Leadership and Management Report: Morrisons, UK Supermarket Chain

This report provides a detailed analysis of leadership and management practices at Morrisons, a major UK supermarket chain. It begins with an introduction to the company, its management structure, and the roles of leaders and managers. The report then explores the application of different leadership and management theories, including contemporary and behavioral theories, to various organizational situations. It examines the characteristics and roles of managers and leaders, comparing their functions in strategic planning, decision-making, and employee motivation. The report further investigates key approaches to operations management and the importance of achieving business objectives. It also evaluates the impact of factors within the business environment on operational management and decision-making. The report uses the context of Morrisons to illustrate the practical application of these concepts and concludes with recommendations for future improvements.

Management and
Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1. Role of a leader and the function of a manager....................................................................1
M1. Analysis of different role of leader and function of a manager in application to different
organisational situations, supported by theories and concepts....................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
P2. Role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in different situational contexts........4
P3. Different theories and models of approach ...........................................................................5
M2. Evaluation of strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to situations within the
work environment........................................................................................................................6
D1. Analysis and evaluation of different theories and approaches to leadership and
management.................................................................................................................................7
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
P4. Key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders along with managers
play...............................................................................................................................................7
P5. Importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives............8
M3. Ways through which leaders and managers can improve efficiencies of operational
management to successfully meet business objectives................................................................9
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................9
P6. Factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management and
decision-making by leaders and managers..................................................................................9
M4. Different factors which affects business environment and wider community.................10
D2. Evaluation as well as application of operations management and factors that impact on the
wider business environment.......................................................................................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Management and operation are administration practices which are related to designing as
well as controlling production procedures in effective manner (Adebanjo, Laosirihongthong and
Samaranayake, 2016.). These are associated with carefully managing various processes involved
in production along with distribution of products or services. Overall activities includes creation
of product, production, development, distribution and so on for the purpose of ensuring
maximum efficiency as possible. To understand the management and operations, Morrisons is
selected. The chosen organisation is largest supermarket chain whose headquarters are located at
Bradford, United Kingdom. The present report includes introduction of company along with
management structure, roles of leaders as well as managers, differences between leaderships and
management. In addition, it discusses about different roles of management as well as leadership
which are applied to distinct organisational situations with support of concepts and theories. It
also includes classical and behavioural theories which are applied to organisation and the manner
they support growth as well as sustainable performance. Lastly, it describes the impact of
managers and leaders on business and various recommendations for improvements in future time
period.
TASK 1
P1. Role of a leader and the function of a manager
Morrisons is a largest supermarket chain which was established by William Morrisons in
the year 1899 and its headquarters are located at Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The
company performs its operations in the retail industry and provides variety of products or
services to its customers (Choi, Chan and Yue, 2016). Managers of this business performs
operations tasks such as creating products, designing, performance management, management of
supply chain, capacity designing, quality maintenance, redesigning practices and many more.
Selected business successfully follows divisional management structure where different
departments such as human resource, marketing, administration, finance, accounting, production
are made in order to assign tasks, taking decisions, participation of workforce in decision
making, managing people and many more can be done efficiently. This structure helps in
expanding efficiency and reduced duplication of work at great extent. Such firm has performed
its management and operation in such manner which benefit in building a competitive image of
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among top four supermarkets in UK by successfully opening numerous stores and controlling the
management of supply chain. This management structure has improved effectiveness in
maximising efficiency, optimum capacity utilization, maintaining strong presence in global
market place and has achieved major contributions in success.
Contemporary theory of management is a behaviour theory which states that no best
method to organise tasks, lead a company, making decisions until and unless course of action is
dependent on various internal circumstances as well as external situations (Fagel, 2016.). Such
theory helps in determining and defining distinct leadership styles for focussing towards
circumstances or situations.
Seminal theory of management involves various approaches to analysis organisational
practices. It helps in transforming information and understanding requirements at workplace.
On the basis of such theories, role as well as characteristics of leaders and managers are as
follows:
Managers: Managers are those individuals who managers all the tasks and handles various
operational activities for the purpose of increasing productivity as well as profitability.
Characteristics of Managers:
 Managers have excellent communication skills, time management skills along with
confidence to tackle complex situations without hampering others work.
 They have positive behaviours which helps in motivating others and critical thinking.
 They are accountable for providing transparency in work which results in improving
efficiency among workforce and organisation.
Role of managers:
 Managers of selected company formulates various strategies for getting successful
results.
 They take effective decisions by consulting with other divisional members and
implement the same for maximising productivity along with profitability.
