Leadership and Management Roles Comparison

This report compares and contrasts the roles of leaders and managers. It discusses various theories and models of approaches with systems, contingency, and leadership theory. The importance of operations management for achieving M&S Ltd's goals is highlighted, along with key approaches of operations management and the role played by managers and leaders in different business environments.

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
P1 Meaning and comparison of leader and managers.....................................................................1
P2 Role of leader and function of manager applies in different situations......................................3
P3 different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership, Systems
leadership and contingency..............................................................................................................5
P4 The key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers play.6
P5 importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives..................7
P6 factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management and
decision-making by Leaders and managers.....................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Management and operations covers the area of concerned business with the production of
services and goods (Slack, Brandon-Jones and Johnston, 2013). It includes the duties of that
business to ensure efficiency of using small resources as needed. It also involves the managing
procedure of converting inputs into outputs. This report covers the definition and comparison
between leader and manager also the role and function of a leader or manager in different
situations. This report also included theories and models of approaches in terms of situational,
system and contingency leadership. Explaining the key approaches and role of leaders and
manager in operations management. It also covers the value and importance of operations
management for achieving business objectives and factors that impact operational management
and decision making by managers and leaders in business environment.
P1 Meaning and comparison of leader and managers
Leadership
Leadership describes the individual ability to motivate, influence and enable others to do
their best towards the success and effectiveness of M&S Ltd. Leadership requires an effective
vision thinking towards M&S Ltd boundaries (Slack, Brandon-Jones and Johnston, 2013). Many
people follow a leader as their inspiration. In a business environment, an organisation also can
attain leadership by defeating its competitors in the market.
Management
Management is a way or a technique which is used by a manager for managing and
dealing persons or a group to work together towards the common objectives of M&S Ltd (Winter
and Knemeyer, 2013). Management is taking care of business needs which can be small or big,
budget maintenance of M&S Ltd, making financial decisions, future plans, guiding, organizing
schedule for achieving M&S Ltd objectives.
Comparison:-
BASIS LEADERS MANAGERS
MEANING Leadership is a technique of leading
people in a organization by examples
Management is a artwork to manage
and coordinate with groups of an
organization.
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BASIS LEADERS MANAGERS
FOCUS Motivating and leading people Managing organization work
OUTCOMES The achievements (Akhtar, Tse,.
and Rao‐Nicholson, 2017)
The results
STYLES Consultative, Transformation and
participate
Transaction, democratic,
authoritative and dictatorial.
TASKS Looking at the problems, creative
solutions, motivating and focusing
others to solve problems
Create policies, strategies, creating a
combination of teams and ideas.
ORGANISATION Leaders have their followers Managers have their assistants
ORIENTATION Oriented to people Oriented to task
POWER Power to influence Power to rule (Heizer, 2016)
PERSPECTIVE Leadership need good providence Management has a little reach of
perspective
ENVIRONMENT Leaders keep a close eye on external
environment
Managers keep their eyes on internal
environment
CONCERN Leaders prefer effectiveness Managers concern efficiency
NEEDS Leaders always think upon
customers demand
Managers thinks customers demand
within organization capacity.
EMBODIES Leaders sets the vision and mission
(Slack, 2015)
Managers sets objectives and goals
towards the mission
SECURITIES Leaders protect the new technologies
and always try to secure essential
technologies for competitive benefits
Managers apply technologies which
is available to them and not try to
change them.
Leadership is a structure of leading people in the organisation through motivating and
encouraging them and management is a procedure of managing activities within the organisation.
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A leader requires trust of his followers on his leadership and management needs control over its
groups or subordinates. Influencing others is a skill of leadership while ruling is the function of
management (Groppi, Bhuiya, and Crawford, 2013). Leadership involves guidelines and
principals where management require procedures and policies. Leadership makes new changes
and management alive the stability of people within an organisation. These comparative points of
leadership and management helps to secure their own duties and responsibilities respectively and
also helps the organisation to achieve its objectives and goals which will also help the
organisation to compete with others in the market.
P2 Role of leader and function of manager applies in different situations
Leader is an important part of an organisation at all levels of management that his
leadership is most crucial part of his job and for the organisation. There are some roles of a
leader mention below:-
Requirement
A leader's leadership is a part which is too important for management at all levels. From
the top level, leadership is important for cooperating policies and plans. In the lower and middle
level, it is important to execute programmes and plans given by the upper management.
