Leadership and Management: Roles, Characteristics, and Theories

This document discusses the definitions of a leader and a manager, compares their roles and characteristics, and explores various leadership and management theories. It also examines the role of leaders and managers in operations management and the importance of operations management in achieving business objectives.

Leadership and
management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Definitions of a leader and a manager.........................................................................................1
Comparison between roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager.................................2
Role of a leader and functions of a manager using organizational examples.............................4
Leadership and Management theories.........................................................................................5
Concept of operations management and its key approaches.......................................................6
Importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives..................8
Factors that impact operational management and decision making of leaders and managers....9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
References:.....................................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Leadership can be defined as to form the team and guide their team mates as per the task
assigned to them. Human resource management is highly responsible in leadership function in an
organization so that people management can be focused on for the employee's as well as for the
employer's benefits. Management can be defined as to manage the company's operations and
employees as well so that they can get as much productivity as they can from the employees for
the company. Human resource management is also accountable for the functions of management
in order to keep the track of employees and working of the company in a smooth manner in an
organization (Carsten, Uhl-Bien and Huang, 2018).
Organization chosen here is Ford, it is one of the leading international auto maker
company based in US in 1903. They mainly deals with the cars and vehicles and sell them in the
market in it's own manufacturing process. They have ranges like Ford Mustang, Ford Figo and
Ford Aspire. This report consist the concept of leadership and management while taking the
example of the company Ford.
The following discussions are based on the leadership and management, concepts of
leader and manager, difference between roles and characteristics between leader and a manager,
role and functions of a leader and a manager in different organizational situations, various
leadership and management theories, role of leader and manager plays in operations
management, key approaches to operations management in context of the role of leader and
manger, importance of operations management in business and business factors that impacts or
affects the decision making and operations management in an organization in context of Ford
with proper findings and conclusion.
MAIN BODY
Definitions of a leader and a manager
Leader is a person who performs the function of leadership in an organization, they are
responsible for giving the motivation and inspiration to employees so that they can work
satisfyingly in terms of job and social relationships in the company. It is important for a leader to
handle employees and tackle conflict and change management with them so that they feel
comfortable working in the company. It is essential for the leader to take care of the employees
because workforce are considered as an assets for the firm and therefore, they are required to be
1

satisfied and making them willing to work even harder for the company. There are various
leadership styles are available so that leader can adopt and can perform their functions
effectively such as autocratic, democratic, free rein, transactional, transformational, coach,
servant and many more styles. These styles helps and supports the leader in assisting their team
mates in their tasks and work performed in an efficient manner with a potential behaviour of a
person. Therefore, in order to motivate employees and inspire them by guiding for the work and
appreciating for the same can help the leader to apply such leadership styles in an organization in
a more easier way so that employees try their best to increase the productivity of the company
(Hester, 2017).
Manager is a person who performs the functions of management in an organization, they
are responsible for handling the company's management process to gain the organizational
stability and growth for better revenues and income generation of the firm. They are accountable
for the five major functions of management that are planning, organising, staffing, directing and
controlling. Without these functions, business management cannot be possible in a proper way.
Therefore, manager is important person in every organization to mange the management of the
company in an appropriate manner. Managers are of different departments in a company like
human resource manager, marketing manager, sales manager, information technology manger,
production manger, research and development manager and many more. Each manager is
responsible for the different functions in every department in the company as per the needs and
requirements of an organization. They mainly look that the work that is being carried out by the
employees are accurate or not, basically they instruct the employees for the work and give them
a path for better working in the firm. Managers main motive is to accomplish the task on a given
deadline so that productivity of the company can be increased and their departments could get
appreciated by top management of the firm (Korneeva, Krayneva and Platitsyn, 2018).
Comparison between roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager
Roles of a leader and a manager
Leader Manager
Leader's role is to set direction for it's
followers so that they can lead a way for them
and guide them about the work and task they
Manager's role is to plan the details of the work
or task given by the top management and
instruct their employees by providing them a
2

