Qualification Module number and title

Cardiff Metropolitan University Level 4 and 5

SRI4151- Introduction to Management
Higher Diploma in Business Management

Student name Assessor name

Aluthge Kasun Prathibha Wijerathna

CL/HDBM/CMU/93/32 Ms. Amandi Kulasinghe

Cardiff ID- st20208570

Date issued Completion date Submitted on

04/07/2021 12/07/2021 17/07/2021

Assessment type Duration/Length of Weighting of Approximate

WRIT 1 Assessment Assessment Date of
3000 words 100% Submission
End of
Semester

Learner declaration

I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own and research sources are
fully acknowledged.

Student signature: A.K.P. Wijerathna. Date: 12/07/2021

Marks awarded

First assessor

Second assessor

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Agreed grade

IV Signature Date

Assignment Feedback
First assessor feedback

Assessors name & Date

signature

Second assessor feedback

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Assessors name & Date
signature

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Acknowledgement
In completing this assignment, the author would like to express his special thanks to Ms.
Amandi Kulasinghe for providing an author the possibility to complete this assignment.
Secondly, an author would like to thank his parents and friends who helped him a lot in
finalizing his assignment within the limited time frame, then the author would like to again
express his special thanks to his parents for giving him all the technical and financial
resources to complete this assignment.

Executive summary
Throughout this report, the reader will be able to find how the author describes managerial
levels and their objectives and what are skills the managers should have, and what are roles

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they are playing to achieve organizational goals and objectives. Secondly, the reader can
identify the theory of scientific management and how it applies to the selected organization.
Then the reader can get an idea about, what are the extremal environmental changes and how
it impacts to the organization within this pandemic. Although the reader can get a clear idea
about the differences and the similarities between leadership and management and how it's
important to the organization. Finally, the author has described the controlling process and
how it important to the selected organization. The author has selected the “John Keells
Holdings PLC” (JKH) company and also the author has used Keells, Union Assurance,
Nations Trust Bank, related companies of JKH as examples to easily get an understanding of
the reader.

Table of contents
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 Assignment Feedback............................................................................................................2

Acknowledgement..................................................................................................................4

Executive summary................................................................................................................5

Introduction................................................................................................................................7

1.0 Management levels and Objectives related to Managers.....................................................7

1.1 Managerial Levels and Objectives...................................................................................7

1.2 Skills required to Managers.............................................................................................9

1.3 Roles required to Managers,..........................................................................................10

2.0 Scientific management theory............................................................................................11

2.1 key elements of scientific management,........................................................................11

2.3 Aplying scientific managenment to JKH.......................................................................12

3.0 External environment changers..........................................................................................12

3.1 Technological environment............................................................................................12

3.2 Legal environment.........................................................................................................13

4.0 Classification of the types of plans according to the organizational structure...................13

4.1 Types of plans................................................................................................................13

5.0 Leadership, Management, and process of controlling for achieving organizational goals.
..................................................................................................................................................14

5.1 Importance of leadership to the organization.................................................................14

5.2 Differences and Similarities between Leadership and Management.............................15

5.3 Controlling in parallel with selected organization,........................................................16

6.0 Conclusion..........................................................................................................................16

References................................................................................................................................17

List of Tables

Table 1- Examples & Tasks Of each managerial Levels...........................................................9

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Table 2- Differences between Leader & Manager...................................................................16

List of & Figures

Figure 1- Managerial Levels......................................................................................................9

Figure 2- Management Structure of JKH.................................................................................11
Figure 3- Main Managerial Skills............................................................................................11
Figure 4- Types of plans corresponded to managerial levels...................................................15
Figure 5- Leadership & Management......................................................................................17
Figure 6- Controlling Process..................................................................................................18

Introduction
Any organization must have powerful management to proceed with the competitive market
and achieve goals and objectives in the dynamic business environment. The report will be
assessed based on the managerial skills and roles, the management theories, how the dynamic

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environment affects the organization, organizational planning and how the planning helps
organizational achievements, the importance of leadership, and the difference between
leadership and management. The “John Keells Holdings PLC” (JKH) was selected to analyse,
how the company continues the above management practices with the covid 19 pandemic
situation. JHK is the largest conglomerate business in Sri Lanka established in the early 1870
s. The main industries of JKH are consumer foods and retail, financial services, information
technology, leisure, property, transportation, and plantation services. (John-Keells-Group,
n.d.)