 They ensures compliances and promote operations of business in global environment.
Leaders: Leaders are those individuals who has capability to dominant positions, provide
training, implements strategies, resolves team member issues and influences staff behaviour in
order to maintain maintain favourable cooperative environment at workplace.
Characteristics of leaders:
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 They have decision making ability which is required for taking decisions at appropriate
time period for the company.
 The confidence level of leaders is high and are honest, loyal towards work.
 They integrates work of various members and influences employees to follow actions.
 They have charismatic personality which attracts followers and encourages them to listen
properly.
Role of leaders:
 Leaders play significant role to motivate employees of Morrisons for increasing
performance along with efficiency.
 They resolves team conflicts or organisational conflicts which occurs at workplace.
 They provide clear vision to executives as well as employees to perform the tasks
accordingly.
 They provide numerous training and development programmes in order to strengthen
efficiency as well as effectiveness.
Comparison between role or characteristics of leader or manager:
Basis of comparison Leader Manager
Role Leaders plays the role at
Morrisons related to
influencing people at work as
well as provides necessary
training to its employees for
the purpose of enhancing
knowledge, skills or efficiency
(Goldschmidt and Kumar,
2016). They motivates people
to complete operations before
time period and with great
efficiency.
Managers plays role in
selected organisation related to
formulating strategies, plans,
programmes, policies and
many more in order to achieve
objectives or goals. They also
take various major decisions
for the betterment of
organisation.
Characteristics Leaders have to be
trustworthy, loyal, confident,
Managers of Morrisons have
analytical skills, team building,
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accountable, creative,
charismatic personality, ability
to delegate, communication
skills and many more which
will benefit employees chosen
entity to follow their actions
and increase efficiency.
decision making ability,
versatile, problem solving
skills. These characteristics
helps in resolving issues and
achieving objectives.
M1. Analysis of different role of leader and function of a manager in application to different
organisational situations, supported by theories and concepts
Leaders and managers performs distinct roles as well as functions pertaining to situations
or circumstances at workplace. In order to deal with circumstances or situations in effective ways
managers and leaders plays important functions supported by various theories and concepts.
System leadership theory enables leaders to create conditions by using sound principles to create
models of leaderships in order to motivate people to perform work with full potentiality at
different levels with the objective of attaining efficiency or productivity (Hoyos, Morales and
Akhavan-Tabatabaei,2015). For example, if Morrisons have to increase its market proportion in
distinct geographical areas. In such situation, managers sets product standards to sell them to
potential clients or existing customers. Contingency theory of management is based on
management behaviours in relation to particular circumstances. This theory helps in providing
best ways ion order to deal with critical situations. For example, if situations occurs related to
meeting required demands of customers in appropriate time period. In such circumstances,
managers takes decisions along with formulating strategies or plans in order to build effective
organisational supplier relationships where as leaders encourages team members by providing
guidances and directions to work as per the formulated plans, programmes to resolve such
situations in effective manner.
TASK 2
P2. Role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in different situational contexts.
Leaders plays different roles in different situations and it is same as with managers as
they also performs various functions in different situations. Both plays important tasks at
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organisation as they are considered as valuable resources and performs various activities such as
formulating strategies, planning for future, inspiring people and so on to achieve individual along
with organisational objectives. Managers of Morrisons performs the function of formulating
strategies, plans and communicating the same to different levels of management. The main
function is to organise tasks, coordinate allocations, placing right candidate at right place,
measuring results as well as clarifying outcomes for the purpose of creating huge impact on
success of firm (Hitt and Duane Ireland, 2017). On the other hand, leaders creates visions,
execute strategies, motivates as well as influences team members, resolves issues, empower staff
to effectively attain objectives.
For example, in change management situation, new changes are implemented in
Morrisons. The managers performs the role of critically evaluations existing plans or
programmes and analyses the need of change. They formulate various strategies as well as
communicates with internal authorities to prepare or manage the change. Leaders carefully
understands the requirements and motivates staff or team members to adopt the change. They
motivates the team members by preparing, engaging and leading employees at work place.
Another situation related to increasing market proportion. In such situations, managers
sets standards of products and takes decisions to produce a new product and launch it in new
market or existing market. They performs the function of preparing work culture and schedules
according to which work will be performed. They redesigns various operations and delegates
various authorities to manage the work. On the other hand, leaders prepare the team to
successfully attract potential customers and provide rewards to its employees along with
managing performances at each level of operation.
