Approaches to Operations Management and the Role of Leaders and Managers

This document discusses the different roles and characteristics of leaders and managers in an organization. It also explores the theories and models of leadership, such as situational, system, and contingency theories. Additionally, it covers the key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers play in ensuring efficiency and effectiveness.

Management and
Operation

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK1.............................................................................................................................................1
P1.Define and compare different roles and characteristics of a leader and manager:................1
TASK2.............................................................................................................................................3
P2.Analyse with examples of how role of a leader and function of manager are apply in
different situational contexts.......................................................................................................3
P3) Explain different theories and models of approaches including system, contingency and
situational leadership...................................................................................................................5
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................6
P4) The key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers
play..............................................................................................................................................6
P6) The factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management
and decision- making by leaders and managers..........................................................................8
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES.............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Management is a process of managing an organisation with a view to achieve its goals
and objectives in most effective and efficient manner. By managing the process of
planning ,organising,staffing ,directing and controlling of all the department of an organisation is
that financial, operational,administrative and all the activities related with management tasks and
objectives are properly implemented in the course of management process. Its a set of activities
through which any business will run and by this process optimum utilization of resources are
possible and managers will take care of their future goals as well by managing the organisations
targets (Barnes, 2018). Its a systematic process which shows how any management will converts
raw material,work force into product and services by effectively using the available resources in
an organisation. The below report is based on the topic of American based company Uber
Technologies, this company deals in rental basis services , the motive of this company is to reach
the customer through providing services of transportation in respect of railway transport on
rental basis ,they are also serving in vehicle for food and package delivery, headquarters is in
San Francisco, California, United States. This topic is all about the role and characteristics of
manager and leaders.
TASK1
P1.Define and compare different roles and characteristics of a leader and manager:
Definition : Leader
A leader is an individual who works on the principle of motivating their team by applying the
leadership qualities according to the organisation needs and requirement they will motivates their
peoples who are work under them. Leaders are having a set of skills and experience to deal their
team in such a way as to convince them and influence them for a particular task and objective on
which they will work (Choi, Wallace and Wang, 2018). Leaders are effectively do their given
task in a specified time. We will understand by the roles of leader in the context of Uber
technologies how they will deals their organisation employee.
Roles of Leaders : Strategist: The most important role of a leader is to make required strategy as per the
situation are concern, they have to be more strategic in respect of their giving objectives
1

in an organisation , they have to think by future perspective and leaders approach to that
task. Visionary: By taking care of the vision of an organisation, leaders will decides about the
plans and strategy on which they will work, what is the long term goals of an
organisation leader will work accordingly.
Characteristics of leaders: Creative and Innovative: A leader is having a quality of making an efforts to think more
innovative and creative minds they are more capable of thinking differently from others
to attract the team members for a assigned task (Feng and Shanthikumar, 2018).
 Decision- maker:A leader is one who has a decisive approach to deals with any hard
situation, they have to take hard decisions on the basis of available options .decision
should be planned or may be spontaneous for a leader.
Definition : Manager
A manager is one who works on the principle of management and act systematically according to
the activities are concerned in the organisation. They are the one who works on
planning,organising, staffing,directing and controlling of all the function related to different task
s and objectives. Managers do their work by giving instructions and provide training and
development to their sub-ordinates and employees in accomplish of the objectives. They have to
assign duties to their employees .
Role of manager: Monitoring role : The main role of manger is to monitor the functions of different
department by evaluating their performances and working of employees by scanning of
the environment on the basis different work assigned to them .
 Liaison role of manager: As a leader manager should have to perform several duties by
interacting with the employees through communicating them, motivating them for
particular tasks ,and encourage them to create a positive mind set in an organisation
(Fisher, Olivares and Staats, 2020).
Characteristics of manager: Time management: Manager have to work according to the particular time period this
will reduce the problem of time consumed by an employees by giving them task on time
and yet have to responsible about their performances regarding that activities.
2

