Importance of Operations Management in Achieving Business Objectives

This article discusses the roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager in an organization. It also explores different theories and models of leadership approach. Additionally, it highlights the key approaches to operations management and the importance of operations management in achieving business objectives.

Management and Operations
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
P1. Comparing different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager.............................3
P2. Examples of role of a leader and function of a manager apply in different situational
context..........................................................................................................................................5
P3. Theories and models of leadership approach ........................................................................6
P4. Key approaches to operations management and role of leaders and managers.....................7
P5. Importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives.............8
P6. Factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management .........9
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10
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INTRODUCTION
Leadership is defined as process which enables leader to gather team members and work
collectively with them in order to achieve organizational goals and objectives (Leonova and
et.al., 2018). Sainsbury is the second largest chain of supermarkets in UK which deals in selling
groceries to the customer or consumers. Sainsbury also delivers customers the best quality
products and services.
The report will examine the roles and characteristics of a leader and a manger within the
organization. Examples will be explained based on how role of a leader and function of a
manager apply in different situational context. Different theories and models will explain various
leadership styles which will include situational, systems and contingency leadership. Key
approaches of operational management and role of leaders and managers play in the organization
will be identified. Importance and value of operational management in achieving business
objectives will be elaborated. Along with this, factors within business environment that impact
upon operational management and decision-making by leaders and managers will be assessed.
MAIN BODY
P1. Comparing different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager
A leader is an individual who directs and guides the team members for accomplishing
goals and objectives which are being set benefiting the organization as whole (Rahman, 2019).
Role of a Leader is -
 Main role of a leader is to provide direction to its team members. For this the leader
frames strategy to fulfil the requirements of tasks.
 Leader creates structure for organization, creates job role, encourages team members to
perform high quality work.
 Leaders build trust and hope towards its team members and organization (Leonova and
et.al., 2018).
 One of the major role of a leader is to encourage and motivate the team members so that
productivity and efficiency is generated in the work done.
 Leader in organization is visionary towards growth and development for accomplishment
of task and work.
 Along with this, leader's role is also to take decisions accordingly.
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Characteristics of a Leader -
 Ability to delegate work or tasks.
 Acquires effective and efficient communication skills.
 Delivers gratitude (Cortellazzo and et.al., 2019).
 Self — aware
 Inhibits courage and respect
 Agile towards learning.
 Imbibes integrity and empathy.
Manager is an individual who is in charge of the organization and supervises employees
and activities of individuals in the company.
Role of a Manager is -
 Primary role of a manager is to ensure the daily functioning of the departments or group
of employees (Allard and et.al., 2017).
 Manager's role is to translate corporate goals into functional and individual goals.
 Manager of the organization tracks and records the expenses and budgets.
 Timely performance evaluations is being done by manager.
 Goal — setting and planning for future periods is also the role of a manager.
 Manager's role is also to verify the processes and procedures which are undergoing in
various departments.
Characteristics of a Manager -
 Managers are assertive.
 Expertise from experience.
 Manager is reliable (IBRAHIM and et.al., 2020).
 Incurs time management schedules.
 Responsible and autonomous.
 Commands the entire organization.
 Takes right decision at right time.
Also, leadership and a management differentiates the procedures of work and defines their main
purpose in the organization. This helps in analysing the main functions of both leader and
manager to what extent they inhibit the characteristics and roles towards the organizations. This
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also ensures the necessity of leadership and management in the organization. Also, along with
this, key strengths of leaders and managers are measured and evaluated which overall contributes
to the growth and development of the organization. Both leaders and managers are an essential
asset to the organization ensuring smooth flow of work in different departments and
organization.
