Management and Operations Report: M&S Leadership Analysis

This report delves into the critical aspects of management and operations within an organizational context, with a specific focus on the multinational company M&S. It begins by comparing the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers, emphasizing their importance in driving productivity and achieving organizational goals. The report explores how leadership and managerial functions are applied in various situations, such as technological environments and customer relations. It also examines different leadership styles, including system, situational, and contingency leadership, and discusses the application of management theories. The report highlights key approaches for operational management, emphasizing the significance of operations management in attaining business objectives. Furthermore, it analyzes the factors influencing operational decision-making by leaders and managers within M&S, offering a comprehensive overview of the subject matter.

MANAGEMENT
AND
OPERATIONS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Comparison of different roles and characteristics of leaders and managers.....................1
P2 Role of a leader and function of manager is applied in various situations........................3
P3 Some of the theories and models of approach...................................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
P4 Key approaches for operation management and roles of leaders and managers in M&S.5
P5 Importance and values of operations management in attaining business objectives........6
P6 Factors which have an impact on operational management and decision-making by leaders
and managers in M&S company............................................................................................7
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Management and operations can be said as the important element of an organisation. It
helps a firm to design and manage the latest trends so that they can get maximum profits.
Department provides the final goods and services to their clients. Thus, their major role is to
transform the raw materials into final products which increases their productivity and revenues.
Leaders and managers plays a prominent role in attaining a superior positions in the market area
as they are the on who leads and manages the team very well (Akkerman, Farahani and Grunow,
2010). In short they motivate and encourage team members to achieve their goals and objectives
in effective manner. M&S is a multinational company which manufactures clothes and
household products. In this report, different roles and characteristics of leaders and managers is
included with context to responsibilities. Other than this approaches which helps the company in
achieving their goals and targets in certain time period.
TASK 1
P1 Comparison of different roles and characteristics of leaders and managers
Leaders and managers both are important for an organisation so as to run their business in
a proper manner. According to Mendis, Muttaqi and Perera (2014), Leaders can be state as a
person who guide and motivate their team members to perform their task effectively. They
mainly show appropriate path to workers for completing any task by using the limited resources.
According to Nakayama and Bucks (2012), Managers are those who manages and divide
the work effectively so that a healthy relation is maintained at work place. Both Leaders and
Managers look out the behaviour of an individual so as to identify whether workers are having
any problems or not. Here, some of the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers are
mentioned which they should acquire for best results:
Role of Leaders:
Motivating employees: Leaders are the one who are motivate their team members by
identifying their needs and wants. A good leaders equally treats all his/her members which
creates a sense of harmony and unity amongst all workers. To hit a goal leaders takes their team
members along, without leaving any individual behind.
Support and counsel their employees: Leaders support its team members and show them
correct path through which they can achieve their objectives in specific time period (Barratt,
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Choi and Li, 2011). They help and counsel an individual if he/she is facing any problem in
completing any task. Thus, they give the best suitable solutions for resolving any issues.
Builds a team: To achieve their goals it is important to have a team which should be
according to a leaders. This helps them to work under his/her guidance.
Representatives of a Company: They can be said as the representatives of a team or an
organisation. Lead their team in seminars, conferences, meetings and meetings etc.
Roles of Managers
Implementations of policies and plans: Basically the role of managers is to manage the
task according to the needs and requirements. For this they implement certain rules which are as
per the company's norms and gradually helps them in achieving their set targets.
Provide training: They give training to employees by identifying weak and strong points
of workers. This helps an individual to increase their knowledge and skills.
Monitor the performance of an individual: Continues monitoring assist managers to
identify the behaviour of a person whether he/she is interested in doing that particular job.
Characteristics of leaders and managers
Positive attitude: Leading and managing team is not an easy task thus, it is important for
an individual to have a positive attitude which will assist him/her to convert negative feedbacks
in positive way. They encourage their team members to perform the task in an efficient manner.
Creative minds: A person with different minds helps a company to make innovative
ideas through which they can achieve their goals and set targets. Hence company should appoint
those people who are with different mind sets.
Confident: It is necessary that a person who is a leaders or a manager is confident by
nature because he/she is the one who represent its team in various seminars, meetings or
workshops (Binder and Edwards, 2010).
Comparison between leaders and managers are mentioned below:
Leaders Managers
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 They lead the team from front and
guide their members to work properly.
