Roles and Characteristics of a Leader and a Manager in Operations Management

This article discusses the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager in operations management. It explores the importance and value of operation management in achieving business objectives. The article also covers key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers play in implementing these approaches.

MANAGEMENT AND
OPERATION
Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
P1 Different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager...........................................3
P2 Analyze the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in different situational
contexts...................................................................................................................................5
P3 Different theories and models of approach.......................................................................6
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................7
P4 Key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers play7
P5 The importance and value of operation management in achieving business objectives...9
P6. The factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management
and decision-making by leaders and managers....................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Operation management is a field which is concerned with planning, organizing and
supervision while producing or manufacturing of the services. It ensures that a company must
successfully turns an input into output by using efficient means. It is related with the conversion
of goods and material to maximize the profit that will enhance the value of the company
(Balasubramaniam and et. al., 2016). The present assignment is based on Marks and Spencer
which is a British Retailer company, situated in London and manufacturer of luxurious food and
home products and clothing. This report includes the features and role of a manager and leader in
different situations and conditions. Along with it, it involves several theories and approaches like
situational, system and contingency. Key approaches of operation management and role of
manager and leader is also discussed. At last, importance of operational management in
achieving desired objectives along with impacts of roles played by leader and manager is
discussed.
TASK 1
P1 Different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager
Operational management includes the main purposes of the firm that supports in creating,
managing and using the resources in a maximize manner. In this process, manager carryout
various tasks such as plan, organize, control and monitor entire operations within the business. It
benefits in delivering standardized products to the potential clients. In context of M&S, which is
one of largest retailer in UK which carryout operational activities in many countries (Fayol,
2016). M&S adopts flat organizational structure which possess limited levels of management.
This structure motivates the employees to take part in decision making. It reduces bureaucracy
and enhances the skills and capabilities of employees because they are allowed to share their
point of views freely. Communication among top management and lower level is good due to
limited management level. It has a pyramidal shape but flatter due to reduced management
levels. In this executive is at top and manager and head at lower level. In this, both leader and
manager plays vital role to carryout operations of company.
Leader: A leader is a person who leads, commands and direct an organisation or a team. Person
who leads or convinces other people to work towards a common organisational objective. There
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are some vital functions played by an effective leader which helps M&S to fight against rival
organisation.
Manager: A manager is a person who take charge of certain group of task of a company. It is a
person who manages organisational function and is responsible for a part of an organisation.
Duty of a manager includes managing employees and company on daily basis (Giuliani and et.
al., 2015). Manager must be a good communicator which results in better productivity outcome.
It is very essential for Marks and Spencer manager to possess a great and effective managerial
skills. It will help in generating more efficient result for organisation.
Roles and function of manager:
Manager of M&S plays several roles for managing the activities at workplace. Some of
them are mentioned below:
Informational role: It is an essential role where the M&S’s manager provides important
information to both workers and leaders to achieve the goals within the predetermined period of
time.
Interpersonal role: To enhance the productivity of employees, manager of M&S needs to build
a positive and friendly atmosphere within the company. Also, relation among employees is
maintained by the managers.
Roles of leader:
Main task of leader is to lead employees to attain business objectives, to achieve this
leader follows below mentioned functions:
Communication: Leaders in M&S have efficient communications skills which encourage
worker to work in collaboration. Also, by interacting well, proper policies and strategies can be
formulated which help in appropriate functioning within the firm.
Decision maker: Leader with developed decision-making ability can help an organisation to
achieve its objective effectively and efficiently. Leaders of Marks and Spencer can strengthen
their ability to access the quality of their decision by having efficiency in leadership skills. It will
enhance their strategic ability and implement a well-structured decision-making process in
workplace.
Characteristics of manager and leader:
Manager: It is must for manager of M&S to have efficient interaction skills which supports the
firm in maintaining relation among workers. It will also help in delivering important information
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related with objectives and goals. Manager must be efficient to take proper decisions which will
benefit the firm in managing their positon within market.