have to perform effectively. path to work potentially.
Leader's role is to look for the growth and
development of the company so that they can
inspire their workforce accordingly to work as
per the goals and objectives of the firm.
Manager's role is to attain the outcomes which
was assigned to them by a top management.
They focuses on the results they are getting by
the working from the employees or not.
Leader's role is to promotes the change in an
organization so that staff could be comfortable
in accepting changes and can face the dynamic
environment of the business.
Manager's role is to reacts to change so that
they can explain the reason behind the change
to their employees so that they can adapt that
change sincerely.
Leader's role is to aligns the people so that
workforce can feel familiar with the business
environment and can be comfortable with each
other.
Manager's role is to organise the people so that
discipline can be maintained in an organization
and every employee can work in a sincere
manner to maintain the decorum of the
company (Lehmann-Willenbrock, Rogelberg,
Allen and Kello, 2018).
Characteristics of a leader and a manger
Leader Manager
Leader's characteristics is to make followers
who means their appreciation and follows the
leader's guidance in a serious manner.
Manager's characteristics is to manage
employees in the firm, so that they can perform
the given task appropriately.
Leader's characteristics is to facilitates the
decision making so that any of their followers
did not feel uncomfortable in working in an
organization.
Manager's characteristics is to make decision
making that has to be followed by their
employees in a strict manner for completing
the work assigned.
Leader's characteristics is to face the conflicts
so that staff can be prepared in future that how
they can manage conflicts among them.
Manager's characteristics is to avoids conflicts
so that every work they are assigned can go in
a smooth manner and can be accomplished
successfully without any hindrances.
3

Leader's characteristics is to focus on people,
their behaviour, their confidence and
motivational level so that they can be satisfied
with a job and they can face less turnover of
the staff.
Manager's characteristics is to focus on process
and procedures of the company and ensures
that they are being followed or not by the
employees while working for the company
(MINICĂ, 2017).
Role of a leader and functions of a manager using organizational examples
Example 1
One of the organizational situational taken here is the Covid-19 situation and sudden lock
down in the country and workers are now required to work from home for some months. In this
situation, employees will face a great difficulties like managing the office work at home,
learnings different technologies to coordinate with each other, managing their personal life as
well and keeping a proper cooperation with other employees for effective communication and
working.
Role of a leader
Leader will adopt the leadership style of bureaucracy, which states that some rules,
regulations and norms are being made for the employees that the workforce needs to follow
while working at home. Leader will guide the employees about the technology that how they can
use it at home and how they can coordinate their work with each other and how they can report
to their seniors. (Pruna, 2017).
Function of a manager
Manager will adopt the function of management of directing, which states that proper
policies are being made for the employees that is required to be followed by the workforce in an
appropriate manner so that no confusion can raise while working at home. Manager will instruct
their employees to use the technology that can improve the communication and working of the
employees in a more better way and direct them the ways and methods while working at home.
Example 2
Another organizational situation taken here is the launching of a new product in the
company for more profit and revenue generation and for the expansion of the firm. In this
situation, employees will face various difficulties like change in working concept for every
department like for finance, human resource, research and development and many more.
4

Role of a leader
Leader will adopt the leadership style of democracy, which states that leaders provides
little freedom to their employees in being a part of a decision making so that they can get each
and every person's views on the new product development. Leader will motivate the employees
for change in working in an organization and inspire that how can they bring and adopt that
change for the company.
Function of a manger
Manager will adopt the function of management of planning and organizing, which states
that planning and organising is required when there is a change in management process
especially due to the new product launches in an organization. Manager will convince their
employees for the change management and explains them the process of new product launches
and how they can manage such change at work place (Qureshi, 2020).
Leadership and Management theories
Leadership theories
Situational leadership
This type of leadership states that there are various situations in the company which is
needed to be handled as per the requirements of the situations. Therefore, it combines the four
major concepts in this theory such as delegating, participating, selling and telling (Covey, 2017).
System leadership
This type of leadership states that leader roles are defined through various skills set they
contain in them in order to manage people which defines the combination of complex systems
insight, coalition building, advocacy tactics and collaborative leadership skills.
Contingency theory
This type of leadership states that leader are required to change their leadership styles
according to the various conditions arises in the company because adopting one style
consistently cannot benefit employees and the company as well so therefore, it is important to
adopt different styles in different circumstances.
Management theories
Scientific management theory
This theory is given by Taylor which states that there must be the division of work among
the employees who are working in the company. If one employee is overloaded than the
5