 They make sure that work is conducted
according to the plan which company
has made for achieving the goals.
 They manages the work and divide
them in different departments.
 Managers tells employees about the
norms and strategies which they have
introduced.
Other than this managers and leaders perform certain task which are given below:
Planning: Managers and leaders both helps in planing out new strategies and tactics as
this will assist them in achieving their set targets in specific time period. So, before
implementing these plans they should consider all the outcomes which is effective their business
operations.
Organising:Managers can be said as the one who manages the task for different
departments. Thus, they divide the work according to their capabilities, skills and knowledge.
Staffing: This is the important factor in which human resource department helps them in
hiring new and eligible candidates for their company. Superiors tires to select those individual
who are very creative and innovative with their minds. Gradually these fresh candidates help
them in gaining superior position in market area.
Coordinating: For having a effective workplace it is necessary that company is providing
suitable environment to their employees. Managers and leaders both ensures that there is a equal
coordination amongst different departments so that they can help each other if required.
Controlling: Both manages and leaders make sure that company is using resources in
limited manner so that they can reduce the wastage.
Marks and Spencer is using hierarchy structure of management in which employees
cannot contact with their managers directly as they have to follow some customs. If workers
have any problem than they can interact with mediators so as to tell them about their issues
which they are facing in the company.
P2 Role of a leader and function of manager is applied in various situations
Many companies' performance rely on the activities done by a managers and leaders.
Thus, both of them are crucial for performing the management task (Burke, 2013). They work as
per the circumstances, in the present scenario managers and leaders not only guide their team
mates but also helps in identifying different training methods which is required for the company.
Therefore, some of the features are mentioned below which is used for effective results:
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Customers: Company should work according to the needs and satisfaction of their
customers so that they can earn the loyalty of their consumers which will increase the
productivity and sales of the organisation. Thus , they should work son providing quality goods
and services to clients. So, leaders should divide the task as per the skills of his/her team
members. Managers hire candidates who are best suitable for the job.
Employees: Organisation should treat their employees as their assets because they are the
one on which company depends fro performing their work. Thus, to enhance their skills firm
should conduct various seminars, workshops where an individual can increase his/her
knowledge. This will enable them to provide better services to their customers.
Suppliers: They are the main factor which company should keep in mind because they
are the one who supply their commodities in various locations. Hence, it is important for
organisation to maintain a good relations with all suppliers. They provide enterprise with raw
materials which they can use for final products.
Society: This is one of the important element which company should determine before
establishing and selling their products by an organisations. There should be a different
department where they can make out some strategies which they can apply before hurting the
sentiments of a particular community or group. Therefore, managers should execute their plans
in such a way that it provides them maximum benefits (Chen and et. al., 2011).
Situation 1:
Appropriate situation for technological environment: Company is using adequate tools
and techniques for better performance. They are collecting feedbacks from their customers so
that they can provide them with good services and products which are superior in qualities.
Managers is using trendy methods to communicate with their clients like they are asking reviews
in social media sites and or internet so that they scan work accordingly. Whereas leaders will
show employees right direction in order to achieve their desired goals and objectives.
Role of leaders: Leaders and managers both are important for a company in order to
complete the task in a proper way. But the work they perform are little bit different from
managers. There thinking will differ in different situations for example: for performing the task
manager will use the old method as they want to remain on the safer side whereas leaders will
use new creative and innovative ideas for completing the task.
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In this particular situation leader will use democratic leadership style and involves all its
member in decision making so that they can figure out a proper way for completing the task.
Managers have a different perspective in handling the situation, as per the situation
mentioned above they can train their employees about the new technologies which is used by the
organisation for getting better outcomes. Managers should provide them with different training
programmes by which employees can enhance their existing skills and knowledge.
Hence, Leaders and Managers of M&S are introducing plans and strategies which is
providing them with better outcomes and gradually their position is enhancing. Marks and
Spencer provide their employees with training events which enable their workers to give proper
services to their clients.
P3 Some of the theories and models of approach
Theories and approaches are important and adopted by many companies to make changes
according to the new trends. This helps an organisation to execute their work in such a manner
that all their needs are fulfilled. Basically there are three types of leadership styles which are
mentioned below:
System leadership: This type of leadership is adopted by Marks and Spencer to enhance
their company in front of their customers. They simply makes changes an secure their activities
from outsiders so that nobody can adopt their plans (Chen and et. al., 2010). Mangers and
leaders bring all components under one single umbrella which makes it possible to perform their
task in proper way.
