Context of Business Leadership Style and Management at Marks & Spencer

This report provides an analysis of the leadership styles and management practices employed by Marks & Spencer (M&S), a leading British multinational retailer. The report begins with a company background, highlighting M&S's presence in the retail industry and its various product offerings. A literature review explores different leadership styles and management practices, including consultative management, democratic styles, and autocratic approaches, and their impact on organizational effectiveness. The analysis section examines how M&S has adapted its leadership styles over time, from traditional family-based leadership to more modern approaches, and how these changes have influenced its performance in the market. The report concludes with a summary of the findings and offers recommendations for M&S to enhance its leadership and management strategies, particularly in the context of technological advancements and employee empowerment. The report also emphasizes the importance of adapting to changing market conditions and fostering a customer-driven culture.

Context of Business
Leadership style and management practices within Marks &
Spencer
Word Count: 2009
Table of Contents
1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Company Background...........................................................................................................1
1.2 Rationale...............................................................................................................................1
2. Literature review..........................................................................................................................2
2.1 Leadership style....................................................................................................................2
2.2 Management Practice………………………………………………………………………2
2.3 Groups and Teams, Decision Making, Structure, Culture....................................................3
3. Analysis .......................................................................................................................................3
4. Conclusion...................................................................................................................................5
5. Recommendations........................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

