Roles and Characteristics of Leaders and Managers in Management and Operations

This document discusses the different roles and characteristics of leaders and managers in management and operations. It explores the importance and value of operations management and discusses key approaches to operations management. The document also covers factors influencing the business.

MANAGEMENT AND
OPERATIONS

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LO1..................................................................................................................................................3
P1 Definition and comparison of the different roles and characteristics of a leader and manager
.....................................................................................................................................................3
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................5
P 2 Roles and functions of a leader and manager in different situational context.......................5
P 3 Leadership theories................................................................................................................6
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................7
P 4 Key approaches to operations management..........................................................................7
P 5 Importance and value of operations management.................................................................8
LO 4...............................................................................................................................................10
P 6 Key factors influencing the business...................................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Management is the strategic approach that undertakes by the organization to manage it’s
operational productivity so that it can achieve it’s profitable outcomes on it’s business within
timeframe. To understand role of management has an example of Johan Lewis company. It is a
brand of high-end department stores which is headquartered in London, UK. In this report will
discuss about different roles and responsibilities of leaders and managers which perform in the
organization.
LO1
P1 Definition and comparison of the different roles and characteristics of a leader and manager
 Manager
Manager is the person who have ability to manage and coordinate wide number of people in
the organization in effective manner (Huang, 2019). They support organization to set it’s vision
and mission as milestones so that each employee can focus on these milestones and puts more
efforts to achieve them. In addition, managers play numerous roles in the business such as
planning, organizing, controlling and coordinating through which company enables to maintain
its business performance in the business market.
 Leader
Leaders are those people who have ability to guide wide number of people towards the
common goals at the job place. An effective leaders are not only supported company to stay
motivated it’s workforce but also influences them to put more efforts in the workplace.
Differences between leaders and managers
Attributes Managers Leaders
Goals Manager is responsible for
developing the business goal
to enhance growth of the
business in the business
market.
On the other hand, leaders
develops objectives for the
employee so that each
employee put their productive
efforts in their working and

gains all proposed goals
within defined timeframe.
Strategy formation &
Implication
Managers have authority to
formulate policies in the
context of employee’s
wellbeing and communicates
with leaders before
formulating policies so that
effective changes can be
proceed.
While leaders supports
managers to communicate
with employees directly to
understand the needs and
expectations of them about
their job responsibilities and
reports to the managers so
that they can formulate
effective policies and
maintains individuals
wellbeing (Reunanen and
Kaitonen, 2017).
Focus On Managers always focuses on
company’s performance
instead of people so they
formulate strategies through
which company can gain
commercial benefits.
As compared, leaders focus
on people’s wellbeing so they
develop strategies like
performance management,
training and development etc.
these strategies helps leaders
to stay motivated workforce
in the company.
Different functions of the managers and roles of leaders in the Johan Lewis
Managers plays different functions of the business while leaders support managers to
conduct different functions in the business effectively. Functions are:
 Planning

It is one of the major role of managers that they conduct in the Johan Lewis company to develop
and implement different business strategies so that organization can gain it’s all proposed goals
and objectives within timeframe.
 Organizing: Managers at John Lewis allocates and use available resources in the
company in order to gain profitable outcomes in the business. While leaders also supports
managers to utilize available resources effectively.
 Directing: Managers assigns different tasks to the employees to manage business
operations. Leaders develops an effective team and directs them to complete all assigned
tasks in effective manner.
LO 2
P 2 Roles and functions of a leader and manager in different situational context
It is very important for the managers and leaders to note the rules and differences
between the two functions effectively so that there is going to be smoother functioning and
working which is going to be present in John Lewis. There are a lot of situations which are
present for the leaders and managers to Control and monitor effectively so that there are right
decisions which are being taken and the loyalty of the customers is going to be present in such a
reputed company (Mahmoudi and Parviziomran, 2020). For example, due to the changes which
are coming in the organisation there are a lot of conflicts which are rising in the business making
the labour turnover be maintained. John Lewis has to make sure that the internal environment of
the employees is satisfying and the right measures are being taken for the higher satisfaction of
the employees making them loyal to the organisation making the company be able to work
efficiently in the future.
The needs and demands of the customers is changing rapidly in this industry which the
managers and leaders have to make sure are being adapted so that there would be higher
functioning. The talent and motivation level of the employees has to be well balanced by the
leaders by having a good relationship with them there would be higher communication. There
are a lot of objectives which the leader has to make sure are being achieved by the employees

