Operations Management & Scheduling

This assignment delves into various aspects of operations management. It examines topics like crisis management in EUFOR and CSDP operations, supply chain management, risk distribution in operations, and professional trends within the field. It also touches upon manufacturing engineering, storage management, business process management, greener manufacturing practices, healthcare operations, and operations research. The provided resources encompass books, journal articles, and online sources covering diverse aspects of operations management.

MANAGEMENT AND
OPERATIONS

Table of Contents
P1 Compare role and characteristics of leader and manager .....................................................3
P2 Role of leader and functions of manager in situational context.............................................5
P3 Application of situational, system leadership and contingency theories...............................6
P4 Approaches to management operations.................................................................................8
P5 Importance of operations management to achieve objectives of Amazon...........................10
P6 Business environment factors which has an impact on decision-making and operational
management..............................................................................................................................11
External influences.........................................................................................................................12
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14

TASK 1
INTRODUCTION
The leaders defined as an individual who influences group of people or teams by
directing a path for achievement of goals and objectives with motivation. Whereas, managers
manage the activities of subordinates by performing certain responsibilities towards
organisational goals and objectives in achieving. The organisation that is taken in this report for
elaborating about the management operations is Amazon which is a biggest online shopping
company provides door to door delivery of products and services. The differences and
comparison between roles and characteristics of leader and manger is detailed with the help of
leadership theories and management functions which enables to know more about efficiency in
operations management. Application of theories in situational context is detailed with their
importances and the factors that are influencing it externally and internally.
P1 Compare role and characteristics of leader and manager
The leader can be defined as a person, who influences group of other person, teams, or
individuals to perform for attaining particular task by motivating them (Slack 2015). Whereas,
manager of Amazon controls, coordinates as well as directs the activities of individuals or group
by instructing and managing them for the attainment of objectives of Amazon. The following are
the roles, characteristics of leader and managers functions that are performed in Amazon for
bringing effectiveness in efficiency.
Differences in role and characteristics of leader and manager.
Leader Manager
By following certain responsibilities in terms
of motivating individual, teams or group,
leaders set an example to follow them.
Manager helps through guidance in bringing
out the capabilities of individuals or group they
are present in Amazon by controlling and
coordinating them
Leaders set a path to follow for the attainment
of goals.
Managers manage performances by controlling
and coordination.
With the help of directions, objectives are
achieved by pursuing vision and motivation.
By planning, coordinating, controlling,
directing and managing time, Amazon

objectives are achieved.
Leaders facilitate in decision making process. Managers make decision on behalf of
employees.
Leaders control the activities of followers with
charm.
Managers formally influence for effective
performances.
Leaders follow heart while performing Managers appeals to employees for
performance of task and follow the head
department with their instructions.
Leaders frequently change their performance
with time to time.
Managers maintain stability while performing
their functions.
Leaders focus on the horizon vision. Manager concentrates on the present
performances to achieve the task.
Leaders inspire followers by taking risks. Managers by overall managing tries to
minimise risk factors that are involved.
Leaders concern about the right things to
perform.
Managers manage by performing the things
correctly.
The roles and characteristics of leaders and managers are elaborated above by differencing and
followings are the roles of leaders and functions of manager.
Roles of leader in Amazon:
The following are the roles of leaders that are detailed in this report as:
 Setting a clear vision: Leaders of Amazon set a clear vision for their followers and
subordinates to bring effectiveness in their performance in terms of motivating and
guiding them in proper manner (Ellis and et.al., 2016). The role of a leader is an integral,
part as they set a direction with appreciative performances. The leaders make to
understand the work and bring out effectively by Instructing subordinates.
 Motivating employees: Instructions are given to the employees of Amazon regarding
their performances by meeting their needs and appraisals in terms of their well
performances of work. By this, the employees and followers get encouragement and

