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Assignment:
Developing Strategic Management and Leadership Skills



Course:
Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership



Organization:
Tesco PLC



Unit No. 1



Anis Ahmed Kasmani



Ref No:
CC000795



Certification:
I hereby certify that:
1) The content of this assignment is my own and original work
2) Most of the sources mentioned in this assignment have been reported accurately.
3) This Document is not submitted by any student before.
4) This Document is not submitted in a part of any educational purpose or
establishment

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TABLE OF CONTENT
Description Page No
Introduction----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
Task 1------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 6
* Describe strategic management and leadership and the link between them
* Examine how strategic decision are influenced by management and different leadership style
* Evaluate how different leadership styles are utilised in diverse situation.
Task 2------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 8
* Impact of selected theories of management and leadership have on organizational strategy
* Develop a Leadership Strategy that support organizational direction

Task 3------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8 14
* Using Suitable Methodologies evaluate current leadership needs
* Develop Planning for future scenarios demanding leadership
*Develop situation specific leadership skills need
* State utility of various methodologies in planning development of leadership skills.
References------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 15

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Introduction:
Tesco PLC is one of the leading global retail stores dealing in general merchandise and groceries
items. There headquarter situated in Chesnutt, Herts containing post code as EN8 9SL. Tesco PLC is
count as one of the third largest retail outlet holders in the world subject to the revenue and financial
report comparison. The First largest retail outlet with same category measure is Wal-Mart and second
one is Carrefour. Tesco PLC is operating in around 14 countries contain more than 2100 retail stores
with different categories i.e. Tesco, Tesco Extra and Tesco Express. The market share of Tesco in UK
is around 30% and known as the grocery market leader in Ireland, Thailand, Malaysia and United
Kingdom.
As far as the beginning ground is concern, Tesco PLC is founded by Jack Cohen in 1919 and started
first store in 1929, and the store location was Edgware and Burnt Oak. The name Tesco came into
existence when Cohen bought first tea shipment from T.E. Stockwell and he combines TES from that
name and CO from the first two alphabets from his surname. Tesco diversified and expand
geographically in few recent years as a rapid fire and now the position is Tesco is dealing in almost
everything includes books, clothings, electronic, fuel, applications, softwares, financial services,
telecommunications, Information Technology, NHS Doctors and now they are planning to open the
police station in Tesco Extra.
The reason of selecting this topic for my assignment is that it is one of the biggest and on growing
Britain based retail store and recognized as one of the best place for work or job. Tesco objectives for
employees are very clear and their expectations are transparent and realistic. At the same time they are
allowing their employees sort of freedom which give them personal touch and a reason to stick with
the organization and work with loyalty and efforts.

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Task 1 1.1:
Strategic Management:
Strategic management is the process or a system includes analysis, planning, organizing,
implementing and controlling. Good and realistic strategic management helps to achieve the targets
and business opportunities in a successful manner.
Leadership:
There are lot of definitions available to describe the leadership and its impossible to explain it in two
line or sentences. Leadership can be defined as a process by which an individual or a group of people
effected in a positive way towards organizational objectives.
Or
Leadership at its best can be defining as a process to inspire or motivate the staff members to achieve
the goals or objectives.
The bottom line or morale of all the definitions emphasise on one basic idea that leadership is a art of
getting things done with the help of inspiration from sub-ordinates and make self as a role model for
the followers.
After discussing the definition, we can identify that there is interlink between strategic management
and leadership with very rare differences. In strategic management we plan and make strategy to
achieve long term goal in favour of organization benefit and same as the case in leadership. In both
cases we need and individual human resource with a board vision who can act as a manager or a
leader. According to Field Marshal Business management studies, Leadership is a compound of vision
and personality, its practice is an art. While management is linked with the accurate figures, statistics,
methodologies, timelines and routine or maybe we can say that its a practice of complete science.

