Introduction
As the role governed by me as a Junior Operational Manager of Lenovo (Chosen Organization), I need to analyze the contribution of the operation manager for the growth of development of the chosen organization that is Lenovo. The first part of the assignment has associated with the operational management process of Lenovo which supports its key aim and objectives. From the second part onwards, the report has evaluated the two of the most important management approach that Lenovo must need to take by ensuring the effectiveness of the business function. The last two parts of the report analyzed the employee’s motivation and Teamwork capability in the context of Lenovo
Organizational Context
Lenovo operates a Chinese American multinational technology company that has a global headquarters in China. Including operations in over 60 countries, the increase of their sales in around 180 countries makes product specifications of personal computers as well as Intel-based server businesses (Lenovo, 2022). The company operates high scale Productions, mergers with popular multinational companies, and also manufacturing of market computers using the brand name. Lenovo is a manufacturer of smart phones, personal computers, wearable devices, and television. Nowadays, it has become the bestselling computer in Chinese history.
Operational Management Process
Issues of Operational Management in Lenovo
SCM Issues or Concerns
Supply chain management can face issues in the Chinese market to deal with risk and resilience for the chosen company Lenovo. There are different perspectives related to supply chain management and challenges to deliver visibility, competitiveness, and real-time digital access (Rodrigues et al. 2017). In expansion through the global and international market, the company can face ups and downs through taxation, fiscal and monetary policies, and also political impacts through changes in regulations and also inflation and GDP rates. Also, economical support can cause the finest reason for breaking down the chain of supply management. Expansion in the international can face legal concerns to meet cyber hacking and other issues related to DNS. On the other hand, Oh et al. (2019), Lenovo may face operational challenges within supply chain conflicts to face international suppliers in the global business context. Also, the limited granularity of information in the international business context can fadelessly focus rather than supply chain visibility. Lastly, slowed digital transformation can play a crucial role in decision making where Lenovo with manual and digital systems can face challenges in Chinese in accessing supply chain data, the introduction of data flow, and organizing techniques for making supply chain managers more relevant and responsible (Kalasin et al. 2020).
Product/Service Delivery Issues
The challenges through service delivery and customer satisfaction make focus on customer retention and helps to boost the profitability and make a return on investment. The challenges can have poor service delivery making losses through weak revenue systems in international marketing. There are specific reasons for Lenovo that can cause product and service delivery issues related to growing customer expectations. Customers are expecting more relevant and reliable understanding with acceptable product definition (Oh et al. 2019). Lenovo can also meet a lack of communication that impacts continuous Break downs. Lacking knowledge about the delivery system and the process of niche and local market delivery systems, Lenovo cannot establish international goals and global objectives throughout maturity and business needs. Lastly, the company can face a lack of talents and higher labor costs introducing international human resource management (Kalasin et al. 2020). Also shortening Meaningful metrics through tactical and operational business decisions can impact frequent organizational change in the structure and poor culture through workplace and lack of creativity. Service delivery issues can relate to lower quality that cannot meet the needs of end-users as well as the suppliers through the global network.
Quality Management Issues
Quality management issues are mostly defined by unpredictable quality control, defined goals, and other maximization of risks through the quality management process (Kalasin et al. 2020). Quality issues in the process of manufacturing can affect all overproduction and face defects, significant variations, and deficiencies through performance. In the supply chain, quality management issues can affect unchecked and unnoticed risks causing widespread hinder rents through organizational cohesion. Quality management problems can be defined through over-reliance on theories, managing departments, conflicts with tight bureaucracy, supply chain conflict, lack of resources, time and quantity equipment, lack of employee engagement, miscommunication, inconsistent training and development (Yasuda and Ueta, 2019). In quality management issues Lenovo can face the nature of complex functionalities and make emphasis on quality checks.
Operation Management Process of Lenovo
- Lean & Agile Manufacturing: Lean & Agile Manufacturing can make the history of communications for manufacturing and production and build information Safe for the chosen company, Lenovo. While predicting key information, legal risks include the potential future disputes by receiving reduced costs and the use of technology through shifting demands promptly. On the contrary Cousins et al. (2019), the company has to accept the proper information and its specific innovators’ apprehensions to stay up-to-date on current functioning as well as agility also comes from the toe use of technology to control potential liabilities and costs by using automated systems on what not to disclose and what to disclose.