1.0 Management levels and Objectives related to Managers.

1.1 Managerial Levels and Objectives
According to Dunham & Pierce management can be defined as “the process of planning,
organizing, directing, and controlling organizational resources (human, financial, physical,
and informational) in the pursuit of organizational goals.” (Grundei, 2019). Management
doesn’t refer to an individual person. There are
a set of people in organization who identify as
managers and they can be classified in to three
main levels and placed in organization to
perform different managerial activities. The
levels of management depend on size of the
business and the workforce. According to the
level of managers, their responsibilities,
authority, functions, and tasks they perform be
varied.
Figure 1- Managerial Levels
source 1- (Free BCom Notes , 2015)

The managerial levels and their functions can be identified as follows,

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 Levels Objectives

Top level- these managers are  Making strategic plans for whole
responsible for the whole organization organization to achieve long and short-
and they have the most authority over term objectives.
the organization.  Provide guidance and directions to carry
on activities of the organization.
E.g.- CEO, CFO, COO, Board of
 Convert business practices to online.
Directors
E.g.- introduce WFO method
 Responsible for maintain relationships
with shareholders and outside world.

Middle level- these managers are  Coordinating departmental activities.

identified as departmental heads and E.g.- when it comes to Keells introducing
they work according to the top-level new technical and delivery methods to
instructions. maintain the sales revenue such as apps.
 Providing guidelines to lower-level
E.g.- general managers, departmental
managers.
managers, branch managers

Firstline – these are the managers who  Guiding operatives

are closely dealing with operatives of E.g.- training and coordinating operatives
the organization. The focused on the to work with online platforms.
day-to-day operations of the  Motivate operatives and help them to
employees. solve their grievances.
 Responsible for the quality and the
E.g.- foreman, supervisors
quantity of the production.

Table 1- Examples & Tasks Of each managerial Levels

source 2- Author constructed based on (Simmering, n.d.)

During these days’ managers need some additional burden also to face the covid situation.
There are some additional functions also have mentioned in the above table.

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Any organization has organizational structure and it reveals the managerial levels of the
organization. JKH also has a special structure in categorizing managers it can be exhibited as
follows,

Figure 2- Management Structure of JKH

Source 3- Author constructed based on (John-Keells-Holdings, 2020)

According to the organizational structure of JKH, the top management consists of two layers
the CEO and the directors. All the managers such as sales, finance, marketing represent
middle-level and all the assistant managers are the lower-level managers and they handle
team leaders as well.

1.2 Skills required to Managers

Managers should have knowledge and experience to do the management those are called
skills. Robert L. Katz had introduced three main skills required to managers to achieve the
goals and objectives. They are,

Conceptual skills- CEO and Directors of the JKH must have a creative thinking style to
analyse and solve problems Figure 3- Main Managerial Skills
source 4- (MANAGEMENT MANIA , n.d.)
creatively and make strategies
to achieve their goals and objectives, this is known as conceptual skills. This needs more top-
level managers because they have to pay attention to the entire organization. Managers

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thought of new concepts to maintain JKH with covid-19. Transfer to WFO, Online delivery
systems, providing their hotels for quarantine for people coming from foreign countries for
money, are some examples.

Human skills – The ability to understand and work with others and to get work from them is
called human skill. Human skills apply to managers at all levels, to deal with people. Due to
the pandemic, operatives have to face many problems with their work therefore JKH has
provided transport, healthcare for free to motivate and continuing long-lasting relationships
between the organization and operatives. Keells make new strategies to measures were taken
to obtain vegetables and fruits from local farmers and to encourage them.

