Leading Organization Project: Marks and Spencer Leadership Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the leadership practices employed by Marks & Spencer (M&S). It delves into the transformational, transactional, and autocratic approaches utilized within the organization. The report examines how these leadership styles impact various aspects of the company, including employee motivation, operational efficiency, and decision-making processes. Furthermore, the report proposes a new leadership strategy plan based on transactional leadership to improve communication and organizational networks. The analysis includes an evaluation of current leadership policies, objectives, and the benefits of the proposed approach. This report offers valuable insights into the leadership dynamics within M&S and provides recommendations for enhancing organizational effectiveness.

Leading Organization project

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Organization's Leadership Practices............................................................................................3
Leadership Practice of the Company...........................................................................................6
Leadership Strategy Plan.............................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFRENCES.................................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Leadership is more like an action plan or approach of the top management in the
company towards achieving organization goals and objectives. Leadership involve providing a
suitable path to achieve various objectives of the company. In this report Marks and Spencer
(M&S) is taken as an organization. M&S was founded in the year 1884 by Micheal Marks and
Thomas Spencer. M&S is a retail brand based in UK that also serves a world wide market of
retail sector by having retail outlets at more then 1400 locations across the globe. The company's
headquarter is located in London, UK. In this report various organization practices will be
express and also the impact of such organizational practices over the various aspect's of
organization will also be specified in this report. Based on the organizational structure a new
leadership style will also be reported to improve the organizational structure of the company.
MAIN BODY
Organization's Leadership Practices
The management of the M&S follows certain practices to cope up with the expectations
of all the stake holders of the company. Such practices are as follows.
Transformational Practice: The leadership approach in M&S is more towards transformational
oriented. Transformational leadership approach enables the leadership in the M&S to motivate
all the employee's in the company with various practices such as reward productive performance,
promotions and many more that efficiently motivate all the human resources in the company.
The leadership in the company also share values to improve the work culture in the company
from time to time (Regy and Malini, 2019). The practice of transformational leadership also
allows the leaders and senior management in the company to innovate and create new working
practices and approaches that can drive the improved efficiency and performance with the
outcomes. For example the employee's of the M&S has rewarded with productive bonus and
allowances by the company management that improved the motivation and confidence level of
all the employee's in the company. The management of M&S has also promoted various lower
designated employee's to the senior positions to justify the skills and performance of all such
employee's to implement the transformational leadership practices in the company.
Transactional Practice: To improve the operational efficiency the management of M&S apply
the leadership approach of transactional practice. The practice of transactional approach allows
management to give various allowances and rewards best on the performance analysis of each

employee in the company. By following the approach of rewarding and benefiting the productive
employee's the company management assure the high performance and efficiency from the
employee's in the company (Pilbeam and et.al., 2016). The company management also apply
bureaucracy approaches as a part of transactional practices. Application of bureaucracy approach
allows employee's in the company to follow the certain routine set by the management as per the
organization hierarchy of the M&S. This approach of set routine give the proper road map to all
experienced and inexperienced human resources of the company to work effectively in the
organization. For example the company management has drafter the suitable road map for all the
operational departments to implement the leadership practice of transactional approach and
based on the performance measurement various perks and allowances has granted to owner the
productivity of human resources in the company.
Innovative and Creative Approach: The management and leadership of the M&S also support
the innovation and development in the organization hierarchy of the company. The company
management also challenge the process by critical evaluating all the working techniques and
practices. Critical evaluation give the proper scope to the employee's to take various steps to
improve the operation practices by removing all the negative aspects of the work practice
(Robinson, 2019). The company management also focus over creativity and innovation in the
company. This give extra freedom to the human resources in the company to innovate and apply
new methodologies and practices that can improve the work efficiency of all the employee's.
Innovation and creative also resulted into a dynamic and suitable work culture of the M&S. For
example the company management has followed the work culture that allows the employee's in
the company to apply various new techniques that are suitable enough as per the operational
structure of the company.
Autocratic Approach: Autocratic operational approach is one of the effective approach the
leadership of the M&S follow. Autocratic approach allows the leadership of M&S to give full
control over certain operational tasks to employee's (Harrison, 2016). This also give freedom to
enable complete decision-making to conduct all the related operations to such tasks. In case of
retail organizations this approach play the key role as many time various new situations arises
while conducting various operations and tasks that required quick decision-making to implement
such actions effectively. This approach also improved the decision-making and confidence level
of all the employee's in the company. The leadership of M&S could develop the over all

