TABLE OF CONTENT

SECTION 1

1. Introduction

2. A Brief Discussion on Effective Communication

3. The need to be effective in communication

4. The Road to Achieving improvement in my chosen skill

5. Impediments to achieving effective communication

6. Conclusion

7. References

SECTION 2

1. Introduction

2. Challenges facing by Modern-day Operations managers

3. An Evaluation of the possible issues an operations manager will face in Aggreko PLC

4. Conclusion

5. References

6. Appendix
1. INTRODUCTION

This part of the document reflects on the student's chosen skill that needs to be

developed while taking the University of South Wales' Strategic Operations Management and

Operational Research module. The decision to improve my identified skill was based on my

perceived shortcomings in that aspect. One of the main areas that will benefit from the

improvement in this skill — Communication skill, will be my proficiency at work. My work

has to do with sales in a telecommunications company, where I have to help in stimulating

customer purchases by employing effective communication skills.

It is no secret that one can utilize communication to plan, organize, coordinate, control,

as well as achieve other functions of management (Radovic-Markovic and Salamzadeh, 2018).

In line with this, organizations that have attained a level of success were described by Politi

and Street (2011), as those their management and leaders have come to an understanding of the

significance of communication. There appears to be a general agreement on this from scholars

and industry experts, who observed the capacity of effective communication to foster a

positive environment where objectives can be easily achieved (Morley et al., 2002). It has

certain other benefits that include increasing the workforce's innovative and productive

capabilities, enabling trust to be developed in the workplace, and improving the atmosphere in

the workplace (Hargie, 2016).

From all these, I can deduce that when communication is effective, the productivity

level of a business can be taken to an impressive level, along with ensuring interaction among

employees is done in a cordial and understanding atmosphere. The value I can generate from

the relationships with my customers, through increased patronage of my organization's

products and services will ultimately be the judge of my effectiveness at discharging my duties

and obligations at work. This requires the promotion of values and effective communication

with clients on products and services being offered by the business. Outcomes that will reveal

the degree of success in my duties include my ability to interact and get buy-in from

prospective clients, my ability to identify their needs, and ensuring management are made
aware of such need to make the required decision. This reflective exercise thus focuses on the

communication skill, and how I went about improving it as well as my perceptions of it.

2. A BRIEF DISCUSSION ON EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

For one to properly understand what it means to effectively communicate, the meaning

of effective communication needs to be understood. Concerning this, it was described as a

process that involves exchanging and understanding information, where more than one person

is involved in motivating or influencing people (Shonubi and Akintaro, 2016, p. 1905). Putting

it more simply, it has to do with exchanging ideas using a method that culminates in the

development of a shared understanding (Nebo et al., 2015). In the course of one's thoughts,

feelings, and ideas, both the non-verbal and verbal aspects are thought to be part of the process

of transfer (Genç, 2017).

Furthermore, communication is described as effective when the envisaged response

from the communication is achieved through the transfer of information (Akram, 2011). I

understand that channeling communication needs to be done simply, precisely, and directly

irrespective of the method chosen to transfer the information (Genç, 2017, p. 1). Overall,

priority must be accorded to certain factors for effective communication to occur. These

identified factors according to Robbins et al. (2010) include positive outcomes, smoothness,

compatibility, and adaptability. I agree with Bucăţa and Rizescu's (2017) stance on the use of

the practice to achieve effective communication. When this is applied in the corporate world,

it is very important for a complete understanding of the operation of communication at the

level of the organization, and the individual, along with those problems that hamper the

effective flow of communication if there is to be any headway (Radovic- Markovic and

Salamzadeh, 2018). This position is another I agree with once again, given the significant

improvement in communication when the sender and the receiver interact constantly. People I

constantly interact with include my managers, the management staff as well as colleagues, and

customers.

On this, Radovic-Markovic and Salamzadeh (2018) describe the effective

communication process quite vividly.

They observed its starting point as when the sender conceives the idea; this is then followed by

the process where the idea is encoded into a message, that is the message is presented in a form

that can be understood by the one or those receiving it;

This is followed by the transmission stage; then the message is decoded by the receiver by

interpreting the sent information;

Feedback is then sent back to the message sender depending on the level of effectiveness of

the communication. Feedback is compulsory for one to describe communication as being

effective.

