Strategic Operations Management: A Contemporary Issue Analysis

This report critically examines contemporary issues within strategic operations management, focusing on the importance of sustainability. The analysis uses Tesco as a case study to illustrate how sustainability impacts operational efficiency, brand reputation, and competitive advantage. The report argues for the necessity of integrating sustainability into operational strategies to reduce waste, increase profitability, and attract investors and customers. It discusses the arguments in favor of sustainability, including its role in defining a company's societal contribution, reducing waste, and increasing profitability. The report also highlights the importance of legal compliance and the role of sustainability in enhancing a company's brand image and market share. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of attracting customers and investors through sustainable practices. The report is supported by academic literature and aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject.

Critically discuss a contemporary issue in strategic operations management

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY.............................................................................................................................4
ARGUMENTS.......................................................................................................................4
INDUSTRY REVIEW...........................................................................................................9
Case studies in relation to TESCO.......................................................................................10
Drivers/ enablers / applications/ uses /limitations................................................................11
Interventions.........................................................................................................................12
Demonstrate how the theory maps across in practice..........................................................13
CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................15
REFERENCES.........................................................................................................................16
Books and Journals...............................................................................................................16

INTRODUCTION
Strategic operations management is considered as a process in which the business
focuses on managing all functions as well as operations in relation to manufacturing,
scheming, monitoring as well as improving the products and services. In other words, the
entity emphasised on handling the different function and operation in order to improve high
quality of goods and services. This report is carried upon the company named as TESCO. It is
the multinational chain of supermarket which is located in UK. This company was founded
by Jack Cohen in the year of 1919. They offer superior quality products as well as services to
its customer at affordable cost. It is necessary to maintain sustainable operations
management in order to follow the policies, procedures as well as system in order to conduct
organisational structure at broad level. In addition to this, it generates as well as delivers
finished goods that are profitable from point of view of business organisation. But there is an
issue arises due to sustainability. They do not follow the procedure, policies as well as system
in an effective manner (Kolb, Fröhlich and Schmidpeter, 2017). It reduces the profitability as
well as productivity level within business organisation. These issues directly affect the brand
image and reputation of business organisation. Apart from this, it is necessary for company to
provide superior quality products and services to its customer in order to satisfy them. If they
do not follow the procedure effectively then it adversely affects productivity of organisation.
Beside form this, it is vital for company to maintain sustainability for increasing sales and
profit in future period of time. The company focuses on managing sustainability in order to
delivery output for earning profit in upcoming period of time. Therefore, the company
focuses on offering high quality products and services to its customer in order to satisfy them.
In this report, the main purpose is to provide effective goods and protecting the environment
at workplace. The primal objective of company is to ensure high quality product that do not
harm the environment. Apart from this, it is necessary to provide protection to its
environment for their survival and maintenance at marketplace (Wu, 2016).
The main objective behind this report is that identifying the sustainability and its
importance to operation management within the organisation for increasing profitability as
well as productivity of different operation functions performed by organisation. The main
objective behind bringing sustainability within the organisation is to improve the brand image
and competitive advantage within the market as well as increased productivity by reducing
the cost and attracting employees as well as investor towards the organisation with increasing

