Comparison of Roles and Characteristics of Leaders and Managers

MANAGEMENT AND
OPERATIONS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Comparison in roles and characteristics of leaders and managers.........................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
P2 Functions of manager in context of situations in organisation..............................................3
P3 Different theories of leadership.............................................................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................6
P4 Approaches to operations management.................................................................................6
P5 Explain the importance and value of operations management in achieving business
objectives.....................................................................................................................................7
TASK 4 ...........................................................................................................................................9
P6 Factors which can impact operations management and affects decision making process of
leaders and managers..................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Operations are process that any organisation perform to convert raw materials into
finished products so that profits are earned. Management is set of activities that effectively and
efficiently directed towards utilising resources to achieve organisational objectives. Operations
management is defined as function which is responsible for managing operations and process.
It is process of planning, organising and controlling operations of organisations so that objectives
are achieved effectively (Heizer, Render and Munson, 2017). Audi AG is German automobile
company which designs, manufactures, promotes and sells luxury vehicles at global level. In this
report, there will be comparison about roles and characteristics of manager and leader. With the
help of examples, examinations will be done that how in different situations leaders apply their
role and managers apply functions. This report will include different models and theories of
approaches in context of business environment. There will be explanation about important
approaches of operations management and role of managers and leaders play in these models.
This assignment will also include explanation that how business objectives are achieved by
operations management importance and value. At last, this will include factors that are present in
business environment and have impact of decision making by managers and leaders on
operational management.
TASK 1
P1 Comparison in roles and characteristics of leaders and managers
LEADERS: Leaders are individuals who influence personnel or group in direction of
organisational objectives and achieving targets effectively. Leaders have different roles and
characteristics in relation with structure, behaviour and needs of business and its operations
(Wensveen, 2018). Some of those are as follows:
Roles
Representative of organisation - First and foremost role that any leaders play is
representing organisation in front of outside parties. They attend conferences, product launch and
speaks on behalf of Audi AG so that positive image can be build. Such leaders represents entity
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of organisation in external environment in which organisation operates so that there is proper
communication with third parties.
Leaders are required at all levels – There is need that leaders are present at all three level
of organisational structure so that strategical and tactical activities are carried out effectively
(Wesselink, Blok and Ringersma, 2017). Thus is role id performed by leaders of Audi AG at top,
middle and lower hierarchical level of organisation.
Characteristics
Strong Communication – One of the basic characteristics that leaders have is impactful
communicative ability which helps them to communicate vision, mission, objectives, policies,
etc. to personnel and stakeholders of Audi AG.
Focused – One of most important characteristics which needs to present in leader is that
they should be focused. This ensures that teams of Audi AG are working towards achievement of
organisational goals (Hugos, 2018).
MANAGERS: They are those individuals who manage operations and processes of organisation
effectively so that business objectives are achieved within specified time. They are also
responsible for coordinating collective efforts of human resource in direction of objectives.
Roles
Decisional Role – Basic function that any managers plays is taking decisions related to
different aspects of business and its operations. Audi AG managers plays important role in
decision making in context of new projects, personnel, budgets, etc.
Informative Role – This is most common role that managers plays is collecting and
providing relevant information related to business operations. They are also responsible for
informing subordinates about plans, policies and objectives decided by leaders of Audi AG
(Witkowski, Kurowski and Lesicki, 2018).
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