Understanding and Leading Change: M&S and Next Plc Report

This report provides an in-depth analysis of leading change within organizations, focusing on Marks & Spencer and Next Plc as case studies. It explores how changes impact organizational strategy and operations, examining both internal and external drivers of change and their effects on leadership, teams, and individual behaviors. The report evaluates measures to mitigate the negative impacts of change on organizational behavior, discusses barriers to change and their influence on leadership decision-making, and applies different leadership approaches to address change in various organizational contexts. The analysis considers political, economic, social, and technological factors, offering recommendations for effective change management using the PDCA model and other strategies to ensure organizational adaptability and success.

Understanding and
Leading Change

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Compare different organisational examples where there has been an impact of change on
an organisation’s strategy and operations...................................................................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
P2 Evaluate the ways in which internal and external drivers of change affect leadership, team
and individual behaviours within an organisation......................................................................3
P3 Evaluate measures that can be taken to minimise negative impacts of change on
organisational behaviour.............................................................................................................6
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
P4 Explain different barriers for change and determine how they influence leadership
decision-making in a given organisational context.....................................................................7
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................9
P5 Apply different leadership approaches to dealing with change in a range of organisational
contexts.......................................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Changes are the state of transmutation from individual or organisation current state. As
per the present dynamic surroundings of enterprise, changes is ineluctable and many factors can
impact company to transform their methods as well as practices of business (Bason, 2018). Also,
recent enterprise environments required firm of all sectors to be advancing, dynamic in respect of
Understanding and leading change. For this assignment, Marks & Spencer and Next Plc is
considered. Both are the British multinational retailer and operates in UK.
In this assignment, different example which has effect on change on their operations and
strategies. Manner at which external and internal change drivers impact team, individuals and
leadership behaviours. Assess measures which can be consider to reduce negative affect of
change upon organisational behaviour. Many barriers for modification and its influences on
leadership decision making. Application of different leadership approaches to deal with changes
are also explained in this assignment.
TASK 1
P1 Compare different organisational examples where there has been an impact of change on an
organisation’s strategy and operations
Now a days changes are considered as an essential attributes in order to compete into
competitive market area as well as to provide delighted experience to customer base. While
operating in various country with many types of products, company has to concentrate upon
requirements of large consumer base (Boyatzis and Cavanagh, 2018). In respect of Marks &
Spencer in its enterprise line government regulations and norms influence on its task as well as
process in negative way. Policies of United Kingdom market enforce few barriers which
adversely effect on its market share and level of profit. Also, there are several internal changes
which take place because of external factors and give wide impact on working of organisation
such as polices, rules and regulation, technology and so on. So, to compete into market firm has
to bring modification in operations and functions in respect of Marks & Spencer that can be
accomplished after comparing this with their rivals which are mentioned below:
Drivers Marks & Spencer Next Plc
Political As UK goes through a large political Also, Brexit effect UK retail
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events which is named as Brexit. By it
political situation of Marks & Spencer
are not stable because of that it face
many issues. Furthermore, changed
policies affect retail sector like Marks &
Spencer. Thus, few modification incur
its strategies and operations.
Strategies: Downfall in UK economy
give wide impact on the sale of their
products. Because they are using
premium pricing strategy which will not
be in affordance of customers any more.
Operations: Organisations with its
existing workforce has acquired new
staff to develop, manage as well as give
standard products and services to their
consumers.
industry. Various firm are
changed their operations for
modifying it into
opportunities. Next Plc have
effect this operation and
strategies are:
Strategies: To efficaciously
comply modifications and
driver, organisation is planning
to invest in retail sector due to
maximisation of popularity
within public.
Operations: Because of it
effects, company changes its
operation. It started including
GST in their products.
Environmental In present enterprise environment, their
are many ongoing concern in respect of
natural resources and environmental
protection within UK. Respective
country's government is concentrated on
protecting environment from damages
through business practices.
Strategies: Its strategy is to develop
environmental friendly and sustainable
products which do not harm the
surroundings.