the ability of business to comply with regulations. These all can be achieved with the help of
bringing sustainability within the operational management of organisation. This essay will
cover identification and importance of sustainability within the operation management of an
organisation. Disable conducted on Tesco where the ideas of sustainability in operation
management will be generated for increasing the profitability and productivity within the
organisation. This essay also discuss the importance of sustainability as well as arguments in
favour of bringing sustainability as a critical issue within the operation management for
increasing the performance of organisation as well as managing the operations for better
profitability (Spige and Harrison, 2018).
The arguments which are in favour of sustainability will also be covered in this as a
some of the arguments are sustainability bring ability in the business where organisation can
define its role in the society as well as contribute to the society in return of the resources used
by firm. Sustainability also help in reducing the wastage within the firm as it become the
legal liability of the organisation to return the favour to the society where it can use the
resources of society so it is also liability of organisation to decrease the waste is within it.
Sustainability always lead to increase profit of the organisation, this also help organisation in
making shareholders happy because of increase profit and dividend. The company who
follows sustainability in its strategic operation management will also lead to become a great
brand and a competitive advantage firm within the market which also increase its market
share as well as attract various customers and investor toward the firm (Primdahl and
Kristensen, 2016).
MAIN BODY
ARGUMENTS
As per the opinion of (Bratton, J. and Gold, J., 2017), it is necessary to bring
sustainability within business organisation. The main purpose is to reduce wastage in order to
earn more and more profit at marketplace. In addition to this the manager focuses on taking
effective decision in order to eliminate waste. The main purpose is to offer eco-friendly
products and services to its customer in order to provide contribution towards the safety and
security of people live in the society. Apart from this, they focus in increasing efficiency as
well as level of productivity within organisation. They protect the environment and to
contribute their efforts towards safety as well as security of an individual person of society.

And also, they put their efforts in reducing the wastage which arises during the production
process of business organisation. Therefore, the top management emphasised on taking
effective decision related to providing goods and services to its customer in order to retain
them for a longer period of time. They also make optimum utilization of resources for
eliminating wastage in the society. In addition to this, it is the responsibility of higher
authority of firm to give their contribution to society by giving them safety as well as security
at workplace. It helps them in increasing profitability level in future period of time. In other
words, it has been stated that, it is the legal liability of business organisation to give benefit to
society for using their resources in production process. The business use the resources of
society in return they offer them benefits which will be beneficial for company in upcoming
period of time. The management team take effective decision in relation to protecting the
environment and give advantageous to the society at marketplace. In addition to this, they
eliminate wastage and increases standard of living of an individual person of society. The
main aim of firm is welfare of society in order to enhance their living standard at workplace.
They also focus on providing high quality products and services to the individual person for
maintenance and survival of people live in society. They also offer safety and security to the
people by protecting the environment. In addition to this, it is the duty of firm to offer high
quality products as well as services to its customer for retaining them for longer period of
time. They increase their efficiency as well as productivity level as well as eliminating
wastage at workplace. Therefore, it has been stated that the organisation increases their
productivity and level of efficiency in order to bring changes in the society. They provide
their full contribution towards welfare of persons living in the society. There is an issues
related to safety and security, it is also reduced by firm in order to satisfy the person living in
the society.
According to the point of view of (Arnold, E.C. and Boggs, K.U., 2019), it is
important for organisation to maintain sustainability in order to enhance profit in upcoming
period of time. Sustainability always lead to increase profit of the organisation, this also helps
them in making shareholders pleased because of increase profit and dividend. Due to
increase in profit, the shareholder get higher dividend and they provide their full efforts
towards society. It helps in expanding their business at global level. It helps them attracting
the investor towards products and services of business organisation. The main purpose is to
boost the profit in order to expand their company at international level. In addition to this, the
business firm emphasised on making optimum utilisation of resources in order to bring

sustainability at workplace. If the organisation can earn more and more profit they contribute
large part of their profits towards society. Apart from this, they make effective utilisation of
resources in order to bring sustainability within business organisation. In addition to this, due
to increase in profit expand business at global level. It helps in attracting investor towards
products and services of organisation. In order to earn more profit, the shareholder gets
higher dividend, and they also boost their business across the globe. It is the responsibility of
firm to bring sustainability within business organisation. They earn more and more profit in
order to make contribution towards the society. Apart from this, they focuses on maintain
optimum utilisation of resources towards the society. It helps them in increasing profit in
upcoming period of time. The main focuses of firm are to attract the customer towards
products and services of business organisation. It helps in retain them for a longer period of
time. It has been stated that, it is vital sustainability in order to earn more and more profit. It
the organisation gain more revenue they provide contribution towards society at workplace.
They also provide high quality products and services to its customer in order to earn more
and more profit within business organisation. Apart from this, it helps in attracting large
number of investor to invest in the company. It aid assistance to expand their business at
global level. Therefore, it is the duty of management team to earn profit as well as make their
entire efforts towards the individual person of society. The main purpose of firm is to earn
more and more profit by effective utilisation of resources within business organisation.
Therefore, it has been stated that sustainability is the reason of increase in profit in future
period of time. Thus through increasing level of profit, they easily maintain sustainability in
the organisation. They make effective contribution towards safety as well as security of
individual person of society. It helps them in increasing productivity as well as profitability
level in upcoming period of time.
According to the viewpoint of (Bendoly, E., 2016), it is vital to maintain sustainability
in order to increase brand image and reputation of company in front of customer at
marketplace. It also helps in achieving leading position within society. The primal focus of
business organisation is to attract large number of customer by provide superior quality
products and services to its customer at affordable cost. In addition to this, by bringing
sustainability within organisation, it helps firm in increases their brand value as well as
reputation in front of customer at marketplace. They want to attract large number of customer
towards products as well as services of business firm. Apart from this, the business firm
makes their contribution towards safety of individual person of society. This helps in