Leader: Trustworthy and honesty are main features of leaders by which they influence the staff
member to carry out their activities (Jørgensen and Zaccour, 2012). It is under the work task of
leader to provide correct vision to employees which will maintain a good balance between staff
and management.
Difference between leader and manager:
Main function of manager in M&S is to regulate policies which provides the firm
competitive advantage and sustainability whereas the role of leader is to formulate those policies
during work, by reducing the chance of failure. Manger calculated the performance of employees
so that proper training must be given to them whereas leader works on to improve their weakness
and enhance their strength.
P2 Analyze the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in different situational
contexts.
M&S deals in retail marketing sector in which it has faced various competitive aspects
due to the presence of other rival companies. It involves firms like Aldi, Asda and Tesco. So, to
maintain their acquired position within the market, the company has make up modifications in
their tactics and strategies on a continuous basis (Kerzner and Kerzner, 2017). But, several
situations take place in which different roles are played by both manager and leader. For
instance, manager provide effective training to employees of M&S for improving the working
efficiency and potential whereas the leader provides vision about the benefits of these aspects in
improving the skills and knowledge level. Some other aspects in which the role of leader and
manager's function differs are mentioned below:
Team building: The most difficult task while carrying out efficient operations and
activities within the organisation is to build a robust team. Different employees from different
environment works together due to which several issues take place among them. So, in this
situation, manager of M&S follows autocratic leadership and direct the employees to work as a
group (López and et. al., 2015). In this, leader's task is to develop a sense of trust among workers
so that they can maintain an effective relationship between them. This will help M&S in
developing a strong team and attain their targeted goal in specified time.
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Project management: To make a business successful, it is must to handle every task
appropriately. So, to manage work properly the manager manages formulate different
tactics. It involves introduction of assets, time management, assigning of roles and
responsibilities. The work of leader is to check the activities of individual employee and
provide them training which will enhance productive level of both employees and
company. Leader also provide precise vision to workers for carrying out tasks properly.
P3 Different theories and models of approach
For conducting operations within firm properly, several issues are faced. Some of them are
employee resistivity, fights, change in trend and mismanagement. So, manager of M&S has
implemented several leadership theories to manage these situations. Some theories are outlined
below:
Situational Leadership: In this model, leadership of a particular organisation is mainly
depending upon various levels and positions. This models is further divided into three styles.i.e.
authoritarian, democratic and laissez. In this context, Marks and Spencer can choose these styles
of leadership in accordance to a particular situation. The authoritarian style can be used at a time
of crises, democratic style can be used at a time when consensus is required and laissez style is
useful when a leader of an organisation don't want to take control (McPherson and Pincus, 2017).
It will help Marks and Spencer in identifying best leadership style to make their organisation
productive.
Strength: It is flexible in nature due to which help in achieving desired targets easily.
Weakness: This approach has more focus on short term goals rather than long term goals.
System Leadership: In this leaders of an organisation have to create situation where people at all
levels can work efficiently in accordance with their potential. It will help leaders of Marks and
Spencer in identifying behaviour of their employee's that will make their workforce more
efficient in a business environment. It will also give a tool to leaders of an organisation in
creating a healthy competitive environment within an organisation. It is usually used by an
organisation to understand behaviour of employees within an organisation.
Strength: It has focus on both organisational and individual goals.
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Weakness: Sometimes, this aspect results in slow decision making.
Contingency Leadership: It includes happening of unknown events and their impact on an
business organisation. It will help leaders of chosen organisation Marks and Spencer in preparing
their staff members in facing future challenges arising due to uncertain events. It will also makes
an business entity to retain its productivity in this competitive business environment for a longer
run. It will help leaders of Marks and Spencer in making a good relation with its managers and
subordinates. In this all power lies under leader and manager of an organisation they can
compensate or punish their team members in accordance with an appropriate outcome arises due
to the specific task assigned.
Strength: It maintains flexibility within firm and handles changing marketing condition
effectively
Weakness: Fails to deliver desired result when a firm changes its organisational structure.