personality of the employee's with the implementing of this leadership approach. For example
the company management has granted proper authorities to the team leaders and senior
employee's to take all the suitable decisions based on the practical situation to implement the task
in the estimated time frame.
Performance Analysis Approach: To analyse the performance of all the human eresources is
among the major tool the leadership of the M&S follow. The leadership of the company conduct
a complete analytical review about the efficiencies of all the employee's on a timely basis. Team
leader's in each operational department has provided the authority to analyse and measure the
performance of all the team member's (Para-González, Jiménez-Jiménez and Martínez-Lorente,
2018). This leadership approach has guided all the employee's to improve the work practices by
efficiently remove the negative aspects of the working approaches. Team discussions about the
team performance also involve the experience sharing sessions about the work culture and work
practices that also guided the employee's to focus on applying new techniques and practices. This
leadership approach has improved the work culture of the M&S by enhancing the operational
efficiency of various operations in the organization structure. For example the management of
M&S conducts monthly team meeting of all the operational departments to review and analyse
team performance and also to critically review the operational practices to highlight the negative
aspects of practices. The leader's also discuss the possible developments in the working practices
to remove the various obstacles.
Leadership Practice of the Company
Leadership practices are giving great contribution in the over all growth of the Tesco.
Without these practices it is hard for the company to gain its decided goals in the market. The
main role of the leadership in this company is lead different team in the company's business
environment. The company currently working at large scale in which it also has large number of
employees in their organization. So, leadership is necessary in this company to perfectly manage
all employees in the operations (Oberg, 2017). The top-level management of the Tesco specially
focuses on the implementation of leadership practices in their workplace for take effective work
from their employees. For systematically manage people at the workplace the company divided
all employees into small team, where each team has their own team leader. These all tea leader
are responsible to supervise their team in a proper manner. These leaders are really very helpful
for the company to achieve its target in specific time period.

There are main tasks for the leader in the Tesco are give order to the employees which
comes under their command. Many times these leader needs to motivate their team members for
improve workability. The leaders are also taking order from their upper level management, and
always try to implement decision of the top-level management in the workplace. Many times the
management need to take important decisions for growth of the company. In which the
management takes some suggestions from the leader also for effective decision-making. The
leaders are providing necessary guidelines and terminologies also to their employees for cover
all activities in productive way. It is necessary also for save useful time and cost of the Tesco.
The leadership also providing clear vision also to their employees about 'what to do', 'when to do'
and 'how to do', etc. When employees face some issues and challenges at the work place. In
which case these leaders are responsible to solve those issues.
Leadership also important in the company for maintain good relationship between
employer and employees. The leadership is totally work like a messenger, who take message or
order from the top-level management and deliver to the low-level management. Many times
leaders need to take some necessary decisions also at their workplace to deal with uncertainty
(DOYLE, 2019). The company give leadership position to only those people which has great
leadership skills. The major skills which required in the leadership are; punctuality, good
communication, creativity, innovation, honesty, motivation, etc. These all skills are highly
needed for the job role of a leader in the Tesco. The good leadership also the main element
behind company's current high reputation. With the support of leadership the company is able to
run their all activities in a proper channel.
Leadership Strategy Plan
Objectives: The main goal of the new leadership strategy plan is to Better communication and
improves organization's network effectively.
Current leadership style
Marks & Spencer is a British multinational retailer company. The main vision of the company
to give the value of the customers and holds talented employee at the workplace so that they
help to achieve the vision of the company. Manager of the M&S company applies democratic
leadership style to meet employee objectives so that enable to get high productivity of the
employee at workplace (Nazim, 2016). Where Manager invites employee in decision-making so
that organization enable to get creative idea which improve organization performance and

second gives the value to employee to listening them properly. It has drawback it enhances
turnover of the employee and reduce competitive advantage. Even organization doesn't get
confident decision during emergency which can lead effectiveness in the process. Manager uses
autocratic leadership for inspiring large number of the employee to give the best performance
and deal with work pressure. The main goal of the leadership retain talented employee at
workplace. Where organization enable to take competitive advantage but unable to retain
employee. Even manager doesn't involve them in decision decision-making as result
organization enables to achieve short term goal not long term goal. Due to above reviews can
understand manage unable to communicate with their employees. In that state organization
should apply transactional leadership style which is more effective for the employees and can
achieve goal of the company. Transactional leadership style is proposed by the Max Weber in
1947. This style is applies by the various manager for improve the communication between
employees and management. It involves in motivating and guiding the group of the people in
the company (Khan, 2017). In this leadership style exchange policy between leader and
employee which is directly takes place to achieve organizational goals.
Current leadership policy
Transactional leadership is based on the exchange policy between leader and employees in four
dimensions such as-
Contingent reward: Manager offers reward which is based on the employee performance.
Manager sets goal for the employees which is specified, measurable, attainable, realistic and
time bounded, so that enables to evaluate their reward-able performance.
Active management: Manager of the M&S can actively monitor employees work performance
at workplace and can observe obligation of rules in company (Lan and et.al., 2019). Through the
style manger can introduce new strategic plan for removing mistake.
Passive management: manager monitors employees performance at workplace and their task
achievement. If manager finds employees unable to give the task on time and doesn't meet
organization expectation, In that state gives' punishment to employee.
Laissez-Faire: To give the values of the employee, manager offers such kind environment where
they get opportunity to show their talent and explore innovative idea in decision-making, thus
manager maintains their well-being at job place.
Thus type policies of transaction leadership can help organization to achieve their objectives.