boost their efficiency towards their performances as well as confront their hidden talents
for achievements of results. The appraisals are also done in terms of providing increment
in monetary terms which enables other instructors and followers to perform well.
 Guiding employees: The role of leader in Amazon enables the subordinates and
followers to perform well by meeting efficiency with proper guidance and instructions
which boost their performances. The needed tools are provided to the employees of
Amazon for encouraged participation in each work and task (Krajewski and et.al., 2015).
 Building morale: Building morale between the employees and subordinates facilitates
them with performing together for achievement of common goals of Amazon. Building
morale between the employees enables them to work with dignity at workplace which
helps in boosting their confidence and efficiency for bringing out results which are meant
to be achieved commonly by all the employees.
Functions of manager in Amazon:
Managers of Amazon perform certain functions by concentrating on certain activities of
workplace and by being creative in methods of problem solving. The primary function that is
taken into concern by manager is planning of activities that are to be performed. Effective
manager should be flexible in decision making by keeping in mind about the hidden risks
involved. Then the performance of subordinates is managed with organising the activities
towards the processing of performance (Schönsleben 2016). The managers command the
subordinates with clear information and instructions, by coordinating and directing the work
allotted. However, measures are taken by manager of Amazon for establishing and comparing
results by preventing them effectively.
P2 Role of leader and functions of manager in situational context.
For fulfilling objectives of Amazon, the functions of manager and role of leader perform
for the desired targets by accomplishing goals. By performing variously in functions of
management, various traits, leadership styles are considered for effective and proper functioning
of management of Amazon. Various theories and leadership styles approaches the leaders and
managers to perform well in efficiency. Certain plans and strategies are modified and
implemented for achieving results. The management theories and skills of leadership enabled
Amazon to grow and reach great heights. The two situational context in this report taken for
consideration are as follows:

 Increase demand for Amazon's products: The role of leaders are integral part of
Amazon in order to meet increasing demand for the existing products (Knee and et.al.,
2016). Leaders instruct the followers by setting an example in effective performance by
allowing the followers to get suggestions and feedbacks from existing and new
consumers and providing the details to management of Amazon. The department of
management of Amazon instructs the subordinates to perform effectively and efficiently
by increasing the existing products in various tastes and preferences as per the needs of
the consumers. The necessary modifications and adaptations are done by the management
team with increasing the efficiency in performance which enable the subordinates to
bring out the efficiency by meeting the terms of increase in demand.
 Brand marketing of Amazon. For the purpose of marketing of Amazon as a brand, the
role of leaders and functions of managers are highly appreciated for boosting the
efficiency. With the help of advertisements and knowledge providing to audience, the
existence and purpose of Amazon can be detailed to public (Greene and et.al., 2014).
The effective leaders and managers also plan for the brand marketing which can be
executed by following certain plans and techniques and exploring the mission and vision
of Amazon. The managerial functions should be effectively managed to expand the name
of the brand which encourage the consumers to get shifted towards it without hesitation.
With the help of leadership theories, leaders and managers can enable themselves to work by
constantly focusing on tasks with opting behavioural theories in performances. There are many
theories of leadership exist but with the help of behavioural theory, the effects can be explained
which are to be taken into considerations by leaders and managers of Amazon.
 Behavioural theories: This theory helps the leaders and managers, not to get fail in
performance and also, not to lack in skills while performing (Heizer 2016). The managers
and leaders play a prominent role in Amazon as they control the affairs of the business
with defective process of decision making. This behavioural theory enables the leaders
and managers to perform well by constantly focusing on the strategies and making the
modifications and implementations that shift the performance towards accomplishment of
goals and objectives of Amazon.
The theory helps in focusing on the actions and needs of Amazon for achievement of goals.
Effectively performed roles and functions by leaders and managers of Amazon enable them to

