Report on Operations Management: M&S, Approaches, and Decision-Making

This report provides an in-depth analysis of operations management within the M&S company. It begins by outlining key approaches to operations management, including Total Quality Management (TQM), Just-in-Time, Six Sigma, Lean Production, and queuing theory, and examines the roles of leaders and managers within each approach. The report further explores the importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives, such as employee orientation, sales targets, and maintaining a positive brand reputation. It then evaluates how leaders and managers can improve operational efficiencies, emphasizing the use of TQM, Lean Production, and Six Sigma. Finally, the report identifies and discusses both internal (customer, employees) and external factors that influence the decision-making processes of leaders and managers at M&S, providing a comprehensive overview of the company's operational strategies.

Management and
Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................1
P4: Key approaches to operations management and role of leader and manger ........................1
P5: Importance and value of operations management in attaining business objectives..............3
M3: Evaluate how leaders and managers can improve efficiencies of operational management
.....................................................................................................................................................5
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................5
P6. Elements that affects decision-making process of leaders and managers.............................5
M4: Factors which affect business operations and decision making process.............................7
D2: Applications of operations management..............................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Management is one of the most reliable terms for every business which is held
responsible for coordinating all the activities that are performed within an organisation. It
consists of interlocking operations for creating corporate plans and strategies those are helpful
for attaining aims of M&S. This particular project report is prepared in relation with the key
approaches to operations management that assist M&S company during production process. Role
of leader and managers of company that plays into these approaches are mentioned positively
underneath this report. Apart from this, key importance and value of operations management in
attainment of business objectives are discussed nicely in this report. Likewise, various important
factors that are required to be taken into consideration before making any crucial decision are
done. Proper assessment of all the factors within an organisation that used to impacts operational
department or future decision-making is being explained effectively in this report (Bainton, and
et. al., 2011).
TASK 3
P4: Key approaches to operations management and role of leader and manger
Operations management is used to provide a valuable image of the production process of
M&S company. In the earlier period of time, there was a time when manufacturing is being done
using craft rules and domestic systems. By the modification in the technology, it has been
immense changes in manufacturing system. Nowadays, there is no any existence of manual
production, rather then the entire production which is done through using various tools and
machines. Management of operations of M&S is associated with the overall direction of their
technical and physical operations. Production, quality control and overall development
procedures that used to be maintain with the help of following essential methods or approaches.
It has been determined that operations management cannot get operated effectively without
taking into account best skills labour, creatively and latest technology. Basically, business must
be depend on outside factors of environment as well as important parts of wide system such as
any firms or organisation is related to community and economy system. Business used to play a
significant role in transforming inputs into outputs and exports all environmental aspects those
are related with the departments. This seems to be an effective model that is needed to get
increase and formulate by the motive of presenting appropriate model of business operations. It
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would assist in replacing different inputs by using managerial functions such as planning,
organising, staffing and providing appropriate direction to the ongoing operations. It is the role
of any profitable organisation to define an open system that is related with proper connection
among the enterprises and outside factors. There are certain key approaches of operation
management those are taken into account in functions of an organisation. As well as role of
leader and manager in this context is also analyse effectively. Some of them are discussed
underneath:
TOQ (Total quality management): This kind of approaches is used by management of
M&S on the basis of principles that every employees or member must be liable to maintain
higher standard in their work. The entire focus is made on the improving the overall quality of an
organisations outputs that consists of products and services. It can only be get effective in case
manager uses to analyse continuously about the department. It is kind of management practices
that is done through organisation which ensure that M&S need to consistently required to meet
out all customer need and desire (Incelli, 2013).
Just-in-Time approach: It has been found that most of the companies need to adopt one
of the effective method that can be responsible for resolving various problems that are related
with stocks. In order to control all the wastage that are related within an organisation can be
resolve by using this particular approaches. For the purpose of record necessary information
regarding stock of the M&S they need to make early planning for reducing stock costs. Such
kind of method would be effectively helpful for the producers that are accurately estimating
demand for coming time.
Six-sigma: It is considered as one of the effective data driven method that is used for
reducing defects in any given process. The major focus is given on the customer and determine
better understanding of works that gets done in effective manner.
Lean production approach: It used to take an effective account waste created through
reducing all the wastage that are done in order to unevenness in work load. It is considered as
one of the effective start up process that used to give maximum emphasizes on the business
model during a business plan.
Queuing theory: This seems to be one of the numerical analysis done with the motive to
determine overall length and waiting time to estimate future earning in near future time. It will
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assist users to make informed manufacturing decision on how to make efficient and cost
effective workflow system.
Types of approaches Role of leader Role of manager
TQM It is essential for the leader of
M&S to overseeing that, whether
production is going on right
direction as per the set
objectives.
Similarly, manager role is to
inform about overall output
collected from the products that
are produces during the time.
Just-in-Time To release end inventories first
those are kept with the company
for the very long period of time.