company cannot gain any efficiency in working. Therefore, task must be divided amongst them
for proper working in an organization.
Bureaucratic management theory
This theory is given by Max Weber which states that there must an appropriate rules,
regulations, norms, policies, process and procedures in the company so that employees can
follow them in a strict manner and can maintain the decorum in an organization for better
discipline maintenance in the firm.
Systems management theory
This theory states that the management of an organization must be carried out through the
planning function. It gives an example such as the human body is made up of different body
parts but working together forms a larger systems and ultimately works collectively, same way
organization consist different departments and they have to work interrelatedly so that it can
create an efficient working system of the company (Chiu, Balkundi and Weinberg, 2017).
Concept of operations management and its key approaches
Management and operations is the suitable functions that leads to manage company in
order to create and develop suitable operational activities that are appropriate for an organisation
in order to accomplish the competitive edge for company. In regard of this, operations
management is the prominent process that helps in managing the overall process for having
suitable distribution of products and services by explaining prominent approaches for the
operations management and its significance in terms of achieving the suitable business goals and
objectives (Connolly, James and Fertig, 2019). In regard of this, various approaches of
operations management are discussed as underneath:
Six sigma: It is helpful in terms of enhancing the overall quality of commodities which
are being offered by an organisation. It is useful for the suitable operational and logistics
activities by focusing on the prominent efforts of the group in terms of enhancing the overall
efforts and performance which are useful in achieving expected results. In terms of Ford, they
can use six sigma within their operational actions which is useful terms of eliminating barriers
and hurdles from the overall manufacturing in terms of enhancing the efficiency (Bratton, 2020).
For this, it is also useful in order to achieve the profitability from the business by undertaking the
measurement and development in the functioning. It also tends to undertake suitable barriers by
6

bringing rigidity in its nature and working manner as the suitable principles are applied over here
in terms of analysing the significant application.
In context of Ford, the suitable role of manager is to develop prominent strategic plan
which is helpful and for the effective use of available resources. Furthermore, Ford tends to
apply it in its operational activities but at the final stage of their plan as due to this, it undertake
the suitable rigidity which is useful in terms of enhancing the overall quality of operations and
reduce wastage. Furthermore, the role of a leader is to execute the methodology which is useful
in order to improve the overall performance and functioning of workforce that tends to enhance
the suitable efforts of team.
Total quality management: It depict the continuous process that helps in identifying and
reducing the imperfections from the suitable operational activities and supply chain management
that leads to improve the overall experience of customers in order to satisfy them. It also leads to
make sure the overall development of quality which is being make sure by the workforce. This
approach is used by Ford Motor company in order to fulfil the suitable goals and objectives. For
this, the role of manager is to effectively apply prominent strategies by making and developing
effective plan such as KAIZEN and many more by which company tends to put emphasis on the
suitable changes that tends to bring development in the production and operations of company
(Dawson and et. al., 2020). In this context the role of leader is to encourage and motivate their
workforce in terms of adopting suitable changes in the company that tends to enhance the overall
quality of the offerings and also leads to reduce the resistance of workforce at the time of
executing change. For this, the role of leader is to encourage their workforce at the time of opting
change in company that leads to enhance the overall quality of commodities and reduce the
resistance of workforce to execute change.
Just in time: This approach is useful in terms of aligning with the prominent raw
materials that are being offered by the suppliers regarding the suitable process of production and
also leads to convert it into final and consumable product. It is helpful in terms of enhancing the
overall efficiency of production and leads to reduce the wastage that occur at the time of
production. Furthermore, it is also depend on the prominent assumptions and forecasting
considering the demand of products and services that depends on the suitable assumptions which
are be considered by the manager itself (Van Wart and et. al., 2019). By effectively applying just
in time leads to enable Ford in order to save huge cost and money. For this, the role of manger
7

over here is to apply this approach in order to keep track of all the supplies and also align them
with effective purchase to eliminate waste of resources. Here, the role of leader of Ford is to
analyse the overall performance of individuals by working under them and make suitable efforts
in the favour of workforce to enhance the overall performance, its levels and efficiencies.
Importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives
This process undertake the effective planning, staffing, controlling, organising and other
suitable activities that relies under the effective production and operational activities. In relation
with this, the prominent purpose of the operation manager is to make sure that the suitable
products and services which are offered to them are provided on given period of time by
satisfying the needs of customers. For this, operation management is the suitable function in
order to manage all the effective operations of company at any cost in an effective way that leads
to improve the overall productivity of company.
Functions of operational activities:
In terms of fulfilling the suitable operational activities, then the manager of Ford tends to
perform various functions in order to have effective control and suitable distribution system as
due to this, manager tends to have proper control over the supply chain and suitable distribution
and management of products of an organisation that leads to play an important role regarding the
transformation of the raw materials into finished products by effectively observing the working
of the operational activities (Berkovich and Bogler, 2020). Moreover, to perform these functions,
the manager of Ford must have prominent objectives that are useful in terms of motivating
workforce to perform it in an effective way. For this, suitable operations that occur in Ford in
terms of serving the best quality products to their customers are also discussed.
Objectives of operational activities:
 To effectively perform the suitable functions in an effective manner and it tends to
become the duty of manager to identify the effective objectives in terms of enhancing the
overall performance of workforce. To enhance the quality of products and services in terms of reducing the wastage which
are being important for workforce in order to have clear vision and motivation to perform
things in an effective manner.
Operational functions of Ford:
8

