Management and Operations: Roles, Theories, and Approaches

This document explores the roles and characteristics of managers and leaders, analyzes their application in different situations, discusses various theories and models of approach, and explains the key approaches and values of operational management for achieving business objectives. It focuses on the case of Walmart, a multinational retailing corporation, and provides insights into the management and operations of the company.

Management and
Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................3
TASK 1 ................................................................................................................................................3
P1 Define and Discuss various role & characteristics of manager along with leader ...................3
TASK 2 ................................................................................................................................................5
P2 Analyse examples of how role of a leader and function of a manager apply in different
situations..........................................................................................................................................5
P3 Discuss different theories/ models of approach, including situational leadership, systems
leadership and contingency..............................................................................................................7
TASK 3.................................................................................................................................................7
P4) Discuss Operational management key approaches and role of leaders & managers................7
P5 What is operation management and explain the values of operation management for achieving
business objectives ..........................................................................................................................9
TASK 4...............................................................................................................................................10
P6 Assess the factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management
and decision-making by leaders and managers..............................................................................10
CONCLUSION...................................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES...................................................................................................................................12
Books & Journal:...........................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Business sector is changing with rapid scale due to time period. Management and operations
is defined as practices through which controlling and designing related to processing of production
of goods and services (Wolff-Petersen, 2019). In organisational point of view, it has become
important to manage all functions as well as operations. Main purpose of this report is to examine
performance of a store by managing operations. Walmart, a multinational retailing corporation
headquartered in Arkansas. Firm operates in many chain of hypermarkets, supermarkets etc. and
provides ample number of products such as groceries, home appliances & many more. This report
comprises of comparison between roles & characteristics of leader as well as manager, role of
leader and function of manager, different theories, methods of operation management, value of
operations management and factors of business environment.
TASK 1
P1 Define and Discuss various role & characteristics of manager along with leader
Manager is a person who is responsible for directing goals, organization, resources ,
organization structures, or people. The manager of a Walmart is problem solver, motivating to
subordinates of organizations.
Leader is about to complete task on practical efforts to fulfils work. In terms of undertaken
entity, leader can help to achieve their goals in all task of subordinates by efficiently and effectively
(Aggarwal, 2020).
Comparison in between the role of manager & leader :
Leader and manager are both responsible for Walmart growth, stability in which both are
playing great role in organization, in sense that a leader is one who inspires, encourages work
willingly with subordinates. Whereas manager is an important link between development ,
businesses profit, and perform basic managerial functions.
Manager Leader
A manager is always make decision in form
of managerial skills for organization profit.
A leader is always facilitate decision among
leaders and subordinates.
Their aim works on basic projects results of
organization.
They focus on Growth & development of task.

Further, they focus on organization flow of
work and procedures to protect himself.
Leader works on People to develop their skills to
always protect staffs.
Managers always listen and involve selective
staff/employee.
Listen selectively involvement of staff in
decision making and listen everyone to get
suggestion .
They are unclear regarding trust on
employee.
Always trust on employee/staff.
Specified in career for self development
nature.
Staff oriented for growth of task.
Role of manager and leader:
Leader: Set overall & future direction for organization and give vision, it focuses on
outputs of work. Communicate all staff member ,organize various tasks for employee, also
responsible for determining goals.
Manager: Their work to set day to day work as per circumstances of organization and
focuses on process to get output (Stein, 2016).
Characteristics of leaders and managers :
Characteristics of Managers:
 Time management: They are always considering a necessary tool to successful manager
it can assure managers to do complete their tasks before give in time .
 Risk avoiders: Managers are supposed to avoid risks it comes into adapting flexibility of
changes in organization.
 Communication effectively:They have good communication for effective work with their
employee that can assists functions of organisations smoothly.
 Process Management: Establish some new rules, process, standard operating procedures
for achieve new target policy ,growth & development for organization.
Characteristics of leaders:
 Optimistic: Leaders are optimistic for work so that they can easily grab opportunities. With
this positivity, it is easy for them to achieved desired goals.
 Decision-making: Moreover, they have a quality of good decision maker according to
accomplish goal. Further, they have courage to handle different level of task for activities
which are on high risk (Petriglieri, 2020).