Figure 1: Lean & Agile Manufacturing
(Source: Cousins et al., 2019)
- Sustainable Operations Management: In establishing strong evaluation criteria, the resources of Lenovo’s sustainability support environmental protections through increased globalization and climate change, regulatory interventions for their value proposition, manufacturing requirements, and market size can allow business as well as create greater sustainability of supply chains
- Behavioral Operations Management: Behavioral operation management can consider human behaviors, workforce Emotions with the use of operational research and understand behaviors of employees beyond every model. Behavioral operational perspective in Lenovo can include operations of practices influenced by different factors such as supply chain management, human resource, cognitive psychology as well as behavioral science and psychology (Çankaya and Sezen, 2019).
- Supply Chain Management: SCM Process of Lenovo can oversee the flow of services and goods from raw materials to storage, inventory, and lastly outputs with the end of consumption. Supply chain management theories can minimize costs as well as waste to maximize efficiency is based on collaborative productive and passionate workforces (Suryanto et al. 2018).
- Six-Sigma: Six-Sigma operation management can lead to reconfigurable manufacturing systems and the use of a methodology that can reduce error through the manufacturing process. According to Abdel-Baset et al.,(2019), the chosen company, Lenovo, is involved in defining, measuring, analyzing, improving, and controlling a reconfigurable manufacturing system to adapt to the shift in demand or supply chain quickly. Also, for fundamental shifts of Lenovo’s six-Sigma can redesign Organizational change as well as functions with leveraging technologies.
Figure 2: Six–Sigma Process
(Source: Abdel-Baset et al., 2019)
A detailed supply chain flow chart
Figure 3: Supply chain flow chart
(Source: Developed by the author)
- Process inputs and outputs: Lenovo introduces a product supply chain with large volume components controlled through supplier’s inventory. Manufacturing in the controlled environment takes a secure physical facility, completed product designs, secure network, and packaged items for tracking from origin to customer delivery. The process input in the supply chain Supports optimizing productions, inputs from suppliers for delivering those products, and outputs to customers (Çankaya and Sezen, 2019). Input models can include specific scientific theories to determine product security requirements, identification of suppliers, examples of development through hardware, software, BIOS, and firmware. On the other hand, the process output can be implemented through inventory management tools, the final process, assembling the final product with strategic planning, supply planning, and demand planning (Suryanto et al. 2018). Lenovo operates trusted hardware components, fingerprint readers with different manufacturing locations such as Windows operating systems, encryption at rest, customer provided systems by making service and support. The input and output management support the whole product life-cycle to quantify components and updates through a secure operational management
Two Management Approaches
In this part of the report, an explanatory evaluation has been made to the analysis of two management approach that Lenovo need to implement as part of their business process for improving their effectiveness of business performance and design of the organization in a changing environment
Classical Approach
The first recommendation is that the management of Lenovo should use the Classical approach of management approach (Parker and Lewis, 2015). The classical approach is mainly associated with the different types of management practice and it also looks for operational efficiency with the universal principle of business operation.
Figure 4: Classical Management Approach
(Source: Parker and Lewis, 2015)
Demand is driven by most conventional forces amongst consumers of the world with strong attitudes and nature of availability, the relevance of operations, and maintenance of quality. Customer demand and process capacity relationships can establish education programs along with strong information to provide greater consumer assurance with control and practices. A sustainable environment, less damaging systems, additional stimulation, and initiatives can make preferences with suitable customer demand. Customer demand planning can seek attention through demand planning strategies to reduce inventory levels as well as keep a predictable customer satisfaction rate. On the other hand, inventory forecasting through the distribution of demand and goods can be maintained by the optimum level of stock and availability. Accurate monitoring through the stock level can mitigate different issues related to unavailability and difficulty through demand planning in international markets. Also, Lenovo must be concerned about unnecessary excess stock to reduce the chances of product failure and other circumstances.