Situational leadership: In this plans are made according to the current situations present
in the market place. They are followed by certain steps through which they accomplish their task.
In the first step they identify and evaluate the circumstances and apply the best suited styles of
leadership that helps them to manage situations.
Contingency leadership: This is similar to situational style of leadership and dynamic in
nature. Marks and Spencer is a big company and to manage various departments they apply this
approach. It assist them in economy, finance, marketing and sales through which they make
appropriate decisions. This allows M & S to implement new creative and innovative ideas to
solve problems which arises suddenly.
Management theories
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Mainly there are two types of theories which many organisation bring in their business
activities so as to increase their performance. Marks and Spencer has used both theories as the
time passed.
Modern theory of management: This is the modern theory which is based on recent
trends and many organisation opt this for maximum profits and sales. Under this companies
includes new tools and techniques which assist them in expanding their business operations. This
guide enterprise to know the current situations which they can utilise in manufacturing products
accordingly (Cruz and Marques, 2011). It increase the capability of firm to produce more goods
which are best in quality and services. These are time efficient but are costly as the tools are
expensive.
Classical theory of management: This can be said as the old school of any theory, under
this theory old process of handling any business is included. Adopted by some of the
organisation who are orthodox in nature and didn't want to accept the changes. This provide
them much benefits as compared to modern theory of management (Galindo and Batta, 2013).
This style of management theory is more time consuming and it also it reduces the efficiency of
labours.
Therefore, Marks & Spencer utilise both of the management style at different level for
completing their task. Both are very important at there points. This will provide them better
results and outcomes.
TASK 2
P4 Key approaches for operation management and roles of leaders and managers in M&S
Operation management is one of the important department where managers and leaders
operate organisation. This aid them in effective decision-making for appropriate functions.
Below some of the theories are mentioned which is adopted by Marks and Spencer are as
follows:
Six Sigma theory: This is one of the main tool which helps an organisation to make
improvement in their process. It was given by Bill Smith who was an engineer he basically used
this theory to identify and then eliminate the factors which are hampering the working of their
business. Certain steps are included in this which are reducing process cycles time, reduction of
pollution, reduce cost and fulfilling customer's needs and satisfaction. This helps them in gaining
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maximum profits. Marks and Spencer by applying this theory is acquiring superior positions and
giving tough fight to their competitors.
Just-in-time: Under this M&S company achieve their targets before the given time
period. Through this they are providing products to their suppliers on time to correct person. This
assist their employees to manage their time (Giegerich, 2010). It increases the productivity and
sales at the same time.
Lean production: Company implement this process so as to work in a systematic manner
it reduces the wastages of resources and things which are not adding market value in the
company. This takes the company in forward direction which is better for future. M&S has
trained their employees to perform well with limited resources and managers ensures that they
are producing quality products.
Continuous improvement: For better performance it is necessary that employees make
certain changes in their behaviour (Ivanov, Sokolov and Kaeschel, 2010). Thus, company
should implement certain process by which they can gain rapid growth. Superiors of Marks and
Spencer know about the nature of their employees so they have introduced strategies
accordingly. They have created a separate department which only work on the how to enhance
the performance of their workers.
Some of the main roles of leaders and managers are mentioned below:
Planning: Planning is one of the important element based on which every company
work. Leaders and managers make these plans; which employees tries to execute in effective
manner. They also take reviews if any alteration is required which will give them more benefits.
Managing: Here managers plays a vital role because their prime duty is to manage the
whole task and divide the work amongst various departments. Thus, they monitor individual's
performance that assist them to divide the task in positive manner.
Coordinating: For work to be done in an effective manner it is essential to maintain
coordination between workers. M&S is providing healthy environment to their employees where
they can work freely without any pressure.
Input process:
This is the first step which company consider for manufacturing new products. In this
they gather raw materials from different suppliers that is required for producing goods.
Production Process
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This includes technological elements that involves machines and tools that is used to
manufacture products accordingly and other one is organisational behaviour that includes
division of labour to which they divide the task respectively. Further it can be classified into
certain steps which are as follows:
Marks and Spencer first buy raw materials from their suppliers and start they process of
manufacturing products. In the next step the material prepared is transferred to fabrication
system and than to assembly system which is the last step of the production process. After this
the products is out for delivery to respective distributors from where they can distribute to
different shops and later from their customers buy the commodity.
