Leadership and Management Report: Theories and Styles for Ann Summers

This report provides an analysis of leadership and management principles within the context of Ann Summers, a UK-based clothing retail company. It begins by defining leadership and its importance in navigating the 'new normal' business environment following the COVID-19 pandemic. The report explores key leadership and management theories, including situational, contingency, and participative theories, and evaluates their relevance to Ann Summers. Furthermore, it examines various leadership styles, such as democratic, pacesetter, and bureaucratic, assessing their suitability in the current business climate. The report concludes that bureaucratic leadership is particularly helpful for Ann Summers in systematically implementing activities and maintaining employee performance. It highlights the importance of adapting leadership approaches to effectively manage challenges and achieve organizational goals in a diverse and dynamic environment.

Management and
Leadership Objectives
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Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Key theories as well as perspective of leadership and management within a range of contexts
& diverse environment...........................................................................................................3
Evaluation of various leadership styles in relation to the given situation..............................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6
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INTRODUCTION
Leadership is defined as an ability of an individual to encourage team and people in order to
attain specific goal. New normal is basically a term within the business which refers to the
financial conditions following the COVOID-19. The change due to global pandemic have been
experienced by the managers and leaders of an organisation (Barkhordari-Sharifabad, Ashktorab
and Atashzadeh-Shoorideh, 2018). The leaders as well as managers plays an important role in
order to fulfil the norms & conditions of this new normal. In the present report, Ann summers is
taken into consideration. It is a clothing retail industry in United Kingdom. The company was
established in the year 1971 and at present it has 47,710 retail stores globally. The report will
cover theories and perspective of management and leadership in this diverse environment. In
addition to this, various leadership style suitable with the “New normal” situation will be
discussed properly.
MAIN BODY
Key theories as well as perspective of leadership and management within a range of contexts &
diverse environment.
Leadership is defined as influencing people and instructing them in order to achieve
objectives in an effective manner. There are various leadership and management theories that is
adopt by companies in order to deal with such diverse environment in an effective manner. Such
theories are given below:
Situational theory: This theory proposes that leaders select the appropriate set of action
that is based upon the situational variables. In addition to this, this theory suggest that no single
leadership style is appropriate, it mainly depends on types of strategies as well as leadership best-
suited to the situation arise with the company (Bratton, 2020). In relation to Ann summers, its
leaders adapt style after overlooking to the factors such as nature of the group and type of task
and many more. This also help leaders of Ann summers to deal with the current pandemic in an
effective and appropriate manner.
Contingency theory: As per this theory, there is no specific leadership style is suitable and
best for all the situation. This theory of leadership emphasis on specific variables associated to
the environment which might determine that specific style of leadership is suitable for the
situation. With reference to Ann summers, it offers clothing whose market is declined because of
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COVID-19. Adoption of such leadership style will help company to develop effective strategy by
analysing the both market and financial condition in an effective manner.
Participative theory: It is consider as one of the most effective leadership theory that help
company to keep on motivated staff members and remain them for longer time period in any of
situation and conditions arise. In context to Ann summers, it is stated that allowing employees to
participate in the decision making help in bringing out creativity at workplace and also assist in
developing strategies to deal with such situation in an effective manner (Kerzner, 2018).
Moreover, Because of COVID-19 there is cut in the salary of employees so it is significant for
leaders and managers to keep them motivating by allowing to participate as it help in retaining
them for longer time period.
Evaluation of various leadership styles in relation to the given situation
Leadership style is defined as leader’s behaviour when motivating, guiding, managing and
directing people or a group of people. It is important for leaders as well as managers to adopt an
appropriate style of leadership for resolving issues as it has direct impact on the overall
performance of an organisation. The leadership styles are given below in relation to chosen
organisation:
Democratic leadership style: In this type of leadership style, leaders ask employees to give
their inputs and ask them to give feedback with a motive to take better decision. This leadership
style is effective and enhancing performance of employees as they feel their voice and ideas is
heard and contributes towards dealing with issues and better decision making as well (Koontz,
Weihrich and Cannice, 2020).
Pacesetter leadership style: It is consider as one of the most effective leadership style that
drives rapid results. Such types of leaders emphasis on performance and set high standards in
order to attain goals in a timely and proper manner. This leadership style is helpful and
motivational in fast-paced environment and dealing with the situations in an appropriate way.
Bureaucratic leadership style: In this style of leadership, leaders expect that employees
follow all the rules as well as procedure that is given to then in an effective manner (Podsakoff
and Podsakoff, 2019). This theory mainly focuses on particular duties wherein staff members
have a list of responsibilities that results out in systematic implementation of all the activities and
tasks which is significant in order to achieve objectives within stipulated time period.
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From the above study, it has been said that to deal with the present situation arise in the
whole world, Bureaucratic leadership style is suitable and helpful for an organisation. This assist
in making staff members to follow all the norms and rules that is important in order to
systematically and smoothly implement activities (Leroy, 2018). Furthermore, it also assist Ann
summers to decline the level of conflicts that arise of nit following rules properly and improve
their performance level in an effective manner.
CONCLUSION
From the above study, it has been concluded that it is important for leaders and managers to
follow all the rules and norms and then implement activities in the current situation and
pandemic as well. There are various leadership and management theories that help company to
maintain the level of efficiency of employees and deal with such situation and these are
participative, contingency, situational and many more. Moreover, it is important for leaders to
adopt effective and appropriate leadership style and it is analysed that Bureaucratic leadership
style is feasible to adopt in order to deal with such pandemic effectively.
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REFERENCES
Books & Journal
Barkhordari-Sharifabad, M., Ashktorab, T. and Atashzadeh-Shoorideh, F., 2018. Ethical
leadership outcomes in nursing: A qualitative study. Nursing ethics, 25(8), pp.1051-
1063.
Bratton, J. ed., 2020. Organizational leadership. SAGE Publications Limited.
Kerzner, H., 2018. Project management best practices: Achieving global excellence. John Wiley
& Sons.
Koontz, H., Weihrich, H. and Cannice, M. V., 2020. Essentials of Management-An
International, Innovation and Leadership Perspective|. McGraw-Hill Education.
Leroy, H., and et. al., 2018. Managing people in organizations: Integrating the study of HRM and
leadership.
Podsakoff, P. M. and Podsakoff, N .P., 2019. Experimental designs in management and
leadership research: Strengths, limitations, and recommendations for improving
publishability. The Leadership Quarterly, 30(1), pp.11-33.
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