Management and Operations: Roles and Characteristics of Leaders and Managers

This document discusses the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers in the field of management and operations. It explores the importance of leadership and management in different situational contexts and examines various theories and models of leadership. The document also analyzes the key approaches of operation management and the role of leaders and managers in achieving organizational objectives.

Management and
Operations

Table of Contents
LO1..................................................................................................................................................3
P1 & M1: Define and compare the different roles as well as characteristics of a leaders and a
manager........................................................................................................................................3
LO2..................................................................................................................................................5
P2: Determine the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in different situational
context..........................................................................................................................................5
P3 &M2: Apply different theories and models in an organisation..............................................6
D1: Critically analyse as well as evaluate the different theories and approaches of leadership..8
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................8
P4 & M3. Key approaches of operation management and role of leader and manager:...........8
P 5: Importance of operation management in accomplishing objectives of company:.............10
LO 4...............................................................................................................................................11
P 6: Factors of environment impacting operational management and decision-making:..........11
M4: Analysis of how discussed factors impacts business environment and wider community:
....................................................................................................................................................13
D2. Evaluation of application of operations management and variables which affects wider
business environment:................................................................................................................13
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15

INTRODUCTION
Management and operations emphasize on coordinating the diverse activities of business
which involve operation processes, embrace the design of product, performance improvement,
planning as well as controlling activities. It simply involve efficiently engaging in the production
of final good as well as services by selecting preferable operations strategy. This involve the
responsibility of manager to continuously coordinate with different functional units in order to
promote smooth functioning (Adebanjo, Laosirihongthong and Samaranayake, 2016).
Management and operation comprises of the activities like planning, organisation as well as
monitoring process that necessarily leads to generation of high productivity. For the better
understanding of report Balfour Beatty plc company has been selected which is the multinational
infrastructure group. It deals in activities like construction services, incur investments in support
as well as infrastructure services. The headquarter of company is in London and is well known
brand in terms of construction services. This report cover topics like comparison between the
role of leader as well as function of manager. Examine the role of leader and manger's function
within organisation context. Application of the leader and manager's role in terms of operation
function of an organisation. Further, demonstrate the relationship associated with leadership and
management within a contemporary business environment are covered in this report.
LO1
P1 & M1: Define and compare the different roles as well as characteristics of a leaders and a
manager
Leader involve the ability to lead or direct either an individual or team member of an
organisation. This is the practical ability that helps to motivate the employees in terms to
maximise their potential and accordingly attain the collective objective within stipulated
duration.
Characteristic of leader
Commitment and strong passion: Successful leader always have strong commitment in
terms of the objective and their action due to which they effectively coordinate the efforts of
group members. This finally helps to uplift the overall position of firm (Akalin, Huang and
Willems, 2016).

Optimistic: Leaders have the optimistic nature due to which they identify the opportunity
and ignore criticism. Such clarity of thoughts motivate the staff and remain loyal towards their
daily regime.
Role of leader
Develop vision: Leaders have the foresight vision due to which they are essential part of
an organisation as they help to meet the determined goal. Based on the vision the followers of
leader carry out their actions.
Integrate the personal and organisational objective: Leaders are liable to associate the
output of individual effort with personal as well as organisational objective. Such coordination
maintain the balance between the human effort and generation of output.
Manager on the other side have the responsibility for better administrator of activities
by planning, organising, monitoring and controlling the operations of firm. They basically ensure
that all the routine activities are carried out in the systematic manner to maintain the smooth
business functioning.
Characteristic of Manager
Proficient knowledge: Managers are responsible to carry out overall functioning of firm
due to which they have precise knowledge about the internal and external environment based on
which they lands up in making constructive decision. Along with that concentration is given to
constantly update the knowledge as per changing policies and trend (Burt, Johansson and
Dawson, 2017).
Communication: As manager are responsible to take all the necessary decision so they
liaison the relationship with different managing authorities by maintaining the effective
communication. As it help to maintain the transparency so it better leads to productive result.
Role of manager
Determine objective: Manager set the firm's objective based on which task are allocated
for overall staff which finally leads to sustainable growth and development.
Representative of organisation: Managers have the responsible to initiate various
programmes, seminar, meetings and concerts due to which they are true representative of firm.
Comparison between leader and manager
Basis Leader Manager
Approach Leader set the guidelines or Manager plan out the detail

