Report: Managing Continuous Organisational Improvement at Morrisons

This report examines continuous organisational improvement strategies within Morrisons, a major UK supermarket chain. It delves into the features of organisational culture that foster continuous improvement, including risk-taking, innovation, and management support. The report explores various approaches to introducing and accepting change, such as education, communication, participation, and facilitation. Different methods for continuous quality improvement, including Six Sigma, Total Quality Management, Lean production, and Just-in-Time, are analyzed. The report also investigates the sources of information used by organisations to identify areas for improvement, emphasizing environmental audits and the role of big data in optimising retail operations and informing strategic decisions. Finally, the report outlines the changes required by Morrisons to achieve improvements, focusing on leadership styles, managerial roles, and the implementation of proposed changes.

Managing Continuous Organisational
Improvement

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Features of organisational culture that encourage and allow for continuous improvement..1
1.2 Approaches that facilitate the introduction and acceptance of change.............................2
1.3 Different approaches to continuous quality improvement...............................................2
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Sources of information used by organisations to help identify any improvements.........4
2.2 Big Data and its contribution to improvement strategies.................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................5
3.1 Changes required by Morrison organisation in order to achieve improvements..............5
3.2 Factors that created the need for change..........................................................................6
3.3 Plan will implement the proposed improvements...........................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10
.......................................................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Continuous improvement is an ongoing effort to improve services, products and process.
In the present time period, this concept is necessary to make goods and services unique and of
better quality. To develop this procedure at workplace, it is a duty of top management to evaluate
all process to search as well as eliminate all issues on continuous basis. This present report is
based on Morrisons company and it is fourth biggest chain of supermarkets in United Kingdom.
Under this, mentioned report will discuss about approaches which facilitate introduction and
also acceptance of change (Akgün and et. al., 2014). Sources of information that are used
through company help to determine any kinds of improvements which are required will be
mentioned in report.
TASK 1
1.1 Features of organisational culture that encourage and allow for continuous improvement
In today's competitive world, nature of business becomes more dynamic of every
organisation. As companies are used to keep changes in business on regular basis. Therefore, for
this process, they formulate different-different strategies in order to gain competition from
others. It includes niche marketing, product-mix policy, positioning strategy, cost leadership,
differentiation and more. Thus, in this regard, it is necessary for organisations to plan for
continuous change in business which helps in giving tough competition to rival companies.
Continuous improvement refers to method to assure that practices, processes and methods are
accurate and efficient. It is helpful in make changes in process, products and services. This type
of modification includes of innovations as well as incremental initiatives to attain the best
practices. It is necessary that objectives and expectations should be deployed to all stakeholders
in a clear manner. Giving an encouragement and executing incentive plan should aids in develop
better culture related to development on continuous basis. If the organisational culture will be
better then employees will focus towards the same (Basu, 2014). There are different features of
the organisational culture mention below that help in encourage for the continuous improvement:
Risk Taking and Innovation- It can be explained as extent and degree to which the staff
members are encouraged or motivated to take innovative steps as well as calculate risks. In order
to make changes or innovate the products, it is necessary for Morrisons to motivate its staff
members to make innovation in its products through continuous improvement.
1

Management Support- The support of manager is necessary in an organisation because
manager give the proper guidance and support to employees. It helps in enhance their motivation
level. If employees feel satisfied then they will focus more towards improvement in production.
1.2 Approaches that facilitate the introduction and acceptance of change
Changes are essential for every organisation which deals with transformation or transition
of aims, technologies and processes (Bhasin, 2012). Change can develop the positive or negative
impact on business. Before, implementing change at workplace it is necessary to management to
understand about the benefits of that change at workplace because every employee will not
comfortable to accept change in an easy manner. There are different approaches which facilitate
introduction and also acceptance of change given below:
Education and Communication- Before any kind of change, it is important to inform
employees with accurate information. Effective communication can supported through the
training as well as some other education forms. If Staff will have good understanding of reason
or objective of change then they will ready to corporative.
Participation and involvement- Through enhancing involvement of staff members or
provide them particular tasks, resistance to intended change in organisation can be minimized.
Through this, staff members will be loyal and also they will focus towards team work in order to
attaining the specific aims and objectives of company. They will give their more involvement in
any necessary activities of business.
Co-optation and manipulation- Morrison company use this method of change, when the
other are expensive and not workable. This approach is more effective to co- opt with the people
which are resisting change (Boer and et. al., 2017). With the help of communication, employees
are kept in control. In context to this, staff included in symbolic role at the time of change as well
as process of decision making.
Facilitation and Support- People which experience about adjustment of issue at the time
of process of change will be benefit from the supportive management. It is helpful in deal with
any fear at the time of transition period like when staff experience job loss, fear of transfer etc. in
order to remove these fares, company provide counselling and training to employees.
1.3 Different approaches to continuous quality improvement
Continuous quality improvement refers to management philosophy that Morrisons
company use to minimize wastage, enhance external and internal satisfaction and maximise
2

