Roles and Characteristics of Leaders and Managers in Operations Management

This assignment discusses the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers in operations management. It explores the comparison between leaders and managers, their roles in different situational contexts, and the application of various models and theories of leadership. The case study focuses on Google, a well-known American company. The assignment also highlights the importance of operations management in achieving business objectives and the factors within the business environment that impact operational management and decision making.

Management and Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
P1. Roles and characteristics of leaders and managers along with the comparison...............3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
P2. How roles of leaders and managers are applicable in various situational context...........5
P3 Applying various models and theories involving situational leadership, system leadership
and contingency......................................................................................................................6
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................8
P4. Key approaches to operations management and role played by managers and leaders...8
P5. Importance of operations management in 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..............................................................................................................................13
Books and Journals...............................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Operations management is described as an area in which it is necessary to run activities
and functions of business organisation with the aim of conversion of resources into finished
goods. It assists organisation to convey sustainability in manufacturing as well as building their
staff suitable in environment of business. This report is carried upon the company which is
named as Google. It is the well-known and biggest American company deal in offering different
variety of services related to internet at international level. There are various features as well as
roles of manager and leader, significant elements that effects operations management, different
theories of management and leadership is mentioned in this assignment. In addition to this, there
are several significant assignments such as role of manager and leader in various situational
contexts has discussed. It is vital to make comparison among role as well as duties of manager
and leader has been mentioned in this assignment (Steinker, Hoberg and Thonemann, 2017).
TASK 1
P1. Roles and characteristics of leaders and managers along with the comparison
Leader: The leader is a person who has a power and authority to give order to other
individual person in order to achieve goal and objective in stipulated period of time. In other
words, leader is the person who has personality, competence and capability. They provide
guidance to take effective decision which will be beneficial for Google in future period of time.
It has been stated that the person with specific virtues and position and is capable to enhance
others is considered as a leader.
Role of Leader
 Leader clarifies vision; explain goals for member of team as well as how to achieve them
in targeted period of time.
 It is the duty of leader to make effective strategy for gaining favourable outcomes
through particular process in systematic way. It increases sales as well as profitability
level in future period of time. It also enhances brand image and reputation of company in
front of customer at marketplace.
 Furthermore, the leader conducts training session for employees in order to increase their
skill and knowledge that helps in boost productivity as well as profitability in upcoming
time period.

There are various role of leader which is going to be mentioned below:
Interpersonal role: Herein the leader focuses on making good relationship with its
employees in order to perform their work in better way. It helps them in increasing performance
as well as level of productivity in future period of time.
Information role: It is the responsibility of leader to collect information related to issue
as well as problem of employees in order to resolve them. It helps them in bring positive
environment within business organisation.
Decision making role: The role of leader is to make effective decision which will be helpful
for success as well as growth of Organisation in future period of time.
Characteristics of Leader
 Leader is obsessive for a responsibility which is provided to him. It encourages other
subordinates who perform their work in Google.
 Honesty is considered as the best feature which is required by leader of Google. They
provide good treatment to its subordinates with respect as well as concern while
preserving honesty.
 Leader must have excellent communication skill and is capable to express opinion and
views for understand different circumstances which occurs in Google.
Manager: Manager is the one who plan, organise, direct and control the different task and
activities performed by its employees at workplace. In other words, it has been stated that
manager is in-charge of various sectors. And also provides guidance to its staff in order to
perform their work in better way. They encourage employees for achieving goal and objective in
future period of time (Busing and Palocsay, 2016).
Role of Manager
 In context of Goggle, the manager is ingenious and creates policies, guidelines as well as
limitation to perform work within. The manager motivates staffs to perform its business
activities and functions during the period of time.
 Manager possesses excellent communication skills which is significant for making
interaction with member of team in an effective manner.