THE NEED TO BE EFFECTIVE IN COMMUNICATION

I have always had a fondness and admiration for people who stand up in front of large

audiences to pass their message confidently, hoping to derive a positive outcome. The push I

needed to decide to improve this particular skill was borne out of an assignment I received to

lead a team. This role entailed supervising a sales team in the quest to meet the marketing

objectives of my organization. It required the application of diverse strategies to meet the role's

objectives. I employed a host of methods that include utilizing different social platforms to

interact and meet with members of the team. Concerning this, I discovered certain factors are

necessary for communication to be effective. They include choosing the right channels for

communication, having the necessary technical know-how to take advantage of the

technological tools to deliver the message to the receiver, as well as the receiver's ability to

decode the message (Kaushik, 2011, p. 1). This means I have to prioritize effective

communication using a host of channels, even more than public speaking, despite my

insistence on developing the required composure and skill to engage in public speaking
(Bucăţa, and Rizescu, 2017).

Notwithstanding this public speaking dream of mine, the immediate goal of enhancing

my communication ability is based on the need to improve my customer retention and

attraction rates, as this will require the ability to communicate effectively with clients about the

advantages that come with purchasing the products and services of my organization. Krizanova

et al. (2019) observed the relationship between an emotional link being developed with

customers in marketing and effective communication. This means a salesperson can

consolidate his/her customer relationship when he/she is able to effectively communicate with

them (Kaushik, 2011). This position appears to be right as my experience in the field has

taught me that enhancing sales and attracting more customers/clients will need the marketing

executive to effectively communicate his/her position. This objective of improving my

marketing outcomes is a major factor in the decision I took to improve my ability to

communicate effectively.

Effective communication in a firm has numerous benefits, particularly its ability to

ensure the sustainability and maximization of productivity in an organization (Nebo et al.,

2015). One can see that a firm's goals are facilitated by its ability to foster effective

communication among the workforce; this also enables a better grasp of what customers need

or prefer; this is coupled with driving a behavior change.

THE ROAD TO ACHIEVING IMPROVEMENT IN MY COMMUNICATION

SKILL

I identified three key aspects of the communication skill that I wanted to see improve.

These aspects include skills for listening, expressing myself, and the skill needed to manage

the whole communication process (Kaushik, 2011). My focus on these aspects is to prepare me

for my expanding role in the office which brings more responsibilities and will require an

increase in my coordinating and integrating ability in the workplace (Radovic-Markovic and

Salamzadeh, 2018). Achieving improvements in the aforementioned aspects have led to direct
improvements in my relationships in my place of work.

The road to developing my expressive skills.

This aspect of communication entails the use of verbal or non-verbal methods of

communication to pass messages, ideas, and feelings. To achieve this, I worked on my

vocabulary in a bid to improve my ability to interact with my co-workers and clients. Using

some phrases gained more prominence as I interacted with my customers, co-workers, and

managers. Phrases and sentences such as "how may I be of assistance?", "thank you", "please",

and many more. Furthermore, physical gestures such as making eye contact and smiling at

people produced positive results (Radovic-Markovic and Salamzadeh, 2018). I made it a

priority to improve my non-verbal communication methods (Kaushik, 2011). One final thing

in this regard was to be consecutive in my criticism of the members of my team.

The Process of Developing my Listening Skills

Improving my listening skill is another aspect I prioritized in the course of enhancing

my ability to communicate effectively. This is due to its capacity to improve relationships,

enable better understanding, and cause the right responses and solutions to be provided.

Kaushik (2011) noted that the thoughts and feelings of others can be better understood when

one has a good listening ability. I will also say my understanding of people's gestures and cues

has significantly improved by paying more attention and maintaining eye contact. During this

process I have found that non-verbal means of communication are particularly critical to

understanding people better, hence, my emphasis on that aspect as well (Radovic-Markovic,

2011).

Developing Skills for Managing the Communication Process

I made a conscious decision to adopt the open communication method in order to foster

teamwork, openness, and creativity among members of my team. I based this on Kaushik's
(2011) model. This model is based on the 4Cs (contagiousness, connection, comprehension,

and credibility). Marketers, politicians, and business people employ these 4Cs to evaluate

different methods of communication (Kaushik, 2011).