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Task 1 1.2:
According to the wise saying, change is very unique thing in the world. Its the only thing which is
unchangeable in nature. If we see our surrounding or daily routines, lot of things are changes in daily
basis and if we want to be with the surrounding then we have to adopt those changes in particular time
period. No one can survive with the same situation forever. Everyone have to respond and change
according to the changing scenarios. In every organization, there are certain up streams and
downstream. Its a responsibility of a leader or manager to follow various styles of leadership in
different situations and control the negative scenarios and circumstances. The following strategic
management and leadership styles and their impact are as follows:
1) Autocratic
2) Democratic
3) Pessimistic
4) Charismatic
Autocratic:
In autocratic style, people are guided with what need to do and how they will do. They are not
allowed to involve in decision making as it will be done by upper management. They only get the
order to accomplish the task and cannot argue with decision making.
Democratic:
In Democratic style, all the people related to the task are allowed to involve and give their input in
decision making.
Pessimistic:
In this type of style, people are not allowed to involve in decision making but once management
handover the task to the group of people they are allowed to accomplish the task in their own way as
management will not interfere with their process but ask the result at the end.
Charismatic:
In this style, leaders handover the task and motivate the group with their influence due to their
position, personality and character.
There are four kind of different leadership styles which leaders need to be identifying which one to be
used in which circumstances. All the styles have their own impact on various decisions making. The
organization which is led by Autocratic style is mostly task oriented. The advantages of those styles
are that it helps to make decision quickly because leaders and team members know where they are
standing at present. In some style the team members not happy because they not have their input in
decision making or might be the decision is forced to them and they have no option except to do it.
Autocratic style mostly emphasis on quantity rather than quality of work.
The organization leads by the democratic style proven good. The reason is that those leaders are task
oriented as well as building relationship. The negative point in this style is that the decision making
process gone quite slower due to different inputs as compare to autocratic which might be danger for
the organization because in some critical situation decision making on time is important.
The organization leads by pessimistic style are major relationship oriented. This type of leaders are
either very busy in other activities or has a confidence on his team that they can do their best at their
own or know very well what the team is capable of and what is the strong area.
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As far as charismatic style is concern, the leadership is very rarely found in this style but at some
extent it went quite successful because someone is available to motivate others to do things which are
in favour to help them or to support them.
Task 1 -1.3:
The adoption of leadership styles is totally depended on scenarios or situations. For example, in a
pressure situation or in an urgent called meeting, manager has to make a decision on the spot either to
do or not to do. Another example can be natural consequences because it gives not time to do any
meeting or discussions you have to decide on the spot either do or die. In this type of scenario
Autocratic style would be feasible. The reason to select autocratic style is that the decision making
done by the professional and its very fast as compare to other styles.
In case of target allocation or setting up targets, the input of target achievers are required which are
sort of team members. Their input has a value because the group members always in touch with the
market and bring sales from it. Their input in decision making is important and worth it. In this
situation Laissez-faire style would be feasible because employees understand their goals, objectives
and the way where they going to.
In case of planning a trip either historical or professional, it needs a decision from everyone to
participate or not. In this type of situation democratic style would be feasible because it needs yes or
no from every participant. In this type of situation the style will be adopted is Democratic Style
subject to the present scenario.
Task 2-2.1:
Its a very famous saying from the wiser that all five fingers are not same. Everyone is different from
each other and there style and way of working is also different. Within the period of time, many
human beings made many theories which they realize and feel from their surroundings. Some of them
went out of the way and rejected by the authorities, some of them are change into universal truth and
some of them are change into permanent laws. We are going to discuss few theories related to the
management and leadership came in to existence between 19
th
and 20
th
century.
1) The Classic School
2) The Bureaucracy model
3) The System Theory
4) The Human Relationship Theory
5) The Contemporary Theory
6) The Contingency Theory
The Classic School:
This approach is dependent on the structure of the organization. It is seem like the organization is
related to the machine, you have to feed the input in it according to the need and requirement and you
will get the output as same as the result and value of your input. The role and position of every part in
the process is pre-defined. From top to bottom, people are supposed to do things as allocated.

The Bureaucracy Model:
This model is emphasis at the performance and responsibility for individuals. According to this
model, the responsibilities of the individuals are pre-defined as per there area of expertise. Human
feelings are supposed as a constant in this model.