direction for their staff which
influences them to take the
significant action in terms to
accomplish objective.
procedure of an organisation
which is further delegated to
different functional area.
Decision They are liable to facilitate the
decision and coordinate the
actions for organisation
success (Gillen, Jacquillat and
Odoni, 2016).
Manager generally leverage
the power to make decision
which is their prime
responsible due to which it
need to prepared after gaining
deep insights.
Theories Transformational leadership
style assist the leader to
identify the need to adopt the
changes on the continuous
basis based on which the
member are inspired or
encourage. It leads to the
continuous development of the
actual position of an
organisation.
Managers can adopt the
Transactional theory based on
which they overview the
performance of overall staff.
Based on evaluation rewards
or punishment in terms of
promotion, salary hike,
appreciation and termination is
offered to employees.
LO2
P2: Determine the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in different situational
context
Leader as well as manager have their own roles and responsibility due to which they have
they have different perspective and thinking ability in terms to carry out the actions in diverse
situation. As Balfour Beatty plc operate in the dynamic environment due to which the prominent
roles of manger and leader in different situation are explained below:

Advancement of technology: To sustain in the competitive environment the organisation
constantly focuses to uprate their technology for better production of output. The innovation and
newer technique of doing business helps respected company to overpower the competitor and
retain its position within constructive sector. So both the leader and manager have different
aspect in terms to cope up with this situation. The manger analyse the market and set the
desirable strategy in terms to implement the innovative plan or technology based on the budget.
Along with that the leader follow up the instructions of manager and prepare their staff in terms
to work on technology. Here focus is given in training that is used enrich the existing skills,
knowledge and capability of employee (Grant, Trautrims and Wong, 2017).
Turnover and absenteeism issue: This is the ineffective situation that hampers the
overall profitability and productivity of firm as causing balance in terms of the workload. Rise in
such issue is caused due to the several factors like, inadequate relation with superior, lack of
communication to resolve employee's query, undesirable working culture, lenient policies. In
order to deal with such situation both the manager and leader have diverse way. Leader more
probably at this situation will directly interact with employee and try to understand the reason to
switch the particular job. Based on the comprehensive problem they may try to find out valid
solution along with that they can further coordinate with mangers in terms to enhance their
policies and procedure. On other side the manager have the power to implement the innovative
strategies by which they can safeguard the interest of employees. Like, to resolve the
communication gap they can constantly conduct the session with their employee and can use the
online portal that will help in quick resolve of query. More often they can evaluate the
performance of employee and conduct appraisal programme for the growth and development of
employee.
P3 &M2: Apply different theories and models in an organisation
There are different types of theories and models which leads the leadership patterns
towards leader. These assorted theories are generally pre-characterized and considered as a
guidelines by which leaders are able to learn so many concepts by which they can increase their
followers. There are several leadership styles along with theories which is implemented and
discussed through Balfour Beatty plc, mentioned below:
Leadership theory

Situational leadership: It is one of the better type of leadership patterns and styles which
is mainly based on entire situation of marketplace. According to the business environment there
are so many changes that influence business every day. Therefore, leader of selected firm is
needed to implements in several approach that could be work for every difficult situation into the
business. With the help of this business can easily exist at market as per the changing
environment of business.
Strength This sorts of leadership, generally boost flexibility in order to lead large number group of
employees or followers (Hitt, Carnes, and Xu, 2016). With the help of this flexibility
they can work accordingly and distribute flexible environment to employees easily.
Weakness This leadership style always work on the sudden situations by ignoring appropriate
requirement of long term goals towards organization.
Contingency leadership: This type of leadership style can be or can not be apply in a
specific situation that mainly depends upon some conditions which may be occur in future. So
the main reason future is unpredictable so that there is no possibility to guess appropriate
situation like what will be happen in the future or what needs to be follows by leader. Thus, this
type of leadership style can be applied within the firm when each and every situation of business
inefficient as future is uncertain.
Strength Business environment is dynamic in nature so with the help of this leadership style firms
can beat competition and able to apply their present situation.
Weakness
 As per the future perspective it can not be work for firm as it can be apply on the current
situation of business.
Leadership models
System leadership: This model refers to the leadership through firms are able to operate
their all over systems accordingly. In reference with Balfour Beatty plc they always able to
identify entire needs and wants of employees in order to develop more positive environment
which is made by leader of this firm. With the help of this they can reach business goals and