Comprehension

I was more into giving grandiose expressions to my audience to make an impression

instead of passing my message in simple and clear terms. This is an aspect I have jettisoned,

choosing instead to be clear and simple in my communication delivery to colleagues, clients,

and other stakeholders. Delivery of my messages to intended recipients has also been enhanced

through the employment of repetition strategies.

Connection

Connection entails the ability to generate new attitudes and behaviors from the

recipients of the message (Kaushik, 2011). I have found this aspect to be very important in my

marketing drives as I am better able to meet the needs and wants of my clients by employing

value propositions. For the salesperson to invoke excitement and passion in his/her clients,

he/she has to connect with them. The way to meet this target is to make sure there is an

understanding of what the customer needs, and then meet those needs. Understanding

customers' needs and preferences enable the appropriate message to be sent (Kumar and

Petersen, 2005).

Credibility

One needs trust if effective communication is the goal. Concerning this, I make sure

not to commit to what I can't deliver. Better to surprise the customer, than make promises I

can't keep. This has made me highly credible with my customers.

Contagiousness

Contagiousness involves energetic and innovative messages being given to the

audience, that elicits emotional responses and reactions (Kaushik, 2011). My adopted approach

to achieving consciousness is by offering customer-centric and solution-driven products and

services to my clients. Rather than my bottom line being the priority, meeting the needs and
wants of my clients is my focus. This is highly appreciated by my clients, serving as a source

of motivation and validation of my chosen methods.

IMPEDIMENTS TO ACHIEVING EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

I believe firmly that the challenges we face often mold us, thus, ensuring our mental

capacities to be able to devise solutions and appropriate answers during the process are

fortified. The recent covid-19 pandemic impacted the ability to effectively communicate

especially face-to-face. Face-to-face communication has always been the most utilized method

of interacting with clients. The covid-19 pandemic however interfered with this, due to the

different health measures that governments put in place to prevent the spread of the pandemic,

necessitating finding suitable alternatives. The alternatives were largely technologically based,

meaning one had to quickly develop proficiency to communicate effectively during this period.

Countries like Nigeria, and many other developing economies faced challenges due to the

issue of inadequate infrastructure and technical expertise. This shift to technological-based

methods from the traditional methods thus impacted many people's effective communication

ability.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this part of the report focused on reflecting on how my chosen skill -

effective communication underwent the process of improvement while learning the strategic

operations management and operational research module. I decided to go through the literature

on communication. One major takeaway from my readings was that the effectiveness of

communication depends on the transfer of information to the intended target without its

meaning being lost. Another takeaway is that practice and an adequate commitment level can

enhance communication ability.

I made an effort to especially improve how I expressed myself and listened to people

with respect to improve my ability to communicate effectively. This has led to improvements
in both my verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Specifically, I laid a bit more

emphasis on improving the non-verbal aspect by smiling more, making it a duty to regularly

make eye contact and improve on other gestures.

My workplace relationship has witnessed significant improvement due to the giant

strides I have made in my ability to effectively communicate. I show more empathy when

interacting with others, and make a more conscious effort to constructively criticize and openly

communicate. I have the 4Cs as the foundation for many of these improvements. The decision

to improve this skill will be highly beneficial to me in my personal and professional life.
 REFERENCES

Akam, V. (2011) Business Communication Today. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-

Hall.Randon House Inc; New York.

Bucăţa, G., & Rizescu, A. M. (2017) ‘The role of communication in enhancing work

effectiveness of an organization, Land Forces Academy Review, 22(1), 49-57.

Genç, R. (2017) ‘The Importance of Communication in Sustainability and

Sustainable Strategies’, Procedia Manufacturing, 8, 511-516.

Hargie, O. (2016) ‘The Importance of Communication for Organizational

Effectiveness, in Lobo, F. (ed.) Psychology of Work and Organizations. Braga, Portugal:

Axioma, pp. 15-32.

Kaushik R. (2011) ‘Effective Communication and Marketing, International Journal of

Computational Engineering & Management, 12, (129-132) [online]. Available

at:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/300050371_Effective_Comm

unication_and_Marketing (Accessed: 20 December 2022).

Krizanova, A., Lăzăroiu, G., Gajanova, L., Kliestikova, J., Nadanyiova, M., and

Moravcikova, D. (2019) ‘The Effectiveness of Marketing Communication and Importance of

Its Evaluation in an Online Environment’, Sustainability, 11(24), 1-19.

