Tesco: Leadership, Management Roles and Theories, and Situations

This report provides an analysis of leadership and management practices within Tesco, a global retail grocery firm. It begins by differentiating between the roles and responsibilities of leaders and managers, highlighting their distinct approaches to achieving organizational goals. The report then explores various leadership theories, including situational leadership and contingency leadership, and how these theories apply to different organizational situations, such as technological changes and employee turnover. The report emphasizes the importance of adapting leadership styles to specific contexts. Furthermore, the report examines key features of operation management and its significance in achieving organizational goals efficiently. It also touches upon the factors that influence operation management within Tesco, providing a comprehensive overview of leadership and management dynamics in a retail environment.

MANAGEMENT AND
OPERATIONS

INTRODUCTION
Operation management (OM) is the business practice that helps in raising performance of
business to great extent. Leaders and manager also various tactics and strategy for improving
organisation performance. Tesco is retail grocery firm which has many branches across the
world. Tesco was founded by the founder Jack Cohen in 1919. These report shows the
differentiate between characteristics and responsibilities of leader and manager. Further these
report goes on to explain the different theories and approaches which are used by the
organisation. Further these report goes on to explain the key features of the operation
management. Study highlights significance of OM in achieving organisational goal efficiently. In
the end report also shows the factor that influence operation management.
LO 1
P 1 compare the role of leaders and manager
Leaders: Leader influences the work of the subordinate by using different type of leadership style
and motivation tool. Leader coordinate the individual goal with the organisational goal to
achieve the goal efficiently. Leader generally motivate there follower to complete the task
(Khanna, 2015).
Manager: Manager are the one who manages all the function of the organisation. They supervise
the work of all the department in the organisation and also guide the employee of the department.
Manager work as an intermediator in between the senior authority and the employee or
subordinate in the organisation. Manager plays a vital role in day to decision making of the
organisation.
There are many different role and responsibility which are enjoyed by the leader and
manager of the Tesco.
Honesty: Leaders at Tesco always try to build a scene of transparency in the team so that
every employee works with a sole priority of achieving the organisational goal. It helps the
leader to build a good relationship among the team member. Manager at Tesco always tells the
truth and disclose the real position of the organisation which builds a good relationship among
different department and also in between senior authority and subordinate.
Communication: Leaders at Tesco always communicate with the subordinate to explain
the way by which teacher or professor in the class can increase the efficiency level of teaching
and always open a room for the subordinate to give their thoughts and idea. Manager at Tesco
3

communicate with both senior and subordinate before making the decision and also
communicate different strategy and policy in the different department to achieve the
organisational goal.
Role: Adair has given action centred leadership model, this model explains the various role
of leader in organisation. This theory explains three main responsibilities of a leader:
 Task achievement
 Managing team
 Managing individuals in organisation
Leader of company has to ensure that given task can be completed within stipulated period of
time. Individual has to utilise resources well and have to maintain over all performance.
Furthermore, leader is responsible for developing collective maturity and increasing freedom at
workplace for workers. Individual develop relationship with team members so that group
members support leader in every complex situation. Leaders also have to perform managerial
responsibilities such as individual has to empower employees and have to give them recognition
so that they feel motivated.
Role of manager: Managers are responsible for planning activities, organising it and controlling
the business operations. Mangers play significant role of director in business, as individual has to
give correct direction to the employees so that they can perform their job in significant manner.
Managers have to ensure making correct plan and control over progress so that enterprise can
accomplish its objectives successfully.
Leadership: Leaders of the Tesco provides a guidelines and strategy to the follower to
follow that for achieving the organisational goal efficiently and effectively. Manager of the
Tesco supervises the different department and guides or control them whenever manager feels
that something is going wrong in the organisation.
Decision making: Leaders are the one who helps the manager in making the decision as
they provide the information of the team to the manager but in the end decision taken by
manager is used to be followed by the leader in the organisation. Manager at Tesco plays a very
vital role in making the decision in the organisation. Manager selects the employee and divides
the work according to their skills and quality.
4