TASK 2
P4 Key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers play
Operation management is concerned with business practices to produce highest level of
efficiency possible in management. It is the process of converting materials and labour into
finished goods and services to satisfy consumer’s needs. In this context, the manager and leader
of Marks and Spencer also plays their roles and functions to achieve company goals and
objectives. In addition to this, there are some key approaches of operational management which
are as follows:
Lean production: This is the process of minimizing waste along with ensuring quality. This key
approach of operational management is beneficial for company as it helps to produce goods and
products by cutting out wastes. The manager and leader of Marks and Spencer also adopt this
approach to make their production effectively and systematically (Mendis, Muttaqi, and Perera,
2014). This helps company in increasing their sales and profitability margins along with
maintaining quality of products.
Six sigma: This approach is based on statistical and data analysis which helps company to detect
errors in their products. It is an approach of continuous improvement in production process of
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goods. This method is also adopted by managers and leaders of M&S to improve their quality of
products. This also assist company to increase their revenues and to take reliable decisions.
Queuing theory: This approach is based on mathematical waiting lines or queues. This theory
deals with issues involving waiting or queuing such as, waiting service in banks/ supermarket,
waiting for response of computers, public transport etc. The leader of M&S also adopts this
theory to deal with these problems. Through this process, leader can identify problems of
queuing which are arising in organisation. It is beneficial for company in solving out problems
and serve consumers easily.
Role of managers in organisation
Trainer: In every organisation, managers have to play significant role of a trainer. They
are also known as trainers as they provide training and development sessions to its
employees. In M&S, the manager also plays role of a trainer and provide training to
workers of company so that they can perform their activities and functions in a systematic
order. This also helps them to accomplish goals and reach to business targets.
Communicator: The another role which manager of company plays is communicator. It
is the duty of manager to have strong communication skills so that they can easily
communicate with workers of company. In M&S, the manager have appropriate
communication skills which helps them to give information and details about projects to
workers. They can also resolve issues of employees through appropriate communication
channels.
Role of leaders in organisation
As a guide: Leaders plays a dominant role in business enterprises to achieve growth and
success of company. They are also known as guide because they provide message of how
to do the projects. In M&S, the leaders of company help employees by giving directions
to complete their tasks. They also motivate and encourages employees to perform well
and accomplish tasks in allotted time frame.
Representative of the organisation: The another role which leader of company plays is
as a representative. In M&S, it is the role of leader to represent their concerns during
discussion, seminars, meeting etc. This role of leader also helps company to accomplish
their targets in time and increase their profitability margins (Thaler, Priest and Fuchs,
2016).
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P5 The importance and value of operation management in achieving business objectives
Operation management is an important aspect in achieving business objectives. This
system helps to improve the overall productivity and maintaining system used for production of
goods. It also helps to satisfy needs and demands of consumers' by supplying effective goods and
quality products. It is essential for every business as it allocate all resources properly by reducing
wastages. This function is also suitable for M&S as it helps company to improve over all
production process. Operation management also assists leaders and managers of company to
accomplish goals and objectives. In this context, there are some process of operation
management which helps M&S in achieving their goals.
 Know the process: This process of operation management helps manager of M&S to
know and identify the process and to reach their goals and objectives in time.
 Train within the process: In this, the managers of company provide training to
employees within process so that they can easily deal with problems and resolve it.
Training is an important factor which takes place in organisation to improve overall
structure of company.
 Measure the process: In this, the mangers of company measure process in which they
have to work before starting project. It is important for them to measure operations to
accomplish their goals.
 Control and distribution systems: In this, the managers of M&S takes control and
distribution system under consideration. They monitors the work done by workers and
control if there any issue arises. This helps them to accomplish goals with aim of
increasing revenues and sales turnover.
 Raw materials into finished goods and services: This process of operation management
helps company in identifying needs and demands of consumers by research and
marketing. Firstly they analyse the preferences of consumers and then production process
takes place in which they translate raw materials into finished goods and services.
 Capacity management: This is the last process of operation management which is
considered by M&S so that they produce goods according to the demand and capacity.