achieve targeted objectives. It is most suitable and applicable business model towards
companies.
Strengths
 The main strength of this model that it is considered as a particular system of work that
properly identify appropriate needs of people into the firm. This leadership model mainly carried out better systems that increase firm's value and
productiveness.
Weaknesses
 Sometimes there are different types of rules and regulations in which respective firm is
not able to follow them and face few issues from the governmental policies and rules.
D1: Critically analyse as well as evaluate the different theories and approaches of leadership
There are different type of leadership theories that guide the leader to behave in particular
manner during different situation. Such process helps to enhance the overall functioning of
company by coordinating and managing the efforts successfully (Hitt, Xu and Carnes, 2016). As
Balfour Beatty plc perform in diverse market so to cope up with dynamic situation situational
leadership can be used as it help to manage the functioning of workplace by coordinating with
diverse situation. This is the flexible approaches although it is nor necessary the the leader is
capable enough to face all circumstance significantly.
LO 3
P4 & M3. Key approaches of operation management and role of leader and manager:
Operation management means managing the business structure sand mechanism to ensure
higher quality of products and services through effectively handling operations (Ivanov,
Tsipoulanidis & Schönberger, 2017). The following are several operations management
approaches that assist corporation Balfour Beatty streamline work there:
Total quality management: This approach is implemented in Balfour Beatty because
this approach emphasizes on construction quality including the essence that planning and
leadership behind entire organizational and construction process was as effective as it was. This
approach is implemented in Balfour Beatty by concentrating on overall company efficiency like
staff, customer happiness, satisfaction of stakeholders and quality of constructions. Here in this
approach main emphasise is on aspects of quality of products since it assist corporation to

maintain longer and healthy relationship with key customer. When output quality will be
premium or good and then more clients will get satisfied. These satisfied customers is act as
investment in business as they help company to attract more customers. This is majorly applied
with aim to enhance overall quality of corporation's products and develop brand value. Leader in
company forms policies to test process quality and manager ensures effective implementation of
these policies throughout the organisation (Jones, Comfort and Hillier, 2015).
Lean manufacturing: This is another crucial approach concerned with operation
management that is applied in Balfour Beatty. Under this approach Balfour Beatty Construction
Company, chiefly emphasising on optimising wastes or unnecessary expenditures in entire
construction process. Towards this corporation's managing personnel place strict monitoring over
entire construction operations and evaluate all inventory items utilised in construction process.
Core aim of application of approach of lean manufacturing by respective corporation is
accelerate value addition level for its consumers by optimising wastes involved in construction
operations or projects. Lean manufacturing approach continuously tracks and checks all the
processes of the organization to ensure that construction processes are not inefficient. Also
ensures that if any corrective/preventive steps are in effect, then such waste must be eliminated.
Company's managers performs a significant role here in it,since they are closest to business's
core operations and aware of all the key details related to operations.
Just in time: This is a method in which Balfour Beatty concentrates mostly on running
on schedule or even before but in any situation not after time. Balfour Beatty uses that approach
to control entire timing-schedule of all the construction project because in construction line any
delay in project can lead to excessive costs and reduced profit margin. Only use of this approach
in projects can increases the reputation of the enterprise within the industry and generates trust
among customers, because if the product is not delayed, which is why it is used in Balfour
Beatty. This strategy leads to lowering storage costs, since it minimise the unnecessary storage
costs by ensuring that there is always adequate raw material are available for construction
projects. The leader herein determines that all staff only gets their respective roles and fix their
responsibility in operation. While it is duty of managers to ensure that all the employees are
aware about their job role which indirectly assist in boosting operational performance
(Krishnaiyer, Chen and Bouzary, 2018).

