Management and Operations Report

This report delves into the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers within the context of operations management, using Mark and Spencer plc as a case study. It outlines various leadership theories, operational strategies, and the impact of internal and external factors on decision-making processes. The report emphasizes the importance of effective management in achieving business objectives and enhancing overall performance.

Management and Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1. Define and compare the roles and characteristic of leaders and a manager.....................1
P2. Roles of a leader and the function of a manager apply in different situational context ..3
P3. Apply different theories and models of approach including situational, system and
contingency leadership...........................................................................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
P4. Key approaches to operation management and roles of leaders and manager.................5
P5. Importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives.......6
P6. Assess the factors within business environment that impact upon operational management
and decision-making...............................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Management considered as organisation and administration of any enterprise and body of
government. In this refer several activities to frame strategy of business entities and coordinate
with workers to put some efforts to accomplish aims and objectives by utilisations of resources
like financial, natural, technological and human resources. Other side, the operation refers to
design, control and executions of action that convert all resources into finished goods and
services (Alderton and Saieva, 2013). Every firm manage and perform various tasks and
functions with having responsibilities for managing business effectively. The assignment is
based on Mark and Spencer plc as it is British multinational retailer company in London. They
deal in providing luxury food items, home appliances and cloths. In this report, it will define the
roles and characters of manager and leaders with some differences. It also defined various
theories and approaches as well as impacts on decision-making of the managers and leaders on
the business.
TASK 1
P1. Define and compare the roles and characteristic of leaders and a manager
Manager: He is an individual who has responsibility to organise, control and
administration of the business and its employees. Managers develop and establish relevant
strategies, policies and plan of the working staff for successful accomplishment of goals and
objectives.
Leaders: A person who are capable to create impact and influence a group or individual
for obtaining organisation's goals and objectives (Barratt, 2011). In other words, a person who
has willingness for doing something and abilities to support or motivate to the other individuals
is called a good leader. They generally influence and inspire people to get desired work done
from them.
There are some characteristics and roles of managers and leaders such as:
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Leaders
Roles
 Leader’s main aim or objective is to
bring changes within company.
 They provide guidelines to the people.
 Leaders generally focus on people and
their goals. They always motivate individuals for
achieving organisational goals and
objectives.
Characteristics
 Leaders are known to be a visionary.
 They set their examples in front of
followers.
 They are the problem solvers.
 Leaders always influence the human
behaviour.
Managers
Roles
 they Engage to create plans as well as
policies for the company.
 They organise or optimise available
resources to achieve success. Managers have to coordinate and
control all business activities.
Characteristics
 They provide instructions to the leaders
which must be followed.
 Managers make decisions for the
organisation.
 They act as a leader.
M&S focuses on maintaining relationship in between the employer and employee so that
managers and leaders would perform several functions for increasing work productivity as well
as get work done from employees to achieve goals or set targets (Galindo, 2013).
There are some differences between leader and managers:
Managers Leaders
They set the goals and objectives for an
organisation.
Leaders persuade the aims and objectives that
created by managers.
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Managers convey with leaders for giving
message related to policies and regulations.
They forward the message to employees and
encourage them to work according to policies.
They provide guidelines and directions to the
groups regarding objectives and goals.
Leaders give directions to the team members.
They play a crucial role in formulating plans for
an organisation to achieve success. Leader’s role
is to inspire the employees to work within
organisation.
P2. Roles of a leader and the function of a manager apply in different situational context
There are many circumstances which can be occurred at workplace where managers and
leaders have to contribute some proportion of their skills and facilities for providing directions to
obtain organisational goals and objectives (Gunasekaran and Ngai, 2012). So, here are various
roles and responsibilities that merged and company used in different circumstances such as:
Framing plans: In this, managers and leaders are forming their roles to formulate plan
for business. So, they provide guidelines to the employees for achieving goals and objectives of
an organisation as well as help in planning process which gives guidance to the people. They
provide their assistance to the team members in order to track for obtaining certain tasks or
results of company.
Determine objectives: In M&S, both managers and leaders are contributing their ideas
and knowledge for setting objectives in long as well as short term. There are some certain things
that can be crucial for an organisation and so, in this situation, company needs skilled or
experienced persons who have knowledge and capacity to analyse and evaluate things for goals
and objectives.
Resolve problems: Managers and leaders play an important role in resolving specific
problems or issues because it can create conflicts in the business operations and results can be
show as failure of objectives and firm too. It also affects the performance of employees.
Training and development: It is an important program for enhancing knowledge and
skills of people. So, leaders or managers offer these kinds of programmes to the employees
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within company to boost their morale and increase work productivity (Hamilton and Holub,
2011). It helps to upgrade worker's skills in accordance with new task.
Resource allocation: The main role of managers and leaders is to allocate available
resources in an effective manner for getting best outcomes as they distribute inputs such as raw
materials, money and labour for production process in such a manner that maximum output can
be gained at low minimum possible cost.