 Developing vision: They communicate with their employee about project plan that can help
in reach to goal. Through this traits, they
 Ability to change: Leaders have courage to change plan of project and also modify it as per
changes in organization.
From discussed characteristics of both leaders and manager, it is seen that they are
heterogeneous nature according to which they perform their roles in management.
TASK 2
P2 Analyse examples of how role of a leader and function of a manager apply in different situations.
In enterprise, leaders as well as managers are essential because they are responsible for
accomplishing of goals & objectives. In relevance with Walmart, they both play different roles and
responsibilities according to which work is done. In respective company, various types of situation
arises and accordingly objectives are achieved.
Conflicts situations-
Organisational sector is wider and broader as because of large number of employees, size
and scope. Walmart operated globally with larger size in operations, employees, business, supply
chains etc. This also leads to occurrence of many problems, errors, situations & many more.
(Ellickson, 2016).
Leader's role- In relevance with chosen firm, they have leader have leaders who manages
& motivates employees to get work done within a period of time. Also, leaders of entity conduct
training & brainstorming sessions so that mutual coordination is established. It leads to positive
work environment at workplace.
Manager functions- Managers are the base of firm who implement strategies, tactics,
generates profit & revenue. Without manager, it is difficult for them to carry out work in proper
manner. In firm, manager play many functions which are discussed below-
Planning- It is being considered as first function in which planning is done for the set
objectives or goals. It is important to do planning because without planning it is not possible to
achieve goals in a effective manner. Thus, managers of Walmart conduct appropriate planning
which assist in generation of effective ideas, and thoughts.
Organising- It is second one in which organising of documents, papers, is done in
systematic manner. With help of this function, it is easy to manage and maintain records which are
to be used in future period of time (Reich, 2018).
Directing- In this, guidance or direction is provided to employees within a firm in which
how work is to be done, what tactics are needed to be adopted such type of ways are provided to

subordinates. The undertaken entity make assures that managers guides subordinates in most
efficient manner.
Controlling- It is another in which evaluating of performance is carried out to examine the
improvement of a particular individual & company. It is necessary to to control & measure progress
analysis so that decision making is done in correct way.
Management by Objective
It refers to tool which is used by organisations to improve performance or progress of firm
so that goals are achieved in within a interval of time.
 At first stage, objectives, mission, vision, are being stated so that further process is carried
out in effective manner (Kozlov, 2020).
 In second aspect, leaders & managers guides or directs subordinates that how or in what
ways these objectives are required to be adopted.
 In this third aspect, measurement of performance is carried out which is helpful for setting
up the standards in business.
 In this, progress level is analysed so that entity is able to reward to higher performing
personnel.
The above explained matter shows that leaders roles and manager function is necessary to
be examined properly. Both roles and functions are needed to be used so that with proper
considerations.
P3 Discuss different theories/ models of approach, including situational leadership, systems
leadership and contingency.
A leader play crucial role in management as they encourages subordinates to achieve
objectives. In context with selected company, they have a leaders who use different types of
leadership styles according to which they make decisions. There are several types of leadership
theories which are used by leaders in management. The first one is situational leadership in which
it states that leadership style of a particular leader rely on specific situation. It is beneficial for
leaders as well as followers as it assist them to carry out decision-making process according to
situations (Ji, 2018). Further second one is system leadership in which its mainly view
organisational as a whole system rather than a specifics sub-parts of company. This is also
beneficial for Walmart because it help in establishing mutual relationship with every member of
enterprise. At last is contingency in which it states that there is no single or particular way which

