Critical Analysis of Leadership and Management at Marks and Spencer

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership and management concepts, focusing on the case of Marks and Spencer (M&S). It begins by critically analyzing the roles of managers as effective leaders and leaders as effective managers, exploring the balance needed between strategic management and leadership demands. The report then delves into the role of leaders in creating an organization's vision, mission, and values, examining how personal energy, self-belief, and responsibility impact leadership styles and their relative success. Furthermore, it investigates how leadership engenders empowerment and trust, and the impact of ethical stances on organizational practices. The report also explores different leadership styles, including transformational, transactional, and situational leadership, and their respective impacts on organizational outcomes. Through this analysis, the report aims to provide insights into effective leadership and management strategies within a business context, offering valuable perspectives for students and professionals alike.

MANAGEMENT

Contents
Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Critically analyze the concept of managers as effective leaders...........................................1
1.2 Critically analyse the concept of leaders as effective managers............................................2
1.3 Critically evaluate the balance needed between the demands of strategic management and
leadership.....................................................................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Critically evaluate the role of the leader in the creation of an organisation’s vision, mission
and values....................................................................................................................................4
2.2 Critically analyse how personal energy, self- belief and responsibility impact leadership
styles and their relative success...................................................................................................4
2.3 Leadership can engender empowerment and trust and how ethical stance affects that and
the overall impact on organisational practice..............................................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................6
Transformational leadership and its impact...........................................................................6
Transactional leadership and its impact..................................................................................7
Situational leadership and its impact.......................................................................................8
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Management consists of the interlocking functions of creating corporate policy and
organizing, planning, controlling, and directing an organization's resources in order to achieve
the objectives of that policy. It is basically the process that involves coordination of the activities
in order to achieve the goals and objectives. Management is one of the most important functions
in the organization. In order to perfectly manage the activities in organization it is really
necessary for leaders and managers to perform their roles and responsibilities adequately. This
will assist them in enhancing the business performance of the organization in which they are
working upon. Management also consists of various activities related to planning and
controlling. The manager needs to be engaged in analyzing the needs and demands of their
employees.
Present report will lay emphasis on Marks and Spencer. It is a British clothing and food
store which has been headquartered in United Kingdom. Present report will lay emphasis on
critically analyzing the concept of managers as effective leaders. It will also lay focus on the
critically analyzing the concept of leaders as effective managers. Assignment will also critically
evaluate the balance needed between the demands of strategic management and leadership. It
will be able to recognise leadership qualities that support organisational mission and values.
Report will also lay focus on evaluate the role of the leader in the creation of an organisation’s
vision, mission and values. It will analyse how personal energy, self- belief and responsibility
impact leadership styles and their relative success.
TASK 1
1.1 Critically analyze the concept of managers as effective leaders
Effective managers are really important for the success of organization. They can be taken
as the effective leaders of the organization who have been involved in achieving the goals and
objectives of the firms (Gandolfi and Stone, 2017). Managers can be involved in motivating the
team members to perform certain task in organization just like the effective leaders do. This will
assist them in achieving the goals and objectives of Marks and Spencer. It has also been analysed
that managers as an effective leaders can also be involved in bringing and thinking of most
innovative and creative products and services. This will support Marks and Spencer in enhancing
the brand reputation as well as the brand value of the firm. These aspects can act as managers
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becoming the most effective leader. This means that managers have been involved in taking the
role of leader for the growth of firm. It has also been analysed that in order to act as the leader of
company, managers have been involved in having effective communication with their team
members.
This will support them in analysing the problems that has been faced by the employees or
workers working in the Marks and Spencer. This will assist them in enhancing the trust and
satisfaction level of employees. It will help managers in building an effective bond with
employees. It has also been analysed that managers as an effective leaders are also been involved
in acting according to the situation. It can be explained through situational leadership model.
Marks and Spencer can get benefit of it. In this managers will have an idea about how to act in
situation of crisis. This will assist them in saving their firm from the uncertain situation.
Managers as an effective leader can also get involved in rewarding employees on the basis of
their performance. This will assist in motivating workers so that Marks and Spencer will be
involved in retaining the employees. This will help them in achieving goals and objectives. It
will also help firm in growing and also increasing their profitability.
