Analysis of Leadership and Management in Marks and Spencer Operations

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This report provides an in-depth analysis of leadership and management functions within Marks and Spencer (M&S), a prominent retail industry player. The report begins by defining and comparing the characteristics and roles of managers and leaders, highlighting their distinct responsibilities and contributions to the organization. It then explores how these roles are applied in various situational contexts, such as decision-making and risk-taking, demonstrating the practical application of leadership and management principles. The report further examines the use of different leadership models and theories, including situational, system, and contingency leadership theories, to evaluate their effectiveness in the M&S context. Additionally, it discusses key approaches to operations management and underscores the importance and value of operations management within the company. Finally, the report considers the impact of the business environment on operations management and decision-making, providing a comprehensive overview of leadership and management practices within the retail sector.
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MANAGEMENT
OPERATIONS
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Define and compare different characteristics and roles of a manager and a leaders.............1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
P2 Role of leader and function of manager apply in different situational..................................4
P3 Apply different models and theories of approach..................................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
P4 Key approaches to operations management and role of leaders and mangers.......................7
P5 Importance and value of operations management.................................................................8
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................9
P6 Factors of business environment that impact on operations management and decision
making.........................................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11
.......................................................................................................................................................11
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INTRODUCTION
Operations management is managing the enterprise practices in order to gain higher
efficiency within the company. It is concerned with converting labour as well as materials into
finished products and services efficiently (What is Operations Management?, 2014). This
concept helps in achieving higher level of profits within the company. Management operations
have to attempt balance within revenue and costs to meet higher level of operating profit. Marks
and Spenser is a retail industry and the founder of this company is Sir Michael Marks and
Thomas Spenser. This company is providing job opportunities to approx. 84,939 employees
within the organisation. It specialises in selling of home goods, luxury food products and
clothing. In this report it involve the definition of manager and leaders and its characteristics as
well as roles. Also undertaken the various methods of models and theories along with this it also
analyse the value and importance of operation management.
TASK 1
P1 Define and compare different characteristics and roles of a manager and a leaders
Marks and Spencer is a retail industry and it has various branches all over the world to
have large reach of market and customer base. This firm is founded by Thomas Spencer and
Michael Marks in 1884 to give home products, clothing and home appliances to satisfy needs
and demands of people.
Leaders
Leaders are one who direct and guide their group members to work in a collaboration
way (Balasubramaniam and et. al., 2016). These skills of leadership will aid the company to
compete with their rivals within the working environment. It is important that a leader must have
skills or ability of motivating employees within working environment for achieving its goals and
objectives in a proper manner.
Managers
Managers is responsible for administering or controlling a group or companies staff.
They have to execute all the activities and functions in order to run enterprise such as planning,
organising, staffing, directing and controlling effectively. It should be followed in a systematic
and disciplined manner for making a effective utilization of management skills. It will assist in
taking proper decisions of enterprise activities.
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(Source: Differentiate within leaders & managers, 2018)
According to the above image, it shows that manager provide duties and targets to
employees in according to their skills and knowledge to make them perform tasks effectively.
Their aim is to accomplish business goals and objectives. While, leader provide guidance and
direction to subordinates to make them work in systematic manner. This help company to have
motivated and dedicated staff with retain for longer time.
Leaders Roles
Main role of leaders in Marks and Spenser gave effect on employees working in a right
directions. There are some leader’s roles which are given below: Communication: Leaders should have proper skills of interaction while giving
directions to their group members. Along with this they also have to communicate
about plans, objectives and policies of the firms to all workers (Fayol, 2016). Guiding employees: In this, it is a responsibility of leaders to maintain relations with
their workers. In order to give effective information and acknowledge about the
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Illustration 1: Differentiate within leaders & managers
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disputes as well as issues which take place within workplace. Hence, giving proper
guidance to workers will help in accomplishing of work in an effective way.
Managers Roles
There are several different duties which are performed by managers in an Marks and
Spencer firms are as follows: Informational role: Management of Marks and Spencer have to communicate effective
data to their employees which are required to achieve objectives and goals within a given
period of time. Interpersonal role: In this, company organise conferences as well as meeting in order to
communicate with employees (Giuliani and et. al., 2015). As managers establish a
positive working environment as well as maintain strong relations with them.
