Role of Managers and Leaders in Operations Management

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION
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Table of Content
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................3
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Lo1: Differentiating between role of leader as well as function of manager..................................3
P1: Defining and comparing different roles as well as characteristics of leader and a manager.....3
Lo2: Application of role of leaders and function of manager.........................................................4
P2: Examining application of leader’s role and function of manager in various context................4
P3: Application of various theories and models of approach that includes situational leadership,
contingency and system leadership.................................................................................................5
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................6
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................7
Introduction......................................................................................................................................7
Lo3: Demonstration of appreciation of role of managers and leaders in operational function of
organisation......................................................................................................................................7
P4: Explanation of key approaches to the operations management as well as role of managers
and leaders play...............................................................................................................................7
P5: Explanation of importance as well as value of operations management to achieve business
objectives.........................................................................................................................................8
Lo4: Demonstration of relationship between management and leadership within a contemporary
business environment.......................................................................................................................9
P6: Accessing the factors within business environment, which affects upon operational
management as well as decision-making by managers and leaders................................................9
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................10
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................10
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Task 1
Introduction
Managers and leaders play a vital role in the functioning of an organisation. However, the
functioning of an organisation is impossible without a leader or a manager. The main aim of the
study in this particular section is to analyse the effects of managers and leaders within an
organisation. In this section, Marks and Spencer, a reputed retail organisation in the UK has been
chosen. The organisation has been developed in 1884 and gained a total profit of about 481.7
million in 2015. This organisation follows a tall organisational structure that gives an opportunity
to the employees for responsibility and advancement in addition to communication. Roles of
manager and leader has been analysed in context to the organisation. In addition to that,
application of the role of leaders and manager has been analysed within the organisation with the
help of various theories and models.
Lo1: Differentiating between role of leader as well as function of manager
P1: Defining and comparing different roles as well as characteristics of leader
and a manager
A leader is defined as the person who leads a group or a team within an organisation and the
ability of a person to lead employees within the organisation is known as leadership. Moreover,
the role of the leaders affects the behaviour and creates a positive vision of employees towards
the objectives of an organisation. In Marks and Spencer, a leader encourages the employees in
performing their duties in a better manner with their effective communication as well as
leadership skills and explain them the organisation's mission and vision. A leader helps the
employees working properly to achieve goals of the organisation and enhance the productivity of
the organisation (Morschett et al. 2015, p.35). Effective decision-making process through better
communication makes an efficient leader.
An employee who controls and manages a group of employees within an organisation is known
as a manager. Manager of Marks and Spencer manages and designs job of an organisation in a
manner to ensure that goals and objectives of an organisation have been met. The manager's role
is to develop organisational strategies, policies and make the strategic planning of the work of
employees.
In Marks and Spencer, a manager decides the goals that are to be achieved and leaders perform
the duties to achieve the set goals. The designs are being set by managers, whereas, leaders
motivates the employees in fulfilling the policies. Managers develop strategies and ideas that
would help in improving the employees (Parisio et al. 2016, p.28). On the other hand, leaders
help in implementing these strategies and ideas efficiently. Managers direct the leaders for
proceeding in a particular work and leaders help in inspiring employees to perform their duties
efficiently. Managers are said to have control and rational characteristics, whereas, effective
leaders are said to have charismatic and brilliant personality type.
In Marks and Spencer, leaders tend to follow Laissez Faire leadership for fulfilling the duties as
well as responsibilities. Within this type of leadership style, the team members are allowed by
the leaders to take every decision. In this type of leadership style, leaders in performing their
duties by their own provide complete freedom to the employees. After defining the policies,
limitations and objectives related to the work, complete freedom has been provided to the team
members to perform their duties themselves. A major advantage of this leadership style is that it
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could be very much beneficial as well as effective in situations where team members are highly
skilled, talented, efficient and motivated. Since employees are highly skilled and talented, they
are able to perform their job efficiently without the leader's guidance.
Lo2: Application of role of leaders and function of manager
P2: Examining application of leader’s role and function of manager in various
context
Planning: Planning and setting objectives are vital roles of managers within Marks and Spencer.
The managers communicate the plan as well as goals with the team members along with
motivating them to accomplish their task for enhancing the productivity and profitability of the
organisation. Leaders usually make complex planning process, which should be made simpler
and realistic. In this case, managers manage planning phase that is to be followed by the
employees.
Organising:
The managers of M&S organise as well as use resources in an effective manner to achieve the
goals of the organisation (Marksandspencer.com, 2017). The leader's function in this context is
to encourage the employees in accomplishing their job with the available resources. It is very
crucial for a leader to organise a team or build a team. Agile leaders within an organisation help
in making a balance between command and influence, which is considered as a strong side in
organising a team for the leaders.
Directing:
Tasks are being directed to the leaders that are required to achieve goals of an organisation.
Moreover, leaders develop groups or teams of employees and provide them direction to fulfil
their tasks. In the given scenario, Directing Leadership style could be considered as in this case,
leaders could provide instruction to employees and have a closer view on the task done.
Staffing:
Recruitment in Marks and Spencer is done by the managers and provide job to the new
employees according to their skills and capabilities. Moreover, leaders allocate the job to
employees, motivate them and communicate with them to make them work better for enhancing
the productivity and profitability of the organisation as well as resolving their grievances (Foss et
al. 2013, p.230). The managers are able to make or break a team within an operating process to
accomplish their tasks. Managers provide give special training to new employees and appraise
their performance, which is considered as the strength of Marks and Spencer.
Coordinating:
Managers of M&S coordinate with organisational functions for improving the outcomes. The
leader’s function is implementing effective operational practices to create coordination within
organisational activities with the help of communication and leadership styles (Du et al. 2013,
p.156).
Controlling:
Managers manage operations and create strategies for performing organisational work
appropriately. On the contrary, leaders provide effective guidance to employees in completing
their tasks as well as check the performance of employees. In the organisation, managers provide
a view of performance by setting appropriate standards of corrective measures.
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