P3. Apply different theories and models of approach including situational, system and
contingency leadership
In these theories, it explains that how an individual can become a good leader within an
organisation. There must be skilled or knowledgeable employees who can attain set targets and
objectives. Managers play a vital role in making decisions as well as setting goals. Leader is an
individual who provides support to workers and instructions to attain predetermined tasks or
objectives (Heizer, 2016). So, Mark and Spencer requires good leaders for effective work who
can lead the team in a proper way for achieving set goals as well as increasing profits within
organisation. So, for this, here some theories given which support leader's personality in various
situations.
Situational theory: It has introduced by Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard. Leaders are
leaning and focus on best course of actions that depends on the situational variables. This theory
refers to the personalities of individuals which depend on skills or capabilities that leaders
generally use to make inspire or influence for the completion of the work. So leaders should have
knowledge, skills and abilities for facing the various situations that may occur in the business
operations. According to the present condition of Mark and Spencer plc, it is facing several kinds
of problems such as labour turnover, increasing costs, etc. Hence, situational leadership has
significant role within organisation where leaders have abilities and skills that can help in
surviving in critical situations or circumstances as well as resolve the problems in company.
Contingency leadership theory: This theory is based on environment as it focuses on
variables for different environmental factors and determine the best leadership which is suitable
for situations. A contingency theory is most important for every business firms as it support in
making favourable decision by effective leadership approach. Contingency can occur in any time
and anywhere, so it is necessary for leaders that to make effective decision regarding business so
that predetermined goals or objectives can be attained (Jacobs and Chase, 2017). M&S could
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apply this theory to make favourable decision according to time. For example, if increasing in
demand of particular product and service then labour can be feel as pressurise. Workers may
become troubled or stressed and leave the job. So, to handle this situation, leader should adopt
strategies like reward system that allows extra incentives to workers to motivate them.
System leadership: In this, leadership style can be considered as the approach that used
by leaders in different situations so that changes and challenges can be adopted in an efficient
manner. The features of this leadership system is very different in comparison of project and
organisation as well. So in this theory, it implies various efforts which are put by leader for
significant changes. Therefore, this leadership approach can be helpful for M&S for
implementation of desired change system within organisation (Peng and Lai, 2012). Systems
leadership helps in adopting several strategies for surviving from any situation.
TASK 2
P4. Key approaches to operation management and roles of leaders and manager
An organisations is depends on external environment as it is a part of large system such
as any industry it belongs to, economy system and society. So enterprise play role in converting
input into output and export to the environment. This simple model require to expanded and
developed different types of models of operation management in which perform number of
functions including planning, organising, staffing, directing and controlling. Any firm must be
defined through open system model in which involve interactions among the enterprises and its
external environment.
There are some key approaches of operations management and the roles and
responsibilities of managers or leaders in various functions such as:
Total quality management: This approach is consider the quality of particular goods and
services that company wants to deliver to the customers for satisfying their needs and wants. So
with the help of total quality management, company produce good quality of products as well as
services to meet customer's requirements. M&S should focus on product's quality to serve best as
well as reach potential buyers. Organisation must be consider this approach for creating best
products which helps to attract or make customer loyal towards company.
Just in time: In this approach, it refers to inventory management in which company
manage its stock as well as control on production process (Slack, 2015). It helps in increasing
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efficiency and reduces the wastage and cost. Just in time approach support to the business as like
it produce the goods when demand will be there and also distribute or deliver to the end user
with quality for final consumptions so it helps in reducing warehouse costs as well as chances of
being damage will be reduced. M&S can use this approach for inventory management as it will
support in utilising available resources in effective manner for getting maximum outputs.
Stock control and supply chain management: Supply management includes proper
logistics facilities, supply times and inventory control, for the purpose of delivering particular
goods or services (Slack and Johnston, 2011). Supply chain manager have to perform different
roles and responsibilities in the operational functions: Manager is required to plan properly
regarding on time delivery of products.
 He require to be ensure about sufficient inventory stock in warehouses.
 Managers should make good relations with suppliers or vendors for continuous
supplying.
Lean product: This approach helps to minimise the wastage in manufacturing department
as in this consider the factor of production which support in getting best outcomes or results from
limited resources. M&S should use this approach for framing quality products in less wastage.
P5. Importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives
Systematic approach helps in continuously improving of performance for the organisation
including capacity and outcomes. Approaches concern with procedures and structures that
implement strategies and having the entire business in which they focus on proper improvement
of performance so that better outcomes can be attained. The operation management is playing a
vital role for achieving goals and objectives as this department focus on development in
designing and improving of the products.