Operations: It has impact its operation
as they are using such technology in
their operations which consumes less
Regular interest to preserve
natural resources as well as
environment are impacting
retail industry (Harris, Allsop
and Sparks, 2014).
Strategies: Company has to
adapt crucial procedures
presently in respect of
protecting natural resources
through inspiring owners to
utilise recyclable raw
materials. Moreover, it has
implemented system of waste
management for decreasing
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energy, chemical and water within
production procedure.
wastage.
Operations: Their operations
evident a changes as it assure
efficacious waste management
is organising events for its
staff in context of how to reuse
waste material and preserve its
environment.
TASK 2
P2 Evaluate the ways in which internal and external drivers of change affect leadership, team and
individual behaviours within an organisation
Driver are refers as the elements through which changes occurs in business operations. It
is a disruptive forces which shows in overall scenarios as well as it have many impact upon that
particular scenario (Holloway, 2015). This is characterised in two internal as well as external that
effect operations. Some of them are mentioned below:
Internal drivers:
Internal drivers of change are the forces which shows internal company as well as which
control and affect management of work area. Few internal drivers of Marks & Spencer are:
 Organisational culture: This includes attitudes, norms, behaviours of individuals as well
as group into job. Marks & Spencer organisational culture is focused towards flexible
working and positive work environment in order to maximise the level of productivity
and performance. Positive working surroundings is an essential factors which aids to
bring harmony in process as well as works of firm. For example: In Marks & Spencer,
organisational situations are adverse then individual feel stressed and team will not able
to perform effectively. Also, leaders have to change their strategies in such a way so that
all staff get influenced to work in that situations. Moreover, this bring changes in
individuals, group and leadership activities, behaviours and performance as each has to
know about its roles and accountabilities in that case.
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 Staff morale: This is known as the strength and confidence level of employees as well as
this is significant for company (Janfada and Beckett, 2018). For example: If in Marks &
Spencer, workers have low moral or are not focused towards job then this will affect their
functional activities. So, to cope up with this situations respective firm has to arrange
different events to motivate their employees. Some of the programmes are motivational,
training and so on. Therefore, leaders of Marks & Spencer have to do effectual planning
for developing staff morale through which productivity get maximised that leads towards
good team work and accomplish organisational goals. Leadership also have to boost the
staff, individual and team morales so that effective work can be performed and objective
can be accomplished.
External Drivers:
These are the situations which shows outside of firm and it can not be controlled by them,
it can make strategies accordingly. It aids company to perform their activities and functions
appropriately. Marks & Spencer external drivers are:
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 Political factors: It involves whole political components effecting a firm. Such as
political stability, norms as well as regulations that set through country's government.
Changes in political scenarios impact the organisational functions (Locke and Bailey,
2013). For example: Marks & Spencer and country has been effected through Brexit.
This will mostly change the political landscape of United Kingdom as well as
consequently effect operations of respective company within UK and Europe. Also,
sterling depreciation have reduced revenue besides affecting customer spending.
 Economic factors: This involves whole economic performance of country. Such as tax
rate, monetary policy and many more. For example: UK have experiences a huge
reduction in their economic environment. It can be evident from the fact, pound value
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Illustration 1: PEST Analysis
(Source: PEST Analysis. 2018)

have been low. Also, there have been a enhanced into unemployment and reduction in
economic development. Thus, with this external drivers company can low its costs, gives
employment opportunities etc. leaders has to communicate appropriately with person and
team as their salaries may pierced, it is a significant activity to ensure regularity in
positive behaviour of organisation. If economic situation changes then it will effect on
company' economy. It drive towards modification in behaviours of person and group.
Also, in case economic condition of organisation is poor then it will impact staff salary as
well s resources because of that its productivity get affected.