Leaders Characteristics
In this, leaders should communicate with managers as well as acknowledge their thoughts
and thinking. In order to make a positive working environment they have to maintain honesty
among the employees. Leaders should be creative and confident while giving guidance to their
team’s members.
Managers Characteristics
Marks and Spencer managers must have strong skills of communication as it will aid in
connecting employees of the firms. It will help in giving essential information about goals and
objectives properly (Handschin and Petroianu, 2012). Management of company should have
effective knowledge of theories and concepts for taking proper decisions as well as judgement in
the context of objectives and market conditions.
Differentiate within leaders & managers
Leaders Managers
Leaders stimulate their employees to
meet set targets and objectives.
Leaders have to gain employees trust.
Its main purpose is to growth as well as
development.
Managers have to perform activities
like planning, staffing, organising,
directing and controlling of business
activities.
They measure workers through their
skills of management.
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Managers main aim is to achieve the set
outcomes.
There are difference in role of leaders and manager’s functions which can be better
understood by applying concepts and theories/ Managers execute the business activities of
planning, organising, staffing, directing and controlling. On other hand, leaders will stimulate
their group members to attain the objectives and targets.
In this leadership traits theory, Leaders should not be autocratic while taking decisions
but managers role is to take proper decisions in order to meet targets.
Transactional leadership theory refers to employee’s rewards and punishments for
motivating them.
Transformational theory employs charisma and enthusiasm for stimulating their
employees (Jørgensen and Zaccour, 2012).
On the other hand, Action Centered Theory, leaders build their teams as well as motivate
them for completing tasks which are set by managers. Hard concept is a skill of management as
they are rigorous with its workers and soft concept is skills of leadership in which they maintain
strong relations with their employees in a polite way.
Henceforth, it is being concluded that both managers and leaders plays a crucial role for
Marks and Spencer where, leaders develop ways through which Marks and Spencer can bring
innovation within its operations and managers tries to manage functions of M&S and develop
strategies through which performance level of employees can be raised so that maximum
benefits can be gained by the company.
TASK 2
P2 Role of leader and function of manager apply in different situational
Management give work to their employees and its duties as per their abilities and skills.
In this, supervisor are providing responsibilities to leaders for giving guidance and direction to
their group members. It will help in completing of task in an proper manner within the span of
time (Kerzner and Kerzner, 2017). Leaders and managers are very essential part of Marks and
Spencer as they will aid in completing activities effectively in various conditions which gave
impact on enterprises. Some situations in which managers and leaders both play their different
roles which are as follows:
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Decision making: In this situation, it involve both employees and managers in meeting
and conferences in order to take any decisions. Marks and Spencer is an retail industry which
require to update their goods as per latest trends as well as market preferences. e.g. company had
to take a decision to raise its operations in order to establish a new product.
Managers functions is to make decisions for giving adequate information to their
employees about their goals and works. It is essential for organisation to formulate policies and
strategies for guiding employees and also stimulate them in order to accomplish the work
effectively. Managers is organising a session of training & development in order to improve the
skills of workers.
In this situation, role of leader is to involve their employees while taking decisions
related to their work systems. Along this, staff members communicate with customers which
help them to have knowledge about market to make alterations in system and strategies
accordingly. M&S managers connect with its buyers and acknowledge their preferences as well
as taste accordingly. Leaders will perform better policies and take effective decisions.
Risk taking: In this, it defines each company is having various issues and difficulties.
M&S company require proper utilisation of resources to sustain its position and reputation in
market. It is important for manpower to make a proper use of material and finance properly
which aid in operating a business properly (López and et. al., 2015). Manager of M&S frame
plan to avoid errors and difficulties from system by conducting business operations and making
employees function in respect to defined standards. Along this, market research help superior to
asses issues and problems in context of competitors which might affect on company's sales and
profitability.
In this, Managers functions is to evaluate the external as well as internal factors
effectively. Management theories and concepts are adopt for taking effective solution and
managing risk. M&S company is facing issues while applying advanced technology within their
working environment as it will not able to operate properly and it will gave affect on business
activities.