Six sigma- In year 1980, Bill Smith and Motorola developed this approach. Balfour
Beatty is a methodology that is focused on statistics and information to actively remove the
deficiencies that may exist in products for a number of reasons. This approach improves
consumer loyalty because it attempts to remove defects and issues in products, thereby
increasing consumer confidence in the company's products. In order to find deficiencies that can
reduce the reputation of the company, the manager analyzes the production procedure The
Manager ensures that these defects are detected and techniques to mitigate these defects have to
be established.
P 5: Importance of operation management in accomplishing objectives of company:
For Balfour Beatty, operational management is crucial as it help to define corporation's
objectives whether short term or long term. Here in this context, it is necessary if business goals
like growth, customer satisfaction and productivity are to be achieved. The key variable where it
shows its significance, are as follows:
Quality of products: The management of the operations is essential for ensuring service
efficiency. This allows products and services quality improvement. In an construction enterprise
like Balfour Beatty, operation management is essential as it increases the construction efficiency
and project's quality. It applies a total-quality management, which helps the organization achieve
its business objectives such as effective manufacturing and outstanding product quality. It offers
variety of techniques to like TQM, Six Sigma to improve the quality standards of corporation's
products also it allocates factors which are barrier in product's quality (Mustafee, Katsaliaki and
Fishwick, 2015).
Customer satisfaction: Operations management is critical to achieving customer satisfaction
goals within a corporation. Together with maintaining their product's quality, the organization
ensures consumer needs are met. M&S here introduces Six Sigma as it ensures consumer is
committed to company and the corporation's products are capable to meet all of their needs. The
operations management mechanism is essential to a firm's progress and also allows customer
satisfaction that is linked with Balfour Beatty's construction projects.
Increase in revenue: The entire structure of operation management is boost the efficiencies of
operations within corporation. This ultimately increase the revenue as well as profitability. In
corporation like Balfour Beatty, the primary objectives is to enhance sales level as to increase
market share and profitability level. Corporate sales will also improve through their activities by

careful planning, and the organization will be able to achieve growth-targets and customer-base
through operations management (Paras, Pal and Ekwall, 2018).
Reduction of wastage or unnecessary expenditures: The waste elimination and irrelevant cost
minimisation is among the most critical aspects of operations management. By facilitating
effective management operations approach, company Balfour Beatty may improve construction
processes that is not only profitable but it also accelerate competitive performance. Company can
apply key approach of it such as lean management strategy that helps the organization to control
the company's wastages. That in turn decreases expenses for the organization as it controls and
minimizes needless waste. Eliminating waste in operations would safeguard aggregate corporate
expenditures and, in effect, enhance efficiency in business activity.
Employees Motivation: In entire process of operation' management, employees are key element
in business which are closely associated with company's all operations. In company Balfour
Beatty plc, the system of operation management allows managing personnels to track and
improve the performance of each employee within corporation. Also it help to classify them
according to their roles and responsibilities and implement strategies for motivation accordingly.
Further, they get effective and relevant guidance to execute their job role and task which not only
help them achieving corporation goals but provides job satisfaction. It allow them to boost their
efficiencies and capabilities which ultimately improves operating effectiveness of corporation
(Schwarz, Hall and Shibli, 2015).
LO 4
P 6: Factors of environment impacting operational management and decision-making:
Business environment relates to summarizing both internal and external variables
affecting and influencing the corporation's operations. In this context, here following is PESTLE
analysis of macro environment factors impacting Balfour Beatty, as follows:
Political factor: The political factors which may influence the corporation's competitiveness or
prospects of surviving are very complex. The political threats range from sudden shifts to civil-
unrest in current political structures to major government-led decisions. In the context of
potential corporations, these can also consider political factors which not only impact the host
nation but also all nations that include commercial activities, or it may participate in trading with
Balfour Beatty Plc (Slack and Brandon - Jones, 2018).