can be used fin firm, by leader etc. These discussed theories are important at their own level &
which are to be carried out
These above explained theories shows that theories and concepts are required to be used in
most efficient way. It is duty of leader to make assure that correct form of leadership style is
adopted by them so that goals are attained in correct way. It is critical task to use appropriate theory
so that
TASK 3
P4) Discuss Operational management key approaches and role of leaders & managers
In perspective of corporation, leaders as well as managers asset of entity. The concept of
operation management is wider & broader which is essential to understood in appropriate manner.
In OM, different company uses heterogeneous approaches depending upon their level of operations
or businesses. In viewpoint of chosen company, they also focuses on several methods which are
discussed below-
Lean production- This is an most effective approach which is adopted by entity in which it
is defined as process of removal of waste by reducing unnecessary materials from production. This
is beneficial for an organisation because it assist in enhancing the productivity of company at higher
level. In context to selected corporation, they have been focusing on reducing of waste by avoiding
plastic or eliminating use of plastics in their products (O’Neill, 2016). With help this method, it is
easier to enhance the working efficiency of a entity.
Six sigma- It refers to process in which detecting of errors is done to improve business
capability of an entity. In this, decision making process is needed to be carried out in most proper
considerations. It is time consuming process because deep level of understanding is necessary to
identify problems or errors (Wakui, 2016).Manager of company use this approach through this they
are able to analyse issues which are occurring during production process and accordingly resources
or strategies are adopted. Therefore, cost of production is maintained in effective manner.
Queuing theory- It is a process in which mathematical data is being determined in which
functions, waiting lines are focused. It is also an important method because it help entity to improve
or enhance their queuing system, access staff solutions, arrival management strategies etc. It is OM
technique which is adopted mostly for scheduling, inventory etc.
Principles of Total Quality management-

TQM which is also known as total quality management is defined as process which is
mainly concerned with reduction of errors in manufacturing process. TQM assures that people who
are involved in procedure of production are need to be responsible for improving quality of product
or service. Thus, TQM method is highly effective which is carried out at wider scale. Role of leader
in this is to motivates subordinates to work with ethics. Whereas managers role is to observe people
who are in production and assuring the progress of work.
Just in Time Inventory-
It is another principle which process of scheduling and allocating resources is focused from
vendors to production. By focusing on this it resources and other raw materials are used in most
efficient manner which is beneficial for future interval of time. In viewpoint of selected firm, they
can use this to check the optimum use of resources in management. For example- Walmart use
resources only when there is shortage of display, urgent need of raw materials etc. Through this,
they are able to manage everything in well organised manner (Deasy, 2016).
Kaizen
It is process in which continuous improvement is carried out within the procedures. This
continuous level of improvement is focused on all department according to which it is easy to use
strategies accordingly. In relevance with chosen company, they are able to focus on their
improvement through which it become easy for them to achieve productivity of every department.
By using Kaizen , it is easier for enterprise to remove errors during process (Cepel, 2019).
The explained paragraph states that methods of operation management is necessary to adopt
so that it become possible to examine roles of leaders or managers effectively. Thus, certain
principles, methods have been discussed briefly.
P5 What is operation management and explain the values of operation management for achieving
business objectives
Operation management refers to process in which main focus is on controlling or designing
of production level which leads to high achievement of efficiency. It is broader concept which is
essential for company to carry out in proper manner. In reference with selected enterprise, by
focusing on this concept they are able to achieve and enhance their working efficiency level. The
value of operation management has widen with use of more functions and processes. Walmart has
global chain of operations for which they need a proper analysis (Wolff-Petersen, 2019. With use of
OM, they achieve business objectives in proper manner. To use this concept in appropriate manner,
enterprises uses various techniques which are mentioned below-

 Research and process design- This is a technique in which research design and process
techniques are stated for a specific field of study. Both these research and design are
essential to be focused so that OM is carried out in proper manner.
 Production- This is another technique in which process is undertaken with conversion of
raw materials into final output. It is time consuming approach because of involvement of
many processes, decisions, people etc.
 Logistic & inventory- Further arises technique in which main logistic is involved. It refers
to procedure of shifting of goods from one place to other. Inventory refers to storing of
goods for longer period of time. These both are crucial for managing operation management
.(Aggarwal, 2020).
Value of operation management
 Competitive advantage- With use of effective operation management, it is possible for
corporation to achieve competitive advantage. This also leads to use of using of business
practices in correct way. It enhances their chance of being ahead in market at all aspects.
 Improve quality- Another rationale for importance of OM is that it help enterprise to
enhance or improve their quality of product at higher scale. By improving quality, it is easy
to achieve customer's trust (Stein, 2016).
 Awareness about inventory- Then, it is also important because it assist in making
awareness about stock or inventory of goods. Through this, it is easy to use resources
acceding to stock.
 Planning- Further importance is that it assists company to do planning related with time
interval between production process or vendors orders. It is essential to use perform
planning so that it is possible to examine all processes which are running or due for
completion.
Therefore, stated matter specifies that by analysing importance of operation management it
has become essential for every firm to use operation management in appropriate way. Thus, it is
seen that OM is essential which is needed to be adopted.