Focus: Leaders mainly focuses on the performance of the team and coordinate the work of
team with the goal of the team. Manager at Tesco focus on the performance of all the employee
and department and supervise the work of the organisation.
LO 2
P2 Different situations in organisation and role of leaders/ managers in such situations
Situation which are faced by the Tesco, Manager and leaders plays a very vital role in
facing that situation. Role of these persons in business situation are as follow:
Example 1: Technological changes: Change in the technique of performing task is a big
problem which generally has to be faced by the organisation in the retail industry as the
technique of serving to the customer expectation changes rapidly and the organisational has to
cope up with that technique as it helps the organisation in getting the competitive advantage in
the market. Resistance of employees is the major issues faced by business when it plans to
implement new technologies.
Leaders role and responsibility
As mention above technique used to change very rapidly, Leader at the organisation has
to adapt a new technique to be more proficient in their approach. Leader generally used to
motivate their follower to adapt the technique (Ravindran, 2016) and also explain them the
benefit of the technique and teach them about the technique and way to perform that in the
company store, leader also promotes the awareness about the technique and how it will be
helping them in understating and increase the effectiveness of themselves. Situation leadership
theory explains that leaders have to look upon the condition of business and according they have
to make changes in their leadership style. As company wants to make some changes which may
increase job insecurity among employees hence they resist from accepting such modifications. In
such condition leaders have to create friendly workplace environment where people may feel
happy and also leaders have to motivate them so that all workers can understand importance of
these change and they accept such technological changes in organisation.
Managers roles and responsibility
Manager at Tesco at the initial stage understand the problem which has to be faced by the
employee in (Radnor and et.al., 2015) adapting the new technique of serving the expectation and
then manager used to conduct the meeting and try to explain the solution of the problem which
5

are faced by the employee and also opens the room for the thoughts and innovative idea of the
individual to improve the understanding level of the new technique.
Example 2: increasing employee turnover: Employee turnaround is the situation when the
employee of the organisation left the job rapidly. These situations generally arise when the
employee of the organisation are not satisfied with the job or there is any conflict in the
organisation. If skilled people leave job, then it may create huge problem for companies because
it would be not be able to satisfy consumers and will not be able to compete in the market.
Contingency leadership theory explains that managers and leaders have to understand the actual
workplace situation and have to influence behaviour of employee by taking right action. If
workers are positive and if they have faith in the firm, then they will work for longer duration in
the enterprise.
Leader role and responsibility:
Leader of Tesco plays a very vital role in reducing the employee turnaround rate as leader
are the one which are so close to the employee so they try to address the conflict in the
organisation and resolve it. Leaders also motivates the employee in overcoming the problem
which is faced by the employee, which eventually makes the employee feel comfortable in the
organisation. Leaders have to create friendly workplace culture where individual can discuss
their personal and professional issues. Whereas leader has to build friendly relationship with
employees and have to guide them well. This will help in retaining staff in business for longer
duration.
Manager roles and responsibility:
Manager also plays a vital role as its manager responsibility to provide a good working
environment to the employee to work in and also manager supervised the work of the employee
and gives feedback to them, which send a message to the employee that their work are valued in
the organisation and they feel more comfortable to work in the organisation. Sometime manager
also rewards the employee for their extra ordinary performance (Rumble, 2019). Mangers have
to provide rewards and recognition to employees as per their needs. This will aid in gaining trust
of skilled people and retaining them in business for longer duration.
P3 Various theories of leadership
Situational leadership:
6

It highlights that leadership style is highly depended upon the situation of business. In this style
leader used to change their style depending upon the situation which is dealt by the organisation,
as explained in P2 organisation has too face many different situation and this type of style helps
the manager and leader to face that situation very comfortability.
Telling and Directing:
This is the leadership style in which leaders takes the decision and guides the team to work
according to that, (Reid and Sanders, 2015) generally this type of style leaders used to take part
in all the discussion and work in the organisation, which helps the leader to known the current
position of the work in the organisation.
Selling and coaching
In this type of style leader used to take participation in day to day activity of the business but the
end decision are taken by the leader of the team and the employee are supervised in a coaching
manner.
Participating and supporting
Participating and supporting is the leadership style in which Leaders of the Tesco provides the
responsibility to the employee and also provides the guidelines and leaders used to supervise
them and provide the feed back to the employee about the work completed by the employee.
System Leadership
leader always try to create an environment in the organisation where all the three level of
employee and authority can work together to increase the productivity of the organisation, This
type of style generally emphasis on the working behind the scene as compare to leading from the
front (Saucedo-Martínez and et.al 2018). These theory is specialised in leading all the
organisational work at once.
Contingency leadership
This type of leadership defines that there is no leadership style which is universally correct for all
the situation in the organisation. It helps the organisation to uncertain every problem in different
business situation.
Types of contingency theory are as follows:
Path goal theory
In this theory clear path for achieving the organisation goal has been set and leader uses different
leadership style and motivation tool to guide the employee to achieve the organisational goal.
7

