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

This report discusses the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager in the context of management and operations. It also examines examples of how they apply in different situational contexts and applies various theories and models of leadership approach.

Management
and
Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager.........1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
P2 Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in
different situational contexts.......................................................................................................3
P3 Apply different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership, systems
leadership and contingency.........................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Management is considered as the distinct continuous procedures of allocating inputs of
firm through typical functions of management for the aim of attaining decided goals. Operations
is defined as the area that is accountable for designing as well as making goods or services
provided through firm (Battaïa and et. al., 2018). As per scenario, the chosen company for this
report is TESCO, which is leading British general merchandiser and retailer. Its headquarters is
in England, Welwyn Garden city, UK. This report covers comparison among the various roles
and characteristics of leaders and managers. Also, the leader's role and manage functions into
different situational contexts are explained. Apart from this, application of various models and
theories of leadership approach are also discussed in this report.
TASK 1
P1 Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager
Organisational structure is defined as the system which shows that how particular
activities are guided for attaining the objective of firm. So, Tesco comply the hierarchical
organisational structure as into this position, framework and obligation are distributed into
various parts for assuring that task will be perform in effectual and smoother way.
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Illustration 1: Tesco organizational structure
(Source: Tesco organizational structure. 2016)

Definition of manager:
Manager is considered as the person who are answerable for directing another people so
that they can perform the task effectually in order to accomplish objectives. There are large
number of people or employees who has to report them.
Definition of leader:
Leader is considered as an individual who will hold superior post in work area. These are
usually exercise huge range of control on its employees or group members. It also has power to
influence another staff in order to perform task effectually and efficiently (Ferruzzi. and et. al.,
2015).
Comparison of various role and characteristics of manager and leaders
Characteristics Manager Leaders
Providing directions The characteristics of Tesco
manager is to provide direction
to their staff effectively and
efficiently.
Leaders of TESCO is to guide
its staff as well as personnel as
per the plans allocation of
funds and others to accomplish
the task on time.
Risk Taking Tesco's manager concentrates
on reducing or controlling risk.
Tesco's leader concentrates on
unique things as well as take
risk.
Role Manager Leader
Strategy The manager of TESCO plays
crucial role in making strategy
for their firm to accomplish
objectives.
The TESCO's leader has to
execute that strategy that is
develop through respective
firm manager with the
assistance of its staff.
Communication The respective firm's manager
plays efficacious role into
The respective organisation
leader plays significant role
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communication in which it has
to communicate with all
person of company.
into communication as it has to
direct as well as influence its
staff effectively.
Difference between management and leadership
BASIS Leadership Management
Definition This is defined as the skills
through which leaders can able
to leads its subordinates
effectively (Kang and et. al.,
2016).
This is defined as the art of
consistently organise as well as
coordinate things
efficaciously.
Focus on Leadership are focused upon
motivating change.
Management are focused upon
brining stability into person
and firm as well.
Formulation of They formulate guidelines as
well as principles.
They formulate procedures as
well as policies (Difference
Between Leadership and
Management, 2018).
Function of management:
Mainly there are five function of management which are discussed below: Planning: This is considered as a future oriented as well as determines an firm's
direction. Moreover, this is a systematized as well as rational ways of formulating
decisions which will impact the future of organisation. Organising: This functions includes the determination of practices which required to be
performed for meeting the firm's objectives, delegating those activities to appropriate
workforce as well as delegating essential authority to perform that task in more
coordinated and cohesive way. Staffing: It is a function where a recruiting as well as retaining a proficient personnel for
business both at non managerial and managerial levels. This includes procedures to hire,
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train, develop, compensate and evaluate staff as well as maintain this personnel with
efficacious motivation and incentives. So, this help TESCO to hire the more skilled and
talented employees. Directing: It is considered as a function which is related with communication, leadership,
motivation and others so that staff may do its task in more effective way for attaining the
expected objectives.
 Controlling: This function of management includes that practices which are considered
for assuring that project do not get deviated from the pre-planned plans. In this
management function respective organisation initially develops standard performance,
measure the actual one then evaluate exact performance with pre determined standard
thereafter take corrective action for attaining the goals effectively.
Role of management
The respective organisation management plays various roles some of them are
discussed below: Dissemination: The accountability of this management role is to portray as well as
communicate information to relevant parties into business. So, for this TESCO
management should maintain open communication channel or flow which incorporates
into organisational culture.