Kumar, V., and Petersen, J. A. (2005) ‘Using a customer-level marketing strategy to

enhance firm performance: a review of theoretical and empirical evidence, Journal of the

Academy of Marketing Science, 33(4), 504- 519.

Morley, D., Shockley-Zalabak, P. and Cesaria, R. (2002) ‘Organizational Influence

Processes: Perceptions of Values, Communication, and Effectiveness’, Studies in

Communication Sciences, 2(1), 69–104.

Nebo, C.S., Nwankwo, N. P., and Okonkwo, I.R. (2015) ‘The Role of Effective

Communication on Organizational Performance: A Study of Nnamdi Azikiwe University,

Awka’, Review of public administration and management, 4(8), 131-148.

Politi, M.C. and Street, R.L. (2011) ‘The Importance of Communication in

Collaborative Decision Making: Facilitating Shared Mind and the Management of Uncertainty,

Journal of evaluation in clinical practice, 17(4), 579-584.

Radovic-Markovic, M., and Salamzadeh, A. (2018) ‘The Importance of

Communication in Business Management, The 7th International Scientific Conference on

Employment, Education, and Entrepreneurship. Belgrade, Serbia.

Radovic-Markovic, M. (2011) Organizational behavior and culture: globalization and

the changing environment of organizations. VDM Publishing.

Robbins, S.P., Judge, T.A. and Campbell, T.T. (2010) Organizational Behaviour.

Essex, England: Pearson Education Limited

Shonubi, A.O., and Akintaro, A.A. (2016) ‘The Impact of Effective Communication on

Organizational Performance’, The International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities

Invention, 3(3), 1904-1914.

A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION OF AN OPERATIONS

MANAGER AT AGGREKO PLC

1. INTRODUCTION

This section of the report provides an analysis of the challenges facing operations

managers generally, and specifically what an operation manager in Aggreko Plc will require,

including potential challenges and suggestions on how to surmount the identified challenges.

Every sector, be it service-based, or manufacturing based will have to eventually

address the issue of minimization of costs, improvement of efficiency, and maximization of

profit, at the same time making sure quality products and services, as well as value, is provided

to customers (Levinthal and Wu, 2010). This means they are constantly searching for methods

that guarantee the highest efficiency in terms of conversion of resources to value. Bellgran and

Säfsten (2009) describe this process that entails the creation of value for clients through the

management of processes and systems as operations management. Similarly, it was defined as

the process of cohesively synchronizing systems and system variables so processes and

activities that are used in the creation of value for customers and the business can be derived

(McFarlane, 2014, p. 26).

The operations manager is tasked with planning and controlling the systems and

processes mentioned above for the production of products and services for customers. The

operations manager (OM) enables the goals of the business to be achieved, as well as ensures

the preferences and needs of customers are met through value creation and addition in line
with the most efficient costs of acquisition, manufacture, and distribution. Available resources

are employed in coordinating people, systems, and processes by the OM (McFarlane, 2014, p.

27). This means the OM must make decisions and engage in activities with precision, because

of the dynamism in the business environment and the challenges in the complex supply chain

(Peinado et al., 2018). The OM's actions and decisions will be influential on the productivity

of the business and its bottom line in the long run (Gembalska-Kwiecień et al., 2018).

Nonetheless, care must be taken to ensure the designs of the OM and the organizational

strategy are in tandem. For instance, a decision to adopt strategies of cost minimization may

mean product quality has to be compromised due to the expensive tradeoffs in certain

strategies (Heizer et al., 2017). Nonetheless, maintaining competitive and sustainable

strategies in the dynamic environment in which businesses operate is imperative so value

creation and sustenance for customers can occur.

This report will thus examine an operations manager's job description specifically in

Aggreko Plc, along with operational issues he/she will likely face and suggestions that may

work in solving the issues. The report is categorized into four parts with the first introducing

the report, the second is a discussion of challenges facing modern-day operations managers.

The third part discusses potential challenges an OM in Aggreko Plc will likely encounter,

along with possible solutions. The final part provides a summary of the report.