Managers of Morrisons carefully analyses performance reports and manage operations
for providing better quality of services or products to customers along with improving
efficiencies of business operations for the purpose of achieving financial positions. Whereas
leaders of same organisation in same situation build strong teams and help them to achieve
individual objectives by focussing on achievement of organisational objectives at same time.
They prepares performance reports and provides the same to managers.
P3. Different theories and models of approach
There are numerous theories and models in the context of leadership and management.
Some are the followings:
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System leadership theory: This theory states sound principles for creating models in
leadership context for the purpose of motivating people at distinct levels for attaining
productivity. Such theory helps in understanding inter relationships as well as interactions of
different parts in the system. It is used by managers of Morrisons to formulate strategies and
leaders applies it to implement such strategies to respond towards challenging environment.
Leaders performs the role of inspiring as well as motivating members of team to perform actions
which results in achievement of set targets.
Contingency approach of management: This model of approach is based on
management effectiveness which is contingent as well as dependent on interplay of the
applications related to management behaviours and particular situations (Mahadevan, 2015). It is
used by both leaders as well as mangers to manage change which are depended on certain
circumstances. It benefits Morrisons managers by providing integrated solutions related to
project scope. Leaders performs various activities for gaining better understanding with internal
organisational members by applying suitable leadership style.
M2. Evaluation of strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to situations within the work
environment.
Managers and leaders of Morrisons applies various approaches for overcoming from
situations in order to manage as well as enhance efficiencies of different operations. Different
approaches have strengths along with weaknesses and managers with leaders should carefully
adopt appropriate approach pertaining to business situations.
Contingency theory of management: Morrisons being largest supermarket in retail
sector uses this approach to pay attention on different leadership styles as well a situations.
Strengths: this approach helps in concentrating on flexible situations and keeping
environment favourable by understanding relevance of numerous approaches towards relevant
situations.
Weaknesses: Different situations requires approaches which suits the situations and it is
not necessary that managers or leaders are efficient enough to predict and apply such approach to
situations.
System leadership theory: This theory helps in using sound principles interrelating to
operations for dealing with particular problems of business.
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Strengths: This helps in adopting external changes by focusing towards multiple dimensions to
achieve goals.
Weaknesses: Multiple dimension may not be dependent towards particular problems and results
in performing slow operations along with delays in decision making.
D1. Analysis and evaluation of different theories and approaches to leadership and management.
In the context of operations management various theories as well as approaches are used
by leaders of managers such as system leadership theory, contingency management theory and
many more. System leadership theory is applied for formulating conditions using sound
principles to motivate as well as influence workforce to perform operations with maximum
potentiality at levels of organisation (Qin, Nembhard and Barnes II, 2015). Contingency
management theory is related to management behaviours and particular circumstances. Various
activities are performed by top leaders along with managers to gain understanding of internal
members with the applicability of suitable style of leadership.
TASK 3
P4. Key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders along with managers
play.
There are numerous approaches of operations management which are applied at
Morrisons for the purpose of improving efficiencies in operations as well as to maximising
capacity to generate more profits along with strengthening financial positions in competitive
market. Some of the key approaches of operations management are following:
Lean manufacturing: Such approach is used to improve operational efficiencies and
minimising wastage of resources in the production of goods or services in effective manner. Its
major focus is to reduce the wastage of scarce resources as well as optimum utilisation of
resources to increase productivity (Renz, 2016). Morrisons production process is efficient which
results in maximum outputs through minimum inputs. Managers plays the role of formulating
various training programs for existing as well as new employees in order to enhance knowledge
as well as skills of workforce to perform operational activities. On the other hand, leaders plays
the role of motivating as well as influencing recruited people for gaining trust and making teams
to collectively achieve goals.
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Continuous improvement approach: It is an approach which results in ongoing activities to
improve quality of products, services, procedures of business. In order to manage change in
effective manner and without any resistance this approach is adopted. It benefits Morrisons to
improve its performances along with efficiencies on continuous manner. Leaders of selected
business performs the role of preparing performances reports on the basis of day to day
operations being performed by workforce. Managers carefully analyses such reports and prepares
further actions as well as strategies for generating innovative ideas for continuous improvements.
Six Sigma: Such approach is based on improving operations values by taking effective
decision. This approach leads to continuous improvements as well as reduces the probability of
failures. Executives of Morrisons applies such approach to achieve stable along with predictable
results by defining measurable processes in order to achieve improvements in quality. It includes
initialisation, measurement, analysis, improvements, controlling situations within internal
environment. Managers takes various reliable decisions which reduces the chances of failures
and provisions related to minimising errors or defects chances in process of production. Leaders
implements the decisions and actions (Slack and Brandon-Jones, 2018). They performs
collectively with the team members in the direction of completing work by reducing costs as
well as improving quality standards.
