Business Report: Sainsbury's Management, Culture, and Recommendations

This report offers a comprehensive analysis of Sainsbury's, a major UK-based multinational retail corporation, exploring its historical context and current standing in the competitive market. It delves into Sainsbury's vision, leadership styles, and management practices, examining how these elements are influenced by organizational culture, including an application of Hofstede's cultural dimensions. The report investigates the intricate relationship between management style and culture, and how they impact various business functions and strategies. Furthermore, it provides actionable recommendations aimed at improving the organizational situation and enhancing overall productivity and growth. The report concludes with a synthesis of the findings, emphasizing the significance of aligning leadership, culture, and strategic initiatives for sustained success in the retail sector.

Context of business

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................................3
1. Summary and history of the selected business ...........................................................................3
2. Discuss vision, leadership style, management practices and organisational culture using
theories of chosen enterprise. ..........................................................................................................3
3. Examine how management style and culture affect business functions & strategies..................6
4. Provide recommendations to improve organisational situation...................................................6
CONCLUSION....................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES.....................................................................................................................................9
Books & Journal:.............................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
In market, competition is rising at rapid level and business sector is growing as well as
developing. Retailing is one of the most successful business as compared to other businesses. New
products and services are introduced by organisation to survive in this competitive era. Sainsbury,
which is multinational corporation headquartered in UK. It is the largest supermarket and grocery
chain and provides variety of products. This report includes history and summary of business,
vision, leadership style, management practices & organisational culture, influence of firm culture
and management style affect business function as well as strategies and further recommendations
over leadership style and strategies to the chosen company.
1. Summary and history of the selected business
Retailing refers to buying and purchasing of goods from business to end users. In this
business two way communication is important and it is done through all the activities of business
from purchasing to after sale service. Earlier barter system was used as retailing process in which
goods and services were exchanged for the other goods & products. Nowadays, money is the key
factor in the retailing process and business is carried out in proper manner. In retailing, there are
many different types of sectors such as department, e- retailer and with help of distribution channels
functions as well as operations are carried out. This is time consuming process in which retailer
help manufacturer to deliver their goods as well as services to the end users or consumers.
Evolution of retailing has changed the periodically and environment is changing accordingly.
Sainsbury provide its customers with total satisfaction and is dealing with its competitors in
appropriate manner (Hagberg, 2016).
Rationale of the selected business- There are various types of business and which are able
to produce profit and revenue. Reason for choosing the selected business is that in retailing,
entrepreneur is able to help customers and solve their problems and provide them with quality of
goods as well as products. Moreover, it also helps in dealing with different people and maintaining
relation amongst the society. It assists in facing challenges and threats and to explore new
opportunities in the market (Banerjee, 2017).
2. Discuss vision, leadership style, management practices and organisational culture using theories
of chosen enterprise.
Vision

In organisation it is important to analyse the business and its impact on economy and on
firm. Entrepreneur use various marketing concepts, theories and strategies to run the business
smoothly and effectively. It is also essential that mission and vision of entity needs to be clear so
that goals as well as objectives are achieved properly. Decision making is done in effective manner
and which results in positive outcomes. So, main vision of Sainsbury is to be the global leader in
retailing business. Employees, staff members, mangers and leaders are well organised and perform
their roles as well as responsibilities so that vision is achieved within time period. (Ramanathan,
2017).
Leadership Style
Further comes the leadership styles in which leaders and managers play vital role. In relation
with Sainsbury, numbers of department units are there such as finance and audit, marketing and
sales department etc. Manager of the company choose leadership styles according to which results
are achieved in positive manner. So, in chosen firm leaders follow participative leadership style in
which when decision making is done every individual point of view are considered in enterprise.
Management practices and organisational culture
In business, it is crucial to analyse the progress and performance level of firm so that weaker
and stronger spots are examined carefully. To analyse this, leaders as well as manager of entity use
several management practices so that objectives and tasks are achieved in efficient manner. Certain
practices are used by Sainsbury which are mentioned below-
 Commitment- This practice is used by firm within the management so that every
individual in firm is committed and dedicated towards their work and responsibility. For
example- targets given to employees and staff members are completed by them within a
specified time period (Sánchez, 2020).
 Regular updates- Another practice used by Sainsbury is that HR manager of entity always
provide both management and employees with regular updated information and meetings.
This assist them in aware and update about change or new events.
 Reward Effort- In enterprise, performance level of both business and personnel are
analysed and examined. Sainsbury use this management practice so that contribution given
by every individual is being recognized and reward or appraisal is given to the subordinates
for their work. This leads to motivation and high morale of employees.
Organisational Culture-
Business environment and culture are important part of business. Organisation culture is

important because different types of people are involved in firm and it includes the value, belief,
etc. In context to Sainsbury, to fill the gap and analyse different culture firm adopts Hofstede’s
cultural dimensions and which is discussed below-
 Power- This states about the power distribution amongst the people or society. In this,
people with less power accept the un-equality of distribution power whereas people with
high power fights for their rights and do not accept the un-equality. In relevance with
Sainsbury, power culture is managed and maintained by superior and authority of power is
assigned accordingly.
 Individualism- In this, individual in firm take care about themselves and self-interest only.
Whereas collectivism in which individual think about group of people or other members
which leads to positive environment amongst the society. In relation with Sainsbury, both
individualism as well as collectivism culture revolves around the business (Carvalho, 2019).
 Masculinity- This depicts following factors such as heroism, kindness, achievement,
rewards, appraisal etc. In this, priority of values and beliefs are considered and accordingly
situations are handled and managed. Whereas femininity includes factors like providing
quality of life, helping weak people etc. In context to Sainsbury, they adopt masculinity
culture because main motive is enhancing and expanding the business at wider and broader
level.
 Uncertainty Avoidance- In this, degree of dimension describe about people perception and
behaviour about risk, uncertainty and problems. High uncertainty avoidance firm follow
proper rules and regulation and work under government consideration. Low uncertainty
avoidance entities are flexible in nature and deals with uncertain situations without
disrupting the business environment. So, Sainsbury adopts high uncertainty avoidance
because of competition in market.
 Time orientation- This dimension depicts that information and necessary links are
maintained and managed for future concern, growth and development. Firm with low score
in this culture keep the credentials change and adjust themselves accordance with time.
Whereas entities with high focus in dimensions use both traditional and modern information.
In relation with Sainsbury, they adopts high score time orientation culture because they are
future oriented and work accordingly (Jocevski, 2019).
 Indulgence- This refers to when people in society enjoy life such as basic needs and
demands are fulfilled in proper manner. Other one is restraint in which control over desire &
needs is strong. Sainsbury adopts indulgence culture so that employees are able to perform