 Reliability: When a manager do their duties or assigning goals and objectives to the
employees they have to make sure about the reliable approach towards their employees
by giving them confidence and stand with them in their activities by interaction on a
regular basis.
Comparison of roles and characteristics of leaders and Managers:
BASIS Leaders Managers
Role Leaders are the influencer and
Motivator for their team member and
they played a role in doing their tasks
and activities in more interactive way
to connect with them quite efficiently
they are analysing the behaviour of
their team member (Kumar,
Mookerjee and Shubham, 2018).
They are the one who works on the
process of management by analysing the
the goals and objectives of an
organisation .They have to maintain the
proper coordination with their
employees by assigning them tasks and
activities related with organisation.
Characteristics There are many features of the
leaders is that strong decision
making ability, influencer,
committed towards their orders etc.
Managers are having lots of quality
feature on the basis of that they will
function in the organisation is that
reliability,empathy,monitoring
approach.
Theories Theories based on leadership
approach is that contingency theory,
behavioural theory,systematic and
situational and trait etc.
Theories based on management are as
follow bureaucratic, behavioural and
scientific management theory to
understand the managemnet more
effectively.
TASK2
P2.Analyse with examples of how role of a leader and function of manager are apply in different
situational contexts
In an organisation there are many function played by both the manager and leader because of
that different types of complex situation will arises in the organisation. Its depend upon how
3

compatible and efficient is the business to achieve its high competitive value from their
competitors and market players by this aspect organisation will attain better potential in limited
interval of time frame. They will both play their role in accordance to achieve their tasks, each
employees will work according to task assign to them (Meredith and Pilkington, 2018). As per
Uber technologies specific roles and function of managers are :
Situation 1: Overtime at workplace:
By this situation Uber will increase their productivity in respect of the overtime working
benefits will provided to the employees. Overtime will be considered as enhancing of the
working structure by giving work related activities as per their ability they will increase the
effectiveness of the organisation ,manager and leaders will distribute their responsibilities by
screening the situation in order to achieve the long term targets.
Role of leader:
 According to the situation , leaders has to make sure about the benefits which are given to
the employees as well as by providing the necessary skills and knowledge about the
particular goals here leaders have to decide about in what situation does the employees
will work on the basis of knowing them well through skills analysis, this will also
enhance the productivity of the organisation (Saucedo-Martínez and et. al., 2018).
 There is a proper utilisation of each resources in Uber technologies by proper segregation
of goods and services according to the proper monitoring of each situation.
Functions of managers:
 In Uber technologies, managers will performed many function according to the situations
are concerned so in this situation of overtime manager has to develop an design the rules
and regulation on the basis of overtime working of employees ,here each have to perform
their set of activity. By working in uber technologies by employees on overtime basis will increase the
effectiveness of this company so this is the responsibility of a manager to provide extra
benefits to them in the form of wages in extra form by this approach there is a generation
of the job satisfaction and retention of the employees as well .
Situation 2: Management of grievances:
According to this situation, management of the company should adopts the proper format
of maintaining the overall grievances structure between the company by enhancing the
4

communication level between the company in respect of their employees by designing the
strategies to formulate the plan in accordance to avoid the misunderstanding and
miscommunication this swill leads to clashes in organisation so to avoid that management will
properly work on their grievances structure.
Role of leaders:
 Leaders have to create the strategies and develop appropriate environment to reduce the
situation of crisis within the company making it more comfortable through proper
interaction with both the parties (Reid and Sanders, 2019).
 Leaders have to ensure about the new changes in the company if needed and by become a
spokesperson with interacting employees in a expand manner ,by proper communication
approach through seminars and pre-launching of the new product or services.
Functions of managers:
 According to situation, manager of Uber will determine about overall information related
with various framework of organisation. It can be achieved through proper formulation of
strategies by designing of structure related to premises and planning for the situation by this
employees have to follow the rules and polices set by managers.
 Managers will go for different roles in respect of the organisation by providing
responsibilities at set of activities and perform all duties to manage grievances in
effective and efficient manner.
P3) Explain different theories and models of approaches including system, contingency and
situational leadership
The leaders of an Uber make adequate usage of various theories and model under which
working efficiency and its effectiveness both get advanced and it is as briefly explained below
as:
Situational theory:
It is theory that is used by a leader in order to make adequate judgements by which
various options and strategies are offered by them as according to the varied situations. For this
leader of Uber make ensure all the employee get aware about the working standards as with rate
of performance enhancement and advancement both get advanced in systematic manner. As
Uber is a large organisation thus it is always be required that leader take adequate decision as per
according to conditions. In support of situational leadership comfortable and flexible conditions
5