P5. Importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives.
Operations management is concerned with production of products or services in an entity
in effective along with efficient manner. It helps in running operations of business in successful
ways, meeting customer expectations, minimising wastage of resources and many more. It is an
important factor which results in increasing profits of an organisation and is applied to daily
activities performed at workplace. It helps in handling various issues related to designing,
maintenance, improvement and so on with the objective to achieve business objectives in defines
time period. It can not function without management control as well as coordination function
which involves certain activities which are required for meeting objectives in effective manner.
Such management has vital value as it is applicable to all types of business in different
industries. Operation management is important in Morrisons as it helps in designing, production,
maintenance, quality improvement, meeting demands and many more in order to achieve its
business objectives by coordinating its operations with other functions of management. Such
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management function has great value as it helps in smoothly performing all tasks in order to
produce and deliver quality products or services to existing or new customers in smooth manner.
M3. Ways through which leaders and managers can improve efficiencies of operational
management to successfully meet business objectives.
Managers and leaders of selected business adopts various approaches for improving
efficiencies of operational management in order to successfully meet objectives. Both managers
and leaders collectively delegate authorities and responsibilities with employees and empower
them to take day to day decisions in order to get innovation methods to complete operations in
smooth manner (Song and Parola, 2015). They both provide guidances and direction top all level
of workforce in order to get desired performances. Leaders prepares reports, provides training
along with development programmes and managers analyses all reports and accordingly
formulate plans and actions in order to achieve objectives in smooth, effective manner.
TASK 4
P6. Factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management and
decision-making by leaders and managers.
PESTEL analysis is used by organisations to analyse factors within business environment
which impacts on performances, operations management along with decision making. Morrisons
uses such tool for carefully analysing external factors which impacts performances and decision
making. PESTEL analysis is as follows:
Political: Morrisons is operating its business in multinational countries (Uhl and
Gollenia, 2016). It involves factors related to tax rate, legislations, political stability, corruption
levels, Intellectual property protection, anti-trust laws in relation to retail industry, industrial
safety regulations and so on. Change in one factor impacts operational management at great level
along with hampering decision-making by leaders and managers.
Economic: Macro economic factors as well as micro economic factors determines the
level of aggregate demand as well as investments in any economy. It involves factors related to
stability of economic system, government intervention, inflation rate, infrastructure quality,
foreign exchange rate, economic growth rate, education level of workforce, business cycle stage
and many more. All these factors have direct impact on retail industry and effective decisions are
taken by managers or leaders by considering the implications of each factor towards business.
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Social: Social factors includes attitudes, culture, leisure interests, hierarchy structure,
education standard, entrepreneurial spirit, class structure and population skill level. All these
factors are considered at the time of framing critical decisions for the betterment of organisation.
But due to dynamic environment it is not possible for managers or leaders to accurate make
predictions related to future operations. Thus, all these factors impacts operations management
and decision making.
Technological: Morrisons uses several technological mediums to cater its products or
services as per customers demands. Factors related to recent technological developments, value
chain structure impact, technological diffusion rate, impact of technology on product offering
are all related to technology (Fagel, 2016). Managers along with leaders makes decisions to use
latest technologies in the management, production as well as delivering of products to clients on
time for providing quality products. Failure or obsolete technology have great impact on
operational management as well as decision making.
Environmental: In order to enter into new market or providing new products to existing
customers several environmental factors are needed to be considered in appropriate manner.
Factors related to weather, recycling, attitudes toward ecological products, waste management
are carefully considered as they leaves huge impact such as frequent changes in weather results
in impacting on decision making on weather conditions and it requires evaluation of standards to
frame further decisions.
Legal: Managers along with leaders of Morrisons carefully records all the legislations
and performs the operations as per the laws governed by UK authorities. It involves certain laws
which do not impact more on operational management as well as decision making. Selected
business follows all the laws and frame decisions in order to attain objectives or profits.
M4. Different factors which affects business environment and wider community.
There are various factors which impacts business environment as well as wider
community. PESTEL analysis tool is used by Morrisons in order to evaluate the impact of
factors. Factors related to political, economical, social, technological, environmental and legal
factors helps the business to improve and manage its operations (Wild, 2017). They also results
in direct impact towards sustainability at marketplace. For instance, any changes in regulations
or operations practised by Morrisons will result in either positive or negative impact in the
community. Hence, it is very essential for managers to carefully analyse each factor at the time
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