Manager need to arrange all
necessary information about total
opening and closing stock detail
that are available with M&S.
Lean production method Under this, leaders need to
considered certain ways for
sustaining and improving
employees performance.
The role of manager is lean
production is to understand
behaviour and attitude of
employees toward other and build
healthy relationship among them.
Continuous improvement The main role of leader is to
make determine, lead and
execute the Six-sigma method
with their production process.
They need to access effective
processes with the set up of
continuous improvement in
techniques for increase
performance optimization.
P5: Importance and value of operations management in attaining business objectives
According to the mentioned case study about M&S company which is best known for
their quality of products. They are considered as one of the leading UK stores market in various
nations. Operating the business as per the mentioned vision, mission and objectives can be done
in order to attain future benefits. There are certain key objectives that are followed by M&S
during their business operation (Johri, Salvi and Filipi, 2011). Some of them are mentioned
underneath;
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 Employee orientation: It is first and foremost important objectives that is associated
with higher expectation that are associated with the staffs that can contribute maximum to
M&S organisation. It is essential role of M&S to attract, motivate and retain higher
workforce to assist future transformation in the business.
 Sales objectives: M&S belief that they would have plenty of areas which is needed for
improvement that are affecting the total sales for the company.
 To maintain better reputation: The another important objective of M&S is to get all
their resources properly so that their goodwill can be enhanced. The overall management
of the resources can be done in proper manner so that they become more effective in front
of other.
Importance of operation management
 All those employees those are working with M&S is having adequate amount of wages,
job security and make improvement in the working condition so that they get satisfied
with their jobs.
 Suppliers can attain maximum confidence in administration and its skills can be
examining without any kind of delay.
 For the investors, they get proper security for their overall capital investment, market
return and positive image in the society.
 Proper utilisation of resources can be done in case they are using suitable amount of data
and capital during the time of production process (Karnani, 2011).
All the objectives that are mentioned in the above report would needed to be follow in
proper manner. Manager of M&S used to make use of different tools and techniques that are
related with TQM, lean production and other crucial aspects those are affecting the overall
growth and sustainability of the company. It is the primary role and responsibility of manager
and leader of M&S to make necessary arrangement so that certain value for organisation can be
created in near future time. Some of them are mentioned underneath:
Value to operation management
Benefits to employee orientation: Provide appropriate motivation and make employees feel
valued. At the same time, reduction to start-up time and cost can be more helpful to an
organisation.
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Benefits in case of increasing in total sales: The can lead to generated maximum profit as well
as higher market share for the M&S. As sales will be one of the primary sources of decision
making which will be effectively responsible for uplifting performance of the company.
Increase in goodwill: By having proper reputation in the market, M&S would be helpful to
reduce all risk associated with the customers during the time of buying products and services.
Provide accessibility to better quality employees to perform their job in effective manner.
M3: Evaluate how leaders and managers can improve efficiencies of operational management
Operation management is an effective coordination and culmination of basis business
undertaking that used to provide proper direction to the manger to perform their role effectively.
It is essential for the leader as well as manager to provide valuable information to their workers
so that better outcomes can be attain in near future time. The organisational efficiencies can be
enhanced in case all the decision made by the manager is fulfilled accordingly. By the help of
total quality management, lean production and six sigma method all these issues can be resolve
in proper manner. This will assist M&S to increase growth and future sustainability in coming
future (Introduction to Operations Management, 2017).
TASK 4
P6. Elements that affects decision-making process of leaders and managers
There are various factors that affects the decision-making of M & S that are as follows:
Internal factors: These factors are present in inside the enterprise and also affects its
effectiveness and performance. There are several internal factors that are as follows:
Customer: Consumers are the important factor of any organisation it is because it helps in carry
out its actives & operational so there is great impact on its sustainability and growth. M & S is
the leading international company which has great consumer base and they are loyal towards the
firm because company offer them good quality of products that are durable in nature and in
reasonable price that means affordable by every customer (Park and Jho, 2012).
Employees: M & S has large number of employees who are dedicated and experienced.
Company maintains good relations among its headquarter and stores. By providing proper
training program company develops the knowledge, skills and capabilities of new and existing
employees which results in enhancing their work efficiency.
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So, the operational team of M&S by providing different training and development programs to
make its employees more skilful and knowledgable which directly has impact on customer
satisfaction. These are the internal factors that affects the decision making of M & S, there some
external factors that also affects the organisation in negative or positive manner that are as
follows:
External factors: There are several factors that exists in outside the business that affects the
decision making process of manager and leader that are as follows:
Political factors: These are one of factor that are related to pressure which are developed by
legislative bodies and government that decision making and policies of M&S to a great level.
Factors involved in political factors are labour laws, environmental laws, trade restrictions and
various government policies. The political factors in UK has great effect on the performance of
company. This may impact on business conditions experience pressure (Shen and Benson, 2016).
