Management and Operations Report: Leadership and Situational Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership and management roles within an organizational context, with a specific focus on Marks & Spencer (M&S). It begins by differentiating the roles of leaders and managers, outlining their respective functions and characteristics. The report then examines how these roles apply in various situational contexts, emphasizing the importance of adapting leadership styles to different organizational conditions. Furthermore, it explores different theories and models of leadership, such as situational leadership, system leadership, contingency approach, and management by objectives, and how they are applied in practice. The report also highlights the key approaches of operational management, including total quality management, and their impact on organizational performance. The analysis covers factors affecting management and decision-making processes, including the business environment. The report concludes by emphasizing the value and importance of operational management in achieving organizational goals. Throughout the report, practical examples from M&S are used to illustrate the concepts discussed.

MANAGEMENT AND
OPERATIONS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
P1 Roles of leaders and managers in an organisation with characteristics of them...............1
P2 Examine how role of a leader and function of a manager apply in different situational
contexts...................................................................................................................................3
P3 Different theories and models of approaches applied on situations arise within an
organisation............................................................................................................................5
P4 Key approaches of operational management in an organisation with its leader's and
manager's role.........................................................................................................................6
P5 Value and importance of operational management in an organisation.............................7
P6 Factors of environment of business that affect on management of a company and decision-
making process of leaders and managers...............................................................................8
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Management and operations is mainly concerns with planning, organising and
supervising in the organisations. It is responsible for entire productions and provision of services.
If necessary, management can redesign the business operations of a company in order to gain
better productivity. Operational management refers to the administration which creates highest
level of efficiency. This management involves with utilisation of resources from staff, materials,
equipment and technology. Managers are used to develop and coordinate the new processes for
re-evaluating existing organisational structure. For an organisation, leadership and management
are vital components of its business (Kim and et. al., 2014). Managers and leaders help in
utilisation of resources in order to achieve business objectives. They have applied various
strategies and models to achieve the same. This report has prepared to evaluate various type of
leadership and management skills required by an organisation like M&S. It is retailer company
of the UK, that specialises in selling of cloths, home decors and luxury food products. This
report includes functions of managers and leaders' role in the improvement of production
efficiency. Importance of operational management also discussed in this part.
P1 Roles of leaders and managers in an organisation with characteristics of them
Managers: The persons who manage entire business functions and process act as
managers in an organisation. They organise and co-ordinate entire activities in order to achieve
goals and objectives of a company. Their main purpose is to ensure that all available resources
should be operated in a profitable manner.
Functions of Managers: Major functions perform by managers in a company are:-
 Planning: Managers involve in completing planning of strategies used to achieve a
specific goal.
 Organising: After making a plan, manager organises a team and resources in order to
accomplish the same.
 Staffing: As per requirements, manager needs to develop the employees needs and skills.
If necessary, he can recruit new employees also to accomplish the plan.
 Leading: It involves to lead the selected team by motivating, communicating and
encouraging them towards achievement.
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 Controlling: After completing the above process, manager needs to monitor and control
performance and process of all.
Leaders: The persons who have ability to lead a group towards achievement of business
goals and objectives are said to be leaders. Leaders develop and set a clear vision for employees
that help them to do work in a desired manner (Logenthiran and Srinivasan, 2012).
Functions of leaders: Following are some functions that done by leaders of an
organisation:-
 Setting Goals: In order to complete a task on time, a leader creates a goal for his team
members as well as set a vision for them.
 Organising: A leader organises the activities related to a task so that it can be completed
on time by his team members.
 Initiate actions: A leader always initiate actions or decision for completing a task rather
than to depend on supervisors.
 Motivation and direction: A leader can get involvement of workers by motivating and
encouraging them to perform in a desired manner.
 Link between management and workers: A Leader acts as commutator between
workers and managers of a company.
Leadership and management are main aspects of an organisation who have played
different roles (Moeini, Afshar and Afshar, 2011). In following table, role of leaders and
managers are given:-
Leaders Managers
 Leaders of an organisation are
innovative in nature through which they
can influence the workers easily.
 They helps in developing the strategies
as well as process of organisation.
 They always focuses on people who are
associated with company and its
operations.
 They inspire the people with trust and
brings morality in them.
 Managers play an important role in an
organisation. They manage entire
operations of it. So, they are
administrative in nature.
 They help in building effective
strategies for the organisation that helps
in developing.