Different styles are described as below:
Directive Leadership
In this leader clarifies the mind of the employee by providing them clear idea of
achieving the goal in this employee is clear of what to be done and how it is to be done.
Supportive Leadership
As the name suggest leader supports the employee by paying attention toward the needs and
requirement of the employee and try to full fill it as soon as possible.
Fielders contingency theory
It is same as the Contingency theory which also explains that leaders should be flexible to
change their leadership style depending on the situation of the business as there is no leadership
style which is universally correct for all the business situation.
Tesco is operating in many countries and have retail stores across the world. Company needs
to implement situational leadership style. As firm is facing issue of high staff turnover and many
times it has to suffer from high completion. If enterprise adopts this situational leadership theory,
then leaders and managers would be able to make changes in their pattern and they will be able
to lead people well in organisation. Leaders and managers have to sometimes behave hard if
people are taking their job lightly and sometimes they have to behave soft when people are
working in high pressure. Such fluctuation in leadership styles aid in managing and leading
employees well in the Tesco.
LO 3
P4 Approaches of OM and leader’s & manager’s role into it
Operation management is the road map of the success for the Tesco as it looks at both
efficiency and effectiveness of the business operation in the organisation. Leaning
manufacturing, just in time and total quality management are the three approach which is used by
the management in the Tesco. It helps the Tesco in maximum utilisation of the resources as it
helps the organisation in reducing the wastage and to use the best resource available for carry out
the task but operation management success is very well depend upon ole play by leader or
manager (Slack and Brandon-Jones, 2018).
TQM (Total quality management): Tesco is most successful organisation in the local market
and the reason behind it was a customer satisfaction, Tesco always try to take a feedback of the
employee and tries to implement the same change in the manufacturing process of the company.
8

Manager and leader at the organisation always influence and motivate the employee to take the
feedback of the customer which helps the business in getting the high quality product for the
customer. Manager also overlooks at the production activity of the organisation by scheduling
the production and the raw material for the production which helps the business in reducing the
wastage in the organisation.
Leader plays the role of motivator as whenever company make changes in its techniques
with the intention to improve quality resistance of workers get increased. In such condition
leaders motivate people and give them correct direction so that all people can implement
practices effectively. Furthermore, managers have to monitor the progress of plan and have to
ensure that standard quality products can be produced in business unit.
Just In Time(JIT): This is the approach which offers a continues and well organised work flow
to the employee to complete there task. In this approach the working plan are created and
evaluated carefully to get a better organisational result. Manager also supervise the work of the
employee and motivate or guide them to complete their work so that the quality of the work in
Tesco is maintain. Leader also tries to improve the performance of the employee by giving their
thoughts on the task and tries to accomplish the personal goal of the individual with the
organisational goal. JIT mainly influence on the 4 major principle that are Heijunka, kanban,
elimination of waste and task time. Leaders have to continuously work to improve business
operations by implementing innovative ideas whereas managers supervise work and control over
entire operations so that required quality goods and can be offered to consumers.
Lean six sigma is the approach which influences on increasing the productivity of the business
by reducing the wastage of the resources. So Tesco uses these approach as it saves the operating
cost that helps in raising productivity. Leaders at Tesco looks at the vision of the team at the
same time manager looks at reducing the wastage by proper scheduling of the raw material in the
organisation. Leaders focus on creativity and they ensure that resources can be utilised
effectively whereas managers monitor the cost and ensure that wastage can be minimised.
P5 Significance of OM in order to accomplish organisational goal
OM is essential element in business, Operation management helps the (Heizer and et.al.,
2017) business in improving the performance of the business by resolving the problem which
arises in the day to day operation of the business. Some of the key value of Tesco operation
management is as follow:
9