2. CHALLENGES FACING MODERN-DAY OPERATIONS MANAGERS

An operations manager in the present day must utilize limited resources to coordinate

systems and people, as well as employ various channels to distribute the company's products

and services so customers' preferences and needs can be met (McFarlane, 2014). The constant

changes in the environment businesses operate in are however a significant headache for OMs

in their drive to achieve operational efficiency and effectiveness. These changes constantly

occur concerning resource constraints, quality control, delivery, and so forth (Krajewski et al.,
2013). Nonetheless, the OM must strive for a balance between strategies and processes through

the application of theories for the management and activities and outputs. Creating value for

both the organization and the customer will require a thorough understanding of theories such

as Lean thinking, Six Sigma, Total Quality Management, etc (McFarlane, 2014). It is an

absolute necessity if a firm wants to develop competitive advantages irrespective of how

cumbersome it may appear (Gembalska-Kwiecień et al., 2018). Krajewski et al. (2013) noted

the need for efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and productivity to be provided by the OM

irrespective of the constantly changing business environment, resource constraints, and

changing customer preferences (Krajewski et al., 2013). The OM also has to preempt the

possible changes that may occur in consumer demands, in the different environments (social,

economic, and political), and the market and devise strategies in line with these identified

changes (McFarlane, 2014).

Jacobs and Chase (2018) identified some issues in operations and supply chain

management. They are optimization of the networks for global production, supply, and

distribution, highlighting the significance of operations and supply chain management to upper

management, coordination of the link between mutually supportive yet separate organizations,

and management of the touchpoints of consumers. Other identified challenges with respect to

operations management include issues around globalization, knowledge management, effective

communication, and sustainability and technology (Kleindorfer et al., 2005; Olsen and Tomlin,

2020). Similarly, other challenges that often bedevil operations management in these

contemporary times were identified by Krajewski et al. (2013), including changes in

productivity, changes in technology, global competitiveness, and the time and growing service

sector. Because of the identified challenges, savviness is required in operations management

for meandering through these challenges to ensure the firm is well positioned.

6 general issues most modern-day operations managers face in the course of

discharging their duties were identified by Heizer et al. (2017). These are:

Globalization
 Competitive forces in the business world have to be surmounted by operations

managers in the course of discharging their duties. Because of the immense strides made in the

field of technology that has made the world small and borderlands, this is a serious issue. This

has caused increased competition for capital, labor, and materials on the global scene.

Employing international collaboration, to derive high-standard products, creative designs, and

efficiency may be the strategy for OMs in this regard (Heizer et al., 2017, p. 19).

Supply chain Collaboration

OMs need to create collaborations with respect to resources needed to meet the

preferences of consumers. This is because of the frequent changes being recorded in

technology, processes, and materials, as well as the ever-increasing consumer preferences and

products' shorter life cycles (Heizer et al., 2017). To ensure sustainability, because of the

constantly changing markets, and global industry environment, the OM needs to increase the

products supply chain's and distributions' robustness and effectiveness (McFarlane, 2014).

Sustainability

The ecological sustainability of the processes and designs of products is another uphill

task the OM needs to address if he/she is to achieve an increase in productivity (Kleindorfer et

al., 2005). This dilemma has led to the development of green products, that use resources

minimally, can be reused after recycling, and are environmentally friendly.

Rapid Products Development

More digital technology, new management structures, and responsive and effective

partnerships are being employed by modern-day operations managers. This rapid innovation

and technological advancement have led to a significant increase in industry and market

competitiveness. It thus requires technological advances and innovations to be taken advantage

of by OMs to develop innovatively and cutting-edge products that meet consumers'

preferences and needs.

Mass Customization

Because the production process is being overseen by OMs, consumers' preferences

must be met through rapid response and innovation of products. Meeting consumers'

expectations that are often unique through mass customization where and when needed is

however a challenging task for operations managers.

Lean Operations

Employing the lean operation model to retain competitiveness in the market is a

significant challenge facing modern operations managers. Lean thinking is the foundation of

efficiency in operations. This means waste is eliminated, leading to a respected workforce and

a happy client base. The task of OMs however goes beyond the development of efficiency at

work they also have to enrich jobs to enable improvement of the workforce, as well as ensure

the prompt delivery of products and services to consumers at the right time and place they are

needed, taking their preferences into account (Heizer et al., 2017).

3. AN EVALUATION OF THE POSSIBLE ISSUES AN OPERATIONS

MANAGER WILL FACE IN AGGREKO PLC.