P2. Examples of role of a leader and function of a manager apply in different situational context
Examples being applied in different situational context -
Example 1 — Absence of clear direction - Role of a Leader — The role of a leader in absence of clear direction is to ensure firstly
that what is to be done prior to task (Kozioł-Nadolna, 2020). Secondly, what strategies
are to be framed for work. Third, leader has to ensure efficient process is followed. Main
role of a leader in this situation is to collectively make a strong team of members and
encourage them to perform their duties and responsibilities.
 Function of a Manager — Manager's function is to ensure that strategies which are
being implemented for task to be done is similar to what are facts are being displayed.
Managers should identify key weakness points and help in rectifying them (Nowicka and
et.al., 2019). Also, manager should observe key factors to what are reasons of absence of
clear direction.
Example 2 — Lack of awareness - Role of a Leader — Role of a leader during lack of awareness towards the problem is to
enable the proper communication so that what are the aspects which have not been paid
attention to (Balcerzyk, 2021). It is leaders duty to make such a team which contributes
towards paying attention to details in the task or work. Lack of awareness can create
major problem in identifying what is to be done.
 Function of a manager — Manager's function is to take hold of all important points that
are not being paid attention to. Manager functions according to the situation by analysing
what is to be done prior and last (Akhmetshin and et.al., 2018). Due to lack of awareness
manager divides duties and responsibilities to specific employees or individuals who are
able to assess the risks.
Example 3 — Failure to develop competencies -
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 Role of a Leader — Role of a leader in failure to develop competencies of employees or
individuals in an organization is that leader should assess the core competencies and
capabilities of team members and individuals so that effective and productive work is
being displayed (Sobocka-Szczapa, 2019). Accomplishment of goals will be added
further when leader is concerned towards growth and development of organization. Function of Manager — Manager in this situation should identify the key strengths and
weaknesses of the employees of organization and time to time should verify their
performance scorecard (Meraku, 2017). Employees are the main asset of company
therefore manager's function is to provide a successful and healthy business environment
so that they grow and deliver productive work along with efficiency and effectiveness to
be achieved for goals.
P3. Theories and models of leadership approach
Models of Leadership are as follows -
Autocratic Leadership — Autocratic leadership is also known as authoritarian leadership in
which power is in the hands of leaders and controls all the team members or group. There is little
input of group or team members (Hogg, 2020). Leader typically makes judgements and ideas and
accepts little advice from team members. The leader is more like bossy and follows dictatorship.
There is no amount of creative work flow in this leadership style.
Democratic Leadership — Democratic leadership is also known as participative leadership style
in which members of the team or group participate collectively and incur decision decision-
making making process by themselves (Hogg, 2020). Leaders are more concerned towards the
creativity and innovativeness to be developed by team members and group. Through this, diverse
ideas and knowledge flows among the members to achieve the goals and tasks effectively and
efficiently.
Laissez — Faire Leadership — Laissez — faire leadership is the leadership in which leader
assesses unique talents of each employee and assigns responsibilities accordingly. There is
freedom of choice available to the employees or the team members. Leaders trust their
employees. Along with this, training and support is provided by the leaders to the team members
in successfully accomplishing the goals and objectives set for the organization.
Theories of Leadership are as follows -
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Situational Leadership — Situational leadership style refers to leaders who adopt different
leadership styles according to situations (Fiaz and et.al., 2017). It is an effective leadership style
as it follows four main approaches of leadership - Telling — The leader makes decisions and tell employees what to do. Selling — Leader communicates and persuades the employees rather than only directing
them. Participating — Leader works with the team members and encourages them to work
efficiently. Delegating — Leader oversees the work of team members while assigning decision
decision-making making responsibilities.
Systems Leadership — Systems leadership is the set of capacities and skills that any individual
or organization can use to enable, catalyse and support the process of level change in the systems
(Thompson and et.al., 2018). Key elements of systems leadership are the system, the community
and the individual. It pools collaborative leadership, coalition-building and systems perception to
mobilize creation and activity across a big, decentralized system.