Technical skills- managers need to have technical skills according to the tasks they are in.
This skill mostly needed for operational-level managers. As an example, when work from
home they need to know how to make emails, how to make reports for sharing important
information. Technical skills are important to identify variables, in measuring employee
performance, monitoring, and communication performance. (S, n.d.)

In addition to those, managers should have political, communication, problem solving skills
also.

1.3 Roles required to Managers,

Different managerial roles are played by managers to achieve organizational objectives.
Henri Mintzberg has identified several roles of managers and those can be identified
according to the managerial levels and their objectives.

As a Figurehead delivering public speeches, inspires employees and customers doing by the
top managers to add dignity to the organization. CEO and the directors must play this role as
the top level of the JKH to represent the head of the organization in legal and social matters.
Leadership is a most important function for all the level of managers of JKH, therefore, they
should work as a leader to motivate, direct employees who are in remote places to make sure
organizational culture is continued in the pandemic via online platforms. Top and middle-
level managers in JKH should make clear communication with an external environment like
political, customer relationship, associational supports which helps the organization to
survive in any situation therefore they play a role as Liaison. Monitor nowadays operatives
have to work from home, therefore, their operations must monitor and scheduled, managers
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should observe their online delivery information as well, all level managers in JKH should
work as leaders to make better performance. Clear communication and coordination become
more important these days to lower and middle managers in JKH to coordinate customers
matters, conduct meetings to supply clear information connected to the business as a
Disseminator. As a Spokesperson top-level managers provide information to external parties
representing organizations to maintain the proper relationships. involvement is required for
activities such as obtaining loans to run a business by the CEO and directors in JKH. Top-
level managers should identify new opportunities, management systems, new strategies to
achieve their targets and they should start a new project that can be continued with online
platforms to build the future of JKH then they have to play a role as entrepreneurs. When it
comes to the current situation Covid is an unexpected impact on organizations. All level
managers must be able to minimize the impact on business and workers in such situations and
it is mandatory to provide the required facilities to the employees on arrival at that duty for
essential as a Disturbance handler. Top Middle and Firstline managers in JKH should work as
Resource allocators to make new plans for next year with a limited budget, scheduled to
reduce the salary of employees, allocate arrears resources. Managers act as negotiators in
internal and external conflicts and represent the organization in important discussions.
(Obiefuna, 2014)

2.0 Scientific management theory.

In 1901 Frederick Taylor introduced the scientific management theory as a solution to
problems such as waste of resources, lack of proper coordination, administration. This theory
analyses the most efficient methodology to enhance labour productivity and achieve the
various functions of the organization. As a scientific theory about the workplace, special
attention is paid to the selection, training, supervision and motivation of employees in
selecting an efficient methodology for performing tasks.

2.1 key elements of scientific management,

Scientific management operates on four key principles and can greatly contribute to current
business management.

Firstly, management must determine the one best way to perform the job tasks in a short
period of time, and then they should identify the job requirements and select employees who

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are capable of performing the task efficiently and effectively based on their skills as the
second principal based on this theory. Under the third principal employees who were selected
using the scientific methodology need to be trained to specialize in the relevant work they can

engaged. Finally task and responcibilities should be devided amoung employees and motivate
euqally to maintain the fairness and fquality. (Oberoi, n.d.)

2.3 Aplying scientific managenment to JKH

This theory also uses at JKH to encourage employees to share tasks and achieve greater
productivity in less time. When it comes to the selection process HR directors have a strong
selection and recruitment methods like interviews, written and practical exams when
selecting an employee according to tasks only based on qualifications they have. After
selecting, the candidates are assigned to the relevant occupation by division of labour then
JKH provides training such as simulation employee training to those who specialize in tasks
that will enable them to achieve sustainable output levels while increasing employee
performance. Employees need to be supervised and motivated to get things done. First-level
managers contribute a lot to that. According to Taylor, employees need to be paid a fair
payment to motivate them. The author reported that John Keells does both financial and non-
financial strategies to motivate employees. Generate quality productions, reduce cost, avoid
disputes between management and employees are some advantages can get when applying
this theory to JKH.