efficiency. It is ongoing procedure that examined firm to work as well as methods to make
improvement in its process (Botha, Kourie and Snyman, 2014). Different approaches of
continuous quality improvement are mention below:
Six Sigma- It is set of tools and techniques for process improvement. In order to
minimize defects, Morrisons company use this approach. Its main focus on improve quality of
output of process through determining as well as remove defects cause and reduce variability in
production process.
Total Quality Management- It is continuous process of detecting and minimizing errors
in production, improve consumers experience and streamlining the supply chain management. If
quality will improved then it helps in satisfy needs of customers in an effective manner. It is used
to make improvement in services and products through focus on process of company.
Lean production- The main focus of this approach is to reduce wastage and assure
quality of products in an organisation. It can applied to all necessary aspects of business from
design by manufacture to distribution. It helps in give the maximum output. In addition to this,
lean production consists efforts constantly to eliminate or reduce the wastage begin from process
of design to production, distribution of products.
(Source: Lean production,2018)
Just-in-time- Morrison use this approach to enhance effectiveness and reduce wastage
through receiving products for process of manufacturing (Calvo-Mora, Navarro-García and
3
Illustration 1: Lean production

Periañez-Cristobal, 2015). It is helpful in minimize the inventory cost in company. Its main
focus on eliminate inventory, product storage cost and raw materials.
Along with above mentioned methods, management of Morrison is required to focus on
other scientific methods of Continuous Quality Improvement also. It includes formation of a
team which includes some members of high skilled workforce. These members are required to be
familiar with particular process so that they can help in analysing problems and its root cause for
further modification. In this context, manager of team should formulate proper strategies and
solutions with some alternatives. For this purpose, they must build effective plans and collect
data which facilitate others in decision making to implement best alternative solution.
TASK 2
2.1 Sources of information used by organisations to help identify any improvements
Sources of information refer to thing, place or individual from which the information
arises and obtained. Morrison company operate its business in dynamic environment and in retail
sector, competition is enhancing. Change is necessary to improve the business activities as well
as process. Firms has to adopt and implement change in context to retain in competitive market.
Now change is continuous and permanent business feature for growth and survival. In context to
determine any kinds of improvements, Morrisons use Environment audits as sources of
information:
Environmental Audit- It provides effective sources of information that indicating
requirement of firm for respond the change in external environment (PESTLE). An environment
of company is sum- total of all events, influences and situations that affect business.
Environment problems are mention below:
Economic Environment- It includes of macro-level factors concerned to manufacturing
and distribution which affect on activities and performance of company (Clark, Silvester and
Knowles, 2013). Under this includes structure of capital market, financial institutions, fiscal
policies of government etc.
Socio-CulturalEnvironment- It comprise those factors which are concerned to human
relationship with society such as change in demographic, rise work ethics, alteration in socio-
cultural values and attitudes.
4