Representative
A leader is also a representative of M&S Ltd. He represents concerns at conferences,
seminars and general meetings of M&S Ltd etc. his main role id to communicate the relation of
M&S Ltd to outsiders or public (Krajewski, Ritzman and Malhotra, 2013).
Integrates personal goals with organizational goals
Leader integrates the personal goals of employees with the M&S Ltd goals through his
leadership. Leader try to coordinate people’s effort towards achieving objectives of M&S Ltd in
different situations.
A philosopher, friend and guide
A leader must include these three things in his leadership. With this he can share feelings,
opinions and information friendly with the employees. Become a guide for employees also a part
of leadership.
Roles of a manager
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Roles and function of a manager are various according to the situation of M&S Ltd and
these are given below:
Planning
Planning is a basic concept of any organisation and manager plan the program according
to the task and with all necessary information.
Staffing
Staffing is generally known as grouping of different teams or people and give them
appropriate tasks (Kalpakjian and Schmid, 2014). If any problem arises during the task will be
reported to the team leader and the team leader forward it to manager and the problem will be
taken care of.
Organizing
In organizing manager of M&S Ltd. Needs to confirm that everything is going good and
according to the plan. Everything in organizing works with a plan.
Directing
It is the duty of manager to guide employees in any kind of situation to avoid problems
during the task and he is also responsible for the accomplishment of any task.
Coordinating
It is the coordination between employees and manger of M&S Ltd that manager can
make efficient relationship among employees so they feel comfortable to share their views.
Reporting
Reporting is a task for manager to update information about ongoing work and report it to
the higher authorities of M&S Ltd (Renz, 2016).
Budgeting
Manager needs to be sure that the task is completing on time and within the cost of M&S
Ltd that the project doesn't exceed its budget.
Controlling
Last but not the least role for the manager is to control everything whether it is the task,
budget or resources. Everything should be in proper manner and control.
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P3 different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership,
Systems leadership and contingency
There are so many theories of leadership which explain the practice and concept of
leadership (Nahavandi, 2016). Leadership allows a leader to evaluate and increase effectiveness
so that he can convince partners, customers, lenders, and employees towards the vision of M&S
Ltd. By understanding different theories of leadership a leader can choose his leadership
approach (Ferguson, Kruse, and Ben-Zvi, 2017). The theories are Trait theory, behavioural
theory, power and influence theory, great man theory, role theory in a leadership etc.
Situational leadership
The development and study of situational leadership theory is done by Paul Hersey and
Blanchard. Situational leadership define work of a manager or a leader for M&S Ltd to adjust his
work style to improve development level of the employees which he is try to influencing. In
situational leadership, the work style of a leader may be change continuously according to the
needs of others in the M&S Ltd organisation. Situational leadership is so much flexible. It is not
based on any specific skill of a leader (Long, 2017). The leader must have understandings of
changing his management work style or leadership strategy which is suitable and fits in each new
model.
Systems leadership
The general systems' leadership theory was proposed by the biologist Ludwig Von
Bertalanffy in 1940. Characteristics of systems leadership is a strong point for a transformational
leader who is a high ranker, innovative and proactive leader. It is a primary function of a leader's
leadership style. System theory provides approaches to a leader to understand and analyse the
thinking about M&S Ltd organisation. Systems leadership theory views an organisation in
numerous parts that get together work together (Pavlica and Jarosová, 2014). In systems theory
business units, departments, work groups, employees all are viewed as a sub system of the
organisation. The basic elements of systems leadership is maintaining and production of inputs
and the resources which is used to produce a product.
Contingency leadership
Contingency leadership theory describes the effectiveness of a leader's leadership which
is dependent on matching right situation of a leader's style. The contingency theory was
developed by Fiedler. The contingency leadership theory requires a good leader who is clear
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with the goals and procedures of M&S Ltd. The contingency leadership theory says that there is
no other way of leading and every leadership work style is based on situations which signify that
there are so fewer people who can deal or perform at a maximum level in certain places. The
human trait are related to those situations which leaders exercise their leadership. Generally
leaders feel free to express their leadership when they receive a positive response from their
followers (Adrot and Moriceau, 2013). This theory is extremely well researched and very useful
for the leader's to manage their leadership in appropriate manner.