 The manager has ability to take appropriate decision in order to bring innovation for
increasing entire performance level of Google.
Functions of Manager: There is various functions which is performed by the manager of
company such as planning, organising, staffing, directing as well as controlling the different
activities and function of Organisation in an effective manner which is going to be mentioned
below:
Planning: It is the basic function which is performed by the manager in order to achieve
goal as well as objective in stipulated period of time. In addition to this, the manager focuses on
plan their activities and function of Organisation in such a manner that help in improving
productivity as well as level of performance in future period of time. In reference of Google they
focuses on making effective plan for achieving vision of organisation during the period of time
Organising: After planning they organised the structure for performing various activity
and task of business in an effective manner. It helps in increasing performance as well as
productivity level in future period of time.
Staffing: Here in the manager of Google focuses on recruiting as well as selection of best
candidate from available one. In addition to this they provide effective training session in order
to increase the skill and knowledge for performing their work in better manner.
Directing: In this process the manager provide direction to its employees how to perform
their work in better manner for accomplishing goal as well as objective during the period of time
Controlling: In this function the manager focuses on making comparison between actual
and desired performance in order to find deviation. It helps them in taking effective decision
which will be beneficial for success as well as growth of Google in future period of time.
Comparison between Leader and Manager
Basis of comparison Leader Manager
Provide direction/training
Leader provides training session to
candidates to improve their
knowledge regarding performing
work in organisation.
Manager provides direction to its
staff how to increase their
performance level at workplace.
Maintain relationship
Leader focuses on maintaining good
relationship with its staff for creating
good atmosphere within
organisation.
While, manager make effective
strategies related to enhancing
productivity at workplace.

Goal/vision oriented
Leader creates vision in order to
achieve leading position across
world (Camuffo, De Stefano and
Paolino, 2017).
Manager motivates employees to
achieve goal and objective in given
time period.
From the basis of above discussion, it has been stated that both leader and manager
focuses on motivating employees towards achieving goal and objective in stipulated period of
time. In addition to this, it increases success and growth in future time period. In addition to this,
it assists in boosting sales as well as profitability level in future period of time.
TASK 2
P2. How roles of leaders and managers are applicable in various situational context.
Situational context is considered as adaptability to present condition or making changes
within business organisation. Organisation culture is considered as a belief, value as well as
many more which imposes direct impact on the organisation. The different people come from the
different culture and this impact on the organisation directly so that it is the responsibility of
organisation to provide positive Ambience in order to connect the Employees with one another in
order to perform the work in better way. There are different situation which imposes direct
influence on Google that is given beneath:
Regular situation: A present strategy which is adopted by Google is there is expansion
in income and there is no requirement of changes within business organisation.
Role of Leader: The leader focuses on generating vision as well as subordinates perform
their work in order to enhance performance level within given guidelines, parameters and
regulations which are provided to them. It increases success and growth of business organization
in future period of time (Celik, 2017).
Function of Managers: The effective strategy which is made by manager and if condition
is continuous it means strategies and policies are working and provided profit to Google and
there is no changes is needed.
Non progressive situation: It is the situation in which there is no expansion as well as
loss. It means, it is necessary to change strategies for increasing progress and performance of

Google. Therefore, the manager alters the strategy for boosting productivity as well as
profitability level in future period of time.
Role of Leader: Herein, the leader focus on the issues which is confronted by member of
team and take opinion from them for resolving their problems in order to provide appropriate
guidelines and policies. It generates positive atmosphere within business organisation which
increases satisfaction and motivation level for performing work in better way.
Functions of Managers: The role of manager is to assess strategies which are adopted by
its competitive firm and maintain strategies for boosting productivity in future period of time.
Accelerating situation: Due to change in technology frequently, it is necessary for
Google to implement latest technology for boosting income. In this condition, the changes in
market are very speedy. Therefore, it is vital to execute advanced technology in order to bring
innovation in the market (Doz, 2016).
Role of Leader: In this situation, the leader encourages staffs by providing rewards and
appraisal in order to accomplish particular objective as well as work of team member is
performed according to new strategies which are made by manager.
Functions of manager: The manager recruits skilled and knowledgeable subordinates
related to advanced technology and provide training according to the need of Google. There are
different strategies which are made by manager to increase entire profitability level at
marketplace.
P3 Applying various models and theories involving situational leadership, system leadership and
contingency.
Leadership is considered as continuous activity which is conducted by manager and
leader in order to set guidelines and procedures for employees at workplace. Therefore, the
leader provides direction to its staff for work towards achieving goal and objective in stipulated
period of time. In addition to this, they aid assistance to other individual in performing right
things without undertaking any kind of false activities as well as bias. Furthermore, they enhance
their staffs to work towards achieving goal and objective in stipulated period of time. And, it
helps in achieving success and growth of organisation in future time period. It is necessary for
manager and leader to have management skills in order to influence staff to perform work in an
effective and efficient way (Helmreich, Klinect and Wilhelm, 2017).There are different theories
of leadership in relation to Google which is going to be mentioned below:

Situational leadership: Situational leadership is considered as the style which is
undertaken by Google. It is an enduring and repetitive structure through which manager and
leader meet attitude of individual person as per the need and wants of Google. This model was
founded by Professor Hersey as well as Blanchard determined as Hersey-Blanchard model. It is
necessary for manager and leader to adopt suitable styles of leadership for their staffs depend on
situation which is occur in Google. In addition to this, it aid assistance in improving group of
person and work within business organisation. Therefore, it has been stated that leader behaves
according to the different situations which arises at workplace. Thus, it is said that leader act
according to various circumstances prevailing within business organisation during the time
period. In this style, the leader of Google can alter their style of leadership as per the given
situations in an effective manner. The leader should be adjusting in performing different function
as per situation as well as circumstances.
System Leadership: System theory help the organisation in planning What to do in future
period of time as well as organised the structure and providing direction to its staff in order to
carry out the different operation in an effective manner during the particular phase of time
period. They also compared the actual and planned performance in order to take corrective action
during the particular period of time. Stakeholders are considered as that person who includes the
government, customer, employees as well as many more they help the organisation in taking
appropriate decisions during the particular period of time. It is beneficial for Organisation in
future period of time. System leadership is determined as approaches which are adopted by
manager and leader of Google for generating positive situations for entire staffs for increasing
capability of employees to work in such a manner that increases efficiency level within business
organisation. There are various types of factor like entire process, strategy, actionable method as
well as foundation of system model. In addition to this, system leadership adopts several
procedures and principles for generating model result as an appropriate in context of leadership,
strategies of organisation as well as social procedures followed by Google. It offer different
types of tools and technique through which leader can conclude attitude and behaviour of an
individual person perform their work in Google. It increases skill as well as competence of staffs
in an effective manner (Hill, 2017).
Contingency Leadership: Contingency leadership style focuses on how efficient style of
leadership is depend upon providing guidance to staff of Google to present prevailing

circumstances. After making effective assessment and evaluation, this theory was founded by
Fiedler. There are different elements which involved in this model is positional authority of
subordinates, task configuration of Google and many more. It emphasised not only on leader
based on circumstances in which leader effectively interact with its subordinates at marketplace.
TASK 3
P4. Key approaches to operations management and role played by managers and leaders
Operations management is the kind of process of management which deals with
manufacturing process and its different variables. The main aim of Google is to boost level of
efficiency in business environment by conversion of resources into products and services. It
helps in increasing profit in future period of time. There are different approaches related to
operations management which is going to be mentioned below:
Six Sigma: Six sigma is considered as the quantitative approach which is used to
eliminate wastage and bias in products as well as services. Furthermore, they focus on improving
performance level by reducing wastage and fault which arise in any kind of products and
services. This is divided among two major kinds which are named as DMAIC and DMADV.
DMAIC is considered as define, measure, assess, and improve as well as control. On the other
hand, DMADV means define, measure, assess, design as well as verify. The manager and leader
of Google adopt this theory in order to assess performance level of manufacturing sector. They
focus on improving quality of products as well as services in order to reduce wastage at
marketplace (Jha, Sahay and Charan, 2016).
Queuing theory: This is the theory of operations management that state congestion as
well as waiting time measurement. It is the significant procedure that assesses entire section of
waiting line which is provided by manager of Google. It assists in taking effective decision and
reducing excessive waiting time.
Total Quality Management: This is the approach which is used by management team of
Google in order to develop quality of goods and services in an effective manner. Their main
purpose is to improve high quality of product by adopting regular measurement process. The
higher authority of Google adopts this strategy in order to inter-relate quality with environment
and provides superior quality products and services to its user.