Technological- The competition is increasing in market so there is a requirement to
company to adopt the advanced technology. With increasing technology levels and competitions,
goods and services are in the better quality and in minimum cost.
Political and Legal Environment- Legislation and political process impact on
environmental regulations which an industry should comply. The political instability develops
negative impact on business. Legislation of government can have affect on performance level of
company.
These all are effective environment factors which help management of Morrisons in
determining the improvements in business in significant manner.
2.2 Big Data and its contribution to improvement strategies
Data refers to information of consumers, business and statistics which firm acquire. Big
data refers to data which are complex and measured computationally in order to reveal trends,
associations and patterns concerned to the human interactions and behaviour. It is cumulative
data sets that firm acquires as well as analyzes in context to reveal associations and trends which
can provide advantage to business. It explains large volume of structured and unstructured data.
Morrison use the big data to optimise performance of its retail activities and also online shops
(Conti, 2012). This firm keep track of what consumers purchase and do. In addition to big data,
necessary data is gathered, stored and also measured by different means which can use though
company to enhance its effectiveness and able to take the better decisions.
When data will be store at one place then in this case company will develop the strategies
in better manner. With out the proper data, company can not develop strategies. In context to
attain the targets, Morrison using the customer-product level costing strategies through big data.
If there will be need of any change in strategies then through big data, company can use the
necessary collected data accordingly. During improvement in organisational strategies, there are
some tools and techniques of Big data such as Cloud-Based Analytics and Hadoop bring cost
benefits to business because the large data is stored at one place and aids in determining the
effective ways to improving strategies which developed through top management. In context to
this, these both tools of big data helps in determine the new and better data sources and also
assess in taking the quick decisions (Fernandes, Ward and Araújo, 2015).
5

TASK 3
3.1 Changes required by Morrison in order to achieve improvements
When company proposed to execute the wide change then there is a requirement to
management to develop organisational process and systems for improvement purpose. Some
modifications may have introduced first in company so that new working ways is accepted and
‘change for improvement' is embedded and execute at workplace. In context to attain
improvements, there are some changes mention below which are needed through Morrison:
Leadership Style Supporting ‘Change for Improvement’- When the change is insert in
continuous improvement strategy, leaders plays necessary role in success of change in context to
influence workforce in developing, acceptance and embedding of change. Under this,
paternalistic and democratic leaders both are effective for leading necessary alteration as they
both motivate discussion between group members and also permit the participants to involve in
work based decisions.
Changes in Managerial Roles and Capabilities- Under this, top management develop
plan and guide manager to execute change. It is a responsibility of manager to communicate with
workforce on daily basis in order to supervise them to adopt the new working process on the
basis of introduced changes. As manager needs to supervise activities of ‘introducing change for
improvement’. It should have skills and abilities such as problem- solving, innovation, risk
taking etc. which are need to support continuous improvement in firm (Harris, 2013). On the
other hand, managers are given with required managerial and technical training for develop
given capabilities for roles & responsibilities:
 Guide or lead team members for change for improvement.
 Set targets and objectives for process.
 Motivate team members by incentives, work- appreciation etc.
 Listen suggestions and feedbacks.
Requirement of Equipment- For change execution, Morrison company has to set
communication system for the continuous interaction with the different stakeholders. In context
to established the computer based communication system, funds and manpower will be needed to
company.
6

3.2 Factors that created the need for change
In an organisation, change is inevitable and many business organisations facing changing
business environment (Hutchins, 2016). There are external and internal factors mention below
which develop need for change:
Internal factors- These factors impact on business operations from inside the business and
management can easily control them. Such kind of change is need because of two different
reasons such as deficiency in current organizational practices and managerial personnel.
Changes in managerial personnel- Besides changes in environment, there is alteration in
the managerial personnel. Existing managers are replaced through new that necessitated due to
transfer, retirement, dismissal etc. New managers bring with the new ideas and methods of
working in company.
To avoid developing inertia- In several cases, firm do the changes in order to neglect
inflexibility and developing inertia. Changes are to be incorporated and implement so that the
manager can create the liking for modifications and there are no inquired resistance when the
main alterations in firm are to be brought about.
Deficiency in current organization- Sometimes, alterations are required due to
inefficiencies in existing company. Deficiencies are in form of lack in co-ordination among
different departments (Malik, Sinha and Blumenfeld, 2012).
Nature of workforce- Over passage of time, workforce nature has changed. The various
work values are expressed through various generations. In context to young generations,
employees are loyal towards their career but on the other hand new generation of employees
have education and they emphasis on authority of managers and human values. Behaviour of
both generation has complex and also leading them for attaining the organisational aims.
External factors- These factors impact on business environment from outside the business and
company can not control all these factors. There are some external factors are given below:
Technology- If there is any change in the technology at work place and some other forms
adopt new technology, then in this case company should focus on the minimum cost and on its
competitive positions. New technology impacted on the working structure of Morrisons.
Social changes- These modifications reflect ion context to needs, method of working and
aspiration of people (McGeorge and Zou, 2012). These changes impact on behaviour of persons
7