Evaluation: Managers should engage in several activities to understand the business
venture, plans and strategies must be implemented so that organisation can achieve goals and
objectives (Stadtler, 2015). Evaluations can be considered as benchmark that are to be set for the
purpose of reducing any inefficiencies including wastage or shortage of raw material, and over
staffing etc. M&S company require to undertake evaluation procedure as manager must be
ensure about operation and production or form effective plan for this.
Scope of operation: Operations refers to daily operations or business activities that
organise and perform for achieving core objectives in the firm. It support in making successful
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business. Managers play their roles in providing proper path or directions to the employees
towards business goals or target. Practical work performance includes practical application of
principles which are associated with different types and size of the business.
Resources: It is important factor for successful organisation that to utilise effectively of
available resources and allocate these among several activities to get more output from limited
inputs with the help of formulation of strategies and control. M&S focuses on managing all
available resources including material, labour, land, financial, and many more that are necessary
to produce goods and services with quality (Subramanian and Ramanathan, 2012). Operation
management plays role to enables for determining and scheduling available resources with the
help different types of components such as speed, quality, effectiveness and dependability, of
operations to attain company's target.
Cost minimisation: Operation management support in cutting cost while production
process as it help to do work in a proper systems which followed in manufacturing activities so
M&S company generally focus on minimising costs as well as optimisation of money resource to
achieve best outcomes.
Financial and human management: Company should manage their resources in
effective manner for reducing cost or expenses. It can support to get tangible or intangible
benefits in the organisation so that firm can accomplish set goals and objectives through proper
implementation as well as execution of business operations. Mark&Spencer have opportunity to
increase market share by adopting this strategy.
Enhance performance: It is another benefit of operation management that it support in
boosting employee’s moral and increase work productivity (Tang and Musa, 2011). Organisation
can improve its product's quality as well as increase flexibility through successful
implementation of business operations.
Time management: Operation management support in managing time as increase the
efficiency and productivity of tasks and helps in completing all functions on time with utilisation
of resources.
P6. Assess the factors within business environment that impact upon operational management
and decision-making
The word environment, consider the surrounding or conditions in which particular
activity is carried on and organisation refers to a social entity that has hierarchical structure in
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which all items are put together for achieving best outcomes or results. Businesses are always
being affected from the environmental factors that directly influenced on operations. There are
internal and external environments and its forces which impact on managers and leaders
decisions within an organisation such as:
Internal environment:
In this defined that all forces or conditions that affect within the boundary of the
organisation and these factors can be controllable so managers make decisions to control all
internal forces.
Owners: They are the persons who invested and have property rights of the business.
Owner can be individual or group of person who started the venture and share their profit among
them (Yang and Hong, 2011). So they can change any rules and regulation as well as can make
new policies which can affect the decision of managers.
Board of directors: It is the governing body of the company who are elected by
stakeholder as well as they are given the responsibility of business for overseeing a firm's top
managers like general manager.
Employees: It is most important factor of the organisation that employees play vital role
in achieving success of business as they perform task of the administrations so labours or
workers are important part of the organisation. Managers have to maintain good relations with
people because poor management can be creating conflicts and results will be failure of the
business.
Culture: It is defined as the collective behaviours of members of an organisation in
which includes the values, visions, beliefs, habit that they attached. It is must that structure
should be effective for good working environment because it plays important role in shaping the
organisation as well as manage all activities for achieving goals and objectives.
External environment:
It consists of several factors that may directly affect the operations (Zurich, 2017). These
forces cannot be control by the managers but they can manage it in effective manner which helps
in avoiding or facing those factors as well as decision can be made regarding adoptions of
strategies.
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Illustration 1: PESTLE analysis
(Source- PESTLE analysis, 2013)
Economic factor: It is important factor because an organisation is depends on the
economic system for operation. In this includes inflations, interest rates and unemployment. So
these factors affect the demand of products as during inflation, firm pays more for resources to
cover the costs and they use pricing strategy. So, it directly affects the buyer's behaviour and
decrease product's sales volume.
Technological factor: In this defined the methods for converting inputs into outputs for
getting best products and services (Peng, 2012). Manager in M&S must be careful about the
technological changes so they have to adopt suitable strategies for technologies adoptions.
Social factors: It also a big factor of operation management that company require about
social study because there are various types of people in different countries and they follow their
culture, customs, language, lifestyles etc. so manager should study about the consumer
behaviours that helps to understand regarding buyers. According to changes of trends, customer's
taste, choice and preferences also change so, it affects company's products as well as their sales
volume which can be decrease in the market (PESTLE analysis, 2013).
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CONCLUSION
It can be concluded from the above report that operation management is the process of
designing, controlling and execution of actions to convert inputs into outputs. It explained about
different roles or characteristics of managers within organisation and they are applied in various
situations. It also defined some theories or models of leadership approach as well as approaches
for operation management because it helps in achieving business objectives. In this report,
various internal and external factors defined that can occur while running business and they have
major impacts on the business development.
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