Transactional leadership impact on organization's culture
It gives profitable impact on organization's culture because manager enables to communicate
with employees and can defined task clearly so that employees doesn't fuss in confusion. This
leadership style helps HR department also to improve their communication skills and efficacy
during taking decision (Kalsoom, Khan and Zubair, 2018). On other hand employees gets
comfortable atmosphere at workplace where they can direct communicate with manager and
shares their issues relevant salary or work load. Manager enables to motivate employees
effectively by meeting their objectives. Even fair treatment to each employee in M&S attracts
each employee and inspires them to give the loyal performance at job place. Manager can
monitor each department working performance in the company through the outcomes or daily
basis interaction. Even M&S can act as passive management which helps to select profitable
employees who can meet company from vision. Passive management policy helps organization
to reduce high turnover of the employee and retain talented employee in company. Even
transactional leadership style supports employees by offering opportunity environment. For
example manager offers skill and development classes for employees so that organization gets
multitasking employees. On other hand employees gets opportunity to learn new skills and
improves their existing skills so that they can apply at workplace and become eligible for
rewards. Even transaction leadership style leads power in relation with department as result
conflict doesn't take place in company. Transactional leadership style can easy to deal with
employees during work pressure and can inspire them for giving the best performance by
offering appraisal and incentive strategy. Thus, organization gets healthy culture in company.
21st century technologies
21st century is digital technology age where all operation is completed on the digital platform.
Various organization uses digital platform for improving their communication with customers
and trading business. The better department communication plan is channel. It is appropriate
plan for the department communication. If organization aligns all department and links them by
the channel (Aga 2016). Based on the channel techniques can communicate regular basis. For
example department can coordinate to each other by using internal communication strategies
and maximize their task achievement. To influence channel effectiveness in department
communication can use 21st century technology such as internet and social media. Technologies
can play significant role to improve internal department communication. Technologies are-

Electronics: Emails or internet page includes in the electronics where various department of
M&S which operates in different countries can send important information thorough the mails.
It keeps information safe and maintains communication of the employees effectively.
Video: it is the best source for the department communication because employees enable to see
them and audible which helps to understand task and leads strength in the relation. Video also
helps to understand issues of the employee face to face rather than creating miscommunication.
Internal social media: It is influential technique of the 21st century which establishes good
culture of department cooperation and assists department to clarify goal or task.
These technologies lead effectiveness in department communication plan where they can direct
their instruction and can discuss issues relevant to task issues. Even it improves department
communication networks and builds good relation to each other. Through the technologies each
department can monitor their operations and outcomes in the company.
Summary
Existing communication between each department is good and fruitful. M&S company gets
better communication between department by the helps of leadership approach. Transactional
leadership plays crucial role in the organization because it improves their working efficiency
and their well-being at workplace. It helps to overcome weakness of the employees which
comes during task (Delegach and et.al., 2017). Thus, leadership improves their skills and
maintains their well-being by offering incentives and reward strategy. Due to the transactional
leadership networks of the department become strong within organization. M&S enables to
monitor employees performance and encourage employee's to comply with situation within
organization. It can make more effective if the organization practices 21st century technologies.
Internal social media, video and Email are the best source to improve effectiveness in the
communication. Manager of the company can practice these technologies for motivating team
member and evaluates their performance skills at work place. Marks $ Spencer can utilizes
these technologies effectively if offers classes to employees for learning about new technology
operations. If organization follows all policies of the transactional leadership and practices by
the manager for communication employees, in that state organization can meet goal of the
company (Buch, Thompson and Kuvaas, 2016). Even team member of the company becomes
loyal for their performance and for the company at job place. On other hand technologies
involvement in the leadership style improves effectiveness in policies operations. By the helps

of technology, manager can communicate each department in single time and resolve their
issues. It leads effectiveness in decision-making and large number of task achievement in the
company. Thus, technology can improve communication between department and leads
effectiveness in leadership style.
CONCLUSION
Various organization practices has concluded in this report that specifies the approaches
of leadership in the company. The implications of all such leadership practices in the
organizational structure of the M&S has also concluded in this report. The critical review of all
such leadership practices has concluded the effects of such practices over the organizational
structure and human resources in the company. A well suitable and dynamic leadership strategy
plan has also concluded in this report that involve various development aspects of the leadership
in the company on the basis of the evaluation of such strategies. Various impacts over
organization culture of leadership style has concluded in this report. The various development of
the new plan in respect of communication improvement and other operational aspects has also
concluded in this report. Various components of the leadership that impact the organizational
networks of the company and all the suitable ways to improve the utilization of such networks
has also concluded in this report.

REFRENCES
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