Resources utilization: Tesco operation management always looks at reducing cost by utilising
resources well. Management also avoids the blockage of finance and resources in the production.
Increase in the Revenue: Tesco management uses different type of operation management
approaches to increase the revenue of the business. These operation management approaches are
TQM, JIT, capacity management, as these approaches decrease the wastage of the resources and
productivity always increases the profitability of the business in a long run.
Waste management: Tesco management always emphasis on managing the waste of the
company, Tesco uses the six sigma lean manufacturing to reduce the wastage in the organisation
which helps the company in increasing productivity. Techniques used by the Tesco is Value
Stream Mapping, Ishikawa, and Poka-Yoke.
Customer Satisfaction Level: As explained above that Tesco always credit the customer for
gaining the first place in the domestic market. Operation management in the organisation always
emphasis on research and development procedure in which they first look at the needs and
requirement of the customer and then they try to satisfy that with the help of the company
product. Leaders and manager always motivate the employee in the organisation to increase the
sale of the company by satisfying the need of the customer.
Value of OM
Operation management is considered as valuable activity which aids in improving
controlling and distribution system of business unit. By using this approach company can
analyse effectiveness of resources and can control over wastage which assist in taking support of
right distribution system through which Tesco can manage its operations well.
OM is valuable practice which helps in in improving transformation of raw material by
this way Tesco can produce quality goods and can satisfy its consumers well. Tesco can recycle
its material and can contribute well in improving environmental condition by using effective
approaches of operation management. By this way firm can accomplish its goal of raising
production ability and increasing its brand image effectively. It alos aids in raising profit of
business to great extent.
P6. Factors that have impact on operation management and impact on decision making of leaders
and mangers.
Introduction
10

Operation management practices get influenced by many factors and all these elements
have significant impact on decisions of managers and leaders as well. These factors are business
ethics, culture, CSR etc.
Business Environment comprises internal as well as external factors of a business and the
manner in which they influence operation of a business. A business should regularly analyse the
factors so that proper decisions can be taken. For this process, environmental scanning is carried
out. Some factors included in business environment are culture, value, ethics, corporate social
responsibility and sustainability (Schwarz, Hall and Shibli, 2015). They directly influence a
company's performance and hence play a great role in its decision making.
Culture :- Culture is the beliefs, ideologies and practices that are practised by the employees in
an organisation. TESCO being the supermarket giant, exploits its human resource and the varied
culture they belong to in building an energetic environment maximizing their capabilities and
motivating them to work together. Managers task the employees as per their key expertise and
leaders ensure that they feel belonged to TESCO and learn to co -exist and respect other
employees. Culture is also used by TESCO to solve communication problems within the
organisation. In essence, TESCO is basically known because of its culture (Roles of leader and
manager, 2013)
Value :- Values act as a guide providing a perspective to organization as well as its employees.
Increase or addition in the value of an organisation increases the productivity of the company. At
TESCO, this value addition is what sets it apart from its other competitors and make them gain
an upper hand over their competitors. Their brilliant after sale services and the way they entertain
their loyal customers is what sets them apart and encourages its customers to join their family.
At TESCO, managers identify the areas in which value addition can be made and leaders make
sure that employees feel motivated towards achieving their goals and contribute with their
efforts.
Corporate Social Responsibility :- A company operates in a social setting i.e. in a society and
hence in lieu of the resources that it consumes, it should try to give back some of it to the society.
It includes the benefits (Akalin, Huang and Willems, 2016) and expectations of the society from
the company. TESCO carries out vast CSR activities. TESCO has created brand recognition and
has improved the goodwill of the company. Managers motivates their employees to participate in
11

various CSR activities carried out by TESCO and leaders try to manage the Quality Control
trying to increase vitality of the employees in the workplace.
Sustainability :- Organisation's sustainability is different from the financial sustainability. An
organisation should always use the resources keeping in mind that after them and apart from
them, resources are required by everyone. TESCO practices sustainability by ensuring that
growth is speedy as well as authentic. TESCO emphasizes on the fact that sustainability and CSR
are two different practices and practise different measures to carry them differently. Also,
TESCO does not treat Sustainability practices as a tool for advertisement but a genuine way of
achieving holistic growth.
CONCLUSION
Above study can be summarised as that different responsibility enjoyed by the leader and
manager in the organisation and they both play a very vital role in facing the different business
situation in the organisation. It was also summarised that Tesco also uses different type of
approaches to increase the performance of the business in the organisation and also the operation
management of the Tesco plays a very vital role in achieving the organisational goal very
efficiently. It has also been proved that there are step which are taken by the company to resolve
the problem of change in techniques and employee turnaround.
12

13

14

15

16