which can be done through motivation which the leaders can provide and also training. Training
is another important factor which the leaders and managers must provide to the employees since
there are so many changes which are taking place in the company (Peinado, Graeml and Vianna,
2018). The productivity an operation level of the company needs to be high and there has to be a
common understanding between the leaders and managers so that the conflicts and problem
solving can be faster in the company.
P 3 Leadership theories
There are a lot of theories and strategies are many which can be used by the leaders who
to make the company have smoother functioning. There are different methods which are going to
be discussed in the further report to be able to achieve the targets and goals which the company
has set for them to have a higher competitive advantage.
 Situational Leadership
Leaders and managers must have group meetings to make right decisions further operations
and productivity of the company from time to time. Small issues are problems can convert to a
larger problem for the organization therefore right measures have to be used to motivate the
workforce and make sure that John Lewis is having a higher competitive advantage. with
experience and knowledge which the leaders and managers are having in the business an market
is making the functioning of the internal factors be higher and unique factors are being added in
the organization (Al-Dulaimi, Wang and Chih-Lin, 2018).
 Contingency Leadership
There has to be clarity in the functioning of the organisation therefore the best style of
management and leadership must be selected by the manager and leaders of John Lewis. Since
the company is having a higher reputation and brand value for themselves the company needs to
make sure that the competitive working is effective and making the company have a better
future. The leaders make sure that the turnover of employees is not high so that they can
maintain that profit margins and have the right working for the investment which the company is
making in technology. There is a lot of investment in information technology and artificial

technology which the company is making so that there are going to be less errors and this way
the company will be able to have a higher and stronger portfolio.
 System Leadership
All the employees have different skills and capabilities which need to be identified by the
leaders so that they can be used effectively in the organisation. Systematic leadership would lead
to a one direction goal and the achievement would be higher (Barnes, 2018). John Lewis leaders
and managers have missions which need to be achieved on time so that there is going to be
higher functioning and planning which would be present in the organisation.
LO 3
P 4 Key approaches to operations management
Leaders and managers of John Lewis have to select a very effective an improved
operation management for themselves making the company be able to have a higher reputation in
the market. The further report is going to discuss three approaches which are being worked upon
by John Lewis so that there are going to be higher functioning.
 Six sigma
It is very important to make sure that the company is having a higher planning and using the
right method to dispose of their waste which the company is letting out making the organisation
have a clean portfolio and stronger brand image. The company is working upon having zero
carbon footprints so that the environment globally can be improved and also following the
regulations and policies which have been put by the government from country to country
(Schiavone and Sprenger, 2017). To make sure that the employees are following these measures
effectively so that the company can achieve their goals and targets, leaders have to control and
monitor them from time to time.
 Just in time

It is very important to have the right raw material which is required by the company and not
extra inventory which is coming in. extra inventory is just going to make the company be
wasting their investment in getting in the raw material since they have to maintain their quality
and services. The leaders make a list of inventory which is required and the managers recheck
those inventories so that there is going to be less of products which are going to be required
making the economic factor of the company even stronger.
 Total quality management
To make sure that the satisfaction level of the customers is high in the organisation time
quality management is being used by John Lewis. The demands and expectations of the
customers are increasing from the organisation therefore it is very important for the company to
have the right productivity an operation which is present in the organisation so that this factor
can be achieved (Ganesh and et.al., 2020). The reputation and standards of John Lewis is high
and the loyalty and market share of the customers is present in the organisation therefore the
company has to motivate their employees to be able to make the company have a higher profit
margins and sales which are present in the market.
P 5 Importance and value of operations management
To make sure that the satisfaction level of the customers is high in the organisation time
quality management is being used by John Lewis. The demands and expectations of the
customers are increasing from the organisation therefore it is very important for the company to
have the right productivity an operation which is present in the organisation so that this factor
can be achieved. The reputation and standards of John Lewis is high and the loyalty and market
share of the customers is present in the organisation therefore the company has to motivate their
employees to be able to make the company have a higher profit margins and sales which are
present in the market (Sartal, Rodríguez and Vázquez, 2020).
 Reduce Wastage
The outlet of the waste which is being produced by John Lewis is going to be well planned
by the operation management so that the company can get an advantage over the competition.