3.0 External environment changers.

External factors can’t be controlled and it impacts to the organizational operations. According
to the author, there have been some changes in the technical and legal environment due to
pandemic.

3.1 Technological environment.

Organizations must use technology to make better performance such as innovations
information technology because they shouldn’t catch the market goes with manual methods.
This becomes a requirement these days. JKH also changed the physical business conditions to
online conditions, IT managers have to maintain online stores, online payment methods,
home delivery systems to make products available and make customers comfortable.
Marketing managers do the promotions by using social media such as Facebook, Instagram,

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then customers shopping products in an online way and make online transactions. In addition
to this, managers use zoom, MS teams video conferences to communicate. Using technology-
oriented methods of doing business effect increase sales and pave the way for JKH and they
can reach the goal they want.

3.2 Legal environment

The legal environment consists of rules, regulations, laws, and judgments, etc. organizations
must have a set of rules and regulations according to their organizational culture for ease of
administration, and as well as organizations must surrender to the government policies such
as tax policies. Nowadays, health laws (should wear a mask, keep gaps with one meter),
quarantine laws, and travel restrictions are imposed by the government to control the covid
virus. As a responsible organization, JKH also abides by these rules, and managers taken
steps to establish a new set of rules to conduct their business such as rules for wearing
protective clothing for distributors in companies such as Keells, providing sanitary facilities,
issuing required permits for employees who are required to report for duty like bank sector
(Nations Trust) and they need to do a PCR and report it to managers to keep other operatives
safe. Adherence to these rules ensures the safety of employees and enables them to
successfully manage day-to-day operations, then managers can slowly reach the goals
expected in this pandemic. JKH should strictly follow those, if not they have to face many
legal difficulties

4.0 Classification of the types of plans according to the organizational

structure.
4.1 Types of plans

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 The pre-determined
course of actions that
are being taken to
implement future
actions in moving
towards the goals of an
organization called
plans (Ogolo, 2019).
When it comes to
organizations there are
three types of plans
Figure 4- Types of plans corresponded to managerial levels
that can be identified,
source 5- Author Constructed
they are strategic plans, tactical plans, and operational plans. These three are interwound each
other and goes in line with the organizational structure and managerial levels . Strategic plans
are made by the top-level managers for the entire organization to achieve long term
objectives. Strategic planning starts with the organizational mission and the vision. Top-level
managers should consider strategic plans comprehensively to move the organization from the
current position to the planned position. (Kukreja, 2013). As an example, when it comes to
the JKH they are in many kinds of sectors then their strategic plans get different from one
organization to another. When it comes to the Nations Trust Bank their master plan is to
maintain their assets based on their savings, interest, and investments. when it comes to
Keells their master, plan is to increase sale revenue therefore, the CEO and the Directors
should provide investment plans, finance plans, new project plans as strategic plans as the top
level of the JKH and they also should share the guidance to the middle-level managers to
develop tactical plans accordingly.

Specific actions or steps which are taken by managers to achieve the objectives set out in the
strategic plans are called Tactical plans. These plans are developed by the middle-level
managers for their own departments to achieve the strategic plan. when it comes to Keells,
the sales managers develop plans to what are the top-selling items and how to increase their
sales, marketing managers make plans to how they can sell more items with nexus promotion,
IT managers consider selling more items by using Keells app likewise all the middle-level

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managers who are in JKH should make tactical plans according to their departments to
achieve the strategic plans.