coordinate the performance and activities of leaders and followers which bring out the hidden
talent and lead Amazon to develop (Mérand and Rayroux 2016). The trait leads to contingencies
theory and behavioural theory allows the managers and leaders to focus on the activities of
subordinates and allow them with providing certain knowledge by focusing on the lacking and
superior sections of performances.
P3 Application of situational, system leadership and contingency theories.
Relevant theories are provided for the study of management-traits-of-operations-leaders
and managers. Theories of leadership helps in gathering knowledge and understanding of
concept by concentrating on it, as it provides proper knowledge a fact about it. The another
reason is these theories provides the leaders and managers to reduce gap by meeting and
communicating effectively (Jacobs Chase and Lummus 2014). To face the problems that are
incurred and by understanding about the universe which allows the leaders and managers to
overcome the problems and challenges are the third benefit of using these leadership theories. To
influence the followers and grab the desired results followers encouraged to follow by attention,
beliefs and actions. There are certain approaches to the theory that has to be recognised and
applied for the benefits of Amazon. To increase the efficiency effectively Amazon has to plan
and organise appropriately. The decisions have to be quick and flexible to meet the performance
of Amazon (Chiarini 2015).
 Modern theory of management encourages the leaders and managers of Amazon to get
adapted and simplify the process of decision making. The fast and the quick decisions
according to the requirements have to be made regarding the implementations and
modifications that is to be performed. The leaders and managers has to concentrate on
increasing in the demand for product and brand marketing to meet the participation of
staff and efficiency. The right decisions should be taken on the right time to perform with
coordinating (Ahmad Barmore and Swieringa 2015).
 With the use of Maslow's Hierarchy of motivational theories helps the leaders and
managers to meet the needs of Amazon. Motivational theory of Maslow works
effectively in the place of work by providing knowledge about the psychological needs
such as the basic needs of the employees are taken into consideration to meet the
effectiveness in performance, the safety and social needs of the followers and
subordinates enables them to remain protected and get involved in groups of social

activities. By maintaining the self respect and self esteem of self and others are
recognised and maintained. This motivational theory of Maslow also allows leader and
manager to recognise and realise the potential in terms of performance, process of
decision making etc., are achieved with the help of Maslow's motivational theories.
 Situational leadership: The leaders and management make modifications towards the
changes that has to be done as the world is changing constantly. To know about the traits
of the employees, structure of Amazon from top level to down line management
including their staff are known as situational theory (Lisano and Kallemeyn 2017)
 System leadership: The process of systematic leadership is good as it takes into
consideration about the aims, and improvements that are to be made as the demand for
the product has to be increase in Amazon. With the help of systematic theories of
leadership the strategies can be set by managing the current affairs, also improvements
are made accordingly. This theory allows the leaders and managers of Amazon to follow
the rules and regulations by following the policies and procedures of Amazon in order to
bring out the desired results. With the factors that are external the Amazon organisation
gets motivated (McCluskey and Vallati 2017).
 Contingencies leadership: To execute the task by remaining concentrated and
unchanged in nature with certain small changes for the effective processing are called as
contingencies theories that are considered by Amazon leaders and managers.
The following are the strength and weakness of these theories that are faced by Amazon are
detailed in this report.
The strength of situational theories helps the managers and leaders to perform effectively
and efficiently by performing their duties and responsibilities of Amazon policies and
procedures. The greatest strength lies in bringing out the efficiency successfully.
The weakness of behavioural theory lies as behaviour of employees is unpredictable, it
can be known but cannot changed as the results may lack due to unchanged behaviour. The
behaviour of employees of Amazon may varies to different situations (Haesebrouck and
Meirvenne 2015).
P4 Approaches to management operations.
The place of management where process are designed and controlled by means of
production of goods and services of Amazon can be termed as operations management. To fulfil