1.2 Critically analyse the concept of leaders as effective managers
The Concept of leaders acting as an effective manager is really important to be understood.
It has been analysed that leaders can become effective managers when they are been involved in
planning and organizing the task. This will assist the leaders in planning for management of
resources such as physical, human and financial (Choi, Kim and Kang, 2017). It will help Marks
and Spencer in enhancing their productivity as well as operational efficiency. Leaders can
become effective managers by engaging in organizing the resources. They must be involved in
making sure that the right people have been appointed at the right place and with right resources.
These aspects can assist leaders in becoming effective managers. This can be also being
explained with the help of Fayol’s scientific management theory.
Marks and Spencer will be able to increase the efficiency of their employees and will also be
able to retain them which is really necessary for their growth. It has also been analysed that
leaders in order to become effective managers must also be engaged in delegating the authority
and responsibilities. This will assist them in enhancing the efficiency and skills of employees
that have been working in Marks and Spencer. It will help the firm in increasing their
productivity as well as operational efficiency. It has also been analysed from the research that
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leaders as an effective managers can also be engaged in controlling function. This will assist
them in making sure that no resources have been over utilised. This will help them in ensuring
that sustainability has been implemented. It will support Marks and Spencer in enhancing their
brand reputation as well as value. It will also help the company in creating employees loyalty
and this will also assist in enhancing the efficiency and skills of employees which is really
necessary for the growth of organization.
1.3 Critically evaluate the balance needed between the demands of strategic management and
leadership
It has been analysed that organization must be engaged in making sure that there has been a
balance between the demands related to management which is strategic and also leadership has
been taken into account. Being a good leader and a manager demands a visionary attitude with
tactful problem solving skills (Asrar-ul-Haq and Kuchinke, 2016). It has been evaluated that both
leadership and management are been considered as the most important functions that is needed
for the growth of organization. Marks and Spencer can only be able to achieve their vision and
mission when leaders and manages of the company has been involved in acting at an adequate
manner. Both leadership and managerial qualities can also be present in one person. They only
need to be involved in striking the balance between the two. Every manager needs to both
leadership as well as managerial skills in order to achieve the goals and objectives of company.
In this they need to make sure that as a manager they can only focus on the result but as a leader
they need to be involved in analysing the process of achieving the success.
This will assist the individual in Marks and Spencer in striking balance. They can make use
of both leadership and management approaches according to the situation which has been given
to them (Huertas-Valdivia and et.al., 2019). This will assist them in striking balance between
both leadership and management. An individual acting both as a leader and manager also needs
to analyse whether there intervention is been necessary in particular process or not. This will
help them in keeping pace between both leadership and management. It will help them in
enhancing the productivity and business performance of Marks and Spencer. Leaders or manager
can also be involved in taking feedback from the employees about the type of services which
they have been providing. This will assist them in improvising oneself.
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TASK 2
2.1 Critically evaluate the role of the leader in the creation of an organisation’s vision, mission
and values
It has been analysed from the research that one of the most important role is of leaders which can
assist Marks and Spencer in creating the organization, vision, mission and values. It has been
analysed that vision of company is totally based on the values of firm. Leaders must be involved
in making sure that the vision depicts the organizations value. This will assist Marks and Spencer
in enhancing their brand value as well as reputation. Leaders in order to set the vision and
mission strategy needs to be engaged in analysing the wants and demands of consumers. This
will assist them in setting up the aim according to them. This can support Marks and Spencer in
growing and also there objectives will be achieved by this. Leaders of company also need to be
involved in setting out the goals and objectives which are measurable in nature. This will assist
them in enhancing the value of firm (Ricard and et.al., 2017). They also need to be involved in
making clear the goals and objectives in front of the employees so that no chaos exists. This will
assist Marks and Spencer in enhancing their productivity as well as operational efficiency.
Leaders also have the responsibility of crafting the strategy and also executing the same. In this
the leaders can be involved in doing the analysis of the strategy, they can also be engaged in
doing situational analysis. This will assist them in knowing about the threats which can be faced
by them. This will help them in designing the strategy according to it. The leaders of Marks and
Spencer also needs to be involved in making sure that the vision and mission is been crafted by
making sure that no belief and value of the consumers or any other employee has been hampered
by them. This will assist them in enhancing the brand reputation of the firm.