P4 The key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders
and managers play
Operations management plays a main role in managing a firm. Operations management
can be defined as management related area which design and operate a business procedure in
terms of production services and goods. Operations management have functions which manage
the process of converting inputs into outputs in the form of goods and services. Operations
management includes some responsibilities which is ensuring the least amount of resources
being used for meeting customer’s requirement. Six sigma is one of the approaches which focus
on increasing the quality.
Role of leader
In operations management leaders need to integrate the mission and vision of the M&S
Ltd with day by day activities. The true value of an organisation can be reached only if
leadership roles are developed which takes the business to a high level without losing its goals
(Arends, 2014). In operations management leaders have a opportunity to make a team of
employees which realize themselves that they are the strategic partners of M&S Ltd no matter
what they are doing. Some others roles of a leader in operations management are given below:
Establishing effective reporting lines
The leader is required to establish a good report in operations management which is
approved by the upper management.
Identification of goals and objectives
Leader must know about the goals and objectives of the M&S Ltd and how to achieve
them in an appropriate way.
Staff training
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Leader has to train and develop the abilities of his employees which help them to
improve their own knowledge and also for the M&S Ltd in terms of achieving organisation goals
and targets.
Resource management
Leader needs to ensure the using resources in the task are least and sufficient and can
control the budget of M&S Ltd.
Roles of a manager
Management of resources
Operations manager manage both input (raw material) and his personnel. Management of
resources includes hiring new employees, determining needs, planning and a eye on employees
assignments (Adrot and Moriceau, 2013).
Financial management
Operations manager control the budget and cost of the M&S Ltd to keep organisation
financially strong. The management of resources and supply can also help to minimize the cost
of production.
Goal setting
Operations manager sets the organisation goals and objectives and make policies for
different department in M&S Ltd. Manager also provide relevant information about
organisations goal to the employees that they can also help towards objectives
Communication
A good communication and interpersonal skill help managers to work together with
employees and with that they can cooperate each other for achieving M&S Ltd goals.
Education outlook
A well-educated manager can do multi-pal work within the organisation this will reduce
the extra work of the M&S Ltd in such ways financially, managing tools, split their knowledge
into employees and for a positive environment (Renz, 2016).
P5 importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives.
The area of operations management is now increased due to the awareness of public in
quality control system. For developing a product management focused on research and
development activities as the need of customers and for enough market potential. The human
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resource department has work to bring new people on the train with appropriate knowledge,
abilities and skills to achieve M&S Ltd goals and objectives. Finance department has work to
make production according to the specifications and budget utilization for best labour, land and
machinery for M&S Ltd. An effective operations' management helps organisation to achieve its
goals and objectives. Operations management give the work of making strategic level decisions
to their senior level management. With such type of decisions organisation can exist the present
condition to efficient systems and company process to achieve the competitive advantages.
Operations management enables their available resources and schedule with effectiveness
and manage their employees under rules and regulations which define the organisation's strategic
plans. This may include the scheduling of raw materials' delivery and operational shift planning.
Operations management can also manage such things controlling, planning and monitoring the
operational decisions under the defined tactical decisions (Pavlica and Jarosová, 2014). These
kinds of decisions are focussed on individual department’s objectives. This includes day to day
decision making for business taken by the team leaders and planning for individual tasks and
goals daily. Whenever a company makes a product or service has to make sure that it is relevant
according to customers demand and needs. This is a very crucial stage for all organisation and
the marketing teams take the lead role in this to understand what the customer is demanding and
how to fulfil it.
Operations management is important for all kind of businesses and in the manufacturing
and production section all companies wants to reduce the wastages and increasing their
productivity and management of resources to ensure that the production cost is under the budget.
The product is fulfilling the customers’ needs and details, finally the product is ready to deliver
with creating no issues and also manage the shifting cost to be low (Adrot, and Moriceau, 2013).
To understand the importance of operations management an example of IKEA is given
below:
IKEA is a Swedish company which sells appliances, assemble furniture and home
accessories. It has a net income of 3.202 Euros at the end of year 2012. It belongs one of the
largest companies in the world of business. IKEA designed their furniture and products in
Sweden but manufacturing is done by other developing countries to keep the costs low. It has 50
countries to supply and biggest supplier among them is china for IKEA.
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This case of IKEA is a perfect example of why operations management is important in a
business to achieve its targets and goals.
