Leadership and Management Roles at Marks and Spencer: Analysis Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership and management practices within Marks & Spencer (M&S). It begins by defining the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers within the organization, highlighting their distinct responsibilities in driving innovation, motivating employees, and ensuring operational efficiency. The report then examines how leaders and managers adapt their roles in various situations, such as during organizational changes, technological advancements, and employee retention challenges. Furthermore, it explores different leadership theories and models, including situational leadership and contingency leadership, and their applicability within M&S. The analysis extends to operational management, covering key approaches and their significance in the business context. Finally, the report assesses the impact of various factors within the business environment on M&S's operational management, providing a holistic view of the company's leadership and operational strategies. This report is available on Desklib, a platform that provides past papers and solved assignments for students.

MANAGEMENT AND
OPERATIONS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Role and characteristic of leader and manager of M&S........................................................1
P2 Role of leader and function of manager apply in different situations....................................3
P3 Theories and models of leadership........................................................................................5
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
P4 Key approaches of operational management.........................................................................6
P5 Significance of operational management...............................................................................7
P6 Factors within business environment which impact on operational management.................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Operation management is considered as most essential business function which is
responsible for planning, organizing and controlling the business activities. It support in effective
utilization of resources and minimizing the operational errors. Current study is based on Marks
and Spencer, it is the leading fashion brand. Every year 2.7 billion customers buy its products. It
has more than 798 stores in UK and 455 outlets internationality. Every year its sales is increasing
by 2.3% (Antony and et.al., 2016). Current study will define role and characteristic of leaders
and mangers in the organization. It will examine role of leader in different situations.
Furthermore, assignment will apply different theories and models of leadership. In addition, it
will explain key approaches of operation management. It will assess various factors which
impact on operational management of M&S.
TASK 1
P1 Role and characteristic of leader and manager of M&S
Marks and Spencer is the one of the most leading fashionable brand which offers quality
cloths for both men and women. Company provides products and services to consumers as per
the market trends and their requirements. Pre-tax profit of the cited firm has been jumped to
25.1m to 118.3m in the year 2017 (Armstrong and Taylor, 2014). Mission of the M&S is to
provide satisfactory products to clients and increase their satisfaction level. Cited firm has skilled
employees and enough financial strengths which helps the firm in conducting operations
smoothly across the world.
Leaders and manager both are essential part of entity. Managers are the responsible
person those who manage human resource in the organization. They work as per the regulations
of the company so that overall aim of the firm can be accomplished. On other hand leaders are
the person those who lead team and motivate them so that people can perform their duties well.
They both put their hard efforts so that overall aim of the company can be achieved (Blum,
2015). Leaders of M&S concentrates more on innovation and bringing creativity so that
operational process can be improved. On other and managers have to follow instruction of the
corporation in order to complete any task on time with quality. Both they have unique
characteristic and role in the M&S (Bolton and Thompson, 2015).
Role Leaders Managers
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Characteristic Leaders have the leading
feature, individual always
work to lead the team so that
all people can perform their
duties perfectly.
Managers have characteristic
of following instructions and
regulation. Individual follow
the pre determined process so
that complications can be
minimized and short term goal
of the cited firm can be
achieved (King and Nesbit,
2015).
Attention Leaders concentrates on
people those who work in the
organization. Leader of the
marks and Spencer analyses
needs of employees and lead
them accordingly so that
individual can perform its
duties well (Macey, 2010).
Managers pay more attention
on management of human
resource. They allot duties to
all people as per their
capabilities and skills. It
supports them in maintaining
quality and conducting
operations in smooth manner.
Objective Objective of leader is to fulfil
long term goal of the
organization. They look at the
future and accordingly bring
innovation in the workplace
place so that company can
meet with its future goal and
can maintain its competitive
position
Manager's objective is to
contribute well in the short
term objective of the firm.
Managers are bounded to
follow laws and regulations so
they can not implement own
ideas. That is why they just
work in order to meet with the
short term objective of the
organization.
Role Leaders of M&S plays
innovator and motivator role in
Managers of the organization
plays administration role. They
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the workplace. Leaders of the
company bring innovation so
that working efficiency can be
improved. Furthermore, they
encourage workers so that they
feel happy and perform their
responsibilities well (Griep
and et.al, 2016).
manage team in such manner
so that no complication gets
arise in the future.
Supervision/ contribution Leaders contribute in
completion of the task on time.
Leader give guidance to the
people so that overall task can
be completed on time.
Mangers of cited firm
supervise the work of
employees, individual analyses
their mistakes and make them
aware with the issues so that
they can improve their skills.
Guidance Leaders guide people so that
they can gain success in their
future.
Mangers instruct people what
to do so that no mistakes take
place.
P2 Role of leader and function of manager apply in different situations
Leaders and managers both are assets of the company, they are responsible to improve
profitability and productivity of the business unit. M&S is performing well in the fashion
industry, it concentrates on market trends and accordingly provides goods and services to the
customers. Clients generally prefer to buy such products which have quality and are of
affordable rates (Hatch and Cunliffe, 2013).