Role of Leader: Leader plays an important role for success and growth of business
organisation. And also perform different activities for motivating staff to achieve vision and goal
in future period of time. In addition to this, the leader focuses on encouraging staff by satisfying
their requirements that enhances level of efficiency within business organisation. And the leader
also provides effective training session to its staff for increasing their skill and knowledge
towards accomplishing objective in stipulated period of time.
Role of manager: Manager plays an important role for provide superior quality products
as well as services to its user in timely manner. There are various functions which are performed
by manger that includes planning, organising, directing, staffing as well as controlling the
activities and tasks executed by employees at workplace. It aid assistance to manager to
accomplish vision and objectives for operating their business in smooth manner. Furthermore,
there are various functions which are executed by manager such as taking decision and
interpersonal role of Google in an effective manner. It increases success and growth of
organisation in upcoming period of time (Kayatta and Chen, 2016).
P5. Importance of operations management in achieving business objectives
Operations management is determined as a process which is adopted by Google in order
to develop quality of goods and services by taking use of regular measurement process. In
addition to this, they emphasised on providing products as well as services to its user in timely
manner for increasing satisfaction level of its user. There is various significance of operations
management in accomplishing goal and objective which is going to be mentioned below:
Evaluation of progress: It is necessary for manager to assess the progress of employees
in order to achieve goal and objective which is given by higher authority of Google. It is
essential to implement strategies as well as tactics for accomplishing objective in stipulated
period of time. It aid assistance to manager in assessing entire performance of subordinates
within organisation.
Scope of operations: There is the large scope of operations in performing daily activities
in an effective manner. It helps in generating positive brand value and reputation of organisation
in front of customer at marketplace. It aid assistance to manager of Google to accomplish goal as
well as objectives in timely manner. In addition to this, an Operational activity is conducted by
supervisor for success and growth of organisation in future period of time. Therefore, it has been
stated that scope of operation management based on kinds of organisation as well as size of

business apprehension. Apart from this, it assists supervisory team in regulating different
activities and functions in an effective manner. In order to perform work in an effective manner
for fulfilling need and wants of consumer (Lamba and Singh, 2018).
Availability of resources: Resources is the wider term which involves finance, labour as
well as other resources required by supervisory team of Google. It helps in operating various
activities and functions to conducted day to day operation of manufacturing activity in suitable
manner. In addition to this, it assists in measurement as well as assessment of various resources
which is required by organization to accomplish target in better way. Apart from this, resources
are the significant component of operations management of business organisation.
Therefore, there is several significance of operation management that helps manager in
accomplishing goal as well as objectives of business organisation. In addition to this, it increases
profitability level for Google in dynamic environment at marketplace. And also, it boosts brand
image and reputation of company in front of customer in the market (Mérand and Rayroux,
2016).
TASK 4
P6 Assess the factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management
and decision making by leaders and managers
Operations management signifies the procedures of accomplishing productivity level
within business organisation. They focus on conversion of raw material into finished goods as
well as services. In reference of Google, it aid assistance in achieving competitive benefits over
rival firm at marketplace (Revilla and Saenz, 2017). In addition to this, there are different factor
related to business environment which imposes direct influence on productivity as well as
profitability of organisation in future period of time. This helps in taking effective decision
which will be advantageous for success and growth of company. It is necessary for selected
organisation to choose suitable style of leadership in order to run activities and functions of
company in an effective manner. It helps in accomplishing goal as well as objective in stipulated
period of time. There are several significant factors which impose direct impact on operational
management and their decision which is going to be mentioned below:
 The main objective of organisation is to survive and maintenance at Marketplace in order
to earn more and more profit.