Economic factor: Balfour Beatty Plc wants to consider economic variables like foreign
exchanges / interest rates, labour market dynamics, inflations, and savings rates, as they decide
the nation's general economic setting. A thorough understanding of economic environment can
be of assistance to Balfour Beatty Plc in business's growth projection. A nation's economic
development affects organisation's performance specifically. Developing economies deliver the
Balfour Beatty Plc vast growth opportunities. Furthermore, that's essential to recognize the life-
cycle stage of the market. Because of the saturation of the industry, joining mature markets could
be more difficult than at growth stage. In addition, Balfour Beatty Plc's success on sector. Is also
affected by the degree to which Govt of the host nation expended on development of core
infrastructure. As well-developed infrastructure support the construction corporations like
Balfour Beatty.
Social factor: The social factors or organizational culture receives a great influence from the
standards, beliefs, and behaviours of society. Through proactive PESTEL analysis recognizing
demographic changes, hierarchies, customer purchasing habits and shared values can enable
Balfour Beatty Plc to develop effective marketing strategies and achieve corporate goals.
Corporation's marketing team can utilize the information gathered from demographic, social
analysis to reach the customer segments and improve prospective buyers ' demand for products
offered. Such as Equality and power distance in a society is indicator of acceptance of hierarchy
and inequality in income. Balfour Beatty Plc has to change its business administration activities
when penetrating high or low power distance markets. In many nations, increasing inequality is
changing the power system, that has significant consequences for international business
organisations, such as Balfour Beatty Plc.
Technological factor: During organizational decision-making processes, rapid technological
progress and technological dissemination around the globe enhanced the value of recognizing
technological variables. Balfour Beatty Plc should assess the emerging technical advances
carefully so that they remain ahead of competition. Evaluating the 5G and assessing its potentials
to achieve meaningful business results through improved user experiences, extended reach and
extended connectivity should be held a close watch.
Environmental factor: This is another major factor that directly affects global corporation like
Balfour Beatty Plc. As the rising environmental pollutions coupled with technological innovation
forced business enterprises to implement creative strategies in recycling as well as wastage

management. Recycling is becoming essentially a company standard in some nations.
Additionally, the implementation of efficient waste management strategies in corporate units
situated in or near city areas is extremely important for Balfour Beatty Plc many nations have set
strict standards for protecting their urban centres by good waste management.
Legal factor: Entering into a new market without considering legal factors like legal and
regulatory structure is quite difficult for multinational companies like Balfour Beatty Plc.
A detailed and effective analysis of legal elements is necessary to avoid serious legislative
issues. Avoidance of these factors can lead to unwanted conditions for respective corporation
like hurting competitive-advantages as consequences of intellectual-property rights' violations
and harming corporate image because of violation of customers/workers/environmental
protection laws and standards (Voropaev, Gelrud and Klimenko, 201).
M4: Analysis of how discussed factors impacts business environment and wider community:
The company operates in a really complex and the ever-changing corporate world, thus
there's the likelihood that there would be many modifications due to them in business structure.
Studying the variables is therefore of highest priority, as to determine their impacts on business.
different component/factors closely merged with business and operational environment and how
these factors directly and indirectly influence business decisions and aggregate performance.
Through growing political instability, frequent shifts in government policy damage financial
performance. Like Studying the recent trends in country's political environment is critical for
Balfour Beatty Plc as shifts in policy will alter government's intentions toward the growth of
various industries.
D2. Evaluation of application of operations management and variables which affects wider
business environment:
There are wide range of use of operations management like increasing growth
percentage, sales and improve quality standard etc. But overall use of it is to achieve enterprise's
predefined objectives and financial targets. Further, proper consideration of business
environmental factors is required to form strategies and objectives accordingly. These factors
also act like an alarming system for corporation to deal with potential adverse circumstances. By
taking into account all these factors corporation can enhance their overall performance and
market-share in respective industry.

CONCLUSION
From above discussed topics it has been articulated that operation management is quite
essential, epically for big and multinational companies. As it covers effective range of
approaches to support managers in achieving organisational objectives. Managers and leaders are
key personnels in implementation of entire structure of operation management. Furthermore, this
report furthermore addressed various theories including situational leadership, system leadership
and contingency leadership. It also help corporation to attain long term and short term goals
within reasonable by increasing operational effectiveness and efficiencies.

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