Unit 4 Management & Operations: Arcadia Group Analysis Report

This report examines the management and leadership practices within the Arcadia Group, a multinational fashion retailer. It begins by defining management operations and the company's mission. The report then delves into the roles of managers and leaders, emphasizing their functions in guiding and motivating employees. Leadership theories, including trait theory, are discussed, highlighting key characteristics like demographics, personality, and task competence. The report also explores classical management theory and the importance of soft and hard skills in an organization. The conclusion summarizes the significance of leadership and management in achieving organizational efficiency and profitability. References from various journals are included to support the analysis.

Arcadia Group of fashion.

Introduction
 Management operations is a process that defines the administration of business practices so
that it create maximum level of efficiency.
 The study of this report will focus on Arcadia Group Fashion retailer, which is a multinational
company and done its main operations in clothing and retailing.
 The company's main mission is to provide fashion that customers love through its stores and
online platforms.
 Further, the report discuss about manager's role and its functions along with the leadership
theories.

Functions of a Manger or Role of a leader
Leader – A leader is a person who creates inspiring goals or objectives for the future and motivate its team member to achieve that
goal.
Manager – A manger in a company is responsible for controlling departments and provide assistance to people who work for an
organisation.

Cont...
Role of leader in an organisation :
 A good leader of Arcadia Plc will influence all the employees to make sure that they perform duties
well by defining the vision and importance of their role in the outcome.
 A leader also play major role in the work process and provide necessary equipment to all the
employees of the company needed to perform the job.
 A leader also build morale of employees so that it make them to work together towards achieving a
common goal for the company.
 A leader also consider a representative of the company and has to represent the related issues at
meetings, seminars and conferences.

Cont.....
Theories of leadership styles, traits or contingency :
Traits theory of leadership is founded by Ralph M. Stogdill. Following are consider the important traits of
leadership:
Demographic - In this category, in terms of leadership gender has received the most attention. However,
many other scholars deny this and found that gender should not be consider a determining factor for
leadership. Hence, female or male both are effective and capable. For example, Arcadia Plc appointed
female leader in order to mange its projects.
Personality – As per this trait, a leader should have self- confidence, patience, honesty or dedication.
Apart from this, for an effective leadership, adaptability and motive and values are consider essential.
For instance, Arcadia Plc should appoint a leader who is capable of all the above qualities.
Task competence - This defines how a leader approach performance or execution of tasks. Task
competency includes emotional stability, intelligence, openness to challenges. Hence, for Arcadia Plc,
a leader should have all these capabilities so its handle all the projects efficiently.
Interpersonal attributes – Social attributes are fall into this category. A leader should understand how to
approaches social interactions like co-operation, competition, conflict etc.

Cont...
Management Theories:
Classical Management Theory –
 It is based on the principle that employees only have economic or physical needs.
 It basically ignore the social needs, but instead determines profit maximisation, labour
specialisations and leadership qualities.
 For example, at Arcadia Plc, it identifies a clear structure for its operations, functions or
management.

Cont....
Soft leadership or hard management skills in an organisation
 Soft leadership skills implies that the people at the very top level are weak.
 While, hard skills describing those people who is strong and specific in their
work.

Conclusion
 To conclude, the above report summarised about leadership roles that bring positive changes in
an organisation.
 Leadership is an imperative tool of company that help to maximise the profitability and
efficiency by proper coordinating or communicating.
 While, a manager also plays a vital role in an organisation that helps in executing the activities,
delegating authority to employees and takes important decisions.

References
 Graves, L.M. and Sarkis, J., 2018. The role of employees' leadership perceptions, values, and motivation in employees'
provenvironmental behaviors. Journal of Cleaner Production.196. pp.576-587.
 Wesselink, R., Blok, V. and Ringersma, J., 2017. Pro-environmental behaviour in the workplace and the
role of managers and organisation. Journal of cleaner production.168. pp.1679-1687.
 Kumar, G.M., Jyothi, T., Sankar, T.B., Srinadh, S. and Srinivas, B.R., 2017. The roles and respon sibilities of
a human resource manager in an organisation. International Journal of Management, IT and Engineering.
7(9). pp.216-223.
 Vidal, G.G., Campdesuñer, R.P., Rodríguez, A.S. and Vivar, R.M., 2017. Contingency theory to study
leadership styles of small businesses owner-managers at Santo Domingo, Ecuador. International Journal
of Engineering Business Management. 9. p.1847979017743172.
 Kitana, A., 2016. Overview of the managerial thoughts and theories from the history: Classical
management theory to modern management theory. Indian Journal of Management Science. 6(1).p.16.