
adopting these technologies. Apart from this they have to train them so that they can develop
new skills and deal with these technologies significantly. In such situation leaders have to play
role of motivator, individuals have to encourage people so that they work with advanced
techniques and contribute well in achieving goal of the company (Mendis, Muttaqi, and Perera,
2014).
Planning, staffing, directing and controlling is the main responsibility of mangers. For
instance if any sudden complexity related to financial condition takes place then in such
condition, leaders have to play a role of monitor and individual has to lead the team effectively
so hat such crucial situation may get resolved. Manager has to motivate people and have to give
rewards and recognition so that they feel encouraged and put their best efforts for improving
situation of the company. That would help in resolving such issues of the workplace and it will
help in accomplishing goal of the company soon.
P3 Theories of leadership
Mark and Spencer Company follows different kind of leadership styles according to their
suitability and situation. Leaders have an individual ability to influence, motivates and encourage
their subordinates towards the share goal. They are basically task oriented not the whole
organization goal oriented. Leaders possess many skills and knowledge to guide and direct their
subordinates towards the set objectives which can be short term and long term goal. Leadership
style is based on range of situational factors.
Situational leadership- Situational leaders evaluates current situation of an organization.
This theory is based on two concepts leadership itself and developmental level of followers. It is
a kind of adaptive leadership style. That type of leadership style are based on existing variables
at work place and choose the leadership style that best fits their goals and circumstances. It a
flexible type of leadership because its characteristics, roles and responsibilities are vary
according to changes in the situations. It does not based on specific skills of leader, leaders
modifies their style of management in order to suit the requirement of Mark and Spencer. It is
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totally based on the adoptability skill because leaders needs to move from one leadership style to
another in order to meet the changing needs of an organization and its employees. That kind of
leaders may be autocratic, democratic, affiliative and coach etc. It is vary in accordance with the
changes in environmental circumstances of an organization. Situational leaders are more
participative and supporting because supervisor gives much control with minimal supervision on
their subordinates. Supervisors gives day to day work information, instructions and processes
which are required to achieve certain task. This type of leadership style is particularly effective
for those subordinates who have less competency level but committed towards achieving his or
her roles.
Contingency leadership- It is closely related to the situational approach leadership style.
Contingency theory emphasis the importance of both leaders personality and the situation in
which leaders operates. They mainly concerned with task motivated and relationship motivated.
That type of leaders deal with finding the best match between a leader and situation. Task leaders
are primarily concerned with the attainment of set goal while relationship leaders are concerned
with developing close interpersonal relationship. Contingency theory are based on three factors
such as leader, task structure and power position. Leader member relations are concerned about
the group atmosphere along with the degree of confidence, loyalty and attraction that are feel by
the followers. Task structure are basically concerned with the degree of task clearness and right
spelled out that are in the form of easy understanding by the followers. Position power are also
refers to the amount of authority a leader has to reward or to punish the followers regarding to
misbehave by the followers (Marzband, Ghadimi, Sumper, and Domínguez-García, 2014).
System leadership- It is the structure form of leadership style where leadership roles and
responsibilities are describes from the set policies and strategies of Mark and Spencer. It follows
the structural of leadership style is not on the basis of situation and environmental circumstances.
That type of leadership style may be autocratic and democratic or participative that is depend on
the organization structure which is update regularly according to the firm requirement.
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TASK 3
P4 Role and functions of leaders and managers in operation management
Leaders and managers play an important role in operation department. They are required
at all level of organization, leaders and managers are the pillars for the success of any
organization.
Role of leader in Mark and Spencer
Required at all levels- Leadership is a function which is important at all levels of
organization management. At top level they needs to get cooperation in formulation of plans and
policies (Bahn, 2013). At middle level Leaders are responsible to effective execution and
interpretation of plans and programs which are framed by top management of organization.
Leadership also be needs for guidance and counseling of their subordinates at the time of plan
and program execution.
Representative of an organization- Leaders and managers represent the concern at
seminars, conference and at general meetings etc. Their main role is to communicate company
norms and principle which one is used in operating the functions of an organization to outside
public. They also represents their department which one is lead by specific one.
Integrates and reconciles the personal goal with organizational goal- Leaders are
responsible for integrating the personal goals of employees with organizational goals. They
always trying to coordinate individual efforts towards the common purpose in order to achieve
shared objective of an organization. This can be possible only when leader have an ability to
influence others and get willingness to achieve cooperation’s towards the accomplishment of
organization objective.
As a friend, philosopher and guide- A leader possess three dimensional traits that is
necessary in any organization. They may be a friend so that followers easy to share their feelings,
opinions and desires to leader and among the employees. They can be a philosopher by utilizing
their intelligence and experience for guiding the employees when they require. They can be a
guide by supervising and communicating the plans and policies to employees and secure their
cooperation towards the achievement of organizational goal. They also play a role of counselor
by counseling the employees or problem solving approach.
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Main function of managers are planning, organizing, staffing, leading and controlling.
Effective management requires creative problem solving ability and to motivate the employees.
These functions separate from the management process of other business functions.