P3 Apply different models and theories of approach
Managers need to operate system functions in an effective way which support in growth
and development of company. It is important for Marks and Spencer firm to manage all the
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conditions in order to maintain organisation goodwill in the marketplace. Their are certain
theories which are as follows: Situational leadership theory: It is refers to existing organisation within marketplace
which keep on changing dynamically. Their are various types of persons are working in
the firm with different family backgrounds such as religion, gender, language, caste and
many more (McPherson and Pincus, 2017). Thus, it is necessary for M&S organisation to
use effective tactics as well as styles in order to direct and guide employees for executing
functions effectively. System leadership theory: It is an management duty to conduct the businesses activities
effectively for achieving targets and objectives. It is important to give effective working
environment as well as facilities to employees for accomplishing their work properly.
Advanced tools as well as technologies are applied within workplace. So, that Marks and
Spencer company can produce a quick products and services for their customers which
will aid in improving firms goodwill in the marketplace.
Contingency leadership theory: In this, it specifies its nature of personality, functioning
and so on element which determine leaders functions and system. Each sector has
different preferences and taste of buyers and it also changes very rapidly (Mendis,
Muttaqi and Perera, 2014). Hence, due to this various problems take place in the firm and
it makes coordination within group members in order to overcome with the problems.
Management of M&S is adopting a situational leadership theory as it will aid supervisors
to take a effective judgement as well as design a system as per its objectives and targets properly.
All the theories of leadership are having its merits and demerits within workplace which
are given below:
System leadership theory
Merits Demerits
In this theory, it is very easy to achieve and
understand the leadership effectiveness.
In this theory, it is having a limited flexibility
which makes very typical to deal with daily
modifications within workplace.
Situational leadership theory
Merits Demerits
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This theory will aid in managing the use of this
method as per market situation along with this
it makes the system function effectively within
working environment (Moghaddam and et. al.,
2011). This will help in maintaining stability.
Management should have full information of
market situations in order to use advanced
technologies within working environment. For
this firm require to analysed on daily basis
which is costly and time consuming.
Contingency leadership theory
Merits Demerits
It will aid in giving flexibility in a working
environment. This styles of leadership is used
as per market conditions and help in removing
non favourable circumstances of enterprise.
In this theory, it do not have a particular styles
of leadership which are used by leaders. It is
very typical within working environment as it
posses certain experiences to implement this
method.
Henceforth, it is being concluded that role of a manager is to manage all over functions of
Marks and Spencer so that its business can gain maximum benefits. This may also help in
gaining competitive advantages in today’s rivalry related environment. But, it is required for
managers and leaders both to use right leadership theory on the basis of situation so that it can
help in making effective decisions for benefit of Marks and Spencer.
TASK 3
P4 Key approaches to operations management and role of leaders and mangers
M&S need to organise the enterprise activities properly. So, that effective goods and
services are given within workplace as per customers wants and needs. It is important for
organisation management to use proper models, theories and concepts in order to make proper
use of resources for achieving its objective and goals within a limited period of time. Their are
certain methods which are used by management are as follows: Six Sigma: It defines supervisors to analysed the problems, so that effective objectives
and goals are made. Along with this it also measure the workers performance as well as
its results by adopting effective techniques which are cost accounting, MBO, 369 degree
and many more. It will aid in improving employees performance within working
environment.
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Lean manufacturing: In this method, it is a systematic process by adopting proper
resources like as finance, materials and manpower in order to eliminate wastage. Mass
manufacturing is an effective tactics which give advantages to Marks and Spencer to
provide best quality of products and services (Pinto, 2015). They run the plan effectively
and assumes demands in order to make goods available for buyers. Total quality management: It provide advantages to a firms for a long time through
giving products as per customers needs and wants. It will help in maintaining reputation
of Marks and Spencer in the marketplace (Thaler, Priest and Fuchs, 2016). Therefore, it
motivate employees to participate within activities for effective outcomes.