The challenges highlighted in the previous chapter are generally encountered by OMs

all over the world. This section will however focus on specific challenges an OM at Aggreko

Plc will have to contend with.

Technical Challenges:

There is no doubt that strong technical and managerial acumen and expertise need to be

possessed by an applicant for the position of OM in Aggreko Plc, given the technical nature of

the job. An OM at Aggreko Plc has to manage equipment, technology, and information,

coupled with the management of service engineers and field personnel. Hence, the position

requires someone who isn't just familiar with engineering and technology, but also adept and

possesses technical competence. Apart from the requirement for technical know-how in
Aggreko Plc, the need for an OM to have technical expertise was emphasized in literature due

to the need to apply mathematical and technical scheduling techniques in aspects such as

models for decision-making and lean systems utilization (McFarlane, 2014). Other key aspects

the incoming OM will need to possess are the ability to manage resources efficiently, the

ability to apply theories that enable the development of quality and value, as well as a grasp of

processes such as scheduling, supply chain management, and supply chain forecasting.

In view of the fact that energy and power solutions will be provided to users all over

the continent of Africa by Aggreko, the technological base of the company is one challenge the

OM has to contend with. He/she has to develop knowledge on the management of various

sites, be able to understand and interpret technical manuals, drawings, and others, as well as be

able to supervise maintenance and operations of generators. The incoming OM also needs to

have the ability to identify talented people and how get them to perform at their maximum

ability.

Suggestions on Technical challenges that can be remedied

Being able to tackle the technical challenges will need a technically adept OM with

vast knowledge in operations management. The OM must facilitate continuous development in

the organization, coupled with the practical implementation of theories (Sanders, 2014).

Furthermore, new and emerging trends, concepts, and technologies must be quickly adapted by

the operations manager because of changes that are happening theoretically and practically.

He/she has to be open-minded toward innovation and creative ideas, because of how dynamic

the energy sector is (Olsen and Tomlin, 2020).

Challenges Related to Communication

Communication is a vital aspect of Aggreko PLC's operation just like any other. There

is a need to constantly interface with suppliers, technical staff, clients, and others (Hargie et

al., 1999). This requires the operations manager to properly understand the language of the
operation, coupled with an ability to communicate in a way that optimizes value for Aggreko

PLC (McFarlane, 2014). The "informal" technician issue is one major aspect the OM at

Aggreko will have to find a solution to. This category of technical staff isn't educated formally,

hence, can't utilize many of the standard engineering tools and technical resources such as

mechanical drawings and others that simplify work processes. These types of employees are

widely used especially in developing economies. Overseeing such a diverse employee base

means the OM must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Additionally,

he/she must at all times communicate the company vision and strategy in interactions with

employees. These strategies must be embodied by the operations manager, through waste

minimization, the development of innovative solutions, or a quality mindset.

Recommendations on communication challenges

Strategies that will facilitate the smooth delivery of the appropriate message to all

stakeholders in the organization need to be formulated by the operations manager. The OM

must facilitate the adoption of effective communication methods in the organization, as well as

ensure a conducive atmosphere for work is fostered, where fear, shame, or mistrust are not

issues when information is being transferred. Having such a working environment in an

organization will enable the free flow of ideas, creativity, and innovation and increase the

employee's productivity (Genç, 2017).

Ensuring Lean and Green Operations:

The incoming OM at Aggreko Plc will have to devise and employ strategies that

eliminate waste, reduces unproductive tasks and processes, attain the goals of the firm in the

aspect of corporate social responsibility, and enable profitability at the same time (Kleindorfer

et al., 2005). He/she has to prioritize sustainability, given the impact, this has on an

organization's success in the modern business world. The OM must make lean operations the

foundation of the culture in the organization, to enable waste reduction and product quality

improvement, as well as improvement of value for the clients of the organization. The
sustainability issue is also important because of the environment and the health of the people

residing there. The OM has the difficult challenge of improving quality and environmental

practices through the development of a synergy between green and lean operations (Pil and

Rothenberg, 2003). The fact that green operations management is required to obtain a global

supply that is both sustainable and cost-effective is generally agreed to by people in the

industry and researchers. This will enable the satisfaction of the flexibility and cost preferences

of consumers, at the same time conserving resources for future utilization (Gunasekaran and

Irani, 2014, p. 801).