Planning- Planning involves the defining of organizational goal along with determining
the most effective course of actions that are needed towards the accomplishment of
organizational goal. It is the primary and pervasive function of management. Managers of a
company needs to plan the schedule and makes the blueprint of whole organization activity. It
involves how to operate it, where to operate the plan and when it will be execute and how, much
time will require for the accomplishment of project.
Organizing- The organizational structure is the foundation of company because without
structure day to day operations of business are difficult and unsuccessful. Organizing involves
designating tasks and responsibilities to employees along with the specific skill sets that are
needed to accomplish the task. It also involves the development of organizational structure and
chain of command within the company.
Staffing- It is the function of recruitment and personnel needs of the organization. The
main purpose of staffing is to hire the right people for right jobs towards the achievement of
organizational objectives. It includes various phenomena like training and development,
performance appraisal and promotion or transfers.
Coordinating- The coordinating function of leadership is to organizing, planning and
staffing activities of the company and ensures all activities are coordinated together towards the
shared objective. Coordinating involves communication, supervision and direction by
management (Palizban, Kauhaniemi and Guerrero, 2014).
Controlling- The controlling function of management is useful for ensuring all other
functions of the organization are successfully implemented or not. It establishes the performance
standards in order to monitors the output of an employees to ensure about that employees
performance meets those standards or not.
P5 Importance of operation management towards achieving business objective
Operation management are concerned with the converting a raw material and labor in to a
goods and services as efficiently as possible towards the maximization of profit. It is an part of
organization that are concerned with the transformation of a range of inputs in to the required
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outputs. It is the process of interrelated activities which are involved in manufacturing process
for certain products. Operation management involves certain task like planning, staffing,
controlling, directing and motivating the staff members towards the set organizational goal.
Operational management deals with the wide range of responsibilities. It is important to all kind
of organization may service or manufacturing industry. Mark and Spencer is the retailer service
provider organization it basically operates chain functions from taking order to delivery to end
users. In manufacturing industry the company main aim is to reduce wastage and increase
productivity along with the proper utilization of time and resources in order to make production
cost is lower and optimum utilization of ware housing resources at optimum cost. It plays a vital
role for the success of an organization. It includes various activities like product creation,
development, production and distribution of products and services.
It deal with the purchase of inventory and storage of inventory along with quality control,
storage and logistics facility of finished goods and services. In IT service organization data
storage, distribution and security of data functions (Burke, 2013). The concept of efficiency and
effectiveness of organization services are surrounded around the operation management. It
involves the great degree of integration of whole organizational resources and process towards
the set goal and objectives in order towards the meeting of set standard to get the product in right
place in right way under consideration of cost and time. Operation management is irrespective of
size because all companies needs to produce and deliver their product and services efficiently
and effectively. Research and development activity are also consider in to the operation
department because it is related to the developing of existing product or innovation in the
product line that helps in satisfying the needs of a customer in order to capture wider of potential
market. Operation department integrates all the functions like finance, marketing, HR and
operation department that helps in to get the success of an organization effectively
TASK 4
P6 Analyzing the impact of environmental factors makes an impact on the operation
management of an organization
The internal business environment makes an impact on the approach and success of
organization operations. Internal factors are those factors which are exist within an organization.
And directly affects the business operations which are carried in a business.
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Value system- It implies the culture and norms of an organization. It provides the
regulatory frame work of regulating the business operations and helps in monitoring the ongoing
process of operation management 9White, 2016).
Mission and objective- Priorities, policies and philosophies of business organization are
guided by the mission and objectives of a business organization. Mission are the long term goal
of an organization.
Financial factors- Financial factors like financial policies, position and capital structure
also affects a business performance and its strategies.
Internal relationship- Relationship with stake holders and lower level of employees in an
organization needs to be properly managed. Board of directors relationship with the other level
of employees needs to be strong that helps in the smooth functioning of business operations. Key
environmental factors affect the business operations like labor inefficiency, organizational
structure and organizational culture all these factors affects the productivity of an operation
department. Mark and Spencer introduce various shopping formats and channels that helps in
improving the relationship with customers because it makes effects on the long term
sustainability of an entity. Internal factors are the crucial factors that affect the success factor of
Mark and Spencer.
Various factors that influence the decision making process of an organization like
customer expectations, threat of substitutability, product or service viability and assess to raw
materials that makes an impact on the existing product portfolio.
CONCLUSION
From the stated report, it can be concluded that operation management plays a vital role
in the success of an organization (Slack, 2010). It also defines the role and characteristics of
leaders and managers which are needed for the successful implementation of organizational
activities. Various types of leadership styles are to be used according to the varying situation and
market demand. Leadership and manager plays are the important element for the organizational
activity because they have an ability to integrate and coordinate the whole organizational
functions and activities towards the common goal. There are various tools and techniques are to
be used for the establishing and maintain the relationship within an organization or outside of an
organization that helps to maintain sustainable position in market place. Mark and Spencer
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makes certain policies and strategies in order to organize sequencing activities of an
organization. Environmental factors also make an impact on the operation management
department. Organization culture and structure should be convenient that is easily acceptable by
the organization.
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