Leadership, Management Operations and Strategies at Marks & Spencer

This report examines leadership and management operations at Marks and Spencer (M&S), a multinational retail company. It begins by defining the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers within the organization, including their responsibilities in formulating plans, acting as agents, combining personal and company goals, supporting employees, and providing guidance. The report then analyzes the roles of leaders and managers in different situations, such as during periods of declining sales, and explores leadership theories including situational, system, and contingency leadership. Furthermore, the report delves into various approaches to operations management, such as business process redesign, reconfigurable manufacturing systems, Six Sigma, and lean manufacturing, and their value in achieving organizational objectives. The report highlights the importance of operations management in maximizing resource utilization and improving overall business performance at M&S.

Management
Operation

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Roles and characteristics of a leaders and managers of Marks and Spencer.........................1
P2 Role of leader and function of manager in different situational............................................2
P3 Different theory or model of approach..................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
P4 Approaches of operations management and role of leaders or managers.............................4
P5 Value of operation management which helps to achieves objectives....................................5
P6 Factors within the business environment...............................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Management operations is the process in which business designs and control various
operations for production of products and services. It is the duty of the company which operates
business activities in an efficient manner. There are some resources which helps to satisfy the
customers demands and wants. Operations functions includes produces goods, evaluates quality
and provides excellent customers services. Management operations requires the updated
technology that covers some areas. It controls the functions of human resource, finance and
marketing department. The operation function provides quality products and applied different
strategies which helps to make goods and services. Marks and Spencer Ltd is the multinational
company which is located in the city of Westminster, London (Peng and Lai, 2012). The
company provides cloths, home products, food products etc. It is founded by Michael Marks in
1884. An organisation has to serve retail products to the demanded customers. The purpose of
the report is to understand the role of leader and manager in the company that helps to manage
employees in an effective manner. The business also describe the models and theories of
situational leadership, system leadership and contingency that provides leaders to controls their
management operations within an organisation. It also analyse the business objectives in
achieving target goals.
TASK 1
P1 Roles and characteristics of a leaders and managers of Marks and Spencer
The leader and managers have their different roles in an organisation. They are important
part of the company that provides many resources to improves the management operations.
There are some roles of leaders and managers are as under:
 Formulates plans and policies- Leader is an important part of an organisation. It is the
function which requires at all level of management operations. The top level managers
formulates the plans and policies that are necessary for employees growth and
performance. Marks and Spencer Ltd have talented leaders and managers that helps to
manage and controls the business activities at all level (Parris and Peachey, 2013). The
leaders helps to implement the plans and policies at lower level and managers applied at
middle level. It is the duty of the leaders to counsel their workers on regular basis and
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solve their issues and problems and on the other hand managers motivate and encourage
the employees for gives their best work within an organisation.
 Agents of the organisation- The leaders and managers are known as a agents of the
organisation (Dinh and et. al., 2014). They has to conducts the seminars and conferences,
events, business activities etc. in the company. The role of the manager in the Marks and
Spencer Ltd is to communicate the international clients and also lead the entire outsider
customers.
 Combine the personal goals with company goals- The main role and character of
leaders and managers is to mixed their personal goals of the workers with the
professional goals. The company's managers try to cooperates with employees that helps
to achieve the target gaols and objectives. They may reach this goals if they coordinates
with their workers and motivate them to achieve the desired objectives.
 Support and cooperate the employees- A leaders said to be a managers in another
manner. He supports and coordinates their employees and subordinates within an
organisation (Oberfield, 2012). They attracts the employees with their personality,
communication skills and problem solving skill that provides positive result of
motivation. The managers of the company has to support employees to do their work in
given time period. It helps to provides effectiveness and efficiencies to their workers. It is
the responsibility of the leaders to encourage and motivate their employees in an effective
manner. He implement the plans and policies which are helpful to the company growth
and development.
 Act as guide, friend and counsellor- The leader or manager can helps their employees
to became the guide, friend and philosopher. He solve workers queries and issues in
difficult situation. The Marks and Spencer Ltd managers can give suggestion and ideas
that helps to deal with the clients. The leader can guide to communicate or manages the
employees to make plans and policies within an organisation.
P2 Role of leader and function of manager in different situational
The leader is a person who lead the entire workers activities and motivate them to
achieve target objectives and goals. On the other hand managers are the person who only gives
order to change some particular thing that helps to evaluate the idea that which item is not
necessary in an organisation.
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Situation in Marks and Spencer Ltd
In 2000, the Marks and Spencer company's sale are down day by day and it reduces the
productivity and profitability (Nichols and Erakovich, 2013). By this organisations, products
selling level are decreases that reduces the efficiencies of employees growth and development.
After that company will change their management plan and policies. This is the situation that
reduces their profit during the downfall occurs. After that the manager analyse the situation of
continuous downfall in the product sale then he changes their supply chain management in which
the company change the process of supply of products. Then organisation make innovative
products and keeps in new stores where it can not be damage in any manner. Also they change
their floor by which customers interested to know the new place of goods. The following
changes are helpful to attracts the more customers towards the company's products.