 Resource allocator: This management role is accountable for delegating as well as
allocating resources to various business division and aspects. For this, TESCO's
management develop plans, formulate budgets as well as schedule and hand occurs
material to proper business section.
Characteristics of management: Continuous process: This is considered as ongoing procedures that tends to persists as
longer as firm exits. This is needed into all sphere of entities either that is human
resource, marketing, finance and others. This aids respective organisation to continuously
monitor the all department and its process in effective and efficient way.
 Muti- dimensional: As management is not only confined to manage the people within
firm but they also have to manage the procedures, practices, operations and task that
develops them to perform the multi disciplinary activities. So, TESCO management
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should have this characteristics so that they can able to manage to overall task and
attained objectives.
TASK 2
P2 Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in
different situational contexts
There are many situations that can be arise in TESCO which impact its operations and
effectual organisation function. So the manager functions and leader's role is very much helpful
in order to deal with several circumstances or firm's issues. Various situations are maximisation
of disputes, reduction in staff performance and other (Li, B and Feng, 2014). All these
circumstances required to be handle through manager and leaders efficaciously so that TESCO
can attain their goals. Therefore, the function of manager and role of leaders in various situation
are discussed below:
Low staff performance: Minimisation in staff performance is very critical situation as
well as this required to be managed effectively. Within this circumstances, the manager functions
and leader role may have huge effects upon business. Reduction in staff performance will lead
towards minimisation in whole profit and productivity of TESCO. In this circumstance, the role
of leader is to encourage its workers for better performance. So, the respective firm have to
motivate their employees through facilitating appropriate as well as clear guidance to staff.
Whereas the function of manager is to formulate plans that lead to increase performance of
workers. Also, it has to assess and control their performance regularly. For this situation, TESCO
leadership and management can adapt system theories as this facilitates a holistic view for
handling problems effectively and efficiently.
Disputes among employees and manager within company: Company disputes can be
explained as a disagreement or misunderstanding into firm that outcomes in dissent within staff
(Li and Wang, 2015). Enhancement in disputes among employees and manger into TESCO will
leads to develop negative surrounding and this impact the staff working and firm's performance.
Disputes will lead towards dissatisfaction into workers as well as affects its working efficiency.
Within this particular situation, role of leader is to build optimistic as well as friendly working
atmosphere into company. Its role is to communicate with staff as well as find main reason of
conflicts into firm. On there hand, the function of manager is to clearly know about the
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circumstances and evaluate reasons for disputes. It has to take essential as well as strict decisions
in respect of conflicts. For this situation, the respective firm management can apply situational
leadership theories as according to their leaders can adapt different style as per the situations and
attain the targets effectively.
Staff Turnover: This is considered as the circumstances in which more number of staff
are leaving firm and they cannot able to retain them (Nong and et. al., 2013). Staff turnover
occur when there is enhancement into percentage of leaving workers in comparison number of
new joinee. There may be several reasons that leads towards enhancement into staff turnover
ratio. Maximisation in this will leads towards developing negative image of TESCO. Within this
particular circumstances, the role of leader is to find the reason why workers are leaving the
company. Leaders has to encourage as well as influence staff so that they do not lose the
proficient as well as talent employees. They will communicate reason of staff enhancement and
function of manager is to evaluate whole aspects for managing requirements to improve
strategies that will leads towards reduction in staff turnover.
P3 Apply different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership, systems
leadership and contingency
Leadership is considered as the procedures top direct, guide, influence another people
towards particular objectives. Leadership is defined as the capability of individuals to persuade
others for performing the task enthusiastically as well as attaining targeted goals. There are
several ways by which leaders can encourage their staff as well as these theories are aids leaders
in facilitating structure. Several leadership theories that can be attained through respective
organisation are discussed below:
Situational leadership: It is the kind of leadership theory which is based upon belief that
there is not any effectual as well as appropriate manner to encourage staff (Oti and et. al., 2016).
This particular theory was established through Professor Paul Hersey as well as Guru Ken
Blanchard. Firstly, it was introduced in year 1969 as the “life cycle theory of leadership”.
Situational leadership theory is used by leaders who adapt various leadership style as per the
circumstances as well as the improvement level of its team members. Therefore, TESCO
manager and leaders can utilise this particular models while handling disputes into firm.
Moreover, this leadership approach aids respective organisation to solve the disputes among
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manager and staff as through this they can able to identity the root cause of conflicts and
according to situation it find solution which will be effective for both.