2.2 Critically analyse how personal energy, self- belief and responsibility impact leadership
styles and their relative success
It has been analysed that there are various skills and qualities which has been required by the
leaders so that they can achieve their personal as well as professional gaols and objectives. It has
been analysed that personal energy, self-belief and responsibility can help leaders in achieving
their set target and can also affect their work and leadership styles. There are various types of
leadership styles that can be used by leaders so that Marks and Spencer can achieve their goals
and objectives. It has been analysed that leaders can make use of Laissez-Faire Style, if they
have high amount of confidence on them as well as on their team members. In this type of
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leadership style the leaders of Marks and Spencer can allow their employees to perform on their
own and make their own decisions. This can only be possible if the leaders have positive energy
and they have been able to give the responsibility to employees. This will help them in making
employees self-reliant (Anderson and Sun, 2017). It will also assist them in enhancing the bond
which has been shared by team members as well as leaders. If the leaders have been engaged in
using autocratic style, in this they need to have that personal energy that the decisions which has
been taken by them is adequate and will provide benefits to all the employees. If the leaders have
no confidence and enthusiasm than making use of this approach can surely be a wrong option.
This will also reduce the profitability of the firm and their growth as well.
2.3 Leadership can engender empowerment and trust and how ethical stance affects that and the
overall impact on organisational practice
It has been analysed from the research that leaders can be engaged in empowering women
employees. They can be involved in recruiting highly skilled and talented women and can also
work towards providing them with better opportunities. Marks and Spencer can also be engaged
in working towards developing better women leaders. This will only be possible when leaders
have been involved in providing better training to women and also no discrimination exists in
firm. It will also assist the leaders in making organizational culture better which is really
necessary for their growth. It has also been analysed that leaders of Marks and Spencer needs to
be involved in making policy for the ethical code of conduct. They can also be engaged in
working towards the women safety. This will assist them in empowering women. It will also
help them in boosting the morale of employees to perform better. This will assist Marks and
Spencer in enhancing their productivity as well as operational efficiency. It has also been
analysed that leaders can also be involved in providing equal opportunities to women so that they
can also grow (Yahaya and Ebrahim, 2016). Leaders of Marks and Spencer also need to follow
the ethical code of conduct. They must be honest and transparent so that the trust level of
employee increased. This will also assist them in retaining employees and creating workers
loyalty. This will also assist them in enhancing the brand value and reputation of company. They
also needs to make sure that business is been involved in following the honest practices. They
can also make sure that no personal data of employee has been leaked by the leaders. This will
assist them in increasing the quality of services provided by Marks and Spencer.
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TASK 3
Transformational leadership and its impact
This is the kind of leadership where leaders continuously work to bring positive changes
at workplace. Behaviour of leaders greatly influences stakeholders and employees and also it
inspires them which support people to raise their capabilities. Leaders are here responsible for
motivating workers and creating new changes at workplace where productivity can be improved.
Leaders always try to give proper training to staff members so that they understand their duties
and finish their work with efficiency. This kind of leadership always supports Marks and
Spencer in handling their employees well. M&S have a strategy to retain its workers and for
those leaders build a strong team, involve them in decision making process so that people can get
to know about new changes and can share their innovative ideas (Dóci and et.al., 2020). This
leadership style impacts positive on business unit and help in getting positive outcome of this
strategy. As enterprise has strategy to improve its technology every year to raise productivity.
For that it needs positive response from all staff members. Hence transformational leadership
style aids M&S in making its employees positive and loyal. As leaders tell them importance of
these technologies and they accept changes and bring positivity at workplace.
This transformational leadership style is helpful in encouraging staff members and by this
way technological up gradation decisions are implemented in firm easily. This is beneficial in the
development of employees and hey gets more promotional opportunities at workplace (Yavuz,
2020). This gives positive response over organisational technological changes strategy as it
develops open communication among all staff members and also retains staff in firm for longer
duration. Transformational leaders of M&S work as idealized influencers as they influence their
employees so that no negativity take place in business unit and entity become able to manage it
working efficiency greatly.