 Production function: This function effectively reflect the prominent meaning regarding
the production of the function which is concerned with the change into the raw materials
to the final products. For this, the manufacturing of the activities by which company
tends to undertake the effective production within the operations. It is also important for
the effective operations in terms of working prominently and with suitable manner. In
regard of this, to make things more effective for Ford, their managers leads to make
suitable use of Just in time in terms of aligning with all the production and supplies
(Leithwood, 2019). Hence, this function tends to enable Ford in terms of saving the
suitable finances that are useful in order to have effective investments that are quite
profitable. For this, the function tends to enable an organisation in terms of attaining the
prominent objectives that leads to eliminate wastage by increasing the profitability of
company.
 Product design function: This function leads to undertake the suitable gathering of data
from the past experience and also leads to present it in order to make effective
development in an effective manner. This function is more effective for the managers of
Ford if they leads to make effective use of TQM by which they leads to achieve suitable
goals to enhance the overall efficiency of workforce for the better system and processing
in terms of conducting and developing prominent activities (Daniëls, Hondeghem and
Dochy, 2019). The leads to Ford leads to suggest and innovate unique ideas in terms of
eliminating the duplication from the task and also leads to enable company to eliminate
waste from company and induce them in an effective manner regarding the significance
of job. This practice also tends to permit Ford to enhance their operational effectiveness
in order to change the company into the enhancement of productivity.
Factors that impact operational management and decision making of leaders and managers
Business environment leads to put major impact on the running and functioning of
company as it leads to impact the decisions, strategies, processes and overall performance of
company. For this, environment tends to consist suitable factors which are beyond the control of
business and to identify them PESTLE analysis and other external factors are being discussed: Political: Ford tends to have strong sales in Asian countries and their market also leads to
continue in order to have strong and stable sales that leads to enhance the performance of
economy. In this context, the political stability of Asian countries are not stable and Ford
9

does not have same level of success like other nations (Baker, 2019). Hence, Ford need to
put more concentrate over the suitable efforts with stable political backing. Economical: After the recession, Ford tends to face enhancement in sales and effectively
undertake their trade products and materials as the Asian countries have large population
that depict the never ending demand of product that can become strength for company.
Moreover, open trade agreement among the emerging nations leads to enhance sales by
eliminating risk and improve competition. Social: Customers leads to have various preferences and number of choices regarding
their product and for this, Ford tends to face difficulty in terms of attracting customers.
Besides this, electric cars and hybrid vehicles become an opportunity for company as
their demand gets enhanced on the regular basis that become opportunity of company. Technological: Tech-savvy population represent the great demands for car with modern
technological devices like automatic windows and rear view cameras (Tseng and Levy,
2019). For this, Ford tends to continue to incorporate the latest gadgets for their vehicles
by considering the innovation regarding the advent of driverless cars. Legal: Safety regulations, intellectual property rights and so on leads to impact the
growth of company. To increase the business, Ford need to align itself with proper rules
to make sure better designs of products and safe working environment. Environmental: The demand of global factors leads to shift towards the environment-
friendly cars undertaking the electric and hybrid vehicles that has no emission and impact
over environment (Koontz, Weihrich and Cannice, 2020). For this, company tends to put
emphasis over the electric and fusion hybrid models that can become opportunity for
company.
Other external factors: Corporate social responsibility: This activity is being performed by company in order to
enhance their image in market and also helps in attracting maximum number of
customers towards the company (Graves, Sarkis and Gold, 2019). In regard of Ford, they
tends to believe that there are various policies which are harmful for the overall
environment and also does not put negative impact over the image of company. For this,
environmental conservation is essential regarding Ford and other organisations who leads
to face pressure from the side of government for the development of environment. For
10