get developed under which employee felt more interconnected and motivated under which
profitable outcome is resulted in continuous basis. It also has few limitations that it is only get
implies in order to attain short term goals (Gibson and Parkman, 2018).
System leadership:
It is a style of leadership in which leaders has worked for to enhance skills and working
capabilities as with this adequate support is offered through which mobilised outcome is attained
over regular period of instance. It provide adequate support under which collaborative and
combined outcome is developed as with this effectual coalition and building of sustained insight
is promoted. For this mobilised outcome is developed within which decentralised outcome is
developed over a systematic manner. In support of this theory leader of Uber is able to valued
human behaviour as with this good and effective leadership is implemented under which
adequate strategies are developed as by according to the sustained prediction.
Contingency leadership Theory:
It is a theory that is usually get used by the leader of Uber in order to recognise and
measure the working sty;e as with this solution of each and every situations is offered with
perfection. In this long term effectiveness is promoted under which direct focus is maintained to
gain adequate outcome with this balanced level of uniqueness and productiveness is promoted
with better sufficiency. In this leadership style of a leader is perfectly matched up with thrived
situations by which ability to gain higher outcome is increases is systematic manner.
For this leader of Uber make adequate use of all theories as with this ability to gain
higher attractiveness is attained with timely frame. In this rate of productiveness and profitability
both get advanced under which attainment of both short and long term accomplished with
perfection and adequateness (Lee, 2018)
TASK 4
P4) The key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers play.
The operation management is a process that is used by Uber in order to match up
business practice and with this balanced level of efficiency is induced under which ability and
working standards both get enhanced. In this the management of Uber make adequate use of
various approaches of operation management and it is as explained below as:
6

 Just in time approach: It is an approach that is used to maintain clear focus and
concern about to manage production processing. It assist to accomplish standardised
task and objectives within the specified period of instance and for that management
ensure to process effectual planning, invention and strategic management in schedule
manner. In this management Uber ensure that rate of productiveness is increases as by
controlling and implementing on time solutions with perfection.
 Lean production approach: It is an approach through which management of Uber
ensure that rate of production and wastage management is controlled so that modified
level of changes and alteration is induced as per timely basis. It promote the rate of
effectiveness as with this rate of production and its cost both get advanced as per
consideration of quality standards and its improvisation (Erjavec and Trkman, 2020) .
 Total Quality Management: It is a process under which planning, organising,
directing, implementing and controlling is induced as per timely frame. In this working
standards and functioning both get enhanced. For that management of Uber offer they
offer adequate training and development to its employee through which ability to attain
long term goals is increases with perfection.
The role of leader and manger is illustrate below:
Role of leader:
Leader of Uber make sure that all the employees worked with perfection as under this
ability to make adequate and productive outcome is increases. As with this sustained level of
responsibility is offered within which leader make decision-making, problem solving, mentoring,
couching and development under which rate of complexity is reduced with success manner. For
this Uber is able to achieve adequate perfection and with this working efficiency also get
advanced.
Role of manager:
The manager of Uber ensure that employee get adequate training and development as
with this working abilities and its performance get enhanced under which all the employees get
followed adequate job role under which rate of complexity is reduced with adequateness
(Thomas, Deblecker and Ioakimidis, 2018). In this management is able to manage and control
complex situations through which productive working is promoted in balanced mode.
P5: the importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives.
7

Operation management works on the function that deals in planning,monitoring and
supervising of the manufacture and production process and all the channel relates with the
distribution is that suppliers and distributors,operational management works on the basis of
managing the function related to production process this will leads to attainment of the goals and
objective and organisations will also monitor the good ,services and peoples for better growth in
the company. Customer satisfaction:Through operation management organization will make sure about
the customer satisfaction through proper assistance regarding the effective product and
services .This will leads to the reliability of the customer regarding the job and hence
achieve more through quality product involvement .Uber technologies by making their
operations more effective through improvisation they will satisfy their customer's. productivity:Uber will decides deals in operation management which operates in
checking list of durability and reliability to attain their customer's and serve them a
quality product or services as Uber works on services they provide to the customer must
be of qualitative term by giving them best experience ,they have to make sure about the
service qualitative term in respect of customers (Niinomi and et. al., 2017). Increase sales: Operation management make sure about the activities which are directly
impact the sales of the organisation in a better an effective manner by working on market
analysis through knowing the demand and supply criteria moving in the market of their
industry .Here Uber technologies will work on their market strategies to develop the
sources as to achieve the sales target and increasing the growth of sale as well.
 New market trends: In today's marketing scenario the main role of every market related
to service provider is that by analysing the customer behaviour in respect of taste and
preferences by generating the information from the market with specific planning of
product and services is that what sort of requirement are rising in the market will work in
that process.
P6) The factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management and
decision- making by leaders and managers.
These are the various that will affect the business environment of Uber technologies
which can be either internal as well as external so here are some factors involve in that :
8