Roles of managers
M&S management has various responsibilities for completing work effectively as they
have to prepare a plan for making effective programs and techniques for operating a functions of
systems properly. They also set goals for employees in order to meet objectives and goals within
the given period of time.
Roles of leaders
Roles of leaders is to manage the task through directing and guiding their group members
according to their skills and abilities. Leaders motivate their workers as well as solve conflicts
which take place among the the customers. It will also help in maintaining coordinating within
each others in order to raise productivity.
P5 Importance and value of operations management
For an organisation, operation management is necessary to maintain efficiency of process
of manufacturing. It is an administration related to the business practices for develop high
efficiency level with in company (Rani and Moreira, 2010). Operation management plays an
important role in company as it handle problems such as operations, maintenance and also design
of system that is used for manufacturing of products. It is helpful in improving whole
productivity of business. Marks and Spencer is using six sigma, lean manufacturing and total
quantity management to enhance profitability and productivity within the workplace. There are
some importance and values of operation management mention below:
Quality improvement- The main focus of M&S is on satisfying needs and demands of
consumers by provide the better quality of products and services. This company use the
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continuous improvement tool to make improvement in product quality. It helps in attract more
customers towards company and enhance sales.
Reduce wastage- It is necessary for an employer to make focus on reduce the errors and
wastage from manufacturing process. It will help in increasing productivity and also reputation
of company. Through quality of products will be better.
Increasing profit- Quality develop the direct impact on profit level of company.
Operation management is helpful in improving the quality of services or products. It will helpful
in attract the more number of consumers towards firm and result in increase sales. Marks &
Spencer offer its products online but its main focus quality quality goods. It will aids in enhance
the profit and productivity of company (Slack, 2015).
Leaders and managers both play a necessary role in prepare an effective plan, policies
and also strategies to increasing the operational functions in systematic manner. They have
certain traits like concentrate on quality, realistic, better working efficiencies etc. It is helpful in
conduct the operations of company in proper manner.
TASK 4
P6 Factors of business environment that impact on operations management and decision making
In order to operate enterprise activities in an proper way to which extent, Marks and
Spencer management will focus on bringing as well as maintaining sustainability at workplace.
In this procedure, organisation have to face challenges in several factors which are represented in
business surrounding. It involve fluctuations in technology development, economic situations
and many more. It gave influence in positive as well as negative manner. Therefore, it is
managers responsibilities to understand all the internal and external factors which gave influence
on decision making. In Marks and Spencer, there are certain elements which impact on working
systems which are as follows: Corporate Social responsibilities: These function are related to improve the society in
which an organisation surrounds. It is an supervisors duties to contribute certain efforts
towards the environment as well as society development which will help in raising image
of nation. Through this, management operational of Marks and Spencer will create the
feeling of unequalled happiness among the employees.
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Business ethics: It is very essential factor for supervisors of the company which require
to bring proper ethical culture in its business (Ravindran ed., 2016). Marks and Spencer
company have to develop its policies as well as strategies through concerning more on
providing advantages to stakeholders. This term of business ethics refers as a set of
principles which are used by Marks and Spencer in its strategies, policies and decision-
making.
Values: These principles which give guidance to the organisation internal environment
that organise its relations with shareholders, customers and partners. Mainly, it will give
sum up of Marks and Spencer statements along with its mission statements of firms core
values. Managers take decision in order to communicate their values to the Marks and
Spencer partners.
In general business activities of a company is affected by many factors present in internal
and external environment. It includes changes in economical conditions, demand of customers,
advancement of technology and more. Therefore, it is required by managers of M&S to concern
on these factors which impact on profitability and operations of business. It will help in gaining
high sustainability of business as well in a particular marketplace.
CONCLUSION
As per above report it has been concluded from this report that management and
operations of a company is a main process through which entire activities can be conducted in a
proper manner. This departments helps a firm in organising as well as utilising resources of
business also. In addition to this, it also describes procedures through which quality of goods can
be manufactured in a proper way. Along with this, managers and leaders also play an effective
role for running functions of business by achieving set targets and objectives in a short period of
interval. They used various approaches like lean production, just-in-time and more to reduce
wastage of production.
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