This will help them in reducing wastage of products and products do not produce more
than capacities and limitations.
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P6. The factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management and
decision-making by leaders and managers
In this modern era, there are some external factors within organisation environment
which has a wide impact on management operations and decision-making of leader and
managers. These external factors include political, social, economic and technological, etc. In
context of M&S, it is important for leaders and managers of company to deal with external
factors and control them which are impacting upon operations and functions of management.
Further, to overcome from these company uses the policy of CSR which means cooperate social
responsibility (Handschin and Petroianu, 2012). This will help them to achieve their goals and
accomplish their tasks in an effective and systematic manner. Some external factors which
impacts activities of management and decision-making process are as evaluated below:
Political: It involves rule and policies of management which helps company to reach their goals.
In context of M&S, it is also important for to follow rules and policies of company to overcome
from political issues. This will also help them to perform management operations and decision-
making effectively.
Environmental: These factors include economic conditions, demand and supply, fluctuations,
etc. These factors can also affect company's operational management if economic conditions are
not stable and fluctuating from time-to-time. So, it is important to have stable economic
conditions along with maintaining proper balance between demand and supply to overcome from
this issue.
Social: The management operation and decision-making can also be affected by social factors
such as, lifestyle, religion, believe, customs and society of people. It is important for company to
produce goods according to needs and demands of consumers which helps them to overcome
with this factor.
Technological: This is the another factor which affects business operations and decision-making
of leaders and managers of M&S. Technological factors are concerned with advanced
technology and strategies which company uses to overcome from these issues. It is important for
company to involve new techniques and strategies while producing goods and products.
CSR policy: In M&S, the company adopt this strategy and policy to give social and economic
benefits to consumers. The implementation of this policy lead company to achieve their goals
and tasks in allotted time frame along with increasing their sales and profitability margins. In
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addition to this, company should also use short term goals such as adjustments and compromises
which lead company to make long term achievements. Thus, company should allocate all its
resources properly and efficiently so as to reduce wastage and maximises level of production.
CONCLUSION
As per the above discussed report, it has been concluded that operation management
involves proper functioning within the company which supports them in using available
resources optimally. It is also observed that out of several, contingency theory is best for the
firm to achieve desired targets. It is also said that external and internal factors impact
business atmosphere of firm as they are related with the overall productivity of work.
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REFERENCES
Books & Journals
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microgrids during islanded operation. Electric Power Systems Research. 137. pp.133-
141.
Fayol, H., 2016. General and industrial management. Ravenio Books.
Giuliani, M., and et. al., 2015. Curses, tradeoffs, and scalable management: Advancing
evolutionary multiobjective direct policy search to improve water reservoir operations.
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management. 142(2). p.04015050.
Handschin, E. and Petroianu, A., 2012. Energy management systems: operation and control of
electric energy transmission systems. Springer Science & Business Media.
Jørgensen, S. and Zaccour, G., 2012. Differential games in marketing (Vol. 15). Springer
Science & Business Media.
Kerzner, H. and Kerzner, H. R., 2017. Project management: a systems approach to planning,
scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
López, M. A. and et. al., 2015. Demand-side management in smart grid operation considering
electric vehicles load shifting and vehicle-to-grid support. International Journal of
Electrical Power & Energy Systems. 64. pp.689-698.
McPherson, R. A. and Pincus, M. R., 2017. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by
Laboratory Methods E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Mendis, N., Muttaqi, K. M. and Perera, S., 2014. Management of battery-supercapacitor hybrid
energy storage and synchronous condenser for isolated operation of PMSG based
variable-speed wind turbine generating systems. IEEE Transactions on smart grid. 5(2).
pp.944-953.
Thaler, T. A., Priest, S.J. and Fuchs, S., 2016. Evolving inter-regional co-operation in flood risk
management: distances and types of partnership approaches in Austria. Regional
environmental change. 16(3). pp.841-853.
Online
What is Operations Management?. 2014. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.topmba.com/mba-programs/what-operations-management>.
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