Strengths:
 It aids TESCO's leaders to formulate strategies or decision as per the circumstances that
they are going through. While adapting this approach, the leaders can able to create positive working atmosphere.
Weaknesses:
 The main weakness of this leadership approach is that they are not effective for long term
needs of Tesco.
Contingency leadership approach: This is considered as the theory which believe that
efficiency of leader is based on several contingent aspects. As per the Fielder, there is not any
effective manner by which leaders can inspire its followers. Efficiencies of leaders is based on
circumstances as well as another factors (Pavlineri, Skoulikidis and Tsihrintzis, 2017). This
involves task framework, leader and team member relations as well as positional power. In
respect of TESCO, contingency theory can be utilised at the time of managing the problem of
staff turnover. Workers will has various reasons in order to leave jobs as well as it will aids to
deal with this situation effectively and efficiently.
Strengths:
 It is the theory that aids leaders of TESCO to examine effects of particular situation at
work area. For execution of this particular theory, this is not crucial that all staff have to be
productive in all the circumstances.
Weaknesses:
 It is the theory that is not effective for continuous changing circumstances or atmosphere.
 For executing this leadership approach, leader of TESCO did not have any approached
guidelines.
System leadership: It is considered as the theory which aids leaders for creating a
condition in which individuals or staff within each level can develop its potential as well as
productivity effectively (Thaler, Priest and Fuchs, 2016). This particular approach was developed
through Dr. Ian Macdonald. It is also helpful in finding interdependent as well as interrelation
among several parts of TESCO and this facilitates a holistic view for handling problems. In
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respective organisation the system leadership approach will be assists to manage staff
performance. So both leader and manager can clearly describe the targeted objectives to workers
on this basis of which its performance will be assessed.
Strengths:
 With the help of this leadership approach, TESCO leaders are able to accomplish their
objective effectively as they develop a condition where employees at all level can
improve its productivity. Moreover, it will aid them in concentrating more efficaciously towards function as well
as operations at work area.
Weaknesses:
 It need more time for formulating appropriate decisions.
 Few times, the leaders of TESCO have to go through trouble while executing this models.
All the above mentioned theories are beneficial for the TESCO as these assists them to
formulate appropriate decisions, deal with the continuous changing situation, developing
optimistic environment and many others (Zhong and et. al., 2019). Contingency theory aids them
to deal with the situation of issues such as staff turnover. Moreover, system as well as situational
leadership approach is helpful in managing employee’s performance, conflicts and others.
Both manager as well as leaders impact the firm as leaders of TESCO help firm to guide,
direct their teams and subordinates effectively and efficiently. Moreover, its helps manager of
respective organisation in making decision, strategies and so on.
Recommendation:
For the further improvement, it has been recommended that leaders and manager have to
utilise appropriate style and models of leadership for the different situation such as low staff
performance, conflict resolution, increasing conflicts and many more. In addition to this, they
have to utilise more creative techniques and models in order to overcome from organisational
issues effectively as well as efficiently.
CONCLUSION
As per the above report, it has been concluded that, management and operations plays
important role within whole organisation. Moreover, both manager and leader plays different
roles from one another as well as have distinguish characteristics such instruction, risk taking etc.
Also, there are some situation that arises within firm are low staff performance, disputes in firm
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and many more. In addition to this, there are few leadership theories and model which are
contingencies, system, situational and many more that help organisation's leaders to adopt
various style and lead their team for accomplishing objectives.
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REFERENCES
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risk in China. Renewable Energy. 64. pp.266-275.
Li, H. and Wang, S. J., 2015. Load management in District Heating operation. Energy
Procedia, 75, pp.1202-1207.
Nong, L. and et. al., 2013. Effects of parecoxib on morphine analgesia after gynecology tumor
operation: a randomized trial of parecoxib used in postsurgical pain
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Pavlineri, N., Skoulikidis, N.T. and Tsihrintzis, V. A., 2017. Constructed floating wetlands: a
review of research, design, operation and management aspects, and data meta-
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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.
Zhong, W. and et. al., 2019. A Knowledge Base System for Operation Optimization: Design and
Implementation Practice for the Polyethylene Process. Engineering.
Online
Difference Between Leadership and Management. 2018. [Online]. Avaialble
Through:<https://keydifferences.com/difference-between-leadership-and-
management.html>
Tesco organizational structure. 2016. [online]. Available through:<https://research-
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