TASK 4
P6 Assess the factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management
and decision-making by leaders and managers.
Business environment refers to approach in which it comprises of internal and external
elements affecting the organisation functions/operations. It is crucial for company to be aware about
business environment factors so that problems are identified in proper way. In context to chosen
corporation, these factors are identified and are discussed as follows-
 Culture- It is defined as group of people with different religions, moral values, ethics etc.
This have impact on operational management because subordinates in corporate world are
from different cultures or religions. Moreover, productions procedures are processed by
overviewing culture of that group or area (Petriglieri, 2020)(. Also, this business
environment element impact upon decision making of both leaders/ managers because they
have to use practices or theories according in such a way that problem do not occur in
culture.
 Corporate Social Responsibility- It refers to procedure in which company is entitled
towards both socially and economically. Rationale for its impact upon OM is that CSR has
changing polices & procedures which require approval from superior authorities.
Furthermore operations have to be maintain quality without affecting environment. Then, it
impact upon decision making because they both have to adopt ECO- friendly business
practices.
 Ethics- It is also business environment element which impact upon OM because ethics
which are related with quality and standards are required to maintained. It is difficult to
follow all ethics related to work because it cost is high when ethics are focused. Accordingly
it impact upon leaders/managers as ethics are needed to adopted while choosing business
practices during procedures (Ellickson, 2016).
Hence, stated paragraph shows that elements of business environment are required to
identified so that everything is done accordingly. The discussed elements states that they have
impact on operation management. Furthermore, it also affects leaders & manager decision-making
which disrupts the overall functioning of business at deeper scale.

CONCLUSION
After a brief analysis of above report, it has been concluded that managing operation
requires deep level of knowledge and understanding. It is crucial for organisation to improve the
effectiveness of process & procedures. So, discussions have been made about leaders roles and
manager functions, comparison between them, theories. Further, operational management
approaches, importance and business environment factors affecting operations management are
explained.

REFERENCES
Books & Journal:
Wolff-Petersen, 2019.Device for managing operations of accessories. U.S. Patent 10,391,391.
Aggarwal, 2020.Managing operations of a mobile drive unit within a workspace based on a fire-
based policy. U.S. Patent 10,591,931.
Stein, 2016. Schools Need Leaders-Not Managers: It's Time for a Paradigm Shift.Journal of
Leadership Education,15(2).
Petriglieri, 2020. This is why we can’t have nice things: We are stuck with leaders… or managers.
Commentary on Kniffin, Detert, & Leroy (2020).Academy of Management Discoveries, (ja).
Ellickson, 2016. The evolution of the supermarket industry: from A & P to Walmart. In Handbook
on the Economics of Retailing and Distribution. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Reich, 2018.Working for respect: Community and conflict at Walmart. Columbia University Press.
Kozlov, 2020. To the question of functions defining of innovative culture of the future manager of
general secondary educational institution.Імідж сучасного педагога, (1 (190)), pp.10-15.
Ji, 2018.Network functions virtualization resource processing method and virtualized network
function manager. U.S. Patent Application 15/940,102.
O’Neill, 2016. Quality management approaches and their impact on firms׳ financial performance–
An Australian study.International Journal of Production Economics,171, pp.381-393.
Wakui, 2016. Operation management of residential energy-supplying networks based on
optimization approaches.Applied Energy,183, pp.340-357.
Deasy, 2016.Controlling use of a business environment on a mobile device. U.S. Patent 9,247,042.

Cepel, 2019. Selected economic factors of the quality of business environment.Journal of
International Studies.