 They concerns with system and
structure of company.
 They relies on control the employees
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 They possesses long term prospective
in their work.
 They should be originated not imitative
type in nature.
 Leaders are transformational in nature
who challenges the status quo.
instead to build trust.
 They mostly possesses to create a short
term view.
 They are always act as imitative in
nature.
 Managers accepts the status quo instead
to challenge it so, they are transactional
in nature.
P2 Examine how role of a leader and function of a manager apply in different situational
contexts
When it comes to determine who is more competent, manager or a leader, a myth is
always assumed that says managers are of less importance than leaders. Contradicting above
statement, Marks and Spencer has analysed and studied situational status of their employees at
every level, and derived a result that states not everyone is capable to perform managerial
functions (Mohammadi, Mozafari and Solimani, 2014). Some of organisational condition that
influence managerial functions are as follows: Stable situation: When company receives expected returns, then no modifications are
required in ongoing strategies and operational process. As it is already in stable mode and
uncertainty may cause serious damages to the business. Slow to moderate changing situation: Indian market have high growth rate, therefore it
is not possible to abruptly increase market share. Hence, business of M&S will grow
slowly and steadily as changing situations are mild in nature and cannot affect business in
high terms. Fast-changing situation: Political factors greatly influence policy and strategy of M&S.
Therefore, alterations have to be done in spontaneous manner to overcome the situation.
Influence of organisational circumstances on functions of management:
Marks and Spencer is a stable unit and requires less modifications. Here, manager
concentrates on their performance, hence, no modifications are needed whereas employees
efficiency is examined by superiors on continuous basis which helps to regulate a proper control.
Some styles of leadership proposed by Robert House are stated below:
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 Directive: In this method, command chain is followed where superior direct their
subordinates about their work. It also describe staff members their respective supervisors,
to whom they will report their work. Supportive: In this method, frustration and stress of staff members is managed. This
leadership approach aids in assessing people with difficult tasks. They are provided with
dummy solutions to get an idea about how to solve problem. It fails when degree of
toughness in task is low, as at that time it becomes inadequate to use because it do not
provide any inspiration to employees. Participative: In this method, employer supports their subordinates into decision making
process. This results as a motivation factor for them and they accomplish their targets in
more effective manner.
 Achievement oriented: Managers set some targets and evaluate employees on the basis of
deadline they are assigned with. It develops a habit of time management.
Marks and Spencer implements participative leadership style because it acts as a motivating
factor for employees and result in high productivity and effective yield rate. Also, it maintains a
good reputation in the marketplace (Tang and Musa, 2011).
Whether its team building, decision making or evaluating, leaders and managers play vital role
in each of the activity to achieve desired goals and objectives in adequate manner. Further are
some areas that are describing in order to see roles of leaders and functions of managers over
there:-
Decision-making process: In this process of M&S, managers must ensure to make
choices in order to lead on a particular action. Decision made by managers could impact the
resources amount that they have allocated for a particular task. Thus, leaders required to ask
functional manager for allocating resource so that a project can complete on time.
Employee motivation: In order to retain employees in a firm, managers and leaders
coordinate each other. M&S always consider that if its workers are satisfied with pay scale and
working environment then this firm will get more contribution of them. Leaders and managers
try to find out all basic needs of employees so that they can fulfil on time. They also consider to
include employees in decision-making process through they can motivated.
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P3 Different theories and models of approaches applied on situations arise within an organisation Situational leadership: It is developed by two individuals Ken Blanchard and Paul
Heresy. In 1970. Situational leadership theory says there is no specific way to do a task
or to deal with a particular situation. Its a managers ability to manage and apply his
knowledges and experience accordingly so at to fit and adjust with people he is working
or prevailing situation (Different theories of leadership applied on situations within an
organisation, 2017). Initially , firm was applying directive method for issuing directions
to its subordinates. With span of time, company thought about diversifying itself in
various other countries and for coming out with best decision they used used participative
approach by involving its staff to participate in decision making process which results in
encouraging & boosting morale of their employees (Witt, Brooke and Buckley, 2013). System leadership: System leadership is associated with the structure and policies of
company. Whenever, superior faces issues they use this sort of attribute. Application of
this kind of leadership complies a number of facts & figures to be taken into
consideration. It's an disciplinary style, having various rules & regulations to be
followed by all employees working in a firm. It assist the manager to regulate company
efficiently & effectively even at times of high complexities & uncertainties. For example:
Organisation basically deal in high quality goods and services which they provide to their
clients at high process. Contingency approach: In this method, leader has to examine extrinsic as well as
intrinsic factors, at the time of making any judgement . According to this approach , if a
firm is already operating its business in an adequate way & a manager is responsive
towards the given situation then ,this will help them to get the best judgement leading to
proper decision making. (Lahou and et. al., 2015).
