Roles and Characteristics of a Leader and a Manager

Management and
Operation

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
P1 Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager....3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
P2 Examine the role of leader and function of a manager in various situations....................5
P3 Apply various theories and models of approaches of leadership.....................................7
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................8
Covered in PPT.......................................................................................................................8
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................8
Covered in PPT.......................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Operation management is chiefly concerned in planning, organizing and supervising
regarding production, manufacturing and services in better way. It is an delivery focused that
focus on successfully turning inputs into outputs in effectual way. This report is based on Rollin-
son Knitwear which is an UK based employee owned organizational established in year 1935
and they produce premium quality garments for both school wear and corporate wear. This
report is based on definition and difference of both leader and manager with applying various
management and leadership theories and practices. It also includes role of leader and manager in
various situations by applying various leadership and management theories. Further it elaborates
operation and operational management with various operation management approaches with
their functions. At last it includes various dimensions of contemporary business environment in
various contexts.
TASK 1
P1 Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager.
A leader is a person who has a superior position in its field and has control over
subordinates to guide them the direction to achieve organisational goals (Alderton and Saieva,
2013). A leader must be visionary, a motivator, servers their subordinates and a team builder.
A manager is define as an executive or head of department who delegates responsibilities
to the employees and assist them. A manager co-ordinate the activities to subordinates and
provide feedback to top managers.
Comparison between a leader and a manager
Leader Manager
A leader is person who guide and motivate
their subordinates
A manager is a person who plans, organises,
direct and control the organisation activities.
Leader does not play the vital role in the
organisation because they doesn't carry the
formal rights as compared to managers.
Manager play a vital role in the organisation as
they carry the rights which a leader do not
carry.
A leader is more concerned about the future
rather than the present.
A manager focuses on present first than thinks
about future.

A leader thinks beyond the organisation culture
and policies
A manager has limited itself within the
organisation culture and policies.
Role of a leader and a manager
Management by objectives: According to this theory, there must be balance between the
objectives of organisation and employees (Chiarini and Vagnoni, 2015). Management by
objectives describes that the superior and subordinates work together to achieve the organisation
objectives. Challenging tasks motivates and empower employees to create innovate ideas and
opinions which will help in overall development of the organisation.
In context of Rowlinson Knitwear, a leader and manager guide their employees, solve
their issue they are facing and work together towards the organisational objectives.
Behavioural theory: This theory is concerned about the factor that are affecting the
behaviour of employees within as well as outside the organisation.
As per Rowlinson Knitwear, a leader and manager must create positive environment in
organisation so the employees work effectively and motivate them to contribute more towards
the organisation objectives.
Transactional leadership: It is a kind of leadership in which actions are taken in either
rewards or punishment. The leaders are selfish and motivate their subordinates for their own
benefit and is not concerned about the emotions of their employees (Galindo and Batta, 2013).
They have a short term vision and focus more on present situation. If in an organisation these
leaders exist than the employees will not able to share their problems and feel frustrated to work
with them. The leader of such organisation follow organisation rules and policies strictly and do
not allow their employees to present creative and innovative ideas which will provide better
results to the organisation.
Transformational leadership: It is a kind of leadership where leaders treat their employees
as their family and think of them first in spite of being a self-centred leader. If an organisation
has such kind of leadership the employees will be able to work effectively and share their
problems with their leaders. This kind of leadership is able to retain their skilled and talented
employees.
Characteristics of leader and manager
Leader:

 Positive attitude: A leader with a positive attitude towards the work and challenges
keeps motivated to deal with them. In context of Rowlinson Knitwear a positive attitude
in a leader sets example to their subordinates how to deal with the situation and take it as
an opportunity which makes them achieve organisational goals.
 A decisive mind: A successful leader is a one who has an ability to make effective
decision regarding the organisation. In Rowlinson Knitwear, a leader making decision
must be knowledgable and is able to compare between the situation and make the right
decision which will be beneficial to the company .
Manager:
 Experienced: A manager in an organisation must have an experience regarding making
of plans and policies along with following of organisation structure. As in Rowlinson
Knitwear, the manager having experience is able to guide their employees about the
company rules and policies and following them.
 Delegation: A manager must delegate the responsibility to right employees who can
work effectively at that position. In the context of Rowlinson Knitwear, the manager of company
delegates roles and responsibility to the employee who can work effectively on the tasks or
projects for which they are hired.
In market changes occurs in rapid manner and to adopt these changes organisation have to
plan and coordinate each and every factor in better way. In change management and in
operations of an organisation leaders and managers plays very much crucial role by giving their
guidance to investigate the operations in proper way and factors that are very much important in
change management to bring optimum outputs.
TASK 2
P2 Examine the role of leader and function of a manager in various situations.
Leaders and managers are very much important for an organization to deal in effective
manner in various situations that arise in an organization that are as follows:
Conflict management: Conflict is an part of an organization and it is the process to limit
the negative aspect by increasing the positive aspect regarding the conflict. The main objective
of conflict management is to enhance learning and outcomes by bringing effectiveness in setting
of an organization (Griffin, 2013.). In context of Rowlinson Knitwear they face many situations

in which sometimes due to culture difference conflict arise in their organization. In that situation
leader find out the route cause of problem and manager apply solution of regarding problem in
different departments so that proper measures should be adopted. To resolve that issue in better
way organisation have to avail the situational leadership style that provides flexibility in works
and practices and leaders can easily mould their practices as per the situation demands in well
manner. In context of Rowlinson Knitwear the main role of a leader is to investigate the main
reason or cause behind the conflict and in that situation main function of a manager is to apply in
each and every department by find out the solution of it.
Staff turnover:
The one of most precious assets of an organization is their manpower, sometimes due to
adverse environment they are not able to give their best in their works and activities. In context
of Rowlinson knitwear they suffer from the problem of staff turnover in their organization. In
that context role of a leader and function of a manager is very much crucial to give their best in
organizational development and enhancement (Haksever and Render, 2013.). In that aspect
leader evaluate factors that hinders self interest of employees means factors that demotivate them
to give their best. After evaluating all these factor manager applied in form of training and
development, by providing compensation and other tools that helps to give motivation. In that
situation organisation have to use system leadership style in which they can easily observe the
their works and activities according to situation and easily deal in effective manner.
In context of Rowlinson Knitwear they main role of a leader is to find out better ways to give
motivation to their employees so that they sustain for long time in organisation. With in that
particular situation function of a manager is to collect insights from the employees and collect
information about their staff turnover so that important decisions should be taken by them.
Function of manager:
Manager in an organisation play a most important role in order to managing situations for
effective management practices. These functions of manager are defined below as:
 Planning: This is most important function of manger that aid them to prepare for future
plan in order to handling different situations in effective manner. As in context of
Rowlinson Knitwear, manager needs to make strategic plan for the situations of conflict
and staff turnover by analysing reason behind it.