in company. So, it is necessary to make some adjustment in working so that it can be match with
the people.
3.3 Plan will implement the proposed improvements
In order to execute proposed improvements or changes at work place, Morrisons
company develop an effective plan that is mention below:
Define Goals/Objectives: Under this, main goal is to implement the changes so that
productivity of company can be increased. The changes are in management and leadership styles,
improve communication, organisational culture and supportive management policies.
Schedule Milestones: In order to implement the improvements, company set a deadline.
The timeline is 4 to 6 months.
Allocate Resources: The necessary resources which will require to implement plan are
personnel, time and money. Collect required information and data helpful in better implement of
changes at workplace (McLean and Antony, 2014).
Designate Team Member Responsibilities: It is necessary that manager should assign the
roles to team members as per their capabilities
Define Metrics for Success: In context to measure the success, company use the
qualitative methods. It helps in provide the information in detail manner.
Evaluate Success: For defining metric for the success, manager will try to examine the
progress at the workplace. Through this, the plan for implement the change are to be taken place.
8

CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from above mention report that continuous organisational
improvement is helpful in making quality of services and products better. It helps in increasing
sales and profit of firm in an effective manner. In given report studied about various approaches
related to continuous quality improvement. Big data and its contribution to improvement
strategies which company develop has been discussed under this assignment.
9

REFERENCES
Books & Journals
Akgün, A. E. and et. al., 2014. The mediator role of learning capability and business
innovativeness between total quality management and financial performance.
International Journal of Production Research. 52(3). pp.888-901.
Basu, R., 2014. Managing quality in projects: An empirical study. International journal of
project management. 32(1). pp.178-187.
Bhasin, S., 2012. Performance of Lean in large organisations. Journal of Manufacturing systems.
31(3). pp.349-357.
Boer, H. and et. al., 2017. CI Changes from Suggestion Box to Organisational Learning:
Continuous Improvement in Europe and Australia: Continuous Improvement in Europe
and Australia. Routledge.
Botha, A., Kourie, D. and Snyman, R., 2014. Coping with continuous change in the business
environment: Knowledge management and knowledge management technology.
Elsevier.
Calvo-Mora, A., Navarro-García, A. and Periañez-Cristobal, R., 2015. Project to improve
knowledge management and key business results through the EFQM excellence
model.International Journal of Project Management. 33(8). pp.1638-1651.
Clark, D. M., Silvester, K. and Knowles, S., 2013. Lean management systems: creating a culture
of continuous quality improvement. Journal of clinical pathology, pp.jclinpath-2013.
Conti, T., 2012. Building total quality: A guide for management. Springer Science & Business
Media.
Fernandes, G., Ward, S. and Araújo, M., 2015. Improving and embedding project management
practice in organisations—A qualitative study. International Journal of Project
Management. 33(5). pp.1052-1067.
Harris, A., 2013. School Improvement: What's in it for Schools?. Routledge.
Hutchins, D., 2016. Hoshin Kanri: the strategic approach to continuous improvement.
Routledge.
Malik, A., Sinha, A. and Blumenfeld, S., 2012. Role of quality management capabilities in
developing market-based organisational learning capabilities: Case study evidence from
four Indian business process outsourcing firms. Industrial Marketing Management.
41(4). pp.639-648.
McGeorge, D. and Zou, P. X., 2012. Construction management: new directions. John Wiley &
Sons.
Online
From Strategy to Execution: How to Create a Sustainable, Repeatable Implementation Plan,
2018. [Online]. Available through: <https://www.smartsheet.com/implementation-
plan>./
10

11