Difference between Roles and Characteristics of Leader and Manager

Management and Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
LO1..................................................................................................................................................3
P1 Definition and comparison of different roles and characteristics of leader and manager......3
M1 Analysis and differentiation between role of a leader and function of a manager by
application of theories and concepts............................................................................................5
LO2..................................................................................................................................................6
P2 Examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in different
situational contexts......................................................................................................................6
P3 Different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership, systems
leadership and contingency leaders.............................................................................................8
M2 Strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to situations within the work
environment.................................................................................................................................9
LO3................................................................................................................................................10
P4 Key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers play...10
P5 Importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives............12
M3 How leaders and managers can improve efficiencies of operational management to
successfully meet business objectives.......................................................................................13
LO4................................................................................................................................................14
P6 Factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management and
decision-making by leaders and managers................................................................................14
M4 How different factors affect the business environment and wider community..................15
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................16
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................17

INTRODUCTION
Management can be defined as a set of activities that are based on planning, organising,
directing and controlling of organisational functions. Operations can be defined as performance
of a practice or actively involving practical application of principles. In organisations process of
converting material and labour into goods and services is also known as operations. Management
and operations and their efficiency require important contribution and support of managers and
leaders of an organisation. This report aims at discussing difference between roles and
characteristics of leaders and managers. In this report will also discuss different roles of leaders
and managers in context of different situations and will involve application of different theories
and models of leadership. Followed by this report will involve discussion about operations
management approaches and what are the roles that leaders and managers play in these
approaches and importance of operations management in achieving business objectives. Lastly,
report will involve assessment of factors within business environment that impact upon
operational management and decision-making by leaders and managers. This report will discuss
in context of Marks and Spencer (M&S), major British retailer founded in 1884 in Leeds, UK
and is headquartered at London, UK. Company specialises in selling clothing, home products,
and food products and mostly products are of its own label. M&S follows a flat organisational
and management structure. In this structure management hierarchies between administration and
front-line employees are less.
MAIN BODY
LO1
P1 Definition and comparison of different roles and characteristics of leader and manager
Leader can be defined as a person who undertake and completes activities and functions
leadership. Leadership involves several things but some important of them are creating vision
and communication it with other and influencing thoughts and actions of others to realise vision.

Manager can be defined as a person who is responsible for activities of management and
works on completing different managerial activities (Demir and Budur, 2019). Managers are also
responsible for administration of organisation and its different activities.
Manager and leader both are different in terms of their roles within organisation and as
their roles are different their characteristics are also different. Characteristic are those elements
on the basis of which people or situations can be identified.
Difference in Roles of leader and manager is as follows-
Leader Manager
Leader plays important role in creating vision and
objectives of M&S. Along with this leaders also
play important role in developing mission of the
M&S.
Managers on the other hand plays important role in
developing goals of the organisation (Reunanen
and Kaitonen, 2017). In addition to this, they also
play important role in aligning organisational
activities with vision and mission of the
organisation.
Leaders develop strategies within M&S. Strategies
are plans through which organisation achieve its
objectives.
Management plays important role in execution of
these strategies and implementing planning within
organisation.
Leaders also play important role in implementing
change within organisation. This means that leaders
bring change, creates need for change and then also
implement change within M&S. This is because
they are willing to try new things for growth and
strong competitive position of M&S within retail
industry.
Managers however are different and their role is to
maintain status quo within organisation. This
means that managers work on different aspects that
things seems unchanged reducing stress and
discomfort that is caused by change and new
practices.
Leaders within M&S also plays important role in
coaching employees and team-members that is to
equip employees with sources and knowledge that
they can find solutions to their problems (Samah
and et.al., 2017).
Managers on the other hand have an important role
in directing employees for the activities that are
assigned to them.
Difference in characteristics of leaders and managers