 Social factors: This factors includes consumer preferences, tastes and many more
(Lucas, 2015). For example: While a Marks & Spencer deals in various country it has to
do modification in its goods or services consequently so that it can provide standard
products to clients. In this situations, individuals demands new types of clothes and
another factors effects on its tastes. It force group, person and leadership to modify in its
behaviours and working style as it facilitates products as per customers demand so that
they can satisfy requirements of clients in effective way.
 Technology factors: This factors involves techniques as well as tools that maximise
productivity and provide advancement of life to each human beings. For example: Marks
& Spencer need to bring upgraded technologies for satisfying consumers requirements.
For instance, they can develop their online payment application so that clients do not
have to face issues like late or delays in payment etc. this saves cost of labour and time as
well. Moreover, this will effect persons and group behaviour as this many resist this
modification. So, leadership will assist them to change their behaviour and strategies
according to updated one as well as facilitate effectual training for adapting technologies.
P3 Evaluate measures that can be taken to minimise negative impacts of change on
organisational behaviour
There are many measures which is significant to be undertaken for decreasing negative
impact of change. These measures can assists organisation to opt process, techniques to
safeguard themselves from changes adverse affects (Paxton and Rodriguez, 2016). Also,
undertaking these measures can be profitable for firm to acquire competitive edge in enterprise.
Recommendation for planning:
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For decreasing adverse impact, Marks & Spencer can utilise PDCA model of change
management for maximising the positive effect. This is given below:
 Plan: Herein, Marks & Spencer can do strapping marketing research for examining all
market and determining efficacious opportunities for organisation. Then, firm will make
strategies to insure that these opportunities can be grab effectually. Thus, Marks &
Spencer can perform research as for changing political and technological scenarios as
well as making better strategies against this. As marketing investigation are carried out so
that behaviour of firm get affected as it has to formed strategies according to which
employers and staff have to perform.
 Do: Herein, Marks & Spencer measures that strategies. This is significant to properly
analyse efficaciousness of strategies against firm and its plans. For it, company make new
strategies to serve their products at low cost due to Brexit. It required to so assessment
through considering predictions and overall desired outcomes. Because of least cost
behaviours of Marks & Spencer get impacted positively and also by this it many acquire
high profit.
 Check: It is the stage that required Marks & Spencer to measure strategies appropriately
which firm planned to implement in regards of modification. For instance, company
have to compare its strategies current outcomes with expected one's for finding any
variation scope. Thus, in case standards of current outcomes are more than expectations
then organisation can move on with t heir pre planned strategy. However, deviated results
many be required through firm to modify their plans to meet desired standards. By this
behaviour of firm impacted as Marks & Spencer can identify action opportunities and
according to it they has to develop strategy and plans.
 Act: After efficaciousness determination, in this organisation will decide which plan has
to be enforced in future as per valuation. Thus, Marks & Spencer will be providing
training to its workers fro maximising the scope of strategies to be successful for
sustainable future. Such as Marks & Spencer corporate behaviour get impacted as plan
enforced in upcoming periods so it has to give training to staff as well as make strategies
for achieving it goals.
SWOT analysis:
Strength: Weaknesses:
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 Strong electronic commerce
infrastructure.
 Highly effectual corporate social
responsibility.
 Bad financial performance.
 Frequent products recalls leads towards
minimising clients confidence.
Opportunities:
 Redesigning its clothing segment.
 Online presence to bolster their market
position.
Threats:
 Modifying trends in clothing sectors.
 More competition into UK food
industry.
Most appropriate driver is internal as this shows the firm from outsides so that if any
complications occurs that can be resolved and controlled by management.
TASK 3
P4 Explain different barriers for change and determine how they influence leadership decision-
making in a given organisational context
There are various modification that are very difficult fro company to comply. Executing
change was tough for Marks & Spencer. Changes are essential for company to be executed.
While performing any modification, barriers comes in their way. This is significance for firm to
remove such barriers through strategic planning. So, some barriers faced by Marks & Spencer
are:
 Inappropriate communication: In appropriate area may become barriers to adapt
modifications. The elements for success of business is effective communication
(Ramachander and Rathore, 2013). While improper communication drives towards many
issues like conflicts among workers and impact on leaders decision taking. Moreover, it
hamper all environment of work and decrease growth of sales and productivity of Marks
& Spencer. To face this barriers, its leaders have to give accurate information about
modifications into activities which incur into firm. It also make positive work
environment as well as maximise profitability of respective company.