 Management by objectives: It is a management model which helps to enhance
performance of company . In this approach mangers & subordinates has to accomplished
the predetermined objectives. This ensures equal participation of each staff members. For
example: Each and every division of M & S is aware about their work. For instance
production unit, knows their task to complete set targets within unprescribed time limit.
Therefore, it has been comprehended that organisation has to make use of distinctive
theories and model into their business. This will help superior to attain their desired targets
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within specific time frame. M & S is utilizing hypotheses of management by objectives into their
business so that they will accomplish their work more proficiently (White, 2016).
P4 Key approaches of operational management in an organisation with its leader's and manager's
role
Operational management is very important factor of an organisation to achieve
productivity in employees performance. Manager control and manage all production activities in
a very effective manner in order to develop quality of product and services which help to provide
high satisfaction to their customers. Company gain competitive advantage at market by
implementing effective operational strategies in work place. In this context, Mark & Spencer
used some key operational approaches at their company are as follows:
Total quality management: In this approach, company's management has focus on all
business activities in order to receive quality of outcome. Operation manager has involve
employees in their decision-making process thus improve their motivation. Mark & Spencer are
implementing this approach at their work place which help to provide quality of product and
services to their customer's. Thus increase client satisfaction and gain long term sustainability at
market. With the help to this Mark & Spencer has develop their goodwill in their industry.
Just-in-time: Company reduce their product and services cost by using appropriate plan.
Company given order to their vendor when the requirements are arise thus help to save inventory
cost of the company (Hugos, 2018). Mark & Spencer has execute this approach at their work
place which help to save inventory cost of the store. They make order for raw material has on
time.
Continuous improvement: In this process, firm's operational continuously improve
their operation process thus help to achieve an organisation goals and objectives in an effective
manner in a given time frame. Mark & Spencer enhance their employees performance through
continuous improvement in operational process thus increase customer's satisfaction.
Lean production: Through this approach firm reduces their production cost by using
waste management strategy at work place. So company has receive economic of scale in their
business unit. Mark & Spencer execute this approach in their store which help them to several
low cost product to their customer's and gain competitive advantage at market.
Queuing: Queuing is a very important approach for an organisation. Its help to increase
firm overall profits by ensuring the queuing of goods and services in a appropriate way in order
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to meet customer's needs and want. Managers and leaders play main role in managing a process
of operational in a very effective way.
Leaders role
 leaders main role is to motivate their members of team by giving directions for work
performance. They set policies within their activities held in company with that workers able to develop
their productivity by giving their customers best services.
Manager Role
 They are people responsible for managing all activities of operational and have a best
decisions in a very effective way (Fayol, 2016).
 It also help in decreasing of manufacture cost by work allocating according to capabilities
of employees.
Operational management: The key operations of an organisation are planing, controlling,
managing and coordinating. They managing product and service cost effective. Overseeing
inventory and distribution of goods in a effective manner in order to gain competitive advantages
at market place.
PROCESS MODEL: INPUT- TRANSFORMATIONAL PROCESS- OUTPUTS.
In puts: In this step Mark & Spencer's manager provide several input for gain long term
profitability. Some of the important in puts are:
 Equipment
 Employees
 Transportation
 Store Material
 Energy
 Information
 Facilities
Transformational process: In this process company's management transform their input into
out put in order to gain quality product and services. Some of the step of this process are as
follows:
 Process flows
 Work in progress
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 Operation design
 Scheduling and planing
 Manage and control whole activities
 System improvement
Out puts: This is a final step of whole production process activities. Mark & Spencer's
management ensure the quality of outcomes in order to enhance customer's satisfaction. Some
important point of this step are as follows:
 production and services
 Identify per unit cost
 Environmental impact
 Quality of goods
 Customer's satisfaction
P5 Value and importance of operational management in an organisation
Management and operations are most valuable part of organisation. It takes responsibility
of complete process and operations of business organisation. Managers of M&S company
manage all its process of production. They ensure that products or services offered by this
company should meet on customer's need and demand on time. Managers holds responsibility in
staffing, controlling, organising and other activities that make its productivity better and
effective. In M&S, they focuses on enhancing sales of its business in various stores. They also
concerns on its production in clothing section with ensuring that its resources can be utilised in a
proper way. They take care of its wastage in production to be reduced as well as, if possible
recycle that (GAO and et. al., 2011). Main functions of operational management in M&S and
other companies are discussing below:-
 Control and distribution the system.