 Technology changes: Due to change in market trends, each company have to adopt the
changes regarding the market requirement in respect of the customers , this changes will
impact the function of the organisation department of operations which will directly
impact their production process ,market analysis is necessary by the company in reducing
the risk of these changes by implement new techniques in the company by taking care of
the customer satisfaction operational management will work accordingly on the basis of
this technological advancement required by the company Uber technologies will retain
their customer by introducing new techniques through proper analysing of market
scenario in respect of new emerging trends (Ichinose and et. al., 2018). Market trend: Today's market trends are changing in continuous manner so to go with the
flow of market situation Uber will determine the sources by which they will generate
information and data about the changing trends of by analysing the market of it
competitors strategies and policies. This company will also work on the training an
learning programme for their employees about new techniques ans skills
 Organisation resources:Every organisation works on the basic principle of making the
organisation resources in a systematic manner by properly manage through appropriate
uses by the operational management and by that process . Uber technologies will make
sure about the services that are provided by them has to be clearly manages by their
employees because of their large customer base they have to take this duty on a large
manner (Chan and et. al., 2018).
9

CONCLUSION
It has been concluded by the above topic that the operation management plays crucial
role in the effectively working of the Uber technologies. This function or department of the
organisation will work on the effectiveness and efficiency of the leaders and managers to achieve
their organisational goals by this new innovative techniques are also generates by making an
efforts by this company in proper planning of the services improvisation to cater their customers
in large. This report is concerned with the overall roles and qualities of the managers and leaders
in making organisation more effective with involvement of values and importance of operation
management in business environment this will be done through different approaches set by a
manager
10

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Barnes, D., 2018. Operations Management. Macmillan International Higher Education.
Burns, M.G., 2018. Port management and operations. CRC press.
Chan, A.K. and et. al., 2018. System and method for operation and management of
reconfigurable unmanned aircraft. U.S. Patent 9,878,786.
Choi, T.M., Wallace, S.W. and Wang, Y., 2018. Big data analytics in operations management.
Production and Operations Management, 27(10), pp.1868-1883.
Erjavec, J. and Trkman, P., 2020. Behavioural operations management-identification of its
research program. International Journal of Services and Operations Management.
36(1). pp.42-71.
Feng, Q. and Shanthikumar, J.G., 2018. How research in production and operations management
may evolve in the era of big data. Production and Operations Management. 27(9).
pp.1670-1684.
Fisher, M., Olivares, M. and Staats, B.R., 2020. Why empirical research is good for operations
management, and what is good empirical operations management?. Manufacturing &
Service Operations Management. 22(1). pp.170-178.
Gibson, P. and Parkman, R., 2018. Cruise operations management: Hospitality perspectives.
Routledge.
Ichinose, R. and et. al., 2018. Use-assisting tool for autonomous mobile device, operation
management center, operation system, and autonomous mobile device. U.S. Patent
10,055,694.
Kumar, S., Mookerjee, V. and Shubham, A., 2018. Research in operations management and
information systems interface. Production and Operations Management. 27(11).
pp.1893-1905.
Lee, C.K.H., 2018. A review of applications of genetic algorithms in operations management.
Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence. 76. pp.1-12.
Meredith, J.R. and Pilkington, A., 2018. Assessing the exchange of knowledge between
operations management and other fields: Some challenges and opportunities. Journal of
Operations Management. 60. pp.47-53.
Niinomi, T. and et. al., 2017. Operation management device, operation management method,
vehicle, vehicular traffic system, and program. U.S. Patent 9,744,981.
Reid, R.D. and Sanders, N.R., 2019. Operations management: an integrated approach. John
Wiley & Sons.
Saucedo-Martínez, J.A. And et. al., 2018. Industry 4.0 framework for management and
operations: a review. Journal of ambient intelligence and humanized computing. 9(3).
pp.789-801.
Thomas, D., Deblecker, O. and Ioakimidis, C.S., 2018. Optimal operation of an energy
management system for a grid-connected smart building considering photovoltaics’
uncertainty and stochastic electric vehicles’ driving schedule. Applied Energy. 210.
pp.1188-1206.
11