Contingency Leadership — The contingency theory of leadership focuses on how particular
situations impact a leader’s affectivity and how a leader’s ability to adapt can be their most
important tool at the workplace. According to this theory, an individual can be an effective
leader in one circumstance and an ineffective leader in another one.
P4. Key approaches to operations management and role of leaders and managers
Key operations of Sainsbury — Sainsbury is the second largest chain of supermarket in UK.
Sainsbury's operational routine includes customer satisfaction, flexibility for customer wants and
needs and proceeding adequate supply of products and services to the customers. As Sainsbury
deals in supermarkets by providing groceries to the customers, its main operation is to ensure
that the stock in the supermarket is up to date, the organization follows all rules and regulation
which are made for successful achievement of goals and objectives.
Key approaches to operations management are as follows — there are two main key
approaches to operations management which are elaborated as - Lean Production — Lean production is the systematic production process which
minimizes the wastage of resources by ensuring the quality (Rigby and et.al., 2018). Lean
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production purpose is to cut costs by devising the business more efficient and respondent
to market demands. The production process ensures efficiency, effectiveness and
profitability. Therefore, there is less wastage during the process and the quality of the
services made available by the company enables productive results.
 Six Sigma — Six Sigma used to reduce the probability that a decision taken by the
management will mislead the organization and its employees. Sigma is the symbol of risk
(Sreedharan and et.al., 2018). And, six sigma is used to take the decisions along with the
risk of failure. This logical thinking enables to take more reliable conclusions.
Role of leaders and managers in formulating these two operation management techniques is
that they are responsible for all the functions and process that takes place while framing
strategies and steps to follow these approaches (Baltezarevic and et.al., 2019). Operations
management is the main and important key functional area of the organization which gives the
analysis of what and how the work is been done and changes which are to be made within those
processes.
Leaders and managers ensure that the operations' management department works
smoothly and successfully to produce quality and quantity products and services to be delivered
to the customers (Chams and et.al., 2019). Leader aids that proper communication channel is
followed so that in case of any problem and difficulty it becomes easy to provide the essential
information there and then. Managers role in operations management is that they are
responsible for managing activities that are part of the production of goods and services. Their
direct responsibilities include managing the operations process, clutching design, controlling,
planning, performance transformation and framing operations strategy. Therefore, both leaders
and mangers helps organization in improving its operations such that customers are satisfied and
employee engagement is also maintained.
P5. Importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives
Operations management:
It is the process that generally designs, controls and monitors manufacturing and
production processes along with delivering services to the customers. Operations management is
important in Sainsbury business because it helps effectively succeed, control and oversee goods,
services and employee functions.
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Operations Management in Sainsbury functions to provide the customers the products
and services according to their needs and wants. Adding to it, the overall organizational
functions run under operations management which ensures that procedures for different aspects
and factors are run successfully (Choi and et.al., 2018).
In achieving business objectives of Sainsbury, operations management is an essential
department which monitors and evaluates the performance of the production processes along
with the services which are rendered to customers. Operation managers work to enhance the
effectiveness and efficiency of employees performing in the department. To check the
productivity of the employees, operation managers checks their performance, their skills and
competencies are also analysed.
Operations management is of great value to the organization which ensures the smooth
flow of work is been performed throughout. Business objectives are being achieved when
operations management functions according to set process and procedures. Without operations
management in Sainsbury, the other departments will also face difficulties and problems. As this
is the main department in the organizations and all the functions are processed in throughout, it
becomes the key source through which the performance of employees is analysed along with
manufacturing of products and services to the customers.
Democratic leadership approach helps Sainsbury in improving its operational efficiencies
to meet business objectives successfully (Al Khajeh, 2018). Democratic leadership allows
participation of the employees and the leaders which enables the organizations process work
smoothly. Specially, the operations' management department, the leaders ensure that more
participation and more creativity is generated so that the work does not suffer and effective and
quality work is extracted from the employees. Collective participation also contributes to growth
and development of the organization overall and this improves the performance of the employees
enabling them to deliver best of their work as per their competencies and capabilities. The
leaders in this leadership style encourages the employees to work towards achieving goals. More
participation in the operations department enables active workforce which focuses on positive
business environment and address to provide the products and services both on quality and
quantity term basis.