Leaders of M&S are visionaries, they convince people to change so that organisational
goal can be accomplished. But if leaders are self serving then result can be negative. If leaders
are doing everything for their own self then this influence of employees can back fire on business
unit. In such condition people may become negative and organisational strategy will not be
successful because it will not give expected results (Groves, 2020). Many times leaders assume
that their employees will always accept their ideas and decisions but this does not happen every
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time. This will change the direction of business unit and will create negativity among works.
People will not trust on leaders that would affect working efficiency of people badly.
Employees are essential stakeholder of M&S, they continuously work for the success of
organisation. They like to get rewards for their efforts. When leaders motivate them to accept
changes to make their organisational strategy successful. Then behaviour of leaders matters a lot
in the acceptance of their decision. If leaders are positive and able to work for the company only
then people will trust on them and will work together to meet firm’s goal successfully (Sheehan,
Garavan and Morley, 2020).
Transactional leadership and its impact
This is another kind of leadership style that has close attention over supervision and
performance. Here leaders give rewards to employees those who are doing well and also give
punishment to those who are not doing their job well. This leadership style is much more
effective when there is some critical situation in workplace. Leaders are very responsive person
those who take responsibility of each activity and give immediate response on everything
(Groves, 2020). This kind of leadership style is helpful in minimising mistakes and improving
working efficiency as well. Marks and Spencer has strategy to meet demand of consumers and
for that company is improving its customer services. It has developed new department who is
responsible for dealing with consumers complain immediately. Transactional leaders always try
that people work better so that organisational goal can be accomplished. They encourage
workers to raise their self interest so that they get more rewards (Transactional Leadership –
Definition, Types, Characteristics, Examples, 202). By using this leadership style person can
meet the short term goal of company successfully. This will be better for M&S in getting
consistent result and retaining talent in business for longer duration.
Employees put hard efforts to meet the objective and in return they expect firm will take
care of their needs. M&S has strategy to provide timely incentives and bonuses to workers for
their efforts. This strategy always gives worthwhile results because transactional leaders always
try to establish systematic procedure and protocols that help in managing workers well and
retaining the most deserving person in company for longer duration (Dóci and et.al., 2020).
But as this leadership has less focus over creativity hence many times changes are not
accepted by employees. Leaders do not concentrate on modification and due to which employees
also do not think about it. In this manner if any kind of change occurs in business unit then
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enterprise fail to manage its staff members. This may turn this situation into big conflict
situation. Transactional leaders are part of formal authority in Marks and Spencer as they have
responsibility to manage workplace productivity and profitability. These workers always set
level of standards for all workers and encourage them to reach to that level. Many times they
behave hard with them but this also give positive results and make the organisational strategy
successful. Leaders always give positive response towards deviation that helps M&S in getting
expected outcome. Transactional leaders of M&S can use their power and can distribute
incentives to the employees those who are doing better than others (Transactional Leadership –
Definition, Types, Characteristics, Examples, 2020). This exchange of rewards against he
performance always create positive workplace environment and inspire others as well. By this
way other employees also start focusing on their job role and finish allotted work with efficiency.
This also develops healthy bonding with leaders and this great relationship between leaders and
followers minimises mistakes at workers and M&S can accomplish its organisational goal
successfully.
Situational leadership and its impact
Leaders are having the major roles which is more over having the influence of there of the
different culture and values with respective though and action and it respective people. The
leadership style has been estimated to be level of practicing by influencing the major level of
performance and the productivity of the firm at the different work places in effluent manner. On
the other hand, as per the different author it has been stated that’s there there is the just one level
of leadership styles which have to work at all level of situations which have the inclusion of the
four-leadership style. Leaders always try to give proper training to staff members so that they
understand their duties and finish their work with efficiency. This kind of leadership always
supports Marks and Spencer in handling their employees well. M&S have a strategy to retain its
workers and for those leaders build a strong team, involve them in decision making process so
that people can get to know about new changes and can share their innovative ideas.
Successful leaders have the trends to make the ability to work in different situations of
perspectives which is helpful in assessing the different situations and behaviour of respective
team members by determining the effective level of leadership in order to get the bets level
results. The situational level of eldership will help the M&S by ensuring the major level of
business success as the todays complex level of business environment.