There are many critical situations arise in the business unit when people think to leave
their job and want to join other company. In such condition it becomes essential for the mangers
and leaders that to make people understand and encourage them so that they retain in the
workplace for longer duration. Leaders play motivator role in the Marks and Spencer. When ever
company plans to modify its operations and implement new regulations in the workplace. At that
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time it becomes difficult for the employees to work in completely differed workplace (Kalra and
Kopargaonkar, 2016). They have to face issues in order to apply regulation at their working
practices. In such condition leader of cited firm encourage people so that they understand
necessity of changes and work in the changing environment. It supports the M&S in retaining
skilled employees in the workplace for longer duration. Motivational quotes and talks of leaders
support the employees in performing their duties well with full motivation. Motivator role of
leaders creates healthy workplace environment in the workplace which gives positive results to
the business unit (McGivern and et.al, 20150.
Technological changes arise in the business unit frequently, when new technology came
into market then it becomes essential for M&S to implement it. In such condition function of
manager is to train workers so that they can get to know operating features and benefits of new
advance technology. It is the great way through which manager can enhance skills of workers
and can contribute well in the success of business unit (Newman and et.al, 2014). Before some
time cited firm was facing issue of high employee turnover. Skilled workers was moving towards
other organization in order to get attractive pay scale. In such condition leaders play role of
initiator. Individual take initiative to identify rout cause of the problem due to which people are
leaving their jobs. After that leader communicate with them so that people can analyses
importance of Marks and Spencer and career opportunity in the firm for them. This can help in
retaining the staff in the organization for longer duration. In the same situation manager's
function is to give reward and recognition to the staff members. By getting extra benefit and
monitory incentives people will feel comfortable and their requirements would be fulfilled. By
this way manager perform their duties well and retain skilled employees in the corporation for
longer duration (Roueche and et.al, 2014).
Risk is the critical situation that may arise at any time. Whenever market condition gets
change or inflation or deflation arise then M&S has to face huge difficulty. At that time leaders
and managers of the company play significant role so that entity can survive in such condition in
the market. Leaders play role of risk taker, individual implements innovative ideas through
which overall cost of the operations can be minimized. This helps in reducing cost and increasing
profitability (Scaria, 2016). At the same time manager's function is to monitor the process well
and analyses market condition. Individual has make strong strategies so that entity can survive in
such critical situation well.
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P3 Theories and models of leadership
There are many leadership approaches and models that can support an entity in
accomplishing their aim. These are described as below:
Situational leadership theory
It is the theory which explains that no particular leadership style is perfect, leaders have
to behave different according to the situation of that time. According to the requirement of task
leaders have to adopt suitable leadership style (Stewart and Shamdasani, 2014). This theory
states that leaders have to adapt different styles so that they can deal with the critical condition
properly. It is the model which describes relationship between leader and followers. It explains
that if leaders of marks and Spencer give proper guidance and direction to their employees. And
if they give effective socio-economic support to their employees then followers will perform
well and will complete the task on time. It is the quite flexible in nature. It states that leaders
have to behave mature in each condition. For instate if technological Updation is required in the
company, then leader of the cited firm have to make people understand with the benefit of new
technology and will have to train them so that they can implement these new techniques into
their work practices. By handling the employees with maturity individual will be able to avoid
resistance situation in the workplace (Situational Leadership Model, 2017). By this way staff
members will understand its importance and they will not resist changes. It would be better for
the organization in raising its revenues.
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Illustration 1: Situational leadership
Source: (Situational Leadership Model, 2017)
Contingency leadership theory
It is another leadership theory which pays more attention on particular variables which
are related with the environment. Success of the company depends upon the different variables
that includes leadership style, quality of followers etc. It states that there is no single approach
that can be followed by the leader because each situation has unique characteristic. Individual
has to be ready to adapt different situations so that overall performance can be improved. There
are number of contingency theory such as path goal, Fiedler etc. the path goal model explains
that leader has responsibility to pays attention on organizational structure and h create healthy
workplace environment (Different Theories On Behaviour And Strategies Linking Them, 2017).
It can support in accomplishing goal of the company significantly. For instance: if Marks &
Spencer hires new candidate in the organization then it becomes responsibility of leader that to
make the people aware with the rules and regulations of the company. So that individual can
understand their role and responsibility in the workplace and can make them feel comfortable.
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Systematic leadership style
It is the simple leadership style which is good in the situation when company wants to
make modification in its product and services. Marks and Spencer is operating its business in
clothing fashionable industry (Newman and et.al, 2014). It has to modify its products and
services as per the market trends. So leader of cited firm has to adopt systematic leadership style
which has can help in meeting with the consumer''s needs.
TASK 2
P4 Key approaches of operational management
Operational management can be defined as managerial function that supports in
designing, execution of various strategies so that resources can be utilized effectively and overall
objective of entity can be accomplished significantly. Leaders are responsible to effective
utilization of resources. Leaders have to analyse the root cause of the problems and have to
implement strategies effectively (Griep and et.al, 2016). It supports in raising revenues of the
company to great extent.