P6 factors within the business environment that impact upon operational
management and decision-making by Leaders and managers
Internal influences
Corporate objectives
Corporate objectives are the essential internal influences. A corporate objective should
not conflict with an operations objective.
Finance
Operations decisions frequently involves cost and significant investments. The position
of business in financial terms such as cash flows, profitability and liquidity affects directly on
operations' management (Heizer, 2016).
Marketing issue
Marketing mix have regular changes according to the particular product can effect
operations. Nature of the particular product determines operational management set-ups if the
product is inflexible.
Human resources
In a particular business, the capacity and quality of the human workforce is a main factor
which affect operational management and its objectives. Productivity targets affected by the
effectiveness of human workforce and the investment in training.
External influences
Economic environment
Sudden changes in short term and demand affect the utilisation capacity and productivity
which may change the interest rates and its impact on capital investments in financing
operations. Economic environment is crucial for operations management for M&S Ltd
(Marketing theories PESTEL analysis, 2017).
Technology
Technological changes are very significant especially for those businesses whose product
cycles are very short and the production innovation procedures are very costly.
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Competitor’s efficiency
In the market better and efficient competitors put more pressure on the business
operations to deliver a comparable performance.
Legal and environmental changes
A better regulation and legislating of environment spots make new challenges for the
objectives of operations.
Factors which affect decision-making by leaders and managers:
In a organisation quality decision making are the major elements of leader and manager.
Managers and leaders should determine the all necessary outcomes and options while making
decisions in any organisation (Nahavandi, 2016). Management and leadership activities in an
organisation such as motivation, inspiration and changes also effect the decisions. Some
individual factors also affect the decisions made by managers and leaders which are education
and experience cultural environment, cognitive biases, technology, politics and policies, age and
time and communication. Some more factors which affect the manager decisions is management
and management process, board of directors, resources management, financial management etc.
CONCLUSION
Conclusion of this report define the roles of a leader and manager with their comparison
also evaluation of the role of leader and manager in different conditions. In this report we studied
about the different theories and models of approaches with systems, contingency and leadership
theory. We explained the value and importance of operations management for achieving M&S
Ltd. Goals and also the key approaches of operations management with the role played by
managers and leaders. Description is included of the factors which impact on business
environment upon operational management and decision made by managers and leaders.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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illustration from the 2003 French Heat wave crisis response. Journal of Contingencies and
Crisis Management. 21(1). pp.26-44.
Akhtar, P., Tse, Y.K. and Rao‐Nicholson, R., 2017. Essential micro‐foundations for
contemporary business operations: Top management tangible competencies, relationship‐
based business networks and environmental sustainability. British Journal of Management.
Groppi, D.E., Bhuiya, T.A. and Crawford, J.M., 2013. Consolidation of the North Shore–LIJ
Health System anatomic pathology services: The challenge of subspecialization,
operations, quality management, staffing, and education. American journal of clinical
pathology. 140(1). pp.20-30.
Heizer, J., 2016. Operations Management, 11/e. Pearson Education India.
Kalpakjian, S. and Schmid, S.R., 2014. Manufacturing engineering and technology (p. 913).
Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA: Pearson.
Krajewski, L.J., Ritzman, L.P. and Malhotra, M.K., 2013. Operations management: processes
and supply chains (Vol. 1). New York, NY: Pearson.
Long, A., 2017. Leadership and management. ABC of Clinical Leadership. p.5.
Nahavandi, A., 2016. The Art and Science of Leadership -Global Edition. Pearson.
Pavlica, K. and Jarosová, E., 2014, November. Versatile Leadership and Organizational Culture.
In European Conference on Management, Leadership & Governance . Academic
Conferences International Limited.
Renz, D.O., 2016. The Jossey-Bass handbook of nonprofit leadership and management. John
Wiley & Sons.
Slack, N., 2015. Operations strategy. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Slack, N., Brandon-Jones, A. and Johnston, R., 2013. Operations management. Pearson.
Winter, M. and Knemeyer, A.M., 2013. Exploring the integration of sustainability and supply
chain management: Current state and opportunities for future inquiry. International
Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management. 43(1). pp.18-38.
Online
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Marketing theories PESTEL analysis, 2017. [Online]. Available through:<
https://www.professionalacademy.com/blogs-and-advice/marketing-theories---pestel-
analysis>.
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