Role of leaders
The leader manages the team which are assigned by the company. The role of leader is to
make plans and policies which requires more growth to their employees. The leader act as a
agent or representative which guides and supervising the workers to achieve the goals or
objectives. The Marks and Spencer Ltd leaders helps to plan or formulate the policies in the
company. They gives suggestion on different situations that helps to manage the employees.
Functions of managers
The main functions of managers is to planning in advance of the particular task. He
should operates the functions such as directing, leading, organising, staffing and monitoring. The
manager can monitor their workers performance on a regular basis. He should also understands
the problems and issues of the employees and organisation. The Marks and Spencer Ltd
managers can coordinate and cooperate their workers with each other.
P3 Different theory or model of approach
There are three theories of approaches which are discussed below:
 Situational leadership- In this theory, the leader can change the management functions
and it totally depends on situations. The theory adopted by those leaders who take new
styles of situations which are solve in different situations. The situational theory is based
to encourage the team members in the workplace. Marks and Spencer Ltd use situational
leadership theory which achieves their goals and objectives (Hernandez and et. al., 2011).
This theory helps to develop new individual and team groups that establish leadership
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style in an organisation. It is changeable leadership. It use sound work environment that
needed by the employees. The leaders has to change the management functions that adopt
new new strategies. This theory helps to analyse the skills and experience of the workers
by the help of situational leadership model. It also provides direction and support the
employees in difficult situations and leaders try to change the current situations.
 System leadership- The leadership system adopt new network of persons in various
place at various levels then create coordination and cooperation in an effective change.
The system leadership theory is based on plans and policies which run the business
operations smoothly. It includes taking decision in an effective manner and choose
capable leaders and managers (Heizer, 2016). This leadership theory are different from
individual company that are based on the systematic approach.
 Contingency theory- This is the another part of situational theory. The contingency
theory helps to organise a leaders that lead the decisions and actions which are taken in
an organisation. It is depends on internal and external situation theories. A leaders can
affected by the same situation at same time or same place then if it can not be implement
during the changing process as they know it is fail to achieve the goals. Marks and
Spencer company's managers can also apply this leadership theory it helps to know the
different situations which are occurs in the future time. The leaders can improves these
situations which are match with the work of an employees. The contingency model is
important to analyse the advance situations that controls by the leaders.
TASK 2
P4 Approaches of operations management and role of leaders or managers
The main approaches has to resolve the problems which occurs in different situations in
the company. Marks and Spencer Ltd company is the adopt the operational approaches. The
company can achieves the major goals and objectives by the help of these approaches. There are
approaches that process the business activities such as BPR,reconfigurable system, six sigma and
lean manufacturing (Tourish, 2014). The analysis of these approaches are given below:
 Business process redesign approach (BPR)- Marks and Spencer company used the
approach in running the management operations. It is the key part of every organisation
because it controls each activity of different level. The operation management helps to
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reconvert the products into new style or design by using the business process redesign
approach. The organisation can evaluate the redesign process of the management. If there
is any distraction in the process of business activities then company can initiate necessary
steps. It helps to evaluates the redesign process in which product need to update on
monthly basis.
 Reconfigurable manufacturing systems approach- This approach is important for the
operational management process. The reconfigurable manufacturing system approach
main concerns is to produce some products in which design can easily change according
to demand of customers and make it any size, colour and shape and no difficulty to
modify this type products (Subramanian and Ramanathan, 2012). This approach provides
to make complete system that helps to operate situations in effective manner and change
market conditions in an organisation.
 Six Sigma- It is an important approach of management operations. This helps to control
quality and quantity of the products. There are six system which controls six sigma
approach. Many company's which have some defined objectives and goals that helps to
operates the management in a manner which increase the profit of the organisation. The
process of business operations provides different stages of each level. This theory used
the latest charts and graphs which helps to evaluates the business growth and
development.
 Lean manufacturing- Lean manufacturing approach is the main common approach of
the operation management (Slack, 2015). This approach helps to reduce waste in the
company. The manufacturing process helps to eliminate the necessary waste and also
controls the goods production by using lean manufacturing approach. In this approach,
the Marks and Spencer adopts operations management which reduces the amount of the
product and increase the profitability and productivity in the organisation.
P5 Value of operation management which helps to achieves objectives
The operation management plays an important part in the Marks and Spencer Ltd. It
includes strategic management and problematic management. There are many sectors in which
management and operations grew their profit level in such a way as designing the products,
planning, modifying, controlling and make process of business which acquires products and their
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raw material that improves skills and knowledge of an employee. The importance of
management operations are as follows:
 Maximum utilisation of resources- The operation management provides maximum
resource that helps to produce more products (Shondrick, Dinh and Lord, 2010). An
organisation play an important role in which very limited resources are utilised and fulfil
customers needs and wants. The resource is the main part of any product development
process. This is used to make any type of products which satisfy the potential customers
needs and wants. It helps to utilise the desired products that are highly demanded by the
consumers.