In order to manager the operations, managers have to put in put so that output can came
out as per expectations. Marks & Spencer has to provide training to its staff members and have to
conduct meeting with them. It supports in identifying their needs so that healthy environment can
be created. It supports in smooth functioning of operations. Apart from this monitory resources
will be required so that best techniques can be implemented in order to produce quality products
(Macey, 2010).
Leaders have to think unique in different situations, it supports in completing the task
significantly. Leaders have to motivate team members and have to direct them well, it is the only
way through which performance of employees can be improved and overall goal of the cited firm
can be achieved. There are various approaches of operation management, these are as following:
Lean production
lean production is the operation management approach which pays more attention on cost
cutting. It is generally applied in the situation when entity plans to redesign their products and
services (Griep and et.al, 2016). The main objective of applying lean production system in the
workplace is to make operations more efficient and make it able to give proper response to
changing market situations. Marks & Spencer can minimize such activities which are not
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valuable for the company so that overall expenditures of the firm can be minimized (Antony and
et.al., 2016).
Total quality management
It is another approach of operation management that supports the firm in gaining long
term success. It helps in enhancing quality of products so that customer satisfaction can be
increased. It measures the quality of goods and control over the operations. That supports in
improving quality and providing satisfactory products to the clients (Roueche and et.al, 2014).
Just in Time operational approach
Continuous improvement
It is another operational management approach which believes in continuous
improvement. It describes that company has to continuously put efforts to improve its efficiency
level. It is the only way through which Marks and Spencer can sustain in the market for longer
duration. It is the process that raise efficiency of operations and effective utilization of resources.
Role of leader in Marks and Spencer in operation management
Leaders are essential part of business unit, they play role of team builder, motivator.
Individual lead the team and develop relationship with them. By this way individual becomes
able to gain trust of employees. By this way people support workers and contribute well in
improving performance of the firm. Leader of Marks & Spencer set vision and implement
innovative ideas (Situational Leadership Model, 2017). This innovation helps in bringing
creativity and improving workplace efficiency.
Role of manager in Marks and Spencer in operation management
Managers play role monitor, individual supervise business activities. It helps the person
in analyses rout cause of the problems. By this way manager workers to improve activities so
that M&S can provide quality products to the costumers and can enhance their satisfaction level.
Manger also plays role of administration, individual keep record of input, output, customer
complains so that effective strategies can be made by the manager in order to raise company's
performance (Different Theories On Behaviour And Strategies Linking Them, 2017).
P5 Significance of operational management
Main objective of Marks and Spencer is profit maximization and enhance customer
satisfaction. Company aims to expand its business across the world. For that cited firm pays
more attention on its operational process so that it can meet with its objective. In the absence of
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effective operational management strategies company can not accomplish its goal (McGivern
and et.al, 2015).
It aids value to the organization, with the help of this tool M&S can improve its
production ability. Effective operational process can help the cited firm, in generating more
output in minimum input. It helps in effective utilization of resources and generating more
revenues to the business unit. Operation management is beneficial tool for the Marks and
Spencer because by this way manager of the cited firm can control over unnecessary
expenditures and can increase profitability of the business (Roueche and et.al, 2014). It looks
upon the market trends and accordingly modify business operations so that Marks and Spencer
can produce quality products as per the needs of the clients. It can support in increase customer
data base and increasing satisfaction level of consumers towards the brand. Total quality
management, continuous improvement tools help the cited firm in increasing customer interest
towards the brand and making them loyal towards the brand. By this way entity will be able to
sustain in the market for longer duration (Stewart and Shamdasani, 2014).
P6 Factors within business environment which impact on operational management
There are many factors which impact on the operation management and impact on
decision making process of Marks and Spencer. These are as following: Corporate social responsibility: It is considered as one of the main element which can
influence business operations. If M&S does not fulfil its corporate responsibility towards
society and environment then it may create issues because by this way people will not
take interest in its products and entity will get failed to meet with its objectives (Roueche
and et.al, 2014). Business ethics: It is another component which impact on decision making process of the
organization. If cited firm does not run its operations in ethically then it may created
complication and can spoil brand image of the organization. By this way M&S will not
be able to attract new customers and sustain in the market for longer duration.
 Stakeholders: They are the most important part of the company, if company is not able to
meet with the expectation of stakeholders then it may create complication in the
organization. It is the responsibility of manager of M&S that to understand needs of
stakeholders and fulfil their requirements. By this way cited firm will be able to
accomplish its objective soon (Macey, 2010).
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Investment in technology can be better for the M&S because by this way it will be able to
fulfil needs of consumers who are most important stakeholder of the company. It will help in
providing quality products to them at affordable rates. On other hand company should monitor
its operational process more closely so that issues can be identified and it can work to resolve
these problems.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that operation management is considered as
essential part of business function. Effective management of operations supports the firm in
raising its efficiency level and increase business revenues. Use of continuous improvement and
total quality management tool are beneficial for the entity and can assist in productivity and
profitability of the organization.
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