There are already a lot of measures which have been taken by the management of John Lewis in
order to make sure that this factor is being achieved and leaders are going to implement those
measures in the company for the employees to be followed. Leaders make sure that all the
employees are following these measures and the decision’s which are being taken in the
organisation are having a common ground.
 Raise Sales
The quality and service of John Lewis is high therefore the organisation is being able to
satisfy, gain loyalty and match the lifestyle of the customers which is changing rapidly. the
changes are coming in the organisation according to the customers so that their demands,
expectations and needs from the company can be achieved making the organisation have a higher
profit margins in the market (Babich and Hilary, 2020).
 Raising Employee Motivation
The goals and objectives of the organisation needs to be discussed with the employees since
they are the backbone and would be making the company have higher productivity. It is very
important to provide the employees with the right knowledge and environment about the
organisation so that they would be able to given their best and make the organisation be able to
maintain their quality and productivity. Training, guiding and helping is being provided by the
leaders of John Lewis for the employees making them be able to match the standards of the
company.
 Control and distribution systems
That is computerized control system which is being used in John Lewis thought that there is
going to be higher distribution and effectiveness of the company in the market (Stratton, de
Leeuw and Sabet, 2016). There has to be effective working which the company needs to have so
that they can compete with the competitors who are developing themselves in the market and
taking away market share from John Lewis.

LO 4
P 6 Key factors influencing the business
The external and internal factors of the company have to be higher and decisions have to
be made in considering everyone’s agreement on it. The expectations have to be well matched
and that is going to make the company have higher sales and profit margins. Maintenance has to
be present in John Lewis Company so that they would be able to function effectively.
 Culture
All the employees belong from a different cultural background which needs to be focused
upon by the leaders and managers so that there is a common ground which is set. The internal
environment of the organisation needs to be well maintained so that the company will be able to
have higher productivity and operations (Wei and Zhang, 2018). Respect for one another in the
organisation is very important which the leaders and managers have to make sure that all the
employees have this advantage.
 Corporate Social Responsibilities
The GDP an unemployment rate of United Kingdom is improving making the lifestyle of the
customers be changed therefore the company will also have to understand this factor. Right
customers have to be entertained and their lifestyle needs to be well maintained by the company
by having the right quality of products and services for them. This factor is going to make the
company have higher sales and profit margins. Employees also need to be focused upon by the
leaders and managers so that there are right decisions being taken for the companies benefit.
 Ethics
Managers and leaders have to make sure that there is a good level of ethics which is present
in the company so that the company can have higher discipline and working. Competitive
advantage is a very important factor and better performance should be present in the company so
that the organisation will be able to have higher functioning (Spring and et.al., 2017). Market
share and customer base has to be present in the organisation so that they can have sustainability.

Leaders and managers have to match the expectations of the employees and customers from time
to time so that there is going to be higher sales.
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded that the businesses in the market need to have a strong base and
portfolio for themselves so that they would be able to expand themselves and have loyal
customer base in the market as well. Demands and needs of the customers is changing which the
companies in the market have to match so that they can keep the customers in the market
effectively. The internal and external factors of the business have to be balanced so that the
company will be able to operate and function effectively in the market which is going to be very
good for the reputation of the company in the market. Improvement in businesses have to be
made so that the company will be able to work according to the competition in the market which
is going to make the decisions making of the company better and experience of the market be
present in the company for the future growth as well.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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Operations Management Researchers Should Know About Blockchain
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Reunanen, T. and Kaitonen, J., 2017. Different roles in leadership styles in modern organization.
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Management. 66(3). pp.310-325.
Schiavone, F. and Sprenger, S., 2017. Operations management and digital technologies.
Spring, M and et.al., 2017. Creating the competitive edge: A new relationship between
operations management and industrial policy. Journal of Operations Management. 49.
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Stratton, R., de Leeuw, S. and Sabet, E., 2016. Exploring the seminal origins of key operations
management developments. In Presented 5th World Conference on Productions and
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Wei, M.M. and Zhang, F., 2018. Recent research developments of strategic consumer behavior
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