Economical factors: There are various factors which includes in economical factors that are
cost, demand, profitability and price. This is the another factor that affects the decision making
process which is taken by leader and manager. There is recession period like other retailers M&S
was also affected by this which results in reducing its sales volumes by 30 % and this leads to
decrease in 1% of its profit.
Social factors: In this factors are involves such as age distribution, income level of consumers,
levels of education which largely affects its productivity and performance. M&S also fulfil its
CSR by donating returned cloths from customers and business surplus to several charity for
privileged children and disabled kids (SteurerMartinuzzi and Margula, 2012).
Technological factors: With increase in digitalization, M&S has improve its business actions by
adopting online method for selling their product or for retailing purpose via internet through its
online website or other social networking sites such as Instagram, you tube, Facebook, etc.
wherein customers can order their products and get various information or various schemes and
new product introduced and other various other information related to an organisation.
Legal factors: It is very essential factor for an organisation to keep their positive brand image at
market place. Legal factors are comprises with various legal issues such as minimum wage
policy, fair treatment legislation, discrimination and many more. For creating positive company
image in the market , firm have to apply all these legislation within their actions and operations
so staff member can easily execute their activities. Further, it is also important for an
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organisation to maintain different legal laws such as consumer laws, employment laws,
competition laws, health and safety law to create ethical work environment in M&S so they can
deliver quality product and services and satisfy existing customers and also grab attention for
new customers (Vale and et. al., 2013).
Environmental factors: There may be direct and indirect impact on organisation because of the
environmental factors. Company should make a proper process to keep the environment healthy
and safe. M&S take a initiative related to control and manage wastage which results in
elimination of operation carbon footprints of the company. Enterprise also works on green issues
and offer their product at affordable cost to their potential customers.
M4: Factors which affect business operations and decision making process
Aston Martin should operate their business activities effectively without facing any
problems relating to internal and external factors. It is required for company to follow all rules
and standards in order to perform efficiently. There are wide range of factors that do affect the
overall business operations and decision making process of an organisation, these includes macro
as well as micro environmental factors. Macro environmental factors includes political,
Economical, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental. These factors do have a direct
impact on the overall business growth and its dynamics. Other factors include micro
environmental, like suppliers, customers, employees etc.
D2: Applications of operations management
In order to ensure positive result of production process the operation management need to
focus on designing manufacturing process. If the operations will be managed it ensure higher
level of growth and productivity in the overall business. The aspects of operation management
can be a reduction in overall cost, proper management of various resources of the organisation
like employees, customers, suppliers etc. It is the duty of manager to apply operation
management function effectively within the business organisation. Aston Martin is making sure
that effective operation management technique is followed by the company in the longer run to
achieve operational excellence and competitive advantage (Operations management, 2017).
CONCLUSION
Thus, from the above report it can be concluded that operations of a company shall be
managed in a very crucial manner, because it plays a very important part in the overall
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development and growth of the organisational capabilities. Different factors affect the
organisation in different ways and it is essential to asses the impact of those factors on the
overall operations of the firm and how necessary strategies can be framed to overcome the issues
of inefficient operation management. A detailed discussion is carried out on the benefits and
drawbacks of operation management for the organisation.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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Cultural Property. 18(1). pp .81-110.
Incelli, E., 2013. Managing discourse in intercultural business email interactions: a case study of
a British and Italian business transaction. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural
Development. 34(6). pp.515-532.
Johri, R., Salvi, A. and Filipi, Z., 2011, January. Optimal energy management for a hybrid
vehicle using neuro-dynamic programming to consider transient engine operation. In
Proceedings of the 4th annual dynamic systems and control conference.
Karnani, A., 2011. CSR Stuck in a Logical Trap: A Response to Pietra Rivoli and Sandra
Waddock's “‘First They Ignore You…’: The Time-Context Dynamic and Corporate
Responsibility”. California Management Review. 53(2). pp.105-111.
Park, H.K. and Jho, H.D., 2012. The management of vertebral artery injury in anterior cervical
spine operation: a systematic review of published cases. European Spine Journal.
21(12). pp .2475-2485.
Shen, J. and Benson, J., 2016. When CSR is a social norm how socially responsible human
resource management affects employee work behavior. Journal of Management. 42(6).
pp.1723-1746.
Steurer, R., Martinuzzi, A. and Margula, S., 2012. Public policies on CSR in Europe: Themes,
instruments, and regional differences.Corporate Social Responsibility and
Environmental Management. 19(4). pp.206-227.
Vale, Z. and et. al., 2013. Distribution system operation supported by contextual energy resource
Vilela and et. al., 2014. The quest for sustainable polyesters–insights into the future. Polymer
Chemistry. 5(9). pp.3119-3141.
Online
Operations management. 2017. [Online]. Available through: <https://hbr.org/topic/operations-
management>.
Introduction to Operations Management. 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.coursera.org/learn/wharton-operations>.
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