in efficient manner.
3. Examine how management style and culture affect business functions & strategies
In organisation, management style and culture affect the business at broader level. Because
they are the ways through which goals and objectives are achieved in proper manner. Culture is
important for each and every individual in because stability of both subordinates as well as business
depends upon the type of culture that company possess. So, to Hofstede’s model is used in the
above paragraph to understand the various cultures in firm. Entrepreneur use this model so that
conflicts do not occur between personnel. Management style is also essential so that leaders and
managers are able to handle members in the corporation appropriately. So, Sainsbury mangers use
participative style so that decision making is done properly and by involving everyone in firm.
Impact-
 Management style assist firm to deliver the outcome and result within a given period time.
In relation with Sainsbury, HR manager of organisation make ensures that a right style is
adopted and resources are used accordingly (Perera, 2020).
 Culture play vital role in business and it is not easy to understand and use culture as business
strategy. Sainsbury use the model and theories to adopt culture in appropriate manner.
 Success and failure of business depends upon organisational culture so market research is to
be done properly so that goals as well as objectives are achieved. Thus, Sainsbury maintain
a positive relationship with people and employees so that obstacles/ hurdles do not arise.
 Furthermore, output of functions and strategies of business also rely upon management
styles & culture because they both drive personnel and increases motivation/ morale of
employee.
 Also, management style decides the way of work and how functions in business will be
carried out and culture depicts shows acceptance as well as rejection of strategies by
employees. In relevance with Sainsbury, they use both these factors in proper manner so that
balance is maintained at workplace (Rispens, 2020).
After a brief analysis of above matter it is analysed that management style and culture has
deep impact on firm productivity and growth. So, HR manager of the firm make ensures that
startegies and tactics are used accordingly.
4. Provide recommendations to improve organisational situation
Organisation use marketing concepts, theories, practices, leadership style etc. on by

conducting and analysing proper market research. Thus, Sainsbury’s use marketing and concepts so
that business functions, operations and activities are carried out without any hurdles. So, in the
present research it is analysed that various practices, models and strategies has been used for
success, growth and overall development. So, here are some recommendations which will assist
firm in improving productivity at higher level-
 High level of expertise and knowledge is required while applying marketing and
management concepts so that business is able to perform effectively.
 Firm should higher new personnel and improve the environment if business which leads to
continuity of business for longer period of time.
 Moreover, new ideas and thoughts should be generated so that changes in firm are done
whenever needed as well as required. Sainsbury while doing this can introduce new
programmes in organisation as well as outside the enterprise (Myers, 2019).
 Further, brainstorming and group discussion should be implemented weekly or regularly so
that performance and progress level of business is examined and known to everyone.
 Also, HR manager of Sainsbury should be aware about market trends and situation so that
planning is done in effective way. In relation with chosen firm, updates are given to HR time
to time so that measures are taken for future perspective. Hence, effective measures are to be
taken so that issues and problems are solved in proper manner (Abubakar, 2019).

CONCLUSION
After a brief analysis of above report, it is concluded that retailing is one of the most
successful business from others and also competition within business is rising at rapid level. To
achieve the success, growth and development it is important that firm to have vision and mission
which they need to achieve. Thus, leadership style and culture help the enterprise to maintain and
manage employees so that assigned tasks and objectives are fulfilled within a period of time.
Functions and strategies are affected by these factors and to analyse them Hostede’s culture &
leadership styles have been discussed so that path is clear and every operations as well as activities
work smoothly.

REFERENCES
Books & Journal:
Hagberg, 2016. The digitalization of retailing: an exploratory framework.International Journal of
Retail & Distribution Management,44(7), pp.694-712.
Banerjee, 2017. Retail supply chain management practices in India: A business intelligence
perspective.Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services,34, pp.248-259.
Ramanathan, 2017. Adoption of business analytics and impact on performance: a qualitative study
in retail.Production Planning & Control,28(11-12), pp.985-998.
Sánchez, 2020. Professional Aspirations as Indicators of Responsible Leadership Style and
Corporate Social Responsibility. Are We Training the Responsible Managers that Business
and Society Need? A Cross-national Study.Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology.
Carvalho, 2019. Operational excellence, organisational culture and agility: the missing link?.Total
Quality Management & Business Excellence,30(13-14), pp.1495-1514.
Jocevski, 2019. Transitions towards omni-channel retailing strategies: a business model
perspective.International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management.
Perera, 2020.Fundamental Aspects of Operations and Global Supply Chain Management.
Nerdynaut.
Rispens, 2020. Conflict Management Style Asymmetry in Short-Term Project Groups.Small Group
Research, p.1046496419894637.
Myers, 2019.Qualitative research in business and management. Sage Publications Limited.
Abubakar, 2019. Knowledge management, decision-making style and organizational
performance.Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 4(2), pp.104-114.