maintaining goodwill and reputation of company in the eyes of customer. The customer
attracts towards products and services which is provided by business firm. In addition to this,
the company who follows sustainability in its strategic operation management will also lead
to become a great brand and a competitive advantage firm within the market which also
increase its market share as well as attract various customers and investor toward the firm. It
also helps company in gaining competitive advantage over rival firm at marketplace. In order
to bring sustainability within strategic operations management helps in maintaining the brand
around the globe. For bringing sustainability in the business there are also number of rules
and regulation which performed by the organisation as well as some legal authorities to bring
the sustainability and fulfil the responsibilities of the organisation towards the society. Tesco
is the organisation which brings sustainability in its function by using number of projects,
company believes that fulfilling responsibility towards the society is an important part and
increases its ability for performing its responsibility towards the society in bringing the
sustainability within the These will directly benefited to the company it can increase its
market share by performing well. Increase market share will ultimately increase the brand
image of the organisation as people think that companies fulfilling it social responsibilities as
well as bring sustainability in context of society economy and culture of the area where the
organisation is working. This also helps the company in increasing the interest of investor in
the company because of increased productivity as well as proper use of sustainability within
the whole industry. So it can see that sustainability is an important part of organisation which
helps it in guiding and directing its behaviour as well as getting the maximum competitive
advantage by increasing market share within the target market.
According to the research made by (Proctor, T., 2018) sustainability bring ability in
the organisation where it can define its rules towards the society as well as contribute to the
society in the return of resources used by it. Author also stated that sustainability help in
increasing the abilities of the organisation. As, strategic operation management in an
organisation is directly related to the functions and resources provided by the society to firm.
For establishing a good and proper operational management within the firm it is important to
use the resources in a adequate manner. This directly impact on the ability of the organisation
to return the obligation of society where society provided resources to form for its production
and other functions. Author also states that a firm can increase its capabilities and behaviour
towards the society as it’s have to increase its productivity by reducing the cost and this is
only able because of the resources provided by society. Some of the major sources provided

by society are human resources which are the main part of every organisation for performing
its different function of operation management within the organisation or outside the
organisation. Because of this organisation become liable to pay back to the society for
increasing its brand image as well as maintaining the balance between the resources supplied
and output given to the society. This directly impact on the ability of the organisation to grant
its liability and obligations towards the society by fulfilling its corporate social
responsibilities as well as bringing sustainability within the marketplace. Sustainability is
directly related to the social welfare as well as economic impact of firms function in a
particular market. sofa increasing the sustainability level within the organisation from also
make sure that it will return the proper output which it generated by the use of resources
provided by society. Author also stated that it increase the phone's performance while
working on its different operations this directly lead to fulfil the organisation the
responsibilities and rules which it have to do in favour of society. For bringing sustainability
in the business there are also number of rules and regulation which performed by the
organisation as well as some legal authorities to bring the sustainability and fulfil the
responsibilities of the organisation towards the society. These rules are formed because of
non-compliant of the responsibilities by different organisations. Tesco is the organisation
which brings sustainability in its function by using number of projects, company believes that
fulfilling responsibility towards the society is an important part and increases its ability for
performing its responsibility towards the society in bringing the sustainability within the
organisation for fulfilment of social economic and cultural responsibility of the organisation.
Company also used to follow number of rules and regulations which are directly related to
the implementation of the arguments in favour of sustainability. Sustainability help the
organisation in maintaining its position in the market increases market share by attracting
number of customers by changing their mind-set toward the company as a social
organisation. Author also states that, company which is increasing its profit continuously will
also attract the attention of investor in it.
According to consideration made by(Shalley, C.E. and Gilson, L.L., 2017)
sustainability will increase the market share of the organisation by directing the various
customers and investor towards the firm. it is because if company follow the rule of
sustainability in its strategic operation management then there will be more chances that
company will increase its profits as well as productivity within the market as compared to its
competitor. These will directly benefited to the company it can increase its market share by

