Roles and Characteristics of Leaders and Managers in Operations Management

Management and
Operations

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................1
Define and compare different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager...............1
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................3
Examine with examples how the role of leader and function of a manager apply in different
organisational context.............................................................................................................3
Apply different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership, system
leadership and contingency....................................................................................................5
Task 3...............................................................................................................................................6
Explain the key approaches to operations management along with role that leaders and
managers play.........................................................................................................................6
Define the Importance and value of operation management in achieving business objectives
................................................................................................................................................8
Task 4...............................................................................................................................................9
Identify and assess the factors within the business environment that impact upon operational
management and decision making by leaders and managers.................................................9
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................11
References:.....................................................................................................................................12
Books and Journals...............................................................................................................12

Introduction
Operation management in the context of business is defined as the management of business
activities and practices with the aim of achieving highest level of efficiency within an
organisation. It is the regarded as the conversion of raw materials and labor into goods and
services with maximum efficiency as possible to increase the profitability of a company. It is the
process of planning, organising and controlling the activities to balance the revenue and cost
with the objective of achieving highest possible net operating profit. Managers and leaders in an
organisation play a crucial role in maintaining the balance between the objectives of an
organisation and effective utilisation of resources at the same time (Islam and et. al., 2020).
Tesco, a British multinational groceries and general merchandise retailing company, founded
way back in 1919 by Jack Cohen as a group of market stalls in London. Over the time company
have evolved and diversified its business into many sectors such as clothing, electronics,
software, petrol, telecom and internet services. Tesco holds third position in the world in terms of
revenues and operates majorly in five countries in Europe along with United Kingdom. Further
mentioned report covers difference between the role and function of a manager in different
situation in Tesco, appreciation of the role managers and leaders play in operation management
and relationship between leadership and management in a contemporary business environment.
Task 1
Define and compare different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager
Leaders and manager in Tesco, both plays a major role in attaining organisational objective
through effective planning, organising and controlling the business activities and resources of an
organisation.
Definition of Leader and Manager
From the perspective of (Morgan,2020), A leader is the person who work with the objective of
converting vision of an organisation into reality while keeping the people or employees in first
place. Leaders are well known for their capabilities of determine how things can be improved
and direct the people working under towards the better vision (Ren, Chan and Siqin, 2020).
Leaders help themselves and people working in an organisation doing the right things through
setting direction, creating inspiring vision and build the path to follow which lead towards the
attainment of organisational objective.
1

Managers are those individuals who are in charge of something or manage the things that
to be done. Manager can be a responsible for a part of the company, of a department or for the
people who work in a particular organisation. Managers are responsible for overseeing the
activities of a business or guiding the group of people to get the things done. Managers usually
exercise primarily functions of management such as planning, organising, directing, coordinating
and controlling in an organisation but also responsible for making policies, procedures,
maintaining work system, hiring, maintaining discipline and performance appraisal.
Different roles and characteristics of leader and manager
Roles Leader Manager
Communication Leaders in Tesco are
responsible for building trust
and maintaining good
communication with team
members to guide and
motivate them to work
towards the common objective
(Chen and et. al., 2020).
While, managers of Tesco
communicate effectively with
the employees of an
organisation to distribute and
define the job responsibilities
along with defined standards
and practices to achieve
organisational objective.
Setting goals Leaders are meant to form
goals and set timelines for the
each team member to get the
work done in a specified time-
frame and towards the
common objectives.
Managers in Tesco are
responsible for breaking down
the long term vision of the
company into small goals that
will work as a stepping stone
towards the overall vision of
an organisation.
Characteristics Leader Manager
Decision making Leaders in the Tesco have the
qualities to make sound and
fair decisions at work place
with regards to the distribution
of work among team members
as per the capabilities and
Managers do actively
participate in managerial
decision at top level (Hazée
and et. al.,2020). Apart from
hiring, firing, performance
appraisal, they also undertake
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