the requirements of consumers the effective resources are efficiently used by performing certain
responsibilities of functioning activities. Amazon manages its operation function by effectively
carrying entire process of productions and delivering system.
The inputs of raw materials are which is involvement of raw materials, labour and cost of
productions are taken into concern under operations' management (Foster and et.al., 2015). The
leaders and managers Amazon acts and perform accordingly to meet the efficiency effectively.
The capabilities of performance are noticed by keeping an eye on results and execution method
of employees as they perform upon certain duties and tasks. For this, the process of
manufacturing of Amazon should be well coordinated.
There are certain approaches to operations of management are performed by Amazon by
taking into concern about the results that has to be achieved by meeting the requirements of
consumers and to meet the desires of the consumers (Artikis and Artikis 2015). One of the
operations' management prevails for approach that are used mostly in auto industry in whole
world are termed as leaned approach. The nature should be understood before getting known to
lean productions. Total quality management is also termed as TQM which is the next approach
of operation management. Under this quality of management is improvised by constantly
concentrating on the quality productions, hence, it is known as total quality management.
The last but not the least operation approach is termed as just in time. In-spite of surplus
products the needed products are manufactured to go through the demand by performing towards
it. The operations of managements are evaluated for the effective functioning of Objectives of
Amazon by understanding about they are product based or service based industries (Simpson and
et.al., 2015). Later on the measures are taken for evaluating the concepts of Amazon. The
concern are taken about integrated products and services. Operations management is key
processing of business in Amazon, as it helps in providing knowledge of modifications and
implementations that differs in terms of achieving objectives of Amazon. These can be
understood by process of evaluation and the method are as follows.
 Product based Amazon services: The techniques are taken into consideration of being
Kaizen, just in time, Kanban etc., to know about the utilisation and practises of
management. The prominent role is given to management of inventory and the capacity
of planning enables to know about the maintenance of raw materials and finished goods.
By understanding the process and requirements of market the marketing functions deals

with it effectively by coordinating (Hatfield Breen and Thurau 2016). With the help of
informations technology product based Amazon deals with improvement, designing,
planning, and controlling is done effectively. With the performances and decisions the
cash flow and analysis of finance is taken into consideration.
 Service based Amazon: Equal importance is carried by efficient operations' management
in service industry. Dealing with the intangible human resources, operation management
intellects about the differences in challenges (Kalpakjian and Schmid 2014). Functions of
operations management interacts about the various manufacturing functions of Amazon.
The differences may vary due to the nature of Amazon but the interacts and interfaces are
same. The development of services can be done by knowing about the capabilities and
constraints by managing and introducing products of Amazon, which explore widely and
helps in shifting of consumers with the power of attraction (Krishnan and Laporte 2014).
 Integrated products and services: The new and emerging products are taken into
consideration by Amazon with fundamental shifting in firm from the factors of selling
products till the providing of services.
P5 Importance of operations management to achieve objectives of Amazon.
For the successful running of any organisation including Amazon importance of
management operation arise in order to meet effective efficiency. The complex set of activities
are managed effectively to bring out the proficiency (Van Der Aalst La Rosa and Santoro 2016).
To manage the current affairs of Amazon operations management focus on organising, planning,
directing, controlling, etc., are functions and activities that are performed by leaders and
managers of Amazon. The view of management operations has been changed in recent years and
it is recognised that operations are beehive activities of financial consequences of Amazon.
Mailing costs are spent millions in every organisations (Sarkis 2017).
The two main reasons for operations management is, primarily it focuses on improving
financial health of organisation, then it helps in meeting the consumers priorities of
competitiveness. To understand he importance of management operations, with the help of
Amazon, it is known easily. Amazon is spread by executing its services all over the world and
also, it is one of the biggest business that is being carried on. The cost of products that are sold
varies from place to place, to meet its efficiency and profitability the importance of operations
management arise to know about the productivity and procedures of functioning. The following

are the functions of operations management are detailed in this report (Langabeer, J.R. and
Helton 2015).
 Item and service management: Amazon with the help of administration department
effectively manages and managed the items and services that are to be provided to the
consumers. Describing and knowing about the outlines of efficiency by effectively,
planning, managing, coordinating, Amazon effectively perform the current affairs of the
business.
 Supply chain management and operations: The advice from the department of
administration for the perfection in supply of chain is adopted by Amazon. The process
that are carried by supplying and the person to buy it. The chain supply is kept smooth
with the interference of administration department as it enables the other staff of Amazon
to perform efficiently.
 Management of stock: The importance of management operations arise for the
management of stock in Amazon as, they are unaware of the products that can create a
high demand by consumers. The rearrangements with the process of continuation in
terms of same products or modifications has to be made are taken into concern by
administration department by managing stock (Mahadevan 2015).
 Determination and planning of capacity: The plan for the present and current capacity
determines about the activities that are resembling the long term. The process should be
taken into consideration for performing with in framed time. This determination enables
the Amazon to perform effectively and efficiently by increasing the capacity in terms of
planning.
 Scheduling of operations: The operations' management enables the Amazon to schedule
the performances as per the needs and requirements of raw materials. The scheduling of
operations bring out the effective execution of results.
 Management of quality: The department of administration enables Amazon to perform
by maintaining its quality. As the consumers should not get shifted from Amazon the
improvisation and maintained quality is highly appreciated (Ravindran 2016).
P6 Business environment factors which has an impact on decision-making and operational
management
INTERNAL INFLUENCES