Recommendations

It has been suggested that productivity can be improved when there is a performance in

the aspect of the environment, which causes expansion in the share of a business in the market

and an uptick in revenue (Klassen, 2001; Delmas, 2001). The synergy between lean practices

and operations that targets cost reduction needs to be the focus for the OM, at the same time

ensuring power solutions being produced are eco-friendly. The need for the adoption of

competitive strategies by the operations manager is imperative because of the challenges of

globalization. Lean-based operations that employs strategies for cleaner and cheaper sources

of energy utilization need to be targeted by the OM. Others that can be utilized include green

supply chains, green partnerships, and green procurement to achieve sustainability.

Empowering Employees

Identifying and bringing talented hands into the organization will be shouldered by the

OM. The task the incoming OM faces doesn't just stop at recruiting talented and competent

people, he/she must also ensure they can be retained. The significance of this is because of the

constricted talent pool caused by competition and globalization. Having a satisfied and

motivated workforce requires them to be empowered with leadership roles, knowledge, etc

(Heizer et al., 2017). The intention to drive the realization of employee potential is constantly

shown by the organization (Aggreko Plc, 2019), hence, it should be top of the to-do list of the
OM. This also includes rewards and compensation.

Recommendations for Empowering Employees

Mentorship is one way the new OM can employ developing and empowering newly

recruited employees. He/she also needs to arraign frequent training and workshops for the

workforce to continuously update them. The time for holding such training and workshops can

be in various forms (bi-weekly, bi-monthly, or others), which will provide an opportunity

away from the pressures of work for employees to bond and socialize. This approach can

enable the smooth and hitch-free transfer of knowledge among the workforce, and thus lead to

a close working relationship being developed, as well as a cordial working atmosphere.

Employing Innovation in Providing Clients with Solutions

Innovative approaches are being used worldwide by operations managers to contend

with the issue of market leadership and gain a competitive edge (Jacobs and Chase, 2018).

Because of the dynamism in the market and rapid technological advancement, it is required

that operations managers be savvy and innovative in their chosen methods.

Rapid technological advancements have made it easy for OMs to monitor inventories

in real time using global positioning systems (GPS), and radio frequency identification

(RFID). This development has revolutionized the management of inventories (Sanders, 2014).

Failing to keep up with such trends will spell doom for the new OM as the company can't

afford to fall behind the competition (Sanders, 2014).

Constant monitoring of the trends in consumer demand is one aspect the OM has to

prioritize so that necessary Strategies and measures can be employed accordingly. The OM

must limit innovation in the organization to just a cost-saving measure, but customer

preferences need to be incorporated.

Recommendations on Innovations

The OM must develop an environment at work that is customer-centric in promoting

innovation to surmount this issue. Communication design thinking can be employed in

addressing this challenge (Sanders, 2014). Finally, the OM needs to ensure he/she gains an

adequate grasp of the dynamics of the market, what customers need and prefer in the market

segment he/she will manage, including the appropriate products and services that will

maximize profit in his/her market segment.

4. CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this report focused on the job description of an operations manager

generally and specifically as it applies to Aggreko Plc, an energy solutions provider in the

African market.

The report highlighted general issues often encountered by operations managers all

over the world, with a more specific focus on the challenges a newly recruited operations

manager for Aggreko Plc will likely encounter. The newly recruited OM will have the duty to

oversee operations to provide clients across Africa with environmentally friendly energy

solutions in a workplace that is motivated and satisfied.

Given the number of identified challenges the OM will encounter, he/she must create a

working environment in the organization that fosters creativity, innovation, and open

communication if he/she is to successfully navigate the series of identified challenges. Being

able to successfully create a conducive working environment where his/her subordinates can

freely share ideas, and information will be critical to achieving success.

The introduction of sustainable practices such as green and lean initiatives was also

identified in the report as key to being successful as an OM in the organization. This will

ensure the reduction of waste, and protection of the environment, provide value to clients in

the form of clean and efficient energy solutions, as well as demonstrate Aggreko is a socially
responsible organization. Overall, this will endear the company to clients, and thus enhance

their loyalty.

Finally, this report has established through available literature that promoting a culture

of open communication, innovation, free sharing of ideas and information, sustainability,

efficiency, and teamwork will be critical to successfully navigating many of the identified

challenges that stand in the path of the incoming operations manager.

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APPENDIX