Scientific Management
According to the Taylor Theory, scientific management is the particular theory for the management that has analyzed the objectives of the business organization by maximizing labor productivity (Dalcher, 2018). Availability of supplier lead times can make new inventory through the stock management where customers can make shifting demands allowing new product specifications and other perspectives related to the competitive price Environment. As per the views of Li et al. (2020), Lenovo must consume changing demographics by keeping up the prices of their products for the middle-class, preference by income, and reshaping their price structure as per customer base around the globe. Lastly, building the two ways relationship process can have notable strategies by encouraging open innovation, demonstrating ongoing effectiveness to research and development, and building trust for making business global market consumer relationship can perform over the strategies.
Figure 5: Taylor’s Scientific Management
(Source: Dalcher, 2018)
Importance of Motivation
Employee Motivation
Motivation is one of the most important factors for developing the workforces of the employees within the organizational structure. Based on the overview of the entire organizational operations of Lenovo it is observed that there is a lack of motivation for employees within this organization (Mironova and Polyakova, 2017). This process delivers satisfaction among the employees of this giving company to perform their destined job roles effectively and successfully. Not only is that but employees also faced with some issues at the time of performing their organizational jobs due to the lack of engagement of their leaders within their performances. In that case, it can be added that the management team of this electronics organization is not offering developed training to their employees for performing their jobs effectively and successfully and that creates hurdles in front of them to lead their workforce towards that achievement of desired goals of the company. Furthermore, employees of this company also did not get recognition according to their workforce and productivity. Lack of recognition of employees creates dissatisfaction among them to develop their productivity level for the management of business growth (Fiaz and Su, 2017). Within this context, it is also encountered that the line managers of this organization are not suitable enough for the management of the developed workforce among the employees by establishing a healthy relationship with them.
Employees Motivation Traits in Lenovo
Training Process
The primary objective of the training is to help an employee deal with the customer using their skills and also to enhance the marketing capability of the organization by discussing various tools and processes which can be used in enhancing the scope of marketing in an organization. The training will help the staffs to learn about accurate targeting of the audience and innovative approaches for marketing.
The training will mainly be conducted in the conference hall or meeting rooms of the company Lenovo and the staff needs to register first for getting enrolled in this training and book a seat. The staff must ensure that the timing which is provided should not be missed and even there is a facility like if the staff missed then they can check the online videos which will be uploaded digitally by the training head in the company employee section
Management by Objectives
The MBO strategy is in itself a framework for blending delegates by administrative practices that are seen emphatically which is generally planned objectives, self-rule in looking and utilizing intends to accomplish goals, self-controlling, and periodical standard controlling work done by partners (Dalkir, 2017). Considered as a ground-breaking method for specialists it underpins the achievement of other association limits such as planning, filtering through, and controlling. The board by objectives improves specialists’ inspiration to work and to accomplish different levelled targets.
Figure 6: Management by Objectives
(Source: Dalkir, 2017)
It legitimizes including that the creator sees an alliance’s movement as interest. Each expert contributes unequivocal assets and should utilize them to accomplish a shared objective. This is a heading that attempts incredibly in affiliations need to follow. Different characteristics of the MBO are the full and solid obligation of the board through presenting and finishing the MBO framework, assisting with describing goals, allotting work, and bearing the selection of advantages and by workers. The last factor is an accentuation on results and announcing about the movement in assignments’ achievement and sensibility.
Performance Appraisal
The applications of performance appraisals in an organization are included with compensation to the employee, improvement of the performance, promotions on better work, termination of any employee, validations of the test, and many others. By applying the strategies of performance appraisals, the company faced many potential benefits and potential complications. The employees need to understand the goals of the company and understand the objectives consciously (DeNisi and Murphy, 2017). Understanding the goals will be helpful for the organization to execute the work according to the desired way of the management. The vision of the company should be clear to the employees of Lenovo. The employees can plan the task according to the vision. The leaders and managers of any organization should motivate the employees to achieve the goals and maintain the quality of the work. The leaders should keep the employees comfortable in the workspace. Employees should plan the work in such a way that it can contribute to the success of the company. The employees of the organization should find the link between their work and the goals of the company. It will be beneficial for understanding the work and clear the vision of Lenovo.