 Their main motto is to increase sales by 20% in the upcoming year of 2 year. They also
provide high quality products and services to its customer for growth and development of
organisation during the particular period of time these are considered as the major
objective of the organisation
Economic factor: It includes unemployment rate, inflation rate, exchange rate as well as
interest rate which impose direct influence on productivity and profitability of organization. It
aid assistance in accomplishing vision and mission in stipulated period of time. Therefore, it is
necessary for manager of Google to make effective strategies, policies as well as procedures in
order to cope up with changing environment of business. It directly influences the decision
which is taken by manager and leader during the period of time. Thus, the manager and leader
focus on encouraging staffs to cope up with changes which are taking place in organization.
There are various appropriate economic strategies which assist in achieving competitive benefits
over rival firm at marketplace. It increases sales as well as growth in future period of time.
Technological Factor: Technology plays an important role for success and growth of
business organisation in future period of time. It is necessary for manager to implement
advanced technology in order to offer innovative services to its customer at marketplace. In
addition to this, it helps in achieving competitive benefits over rival firm in the market. In
context of Google, it is vital to implement latest technology as per change in business
environment in rapid way (Shiver and Eitel, 2017). Apart from this, the manager and leader of
Google motivating staffs in relation to technology which assists subordinates of business
organization in accomplishing vision and objective for gaining competitive benefits over rival
firm at marketplace.
Competitor efficiency and flexibility: It is vital for business organisation to perform its
business activities and functions in flexible manner for survival in competitive environment of
organisation. In addition to this, it is easy for company to cope up with changes occurs within
organisation. It aid assistance to Google in increasing productivity and profitability level in
future period of time. Therefore, it is important for manager and leader to motivate employees to
accomplish vision of organization during the period of time. It increases sales as well as profit in
upcoming period of time. Therefore, it is necessary to provide services as per the need of
customer that helps in gaining competitive advantage over rival firm at marketplace. And also, it

increases productivity and performance level within stipulated period of time (Wilmshurst and
Wallis, 2016).
CONCLUSION
On the basis of above discussed report, it has been examined that operations management
is necessary to run activities and functions of business organisation with the aim of conversion of
resources into finished goods. It assists organisation to convey sustainability in manufacturing as
well as building their staff suitable in environment of business. It helps in increasing entire
performance of business organisation during the period of time. And also it aid assistance in
maintaining good relationship among higher authority as well as staffs in an effective manner.
Apart from this, there is various role as well as responsibility of manager and leader to
accomplish goal as well as objective in future period of time. The managerial team select
appropriate style of leadership for motivating employees to perform their work in better way.
Therefore, it has been stated that all elements assists an organisation to improve entire success
and growth of organisations. And also they adopt various type of leadership style for achieving
vision and mission of organisation in stipulated period of time.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Steinker, S., Hoberg, K. and Thonemann, U.W., 2017. The value of weather information for e‐
commerce operations. Production and Operations Management. 26(10). pp.1854-1874.
Busing, M.E. and Palocsay, S.W., 2016. Operations management in the design and execution of
MBA programs. Journal of Education for Business. 91(2).pp.75-82.
Camuffo, A., De Stefano, F. and Paolino, C., 2017. Safety reloaded: lean operations and high
involvement work practices for sustainable workplaces. Journal of Business Ethics, 143(2),
pp.245-259.
Celik, E., 2017. A cause and effect relationship model for location of temporary shelters in
disaster operations management. International journal of disaster risk reduction, 22, pp.257-268.
Doz, Y., 2016. Managing multinational operations: from organisational structures to mental
structures and from operations to innovations. European Journal of International
Management, 10(1), pp.10-24.
Helmreich, R.L., Klinect, J.R. and Wilhelm, J.A., 2017, May. System safety and threat and error
management: The line operational safety audit (losa). In Proceedings of the eleventh
international symposium on aviation psychology.
Hill, T., 2017. Manufacturing strategy: the strategic management of the manufacturing function.
Macmillan International Higher Education.
Jha, R.K., Sahay, B.S. and Charan, P., 2016. Healthcare operations management: a structured
literature review. Decision, 43(3), pp.259-279.
Kayatta, M.O. and Chen, E.P., 2016. Optimal temperature management in aortic arch
operations. General thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, 64(11), pp.639-650.
Lamba, K. and Singh, S.P., 2018. Modeling big data enablers for operations and supply chain
management. The International Journal of Logistics Management.
Mérand, F. and Rayroux, A., 2016. The practice of burden sharing in European crisis
management operations. European security, 25(4), pp.442-460.
Revilla, E. and Saenz, M.J., 2017. The impact of risk management on the frequency of supply
chain disruptions. International Journal of Operations & Production Management.
Shiver, J.M. and Eitel, D., 2017. Optimizing emergency department throughput: Operations
management solutions for health care decision makers. CRC Press.
Wilmshurst, B. and Wallis, I., 2016. Demonstrating the benefits of network operations
activities (No. 594).
14