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Therefore, operations management is the most important and key department in
Sainsbury which links the other departments of the organization so that communication is better
and what further procedures are to be followed is mentioned along.
P6. Factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management
Factors within the business environment that impact upon the operational management
and decision-making by leaders and managers are as follows -
 Technology is the major factor that impacts upon the operation management of
Sainsbury.
 Business ethics of Sainsbury affects the operation management of the organization as
different business ethics of the company affects the internal processes in working (Al
Mamun and et.al., 2017).
 The physical resources are affected due to changes in the external business environment.
This impacts the operational unit of Sainsbury at large.
 Information that is transferred from one department to the other department may carry
misleading data which impacts and overall affects the functioning of the organization.
 Corporate culture within Sainsbury affects the operation management systems if the
business environment is not healthy and work like.
 Reward and task structure for employees within the organization impacts the operation
management which focuses on the performance of the employees (Barnes, 2018).
 Performance expectations of employees within the organization affects the operation
management. This will directly impact the operations' management as employees who do
not perform well and find difficulties within the company to work will directly result in
poor work performance and will impact the quality of products and services prepared to
be delivered to the customers.
Decision — making process by leaders and managers will be affected due to such problems
which arise within Sainsbury for operation management department. The decision-making by
leaders and managers towards the changes which are to be taken place will directly impact the
process and work flow of operation unit of Sainsbury.
Leaders and managers will have to take decisions according to the situations which will
enable them to learn the diversified and changed rules which are to be implemented within the
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operations' management of the organization. The decisions will be taken on the basis of the
factors which have impacted the operation management. Decision — making process of mangers
within the operations management or unit is hampered due to these factors which have directly
affected the operations.
Leaders decision-making process will also affect the employees working in the operation
department of Sainsbury. They will find difficulty in assessing proper information which is
carried through the leaders of department (Reid and et.al., 2019). This will affect their
productivity ad performance of work. There will be lack of effective communication process
which will create more difficulties for both employees and the organization on large scale.
Recommendations
 Effective leadership styles should be taken into action for successful achievement of
goals and which enables effective communication between the leaders and the employees
in the organization.
 Technological advancements factors should be considered and switching on to new
technology aspects should be assessed.
 As leaders and managers greatly impact the organization therefore choosing them wisely
and delegating them authorities according to their skills and capabilities should be
considered important.
 New ways in management should be processes so that employee engagement in the
organization is not at stake and there is lower risk of retention.
 Sainsbury's should also focus on the other departments and not only the operational
management department.
 Employees skills and capabilities should be considered prior as they are an important
asset to the company and due to them the organization's growth and development is
analysed.
 Various other processes which are not paid attention to should be identified like the risk
factors and the actions of competitors.
Therefore, these recommendations when concentrated and applied upon organization will help it
in achieving greater success along with the grounds of growth and development overall. This
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will also enhance the employees' performance as they will be able to analyse their position
within organization.
CONCLUSION
Thus, it is concluded from above report that roles and characteristics of a leader and a
manger helped in analysing their core strengths and functions with the organization. Examples
were explained based on how role of a leader and function of a manager apply in different
situational context. Different theories and models helped in explaining various leadership styles
which included situational leadership, systems leadership and contingency leadership. Key
approaches of operational management and role of leaders and managers play in the organization
were identified. Importance and value of operational management in achieving business
objectives were elaborated. Along with this, factors within business environment that impact
upon operational management and decision-making by leaders and managers were assesses
which also contributed to the efforts of the organization in making successful its products and
services through operations' management. Therefore, the management and leadership are two
main aspects for Sainsbury which are considered important.
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