performing well. Increase market share will ultimately increase the brand image of the
organisation as people think that companies fulfilling it social responsibilities as well as bring
sustainability in context of society economy and culture of the area where the organisation is
working. This will change the mind-set of the customers towards the company and attract
more and more customer to the product of company. Income as it can see in the example of
Tesco where company promote itself as a sustainable organisation which follows the
sustainability within its operation management as well as other level of management. It is
directly impact on the brand image of the organisation as its share value is increasing
continuously with the increase market. Company started as a single store in UK and now it is
a biggest retailer in whole UK as well as existence with more than 10000 stores in global
world. Sustainability help the organisation in maintaining its position in the market increases
market share by attracting number of customers by changing their mind-set toward the
company as a social organisation. Author also states that, company which is increasing its
profit continuously will also attract the attention of investor in it. This is because companies
fulfilling its corporate social responsibility by making different other tools in use like global
supply network services public supply chain management as well as risk management within
the organisation. This also helps the company in increasing the interest of investor in the
company because of increased productivity as well as proper use of sustainability within the
whole industry. So it can see that sustainability is an important part of organisation which
helps it in guiding and directing its behaviour as well as getting the maximum competitive
advantage by increasing market share within the target market. It is also important for
attracting customers as well as investor toward the firm because a sustainable form can easily
operate its functions which increase the productivity and will attract investors as well as
customer throughout the firm because of speciality and a brand image which build by the
company in the market where it is working. It helps them in attracting large number of
customer and increases its market share. The main purpose of company is to bring
sustainability in order to earn more and more profit. It also helps in increasing brand image
and reputation of company in front of customer at marketplace. It increases efficiency as well
as productivity level within business organisation. It has been stated that, it is the
responsibility of firm is to bring sustainability by providing high quality products and
services to its customer. It helps them in retaining for longer period of time.

INDUSTRY REVIEW
Retail sector plays an important role within marketplace. The main purpose of this
industry is to provide products and services to its customer in order to earn more and more
profit. Apart from this, TESCO is one of the largest multinational chains of supermarket in
retail sector. And, it is the third biggest grocery retail sector which is located around the three
different countries named as Europe, USA as well as Asia. This company was founded by
Jack Cohen in the year of 1919 (Amankwah-Amoah, Osabutey and Egbetokun, 2018). This
company achieve leading position in retail industry. They offer superior quality products and
services to its buyer in order to satisfy them. Apart from this, TESCO has boosting by
increasing grouping of innovative stores, services related to retail sector in order to satisfy
need and wants of customer. They adopt latest technology for providing innovative products
as well as services as per the demands of customer at marketplace. Therefore, it has been
stated that, TESCO is well known company which is located in UK within retail sector. Their
main objective is to offer high quality products to its customer in order to retain them for
longer period of time. It helps in increasing brand image and reputation of business firm in
front of customer in the market.
Case studies in relation to TESCO
Case1
Tesco is an innovative company which is trading and retail market of UK, company
also seeking for sustainability in the market. This is because company have achieved all its
big priority and now it is time to achieve the sustainability within the organisation as it help
in highly competitive UK grocery market. For achieving this company has started one
institute which is also on a trial basis. This initiative includes the trial of removing 45 lines of
plastic factory fruit and vegetables in the water fold and Sweden extra stores it includes
apples bananas and avocados. it is easier and relative positive for company to reduce the
plastic for the items with the packaging is unnecessary and consumers are already assume to
purchasing some loose fruits and vegetables Fresh vegetables and fruits that have no need to
be packed in a plastic wrap also impact on their freshness as well as decrease the trust of
customers on the freshness of the product. Company identify that there is no need to be
wrapped fruits and vegetables with any plastic so it remove the idea and use the loose selling
of this product (Ravichandran, 2018).