System Based Theory:
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System based theory was initiated between 1950s and 1960s. It explains the system of machine i.e.
put the input, passes it through the process and takes the output. The input can be people or raw
material and the output may be the finish goods or organization objectives.

Human Relationship Based Theory:
This theory was come in to existence by 1930s. The main theme of this theory was relationship
management. According to the bureau of organization behaviour, to improve the workplace or the
organization, you need to understand the people and their culture who are working for it.

Contemporary Based Theory:
It emphasize to the model that decide one single way or key function for the organization, stick to it
and fully focus on it to go towards success.

Contingency Based Theory:
It emphasize to the model that there is no any method to run the organization in single particular way.
The successful moving for an organization always depends to the situation passing by through it time
by time.

Impact of those theories on Tesco:
In this part, we will see the impact of selected theories of management on TESCO PLC. The impact
of classic theory on the current Tesco strategy is quite confusing because Tesco strategy to believe on
excellence on the basis of their worker and employees. If we apply the classic theory or just assume of
it then it will be an inverse affect on strategy of Tesco. Bureaucracy Model is quite similar to the
classical theory but it will help to define the responsibilities and duties to the employees and it will
not be enough for Tesco. Their strategy contains a system to run the organization in a pleasent manner
taking care of the values of employees. Considering the impact of Human Relationship Theory, It not
good enough for a long term planning but it will help to identify the ideas and creativity from the
employees. The best theory which suits TESCO is contingency and contemporary, Both the theories
leads toward the success by sticking and adopt changing from the market as well as a major of success
for a long term.


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Task 2 2.2:

As we already discuss the impact of various theories of leadership and management on Tesco
Strategy. We came to know that there is no single theory supports Tesco Strategy expect contingency
and contemporary but to some extent not full. If we assume or say on realistic ground that we can
product a theory for Tesco strategy with the mixture of above discuss strategies.

For example, we can support the Tesco existing strategic direction with Bureaucratic approach along
with the touch of Human Relationship Model. Bureaucratic approach will help to achieve
organizational objectives and help to maintain everything on track. It will also help to control over
costs and increase profit for organization. The human relationship approach will maintain the feelings
and need of the people attached with the Tesco. It also helps to win the worker trust so they can work
more deliberately. The combination of two models will create a new theory which will helpful for
Tesco to carry on their operational activities.
Task 3 3.1
There are lot of methods are available with respect to the leadership but according to Tesco strategic
model, following methods can be considered for leadership requirement.
1) Mc. Gregors Theory X and Theory Y
2) Blake and Moultons Managerial Grid
3) 360 Feedback
4) Management by Objectives (MBO Approach)
Mc Gregors Theory X and Theory Y:

Source: Theory X and Theory Y. 2011. [Image online] Available at:
managementpocketbooks.wordpress.com [Accessed: 22 Oct 2013].

Theory X and Theory Y theory was presented by Douglas Mc Gregors in 1960s. He was an
American social Psychologist. Following are the explanation on separate ground based on theory x
and theory y.
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1) Theory X (Authorities Style):
The average work people are dislike to do their job responsibilities and tries to avoid as much
as they can
Due to this act most of the workers are forced by the penalties and punishments to work
towards organizational goals and objectives
The average work people prefer to be guided by others, to avoid their responsibilities, not
ambitious and wants a covered security above all those factors.

2) Theory Y (Participative Style)
Natural gifted to do efforts in work and play
These people apply the self-control and self-made directions to pursuit the organization
objectives, They didnt like the influence of other in their decision making
Commitment to accomplishment of objective related to the awards of achievement.
Those people like challenges and fulfil commitment with responsibilities
They got a capacity to use high degree of creativity, Solving organization problems in a
broader way, keep them on the record for achievements
Those people in the work industries are below the average.
Blake and Moultons Managerial Grid:

Source: Blake and Moultons Managerial Grid. 2010. [image online] Available at:
coachingcosmos.com [Accessed: 29 Oct 2013].