 Lack of accurate governance for transformational change: In effectual framework
may be the barriers to opt transformational change which is continuous modification this
shows a fundamental change in work culture, strategies and so on. For developing
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enterprise, Marks & Spencer properly states strategies as well as involving their staff in
all stage of change discussion which maximise their morale. With this organisation can
achieve pre determined goals in appropriate manner.
Force Field analysis:
This is considered as a model by which organisation can do valuation as well as study the
modification which happens in firm. It involves two forces driving and resisting forces. Both
forces are utilise through Marks & Spencer are:
Driving forces: This refers as changes into forces where there are modification into
clients demand. Their leaders has to develop strategies accordingly. Few Marks and Spencer
driving forces are: Consumer demands: Consumers always demand something innovative that is different
from another one and it can take advantage for the same (Rothwell and et.al, 2016). The
modification that Marks & Spencer wants to execute innovative and creative products.
As consumers always wish to utilise goods which is new so it also demand firm to
enforce that changes into firm. Thus, it is essential for leaders to make strategic decision
for changes in its organisation as per the client's demand so that it can facilitate them
standard and quality services easily.
 Profitability: In case modification is done them more number of clients are attracted
towards it which allows Marks & Spencer to gain more profit. Therefore, its leaders have
to focused to those activities which can changed in small time as this aids to grab
attention of consumers towards company.
Resisting forces: Few Marks & Spencer resisting forces of changes are: Cost: For developing innovative and new products as well as prodcutive workforce, it
required more capital which impact enterprise productivity and operations. This factors
limit company to identify competitive market and giving effective training to employees
which decrease thei sustainability within market area and at global environment.
 Less staff participation: This is that forces which restrain then back from achieving
profit efficaciously. When staff are not flexible to adapt changes then they can are not
able to accomplish task in effectual manner which create issues in accomplishing goals.
By it Marks & Spencer will has less staff engagement which impact enterprise growth in
negative manner.
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TASK 4
P5 Apply different leadership approaches to dealing with change in a range of organisational
contexts
Marks and Spencer manager can applied many approaches and change model to adapt
modification in proper way. Few of them are mentioned below:
 Autocratic leadership: This refers to a specific leadership approach in which decision
making authority lies by leader. They can make any kind of decision by their own
without consulting to their subordinates (Salman and Broten, 2017). Autocratic
leadership does not provoke to flexible environment thus, there can be few situations that
can support these type of leadership. In term of Marks and Spencer, if leader can adopt
such leadership style then it can help them in managing decision making by their own
within a limited time period. But these kind of leadership approach is required for some
changes because it reduces involvement of employees in decision making system of firm.
 Democratic leadership: It determine a positive leadership approach in which leader of
organisation take advise of their subordinates in order to make a effective decision. In it,
democratic leader holds a final responsibility of taking decision after identifying opinion
and view points of others. In respect of Marks and Spencer, leader of firm can adopt such
leadership approach because it assist fairness, courage, team work and employees
engagement in organisational activities. Such involvement of employees aid to motivate
them properly that impacts positively on their productivity and performance. For the
leader of Marks and Spencer it is required to adopt democratic leadership that aid in
creating positive working environment within the firm.
Marks & Spencer also used different change-management models so that it can adapt
modification in effectual way at its work area. Few of them are mentioned below:
 Fisher's Model: It is the model which depends upon the factors how staff of firm mange
changes in effectual way. For it, many steps are provided that is refers as a transition
phase model. But respect model is somehow in effectual as this is usually depends on few
assumption markers that leads to change. But in few company it is applied to perform
enterprise in appropriate way. Moreover, in this democratic style of leadership is utilise
to communicate into entire part of Fisher's model.
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