Effective Communication and TeamWork
Effective Communication Skill
Communication skills are always one of the most important qualities which an organization must consider when providing training to the staff. Communication is the only medium through which the business can prosper and achieve goals in such a competitive environment. The training can help the staffs to communicate properly with staffs and what will be their body language and volume of tone when they are speaking to any customers either in the face to face interaction or using the telephone, The marketing staffs will be needs this skills as success depends on how they can communicate with staff when dealing with them and also effective word communication which can be used for promoting services of the company.
Team Work
Team working has been associated with the entire employees of the business organization who have worked as a team (Kalliath et al., 2015). There are some of the benefits of team working.
- Foster individual’s creativity and self Learning
- Blends complimentary strength
- Build trust among team members
- Teaches wide ranges of conflict resolution skills
- Divide the work among team members to utilize the team management capability
Factors of Teamwork in Lenovo
The factor of Performance Appraisal System
Maslow’s Theory is discussed the five needs which are important to achieve self-actualization. Physical needs and security needs are the two basic needs in this pyramid (Kaur, 2016). At first, the company should satisfy the basic salary, food, and health need of the employees and their families then the company should provide a proper environment for work. Job security should be given and a safe environment will enhance the capabilities of the employees. In social needs, the company has to build up strong communication between the employees and management (Harrington and Lee, 2015).
Figure 7: Maslow’s Need of Hierarchy
(Source: Kaur, 2016)
The employees and staffs need to keep a healthy relationship with each other which will enhance the performance. And engage them in teamwork to develop communication. Self-esteem will grow when the management gives them recognition and respect. A Reward system should be introduced to encourage them for giving better performances in the workplace of Lenovo. The company should give the employees a perfect environment to achieve their self-actualization needs and make them comfortable to work in any situation. The human resource management program is included with some organizational factors which are interrelated with each other. The function of human resource management is associated with designing the team and the job role, recruitment in an organization; provide training and developmental processes to the employees of the organization to enhance their skills over time.
The roles of human resource management also include the assessment of the performances of the employees and giving them rewards according to their performance. Human resource management is well aware of the competitive situations of the market. The recruitment process is going on after keeping in mind the competition with other companies in the market (Ayers, 2015). The human resource management of any company is enhancing the direction of the strategic role and the culture of Lenovo. The human resource management program of a company has to be clear and precise when recruiting employees in the organization. The selection process should be based on proper skills and qualifications. In interview rounds, the aspirant has to qualify for the basic requirements of the workplace. Proper training should be done by the company and give them space to familiar with the work. The company namely Lenovo has to rectify the flaws of the employee and give them the motivation to do their work properly. Employee satisfaction is mandatory for company growth and enrichment. If any employees are generating conflict issues or having conflict in the workplace the management has to take effective steps to resolve the conflicts in a short time.
Effective team management theories for working as a Team Member
Belbin team management theory consists of nine layers of behaviors that are called ‘Team
Roles’. Each of the detailed activities of the team that is defined in the Belbin model is developed a certain set of functions within the team (Senaratne and Gunawardane, 2015). Each of the teams always needs to access the nine-team behavior for becoming a high-performance team. Each team member of the Belbin model has its own set of strengths and weaknesses and analysis of each of the strengths and weaknesses is equally important. Business organizations implement Belbin team development theory in their business for details understanding the strength, weaknesses as a team, and maintaining an effective team that can lead to the success of the business. The team leader of the business organization often incorporated the Belbin team theory to create a more balanced team that is become more effective for the success of the business organization. Also, the implementation of the Tuckman and Jensen development model has created a major influence on achieving the business goal of the company (Kiweewa et al., 2018)
Figure 8: Belbin Team Management Theory
(Source: Senaratne and Gunawardane, 2015)
Conclusion
In the competitive advantages, global or emerging market through the international market, the company namely Lenovo can face ups and downs through economic conflict and monetary policies and also political impacts, challenges through service delivery and customer satisfaction make it focus on customer retention and also lack of employee engagement, miscommunication, inconsistent training, and development. This study concludes with employee motivation and teamwork capability to meet the demand for both employees as well as the customer in the context of Lenovo.
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