Blake and Moultons managerial gird is one of the methods to review leadership requirements. As per
this method, all the managerial and leadership qualities are reviewed on the basis of two main points,
concern for outcomes and concern for human resource. In the first part the manager put there
complete focus towards accomplishing the task within deadline. You can see it on the horizontal axis
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of the grid. In the second case, it gives importance to employees and their requirements which we can
see at the vertical part of the gird.
The number mentioned inside the grid indicates the focus or the degree of concern of the manager.
For instance if the manager have a rating of 9,1 means he or she is practicing the autocratic style. The
reason is that the grid is showing very minimum concern for the employees. Similarly if we have the
rating of 1,9 it means the manager behaviour or response is democratic. If we talk about Tesco, then
according to the facts there rating will be come as 6,4
360 Feedback


Source: 360 Feedback. 2011. [Image online] Available at: www.assessmentplus.com [Accessed: 25
Oct 2013].

It refers to the method which involves the appraisals or the feedback response from various group
within the work environment including peers, subordinates and bosses as well. Few organizations
might include internal and external customers as well. The main purpose of this method is to highlight
the strength, make them consistent, highlight the weakness and improve them to become strength.
Feedback will help in overcoming the weakness and change them into strengths.

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Management by Objectives (MBO Approach)

Source: Taleem-e-pakistan.com. 2011. Taleem-E-Pakistan.com | Let's make the education common
Join Us in spreading the knowledge. [online] Available at: http://www.taleem-e-pakistan.com
[Accessed: 22 Oct 2013].

It is very common approach or model to review the leadership and management style. It is a system of
management which is used to interlink the organizational objectives to individual performance
through involvement of different levels or steps. Top manager set-up the overall objectives, convey
the correct message to the lower management for completion. It is an attractive system. It provide
different level of opportunities for staff member to accept maximum responsibility and input there
maximum contribution.

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Task 3 3.2:
It is a character of a good leader to prepare back up plan for any kind of back fires or challenges. He
needs to be act quickly and accurately according to the circumstances. Leader is a leader if he/she
takes a right decision on a right time. Following are the scenarios which required a strong leadership.
Conflict of Interest:
Conflict or we can say the professional politics is generous in organization. We can overcome or
reduce this factor but completely elimination is not possible. These conflicts can be of any nature and
can be in individual or a group. Sometime the professional conflicts are useful for organization but
some time they reach to the extreme level and become harmful for organization. Either the conflict is
useful or harmful, its need to be handled very smoothly and in a professional way. For this purpose,
Leader can choose either autocratic or democratic or any other style but he need to resolve it with a
positive interest for both the parties without any discrimination or favour.
Joint Venture or Acquire of Company:
This scenario is not possible for all organization but this is the factor which must need to be
considered. In case of joint venture or merger or acquisition, its very difficult to make a decision.
Leader needs to be very accurate and consider realistic grounds for fact and figures analysis. You
have to see the present and the long term forecast for the sake of organization and employees.
Recession:
Recession is the thing which impact towards the organization sales because of global crisis. It seems
like a night mare for the organization who directly affected with the recession and an instable moment
for organizations who indirectly affected by the recession. It is a leader responsibility to consider this
thing as an issue and make a budget for this type of situation. The organization who fails to save
budget for recession got bankrupt or fall down badly.
Acquire a change:
In the past few years, Information technology grows very rapidly as well as technology is changing on
daily basis. Most of the organization who didnt acquire those changes is unable to compete in the
market. The adoptability of those changes is depending on organization structure and leader /
employees acceptance. One of the major factors is most of the old age employees on senior position
not want to accept the change because they use to work in old patterns and styles. Change of
technology plus learning of these things are trouble for them. Good Leader have to make a mind of
those kind of employees, provide them facilities, explain them benefits, give them job securities and
then bring a change in order to save their existence in the market and employees loyalty.
Natural Disaster:
This cause is very rare but most of the time happened. Due to this reason this factor need to be
considered. During the time period of any natural disaster includes earth quake, Tsunami, Landslide,
Flood, Volcano, Tornado, Hurricane etc, employees went to the state of ambiguity. They are unable to
perform their duties with their full efforts and efficiency. At this stage, there is some motivation and
backup required from leader which might be in words as no need to worry about anything, I am
available to protect you all it will at some extent restore the confident of the employees which will be
beneficial for the organization at that circumstances.
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Task 3 3.3
Every leader has different kind of skill and expertise. True leader have these skill from learning and
studies of certification in a span of life. Only possession of those skill by themselves is not enough,
good leader will be consider as a good leader if he/she able to develop the same or more skill and
ability in there co-workers according to the requirements. A good leader knows the use of right skills
according to the situation. Following are the skill considered as needed in good leader. Three of them
will be explained in detail
1) Influential Skill
2) Transformation Skill
3) Communication Skill
4) Discipline Skill
5) Punctuality Skill
6) Creativity Skill
7) Commitment Skill
Influential Skill: Influential skill is an influential power of the leader who gives the motivation and
confidence to followers to make him a role model and go after him to get a success. Inspiration and
motivation is a key tool and it is very useful for the success of organization.
Transformation Skill: Most of the leader learns the qualities from their life span and experience but
they want to keep them with themselves and not want to transfer it to upcoming deserving co-workers.
It is a cycle of professional world that no one can exist on the position forever; someday he/she has to
leave the leadership position and other will takeover. A good leader considered as a good if he/she
have transformation skills which mean he/she can recognize there alternate and transform them the
required skills time by time to be the successor.
Communication Skill: It is one of the important factors for good leadership. Communication means
transfer of the message to the co-workers or sub-ordinates by using different medium.
Communication can be verbal or in verbal subject to the scenario and understanding with the co-
worker. A good leader must require good communication skills. In most of the organization, mix
culture people work together and if the leader unable to communicate in a right manner then it can be
initiate a cause of social conflict which is harmful for the organization. Communication skills count as
a mandatory factor which is required in a good leader.