 Excellent services to customers- The main objective of Marks and Spencer is to satisfy
the customers need and solve their issues and problems that helps to maintain good image
or reputation of the company. The operation management help to maintain the quality of
products and fulfil customer needs and wants. It provides maximum goodwill that attracts
more customers towards the company products.
 Helps to control production process- The process of production is important part of
operation management. It is totally controlled by the management operation that operates
in the Marks and Spencer. The business process helps to controlled the maximum
production and increase profitability of an organisation. It also maintain their products
quality and quantity that helps to evaluate the customers demands.
 Business operation control- The operation management can be controlled by doing
different business activities in an effective and efficient manner. The business operation
helps to redesign the whole management process in a easy way and make sound
environment in an organisation. The manager should changes their products design that
helps to attracts more customers towards the new products.
 Takeover the raw material- The raw material is a main part of every products of the
business. It is essential to make new product and convert it to finished products. The
company can take any product at any place at any price (Peng and Lai, 2012). The raw
material is maintain under the operational management during the time of manufacturing.
 Assist skilled employees- The operation management helps to assist skilled and qualified
employee which increases the profit. The workers make quality products that demanded
by the customers. Marks and Spencer company assist the skilled and experienced
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employees that helps to make innovative product which attracts large number of
customers. The manufacturing of products are controls under the operational
management.
 Maintain technologies- The operation management helps to update or maintain the
technology that increase growth of the company. The managers should train their workers
with the new technologies that provides knowledge about the new techniques and
equipments (Parris and Peachey, 2013). Hence, the operation management is useful to
understand the business process in marks and Spencer.
P6 Factors within the business environment
There are some factors that directly affects the marks and Spencer company's
performance in a major way and also affects the operational management which helps to take
decision in an effective manner by the managers or leaders. There are few factors which identify
the external environment which need to analyse for the organisation. The PESTLE analysis
evaluates the political factor, economical factors, social factors, technological factors, legal
factor and environmental factors. These are explained in detail as under:
 Political factors- The political factors includes taxes, rules and regulations, law of
employment and restrictions which affects the production of goods and services. The
change in government policies and plans which affects the entire company's policies.
The operation management helps to make decision which are related to the growth and
development (Oberfield, 2012). For example government change their rules and
regulations that directly affects the company's policies and plans to the employees.
 Economical factors- The economic factor also affects the operation management and
take initiative steps in the growth of the business. These are the main factors which
includes inflation, high rate, recession and economic growth. The economic growth is
maintained the price of end user which satisfy the customers demand in an effective
manner.
 Social factors- The social factors also plays an important role in the operations
management. It helps to make decision regarding health and safety in the society. This
factor evaluate the health environment that includes consume healthy food, restriction on
the harmful food and unhealthy food. The social change is important for the change in
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the operational management. It includes distribution of age, enhance growth and
population which affects operation activities.
 Technological factors- The technology can be change or update during the reduction in
product selling. It also creates inventions and discoveries that used in the training
process (Nichols and Erakovich, 2013). The marks and Spencer adopt new techniques
which provides continuous growth and development. The company should adopt
modified technology that helps to increase the employee ability and capability.
 Legal factors- The legal factor affects the laws and regulations which should be
followed by every organisation. There are many laws that affects the operation
management like employment law, discrimination law, health and safety law and
consumer law. If any employee breach the contract he/she should be pay some
compensation money and follow the guidelines which are discussed in the contract.
 Environmental factors- The environmental factor is an important aspects which affects
the atmosphere and environment of the society. The international authority make rules
and regulations which helps to safe the natural resources like water, air, foods etc. If the
company can not scan the entire environment it affects the management operations.
Marks and Spencer analyse their external environment above it helps to know the various
factors that affects the operational management (Hernandez and et. al., 2011). The business
operation also provides entire information of analysis of external environment that helps to deal
with the potential customers and serve them demanding products.
CONCLUSION
As per the above mentioned report can be concluded that roles and characteristic of
leader and manager that helps to provides growth and development to the company. The
managers used some essential approaches which helps to achieves the goals or objectives. The
approaches includes situational leadership, system leadership and contingency model. The
company also understands the importance of operations management that helps to achieve
desired goals and objectives. The operation management is effective to evaluate the production
areas. There are some factors that affects internal and external factors of the organisation. The
company adopt some approaches which helps to identify the profits and productivity.
Business process helps to motivates the customers that increases satisfaction of the
desired products. The also provides quality based products that attracts large number of
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customers. The marks and Spencer should analyse the PESTLE analysis on regular basis which
includes political, economical, social, technological, legal and environment factors. These are
important to analyse for achieving target objectives and goals. There are some factors that helps
to make decision in an effective and efficient manner. The company identify the key approaches
that are six sigma, business process redesign and lean manufacturing.
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