ABSTRACT
This report analyse how different leadership style is being adopted by the organisation in
order to increase its efficiently in the operation. It also highlights how different leadership style
is being chosen in different departments of the business and how it has benefited the same. In the
later part of the report recommendation has been provided to the organisation that they can
adopt in order to serve market more effectively.
1. Introduction
Retail is the process of selling goods and services to customer in order to satisfy their
needs and demands. Under this report Mark & Spencer organisation is taken which is one the
leading retailer in United Kingdom. It is involved in selling different items such as cloths, home
products and different food items. This report will analyse the different leadership style and
market practices used by the organisation and it will also analyse their impact on the
performance of the same in the market.
1.1 Company Background
Mark & Spencer is one of the prime British multinational retailer it have over 1,380
outlet across the world. It was established by Michel Marks and Thomas Spencer in the 80's. It is
one of the largest retailer in the UK industry. which is engaged in selling products such as
footwear, gifts, home furnishing and food (Berger et al, 2015). The organisation own and operate
around 100 additional Marks & Spencer outlet in different part of world such as Europe, Hong
Kong and Canada. Along with this financial units of M&S offers its customer various services
such as customer credit card, personal loan, life insurance and pension plan.
1.2 Rationale
Retail industry is the process of selling goods and services to customers by the use of
multiple channels of distribution in order to earn profit. This market provide products such as
food, apparel, jewellery and various others (Iivari et al, 2016). This report will enlighten how
different leadership style and management practices is being adopted by M&S in order to attain
its overall goals. In the later part recommendation and conclusion is being provided which is
based on the leadership style and marketing practices already being used by the organisation. It is
going to suggest how this can be used more efficiently in order to attain the overall
organisational goals.
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2. Literature review
2.1 Leadership style
As per Huczynski and Buchanan- Leadership is an process which is related with
influencing different activities of an group which is focussed on directing their efforts toward
accomplishment of goal achievement. They also mentioned that leadership is an critical
determinate of the organisational effectiveness. As the leader is responsible to guide and
motivate employees and other members of the organisation towards achievement of common
goals through proper direction overall effectiveness of an organisation is being increased.
Leadership style are the behavioural pattern which are being adopted by leaders in order to
influence the behaviour of his followers. Which is focussed on giving directions to the juniors
and motivating them to accomplish the given objectives.
2.2 Management Practice
The organisation vision is to be the standard against which others are measured and can
be achieved and maintained with using different leadership styles (Wirtz et al, 2016). In the
earlier time period leadership was in the hands of family member only and was based on
traditional family values it was powerful but was looking inwards by the end of 90's M&S was in
trouble and required change in leadership style. As per VanDevelde's Leadership an recovery
plan was adopted which was focussed on bringing company close to its clients. His vision
focussed on returning M&S its lost reputation of providing quality products and services. With
maintaining quality ever since M&S is focussed on becoming more and more competitive in
comparison with other street retailers through delivery of quality product.
The management of Marks & Spencer is consultative which comprises of leaders
consulting with others while making decisions. So that decision is based on group even though
they are being made by the leaders (Cherry, 2019). The organisation sometimes uses mixture of
different management styles such as democratic style, in order to be consultative it will use this
style so that employees can also give their input in the different processes of the same. It often
provide a choice to management which is depended on the hierarchical scale. People who are on
higher rank are autocratic and they order personnel what do to, guiding people from the
manufacturing staff to logistic designers. This style is used as the people guiding have a expert
knowledge in that particular field in comparison with the others and they are capable to take
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important decision which needs a level of expertise (Lieder et al, 2016). In the organisation
middle level workforce is allowed to have a laissez-faire attitude to management. In this
management style employees perform their task freely with minimum level of supervision and
guidance. As they have knowledge to use the style properly and they have the capabilities to use
it to the maximum potential still shareholders keep an close eye on the their decisions in the
organisation as it is important to monitor their decision in order to ensure that their decisions are
focussed on achieving overall organisational goals.
2.3 Groups and Teams, Decision Making, Structure, Culture
 Culture: It comprises of attitude of both employees and management that can effect the
on decision making and behaviour of people working in the business. The culture of the
organisation is customer driven where the business is busy in making an attempt in order
to take step which are focussed on enhancing customer service through market research
and also through training employees (Marlow et al, 2015). The organisation is focussing
on technological update in order to better facilitate market. It consist of an optimistic
culture where there is an effective communication system existing between the staff and
the workers. They also regard opportunities as a treat that can be captured in order to gain
more market share.
 Groups and Teams: Organisation should focus on implementing such communication
systems that ensure effective and fast delivery of information from one person to another
which will help the individuals to work together. It must also recognize employees
individual efforts in the team so they can get a feeling that they are being recognized and
valued in the same which will help them to work more effectively in the firm.
 Decision Making: The organisation must have an effective workforce that have the
capability to take certain decision related to the contingencies that may or may not arise
in the market (Meyer et al, 2016). Valuable input of the people should be considered
while taking the decision so that right decision can be taken.
3. Analysis
Leadership comprise with a process of effecting the activities of both individual and
groups so that these activities can be directed towards the achievement of overall organisational
goals. It serves as an effective determinant of organisational effectiveness. Mark & Spencer will
use different leadership styles mixture in order to achieve its overall organisational goals.
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Leadership in the earlier time was in the hands of the family members only (Stieninger et al,
2014). The basis of which was family values although it was powerful but was inwards looking.
In the 90's the organisation was in problem and required an immediate change in the leadership
style existing in the organisation. The organisation required a more stiff form of leadership. One
which focusses on creating a vision that allows coming leaders and other member of the
organisation to take more clear steps in order to build individual capability and strengths.
Illustration of these kind of leaders are Luc VanDevelde his recovery model was put in the place
so that company can be bring closer to the customers. Recovering was based in UK, which
focussed on selling their brand in order to regain their hold on the supply chain again. He
focussed on returning M&S its reputation (Phillips-Wren et al, 2015). Through different events
designs the vision was shared which was done in order to disseminate it. In the advertisement
campaign “your M&S” Rose depicted the central values and beliefs on which the new and
revised M&S is being supported. From sub branding such as per Una by Sir George Davis which
was done for junior customers and limited edition it was focussed on attracting more customers
while offering high quality standard in order to be more competitive in comparison with other
high street retailers.
By adoption of different styles such as consultative style which as been used by the same
in the organisation it has helped the organisation to get different opinion and they can further
choose the best among them. This will empower employees and they will feel that their
contribution in final decision will help them to be motivated even though the final decision is to
be made by the leaders. For illustration the marketing department wants to launch a new product
they will have to consider several factors before going for the launch and consulting employees
will help them to take better decisions and it will also give them option of different and creative
ideas to choose from with the employees being involved in the entire process it will help them to
feel more important and more dedicated. M&S will have an series of consultation. There will be
different mechanism such as team briefing and suggestion box. That will help to know about the
felling of the concern of individuals involved in decision making as well as it will also help in
drawing expertise on the same.
The use of democratic management style involves empowering employees. M&S will use
democratic style because it will help them to create a sense of responsibility among their
employees in relation to the decision they make (Popovič et al, 2014). Then they will be
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responsible for their decision which will help them to take decision that are required to be taken
within the organisation framework. M&S manager will feel a sense of comfort allowing others to
make their decision. As the manger will take regular feedback on results. It will help them to
ensure that right decision are taken in the right path.
4. Conclusion
From the above report it has been concluded that Marks & Spencer is one of the leading
brand in retail industry. It has over 1,380 stores worldwide and it was founded by Michael Marks
and Thomas Spencer in 1884. It specialises in luxury clothing and food product. In this report the
vision of the organisation is related with the different leadership styles that have been adopted by
the same in order to achieve the overall organisational goals. In the later part of the project there
is an complete analysis of different leadership style and how they have impacted the functioning
of the business is also being discussed. It has highlighted how organisation analyse the market
and use leadership style according to that as it has its leadership style in 90's from being
autocratic which comprises of power handling by the family members only. They did it because
every organisation have to keep changing its style in according to the changing environment and
also to facilitates quality decision making.
5. Recommendations.
The organisation should invest more in technology because as it is already existing in the
global economy and technology is playing an important role in the modern economy. It should
use more of democratic leadership style which is an open style of running an team. It help in free
flow of ideas among the group and it also facilitates there discussion in open environment. This
style is needed in dynamic world as M&S is an fast moving organisation every option for
improvement has to be considered to keep the group within the organization from falling apart.
Organisation should also invest in research and development in order to develop ways to
maintain and improve the standard among the different product and services of the same as their
vision is to be the standard against which others are measured. As the organisation is focussed on
providing quality product in the market it should provide different training and development
programme to its employees so that they can work in the changing environment efficiently while
maintaining the quality standard already set by the organisation.
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6. REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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