 Transformation of raw materials and other resources into goods or services.
 Inventory management.
 Capacity management.
Management and operation concerned with transformation of inputs into desired output
having best quality. Managers associated with operation department handle all the functions in a
proper way so that a company can gain better production. In manufacturing industry, managers
take care of many processes including obtaining the resources till outputs are sold. In service
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industry, they concern with completing customer's needs and demand on time as well as taken
their feedback in the same. To meet customer's demand on time is major function of operational
management. Thus, operational management is regarding as most important part of all type of
industries. The main aim of operational manager is to reduce wastage and brings better
efficiency in production of a company like M&S. They add their value in making production cost
low. In M&S, operational manager always engage to utilise its warehouses in a proper manner. It
provides all information and details to customers about products of this firm. They also ensures
in delivering its products without any issues so that shifting costs become low.
Managers and leaders play an effective role in increasing the efficiencies of operational
management in a company. With contribution of each other, they generate desired outcomes and
help the firm to move ahead and gain sustainability.
Role of managers in increasing the efficiencies of management and operations:
 Managers help in effective collaboration within an organisation. They provide appraisals
and benefits to the workers so that they can better perform in organisation.
 They introduce effective training skills for employment development. This would help in
retaining the workers in a company also. They use to make effective communication with workers also that helps in gaining their
efforts for achievement of businesses goals (Fang and et. al., 2012).
Role of leaders in increasing the efficiencies of management and operations:
 Leaders influence the workers to work in a team as well as in a proper direction. They use
to solve their conflicts also, so that they can perform in a better way.
 They ensure all redundancy factors arise within workplace should be removed as quickly
as possible.
 They generate needs of employees also in their part of work. Through which workers can
do their work in a specific period.
P6 Factors of environment of business that affect on management of a company and decision-
making process of leaders and managers
In every organisation, executive take care that have adequate resources through which
goals and objectives are attain properly (Factors of environment of business that affect on
management of a company, 2016). They should make appropriate decisions which are benefit for
company. Manager and leader, both play essential role; as they direct and motivate employees.
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They provide instruction so that workers complete tasks and attain targets within specified time
frame. They require to conduct market survey to enquire about people requirement and rival
firms offerings (Bainton and et. al., 2011). Thereby, superior make changes in system and
implementing upgraded tools so that firm operations take place properly. As in M&S, manager
and leader takes decisions by considering internal and externals factors which affect business
activities.
External factors:These are components which are present outside firm, but impact
operations are stated below:
CSR: Superior organise activities through which they are able to serve need and wants of
society. They take care that operations carried by them are not emitting pollution. Corporate
social responsibility benefit firm to enhance their market image and to attract large number of
customers. As in M&S, superior manufacture products and services; through which they are able
to deliver adequate offerings to serve requirement of society. This benefit firm to enhance their
market reputation and attract customers. They even are able to take advantage from government
in taxation and other regulations.
Business ethics: Superior require to make system and business activities conducted in
respect to policies that were made by executives. They require to provide adequate information
to staff members so that they perform tasks properly. Administration of M&S, frame norms and
rules through which they are able to make system function properly. This help superior to make
employees function effectively, as they get positive working environment in company.
Stakeholders: Executives, suppliers, employees, creditors and customers are part of
company. Manager and leader require to take care that they fulfil requirement of all stakeholders.
They require that they have adequate raw material through which they are able to offer goods
and services to people. So, this help firm to earn adequate revenue through which they are able to
provide return to investors (Dineshbabu, Thomas, and Radhakrishnan, 2012). As in M&S,
administration and staff members carry out activities through which they are able to deliver
goods and services in according to customer requirement. This benefit firm to gain adequate
profit for their business.
Internal factors: These are elements which impact business activities are as follows:
Employees: Superior require that they have adequate staff members through which they
are able to make them carry out tasks effectively. They take care that employees have skills and
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