Case2
Tesco also announced the trial with 10 stores in collaboration with recycling
technology to enable the consumer to recycle hard to recycle plastic chips packet and pet
food pouches. This also helps company to get the local council in favour of company where it
can increase the recycling of these items. This will also help company in increasing its market
share as well as getting down the other retailers by fulfilling the gap of recycling services.
The company major image is to reduce of plastic use within the organisation for helping the
environment as well as society. Plastic can be considered as a most concerned thing which is
directly related to the operations of sustainability within an organisation. Recycling plant will
incur huge amount of cost but company will recover this caused by adding some value to the
product, because company want to bring sustainability within eight which will also important
cost of the product. Recycling plant will also help company networking number of customers
towards it as the mind of people is shifting from cost incentive to nature incentive techniques
which will directly infection on the market of the company. Also use it company as a
promotional technique for promoting its product which will increase the profitability and
productivity within the organisation (Verbeke and Kano, 2016).
Case3
Plastic is a major problem in a society because it impact negatively on the
environment as well as increase the pollution within the nature. Plastic is non-biodegradable
element which can last for more than 10 lakh years without decomposing, this also negatively
on the environment because it is no productive use of plastic. There are number of problems
which are arise because of plastic human life and the use of plastic is continuously increasing
which also acting the bulk of plastic on earth. So Tesco decided to recycle reduce the use of
plastic at the workplace effective technique to bring sustainability within the organisation has
the use prediction and class use of plastic as recycling plastic will help the society in gaining
the reduction within the use of plastic as well as it also reduce the pollution element on the
earth. Plastic also act in climate change because of increased plastic there is increasing
continuously increasing pollution which directly impact on the increasing temperature of the
earth For controlling this Tesco stated an initiative which is related to functioning of firm,
ban on the plastic made cup sunglasses or disposable item from selling within the source of
Tesco. This is the great tab which is taken by the organisation to maintain sustainability
within the organisation as it will reduce the use of disposable plastic and other utensils of

plastic. Company also reduce the use of plastic in the packed food it journal use tin as a
substitute of plastic cans (Small, Shack lock and Marchant, 2018).
Drivers/ enablers / applications/ uses /limitations
Drivers
Key drivers within the sustainability of the Tesco are the manager and planning staff
of the organisation as well as the top level management of the company.CEO of Tesco
decided to increase the brand image of the firm as they can build trust with their customers
and retain them for longer period of time for this company thing that sustainability is the best
option which can be seen from above case study. Company use the sustainability for
increasing the brand image of the farmer and the key drivers of this plant are the use of the
firm to plan for the sustainability programs. The managers of the fern who executed the plant
according to the need of top level management as well as the employees and planets of the
organisation who supported the plan and make the necessary amendments when it is required
by the company for executing proper sustainability within the organisation and increasing the
name of company is product (Kalbach, 2016).
Applications
The company apply this concept to its various tools ware companies performing better
as well as company have achieve all its objective now it is turned to the company to return
the society what it take from it where it can execute number of functions which are related to
development of society (Sanders and Wood, 2019).
Limitations
There are some limitations of these places at the organisation which have to clearly
identified by the company these limitations are directly associated with implementation of
plans and policies. This is because it is not the end of the social responsibilities of
organisation as it has to work in future for fulfilling these responsibilities. It is also not
compulsory that this plan will be success in future. It will reduce the burden of social
responsibilities from the organisation (Nicholas, 2016).
Uses
The main uses of sustainability within the organisations are customers as well as
employees the organisation. Employees of the organisation will get the benefit of