 Corporate: They are some certain influences which is important for Amazon. The
corporate objectives are crucial for business activities and managing the operational
activities as well. Such objectives also do not conflict with firms operations.
 Finance: Financial factors such as cost, budget, capital, and investments influence the
decision-making of HR manager. The financial position describe the internal capability of
the firm which effect the operations and management effectively.
 Marketing issues: Market segmentation, trend, consumers are the marketing issues in
which the organisation deal its products and services effectively. Nature of the product
should be flexible to meet the market requirements. The HR manager decision making
also affect from the marketing elements.
 Human resource: Human resource is more important for Amazon in order to manage the
operational activities in the market effectively. The sales men are most valuable persons
for the firm in order to deliver the item by customer efficiently. Other human resources
such as raw material and activities are necessary to control the business.
External influences
 Political factors: Political factors such as government policies, tax policies, environment
law and legislation. Political factors affect the decision making of manager that the
government regular changes the tax and legalisation which affect the business operational
activities effectively. The main role of government that the policies and rates are
managed and controlled which affect the business activities and operations.
 Economic factors: Economic impact such as foreign exchange rates, inflation rates,
economic growth, interest rates etc. such factors affect the business activities from
outside. This will also affect the decision making of manager in terms of making plan and
policies for the firm. Business should try to make contribution in development of
economy from which business regulate the activities legally and systematically
(Sandoval, and et.al., 2016).
 Social factors: Social factors such as population analysis, age distribution, health and
safety etc. such social factors affect the business activities of Amazon in terms of market
segmentation and profitability. Thus, the decision making of manager is also affected.

Social factors in terms of population is a way from which the business can manage the
operations and market strategies according to the different conditions.
 Technological factors: Technological factors such as new innovations, techniques and
new way to produce the goods and better idea to deliver services etc. Amazon should try
to focus on improving services towards the customers effectively ( Maslow's Hierarchy
of motivational theories 2018). In respect to this, different techniques should be used by
the manager which helps to control then business activities. It also influences the decision
making of manager towards the firm profitability and production.
 Environmental factors: Environmental factors such as climate, weather, different
culture and trend etc. Such environment factors affect the business activities in terms of
operational and market effectively and efficiently (System leadership 2018). There are
different culture and trends for various countries that Amazon try to focus on latest
fashion to improve the production.
 Legal factors: Legal factors include the health and safety of employees at workplace and
equal opportunities, consumer rights and laws, product safety etc. the government also
plays an important role in legal factors that there are some certain laws and legalisation
which affect the business activities and decision making of HR manager effectively.
FACTORS WHICH AFFECT DECISION-MAKING BY MANAGERS AND LEADERS
The leaders and managers in Amazon should try to focus on decision making that the
business is depended on the decisions made by them in different situations and departments
effectively. They required managing and control the business operational activities and also
review every strategy and decision before implementing it. Employees legal obligations and
other activities also affect the decision making of managers (Differences in role and
characteristics of leader and manager 2016). Customer response, feedbacks and operational
activities also effect the decisions for different situations. There are many factors such as legal,
economical, political etc. which affect the business effectively. Thus, the decision making of
managers is influenced by internal and external factors.

CONCLUSION
It can be said from the above report that management operations are very important for
the firm Amazon in order to maintain the profitability and production. Leaders and managers
also plays an important role as their characteristics help business to improve the operational and
employees activities. Role and function of a leader also help firm to face different situations and
conditions in order to manage the operations. System leadership also help business to run
smoothly and effectively. Leaders manage and control the business operational activities in order
to increase the production and profitability of Amazon effectively and efficiently.

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manager.com/tips/maslow-motivation-theory/>
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