this, Ford tends to take initiative regarding the elimination of carbon emission from their
vehicles.
 Ethics: It undertake the suitable code of conduct and regulations which are being
followed by company as ethics is the special part of CSR and the leaders of Ford need to
make sure regarding the ethical policies which are being executed in an effective manner.
For this, managers also tends to develop effective strategies and policies while
considering ethics which does not leads to harm climate like habitats, natural resources,
human rights and so on (Sousa and Rocha, 2019). As it is essential for company to
maintain their image to enhance the revenues and sales.
CONCLUSION
Therefore, it is analysed that both leaders and managers plays an important role for the
growth of company in order to manage their functions. The role and functions of both leaders
and managers is useful in order to manage conflict by introducing their products effectively. For
this, effective leadership approaches are discussed that helps in eliminating wastage and improve
the quality of production. It also leads to evaluate the importance of operational management that
helps in achieving objectives by analysing factors by identifying external factors of company.
11

References:
Books and Journals
Baker, E.L., 2019. Reflections on public health leadership. Journal of Public Health
Management and Practice, 25(1), pp.90-91.
Berkovich, I. and Bogler, R., 2020. The relationship between school leadership standards and
school administration imperatives: an international perspective. School Leadership &
Management, 40(4), pp.321-334.
Bratton, J. ed., 2020. Organizational leadership. SAGE Publications Limited.
Carsten, M.K., Uhl-Bien, M. and Huang, L., 2018. Leader perceptions and motivation as
outcomes of followership role orientation and behavior. Leadership. 14(6). pp.731-756.
Chiu, C.Y.C., Balkundi, P. and Weinberg, F.J., 2017. When managers become leaders: The role
of manager network centralities, social power, and followers' perception of
leadership. The Leadership Quarterly. 28(2). pp.334-348.
Connolly, M., James, C. and Fertig, M., 2019. The difference between educational management
and educational leadership and the importance of educational
responsibility. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 47(4), pp.504-
519.
Covey, S., 2017. 8.1 Leader Versus Manager. Career Skills for Surgeons, p.143.
Daniëls, E., Hondeghem, A. and Dochy, F., 2019. A review on leadership and leadership
development in educational settings. Educational research review, 27, pp.110-125.
Dawson, D and et. al., 2020. The drivers of Higher Education leadership competence: a study of
Moldovan HEI’s. Studies in Higher Education, 45(6), pp.1217-1232.
Graves, L.M., Sarkis, J. and Gold, N., 2019. Employee proenvironmental behavior in Russia:
The roles of top management commitment, managerial leadership, and employee
motives. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 140, pp.54-64.
Hester, A., 2017. Management Starts With You: Gain Confidence and Success as a Leader and
Manager. Hachette UK.
Koontz, H., Weihrich, H. and Cannice, M.V., 2020. Essentials of Management-An International,
Innovation and Leadership Perspective|. McGraw-Hill Education.
Korneeva, E., Krayneva, R. and Platitsyn, A., 2018, October. Manager as a leader in
implementing strategic changes at the enterprises. In 2nd International Conference on
Social, Economic and Academic Leadership (ICSEAL 2018). Atlantis Press.
Lehmann-Willenbrock, N., Rogelberg, S.G., Allen, J.A. and Kello, J.E., 2018. The critical
importance of meetings to leader and organizational success. Organizational
Dynamics. 47(1). pp.32-36.
Leithwood, K., 2019. Characteristics of effective leadership networks: A replication and
extension. School Leadership & Management, 39(2), pp.175-197.
MINICĂ, M., 2017. APPROACH OF THE MANAGER-LEADER-ENTREPRENEUR
RELATION FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF APPLIED MICROECONOMICS. Analele
Universitatii'Eftimie Murgu'Resita. Fascicola II. Studii Economice.
12

Pruna, S., 2017. Chief Between Manager And Leader. In Proceedings of the INTERNATIONAL
MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE (Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 718-728). Faculty of
Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania.
Qureshi, I., 2020. Role and size of a leader in organizational behaviors. Journal of HR,
Organizational Behaviour & Entrepreneurship Development. 1(1). pp.13-16.
Sousa, M.J. and Rocha, Á., 2019. Skills for disruptive digital business. Journal of Business
Research, 94, pp.257-263.
Tseng, S.T. and Levy, P.E., 2019. A multilevel leadership process framework of performance
management. Human Resource Management Review, 29(4), p.100668.
Van Wart, M and et. al., 2019. Operationalizing the definition of e-leadership: identifying the
elements of e-leadership. International Review of Administrative Sciences, 85(1), pp.80-
97.
13