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Task 3 3.4
Utility of various methodologies in planning development of leadership skills
There are lot of methods available which can be use to plan the development of leadership skills. The
methods include table talks, meetings, 360 degree feedback etc. It helps to identify the current
position in the organization. Another method which is the successful method is to read the life and
experience of previous successful leaders and the method they use to be the successful. Another
method is learning from the followers. It means that you not need to leave your influence and morale
but familiar with your follower like a friend so you can get good things from them. It also helps to
understand their needs and feelings. Another method is to conduct the seminars and workshop, it help
to understand the view from the people on particular subject. Another method is to initiate trainings, it
will help to understand and overcome the upcoming issues and challenges.
To conclude the methodologies in planning development of leadership skill we got lot of methods
which we describe above. It depends on the learning ability of the leader either to adopt in short term
or long term period of time.

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References
1) Adair, J. 1998. Leadership skills. London: Institute of Personnel and Development.

2) Ansoff, H. 1979. Strategic management. New York: Wiley.

3) Covey, S. 1991. Principle-cantered leadership. New York: Summit Books.

4) Forbes.com. 2013. Welcome to Forbes. [online] Available at:
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5) Giuliani, R. and Kurson, K. 2002. Leadership. New York: Hyperion.

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http://www.leadership.org.uk/page/why_leadership [Accessed: 23 Aug 2013].

7) Strategicmanagementinsight.com. 2012. Homepage | Strategic Management Insight. [online]
Available at: http://www.strategicmanagementinsight.com/ [Accessed: 24 Aug 2013].

8) Tescoplc.com. 2013. Tesco PLC. [online] Available at: http://www.tescoplc.com/ [Accessed:
24 Aug 2013].

9) Tescoplc.com. 1919. Tesco PLC - About us. [online] Available at:
http://www.tescoplc.com/index.asp?pageid=6 [Accessed: 27 Aug 2013].

10) 360 Feedback. 2011. [image online] Available at: www.assessmentplus.com [Accessed: 25
Oct 2013].

11) Blake and Moultons Managerial Grid. 2010. [Image online] Available at:
coachingcosmos.com [Accessed: 29 Oct 2013].

12) Taleem-e-pakistan.com. 2011. Taleem-E-Pakistan.com | Let's make the education
common Join Us in spreading the knowledge. [online] Available at: http://www.taleem-e-
pakistan.com [Accessed: 22 Oct 2013].

13) Theory X and Theory Y. 2011. [image online] Available at:
managementpocketbooks.wordpress.com [Accessed: 22 Oct 2013].