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As the benefit of the this level of leadership which is benefit the for more complex approach to
leadership as the leaders have the established the lee of retainerships which is understanding the
states by receiving the direction of the ta to be complete. This is helpful of the M&S to gains
there more level of tenure an increase the skill as the leaders to have the coaching styles. This
have increased their task-oriented level of task oriented the leadership styles by incorporating the
relationship-oriented level of leadership. This have been sued by the different approached of the
leadership in order to have the best level of impact on employee in perfect manner. On the other
hand, this leadership have their stated in the assessing the level of maturity among the
organization in order to being both level of directives and supportive to the team members as
the situation leader which are the charismatic leaders along with being the good communicator
for connecting to the employee information.
The model have the encouragements which the leaders in order to have the analyzing the
particular situations for the depth which is in more appropriate mannered looking at the three
important aspects which are such as the employee competencies, the maturity of employee and
with complexity of task and the prevailing level of leadership style. Hence the leadership is been
divide into their 4 important section which are such as
S1 Telling – this is the style which is being associated with the leaders who are minutely in order
to have the supervising the followers in order to have the constant level of instruction regarding
how and why when there is need to perform the task in perfect manner.
S2 Selling - in this style of he leaders have the providing the controlled level of direction which
have the opening in little more sense and allowing the two way of communication which in
between the her that’s thus the follower in order to have the processing the towards rear desired
goals.
S3 Participating this have the clear level of characterization when the situation ae the leaders
have the seeking for the opinions and the participation of followers for establishing the takes in
perfect which is should be needed to be performed. This have the leaders in case which have
trying t make creating the relationship with the respective followers.
S4 Delegating
In this case , the leaders have the playing the role in decision which have the taken as lot of
passes with delegation of respective responsivities for carrying out more task as the leaders
have the monitoring the reviews of process in permanents manner.
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This is the important o have the personal level of evaluations in more manner identifying the
individuals for mature which is being the lined up with leadership roles on the basis of the skills
and engagement level. There is need for their providing the level of right training and
development programmes which is being the professionals support for according which is highly
engaging the workforce. As this is the result in M&S which will have the higher level of
productivity and lower negative attritions. This gives positive response over organisational
technological changes strategy as it develops open communication among all staff members and
also retains staff in firm for longer duration.
This will change the direction of business unit and will create negativity among works.
People will not trust on leaders that would affect working efficiency of people badly. Hence, the
situation leader is the arguable the most level of recognized , utilized and the effective level of
influence for the history of behavioural sciences which have the proven for the successful
framework by allowing the leadership to have the match the behaviour to the need for
performances of the individuals which are attempting the influence. In addition to that’s, it has
resulted as per the different author it has been stated that’s there is the just one level of leadership
styles which have to work at all level of situations which have the inclusion of the four-
leadership style. Leaders always try to give proper training to staff members so that they
understand their duties and finish their work with efficiency.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it has been summarised that leaders and managers have been one of
the most important part for the success of organization. They have been involved in motivating
employees and team members to perform certain task so that goals and objectives of the
company have been achieved. This has assisted firm in growing. Leaders have become effective
managers by engaging in organizing the resources. They must be involved in making sure that
the right people have been appointed at the right place and with right resources. This has assisted
them in growing and also the efficiency of firm has been increased by it. It has also been
analysed that leaders have been involved in providing training to employees so that their skills
have been enhanced. This has supported the company in retaining employees and also workers
loyalty has been created by it. It has assisted them in achieving the set targets. Managers have
been involved in motivating the team members to perform certain task in organization just like
the effective leaders do. This has assisted them in achieving the goals and objectives of Marks
10

and Spencer. It has also been analysed that leaders have been involved in rewarding the
employees so that their morale has been increased. This has supported them in growing and also
achieving their mission and vision. It has also been analysed that leaders and managers have
been engaged in delegating the task so that skills and efficiency of employees has been
enhanced. The leaders of Marks and Spencer also needs to be involved in making sure that the
vision and mission is been crafted by making sure that no belief and value of the consumers or
any other employee has been hampered by them.
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REFERENCES
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Sheehan, M., Garavan, T. N. and Morley, M. J., 2020. Transformational leadership and work
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Online
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