Lats type of planning is operational plans. These plans are focusing on the short-term goals
and day-to-day operations and prepare the sketch to achieve short-term goals with the given
time frame. (Weber, Dec 16, 2019). They are developed by first-line managers. In there is a
team structure in each branch, then the leaders set weekly schedules for collecting one
insurance for one member per week then they can achieve the weekly targets. If the leaders
and team members try to collect more than one insurance that can be a good opportunity to
exceed the targets assistant managers and leaders of JKH should consider their individual
responsibilities more to achieve the operations and then it will be a strong contribution to the
tactical and strategic plans of the organization.

5.0 Leadership, Management, and process of controlling for achieving

organizational goals.
5.1 Importance of leadership to the organization
According to the Warren Bennis “Leadership is the capacity to translate the vision into
reality” (Kruse, 2013). All the level managers should play the role of leaders to achieve the
organizational goals. That is important not only to the organization but also to support
employees and JKH also using leadership to motivate employees, to detect changes in the
environment and to make changes accordingly, to maintain the communication between the
sectors of the organization, to coordinate the activities of employees. As an example, when it
comes to it’s hard to collect insurance from home because of the pandemic then they got
demotivated because, as the leaders of the organization they innovate new strategy to
motivate them that is offering an iPhone 12 who achieve the insurance target within five
lakhs within the month and also JKH made a monitory donation to employees who are tired
of covid to make sure JKH also a part of their life.

5.2 Differences and Similarities between Leadership and Management

The ability to influence and guide individuals in an
organization called leadership and management is
the ability to control people and actions in an
organization. ( Indeed Editorial Team, April 1,

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Figure 5- Leadership & Management

source 6 - (ROSARIA, 26th February 2020)
2021) The author has identified some differences between leaders and managers in parallel
with JKH. Leaders are innovators they always come up with new ideas to face challenges.
They always consider the people to inspire the trust and help them and drag them for
achieving the organizational goals as well as they have a long-range of view. Managers are
administrators and followers of an existing system. They always consider how and when able

to accomplished the things they want and they are the people who accept the things done by
leaders as well as they use to manage employees to deal with day-to-day complications
(Vorria, n.d.). The differences are summarized in the table below,

Table 2- Differences between Leader & Manager

source 7- Author Constructed

In addition to those, working with people, influencing employees, work for the same
organizational goal, are some examples of the similarities of leadership and management. All
the managers of JHK should play the role of leaders because the key to the success of the
organization is “leadership”.

5.3 Controlling in parallel with selected organization,

The way of identifying whether the
organization heading to the planned
outcomes called controlling. (Nina
Dědečková1, 2020). There is a process
of controlling and there are four steps
within that. Firstly, establishing
Standards which means the target
performance standards that are set to
compare actual outcomes in the future.
Then actual performance should be

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Figure 6- Controlling Process
source 8- (slideplayer, 2021)
measured. After that actual and planned performances should be measured. Finally, if there is
a variance between actual and the planned performance steps must be taken to rectify it. As
an example, the sales team of Keells planned to earn 100 million per week from each branch
but it became around 80 million as actual performances. After measuring the actual and
planned results they got some variances such as shortage of people available for delivering
goods, some people don’t know to use online systems, etc. Then the managers make
strategies to engage with” Uber” and “Pic-me” to get their deliveries done and they try to
educate people by using advertisements, SMS how to deal with online platforms. According
to the author organizations like JKH should definitely use this process because they have to
do big operations within more related organizations with deficit resources, as well as JKH
consider some types of control within this controlling process such as feedforward,
concurrent, and feedback.

6.0 Conclusion
In conclusion, the author has identified some theories of management related to selected
organizations. Firstly, the managerial levels and their objectives then, what are the skills and
roles they are plying to achieve organizational objectives. After that, the author analysed how
scientific management got support from JKH. After that, this report mentioned the impact of
external environment factors on the organization. As the 4th task, the author mentioned the
contribution of leadership and management to JKH and finally the importance of the
controlling process to JKH

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