Output Process: This is the last step in which they deliver the completed products to
different distributors from where customers can buy their commodities.
Key inputs required: Marks and Spencer is a renowned company whose revenue is more
than any other company. As they manufacture clothes, so their key input which they require is
fabric for manufacturing clothes.
P5 Importance and values of operations management in attaining business objectives
Marks and Spencer is a leading company which provides their customers with clothings
and household products. Hence, it is important to achieve al set targets so as to expand their
business in different areas. Managers and leaders of this company motivate their team members
to work in a proper way. There are some of the advantages and disadvantages which is aiding
them in business organisation:
Increase the productivity of a company: It is important for a firm to implement those
strategies which can be understood by their employees. For this company should introduce those
tools and technologies which are according to the current market standards. It will increase their
market strengths, sales and productivity as well (Jacobs, Chase and Lummus, 2011). Managers
deal with the problems which are acting as a barrier in the process of business organisation. For
smooth conduct of business it is essential that they select suitable candidates who can perform
their task effectively than others.
Customer's satisfaction: Customer's needs and satisfaction is very essential as they are
the one who buy their commodities. Thus, they should work according to the wants of their
consumers. By keeping all these things in mind they should manufacture products with superior
quality (Kang, 2010). This will help their organisation to attract as many people as they can for
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this they can use various medium from which they can promote their products in a better way.
M&S company is giving their commodities at very reasonable rates.
Reduce wastage: M&S company manufactures things which are made by using limited
resources. They make sure that they minimize the wastage. For this they have implemented a
new concept of carbon footprint in which they make maximum products without wasting
resources.
Increase profits: Introducing new commodities in their stores have with fresh designs
have increases the profits of an organisation. They have eliminated all their drawbacks and by
introducing new techniques for manufacturing quality products.
Expensive but reliable: Some of the products which are made by M&S are expensive but
quality which they give are superior in class because of which customers are buying their
products in large number. Rates of products are decided by managers by looking all possible
outcomes.
Providing long term benefits to firm: Company should make sure about the plans and
strategies which they are implementing are providing them in long term benefits. This can be
gained by motivating and encouraging their employees. It boost their morale which gradually
enhances their capabilities.
Apart from this operation management plays an important role in any company which are
given below:
Department of operational management is very essential because they have to control a
large number of employees in such a way that employees doesn't feel alienated. They tries to
maintain their beliefs which very essential to run a business in an effective manner. Operation
management utilise all the resources in proper manner.
Therefore, operational management help the company is attaining the achieved targets in
specific time period.
P6 Factors which have an impact on operational management and decision-making by leaders
and managers in M&S company
All these factors can be analysed by two factors i.e. internal and external and these are
given below:
Internal Factors: This factors helps an organisation to make proper decision other than this
some of the elements which comes under this are mentioned below:
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Employees: Company should take care of their employees by appraising them for their
good works (Lind, 2013). They can use body gestures for applause. This will gradually boost the
confidence and skills of an individual.
Suppliers: they should maintain a healthy relation with suppliers because they are the one
who provide them with raw material which they use for final products. Without them they cannot
manufacture their goods (Mendis, Muttaqi and Perera, 2014). This also assist them to deliver
commodities to their clients on time.
Consumers: People who buy their products comes under this they are the one whose
needs and wants are taken into consideration before producing any commodity.
Society: It is one of the factor in which company determine the society before
introducing any products. CSR activities check on a regular basis about the performance of the
company at market area.
CSR: In this organisation give better services to their customers by delivering better
goods and services. Superiors should take care of all the functions in order to eliminate all the
problems which is hampering the business operations. Thus, Corporate social responsibility
provides benefits by providing quality products to their customers and the society where they
serve.
Business ethics: For running a business in an appropriate manner it is necessary that they
follow all the ethics which is formulated by the any company. Organisation should works under
business ethics so that nobody is harmed. Managers should give appropriate information to the
employees so that they can perform the work in an effective manner.
Stakeholders: Investors, employees, creditor and suppliers comes under this and help
them in performing the activity in an proper manner. They provides them with better services so
that they can give appropriate services to their customers. Therefore, they are an important part
of an organisation so, managers and leaders should take care of the stakeholders about what all
things they require.
External Factors:
Political factors: Governmental bodies come under this they are the one who implement
rules and regulations according to the well being of their citizens. They makes norms which are
for the smooth conduct of any business organization.
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