Role and Characteristics of a Leader and a Manager in Operations Management

This report discusses the role and characteristics of a leader and a manager in operations management, using Tesco as a case study. It also explores different models and theories of leadership and the key approaches of operations management. The value and importance of operations management in improving product quality and customer satisfaction are also discussed.

MANAGEMENT AND
OPERATIONS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LO1..................................................................................................................................................3
P1 Role and characteristics of a leader and a manager................................................................3
LO2..................................................................................................................................................4
P2 Role of a leader and function of a manager in different situations........................................4
P3 Different models and theories of approach............................................................................5
LO3..................................................................................................................................................6
P4 Key approaches of operations management...........................................................................6
P5 Value and importance of operations management.................................................................8
LO4..................................................................................................................................................9
P6 Factors that impact decision-making and operational management.......................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Operations management is very necessary task to a company or business, because when a
company or business properly manages it’s all operations, then it can easily generate huge profit
in the market. In this dynamic and modern world, those businesses are gaining huge competitive
advantage in the market which has successfully implemented different approaches, techniques
and methods of operations management in their daily operations. That’s why operations
management term is too important to an organisation. This report discusses the leadership and
management operations of the Tesco, this is a popular retail company, headquartered in
Hertfordshire, England, UK. Different roles leaders and functions of managers also has been
discussed which they generally have played in the workplace of Tesco.
LO1
P1 Role and characteristics of a leader and a manager
There are lots of differences exists between roles and characteristics of a leader and a
manager in the company. Tesco is one of the leading retail companies within the UK industry,
which has wide operational goals and the production standards in working fundamentals for
developing highly effective working environment of encourage, innovative ideas and also to
achieve larger productivity in final outputs (Nguenang, 2018). The major role of a leader is to
lead different team members with the strong supervision, leadership style for keeping on train
and motivate employees to build productive working progression between all performance goals.
A leader at Tesco works with positional power and commitment for keeping on empowering
people or employees for working on higher creativity fundamentals, new rational ideas and top
function with continuous dynamic operational targets. The leader within Tesco is generally a
mediator between employer and employees, because leaders is the one person who delivers
message of employees to employer as well as message of employer to employees. With the
support of leaders, Tesco is able to turn its ordinary teamwork into an effective teamwork.
Basically, leaders play an excellent role in achieving final goals of the Tesco.
On the other side, role of a manager also very important to the Tesco for achieving its
goals in decided time period. Basically, manager is the main person who plans, organises, direct,
control and monitor different functions and operations within the Tesco to complete its each and
every target on time. Existing manager is too active in its present job role, because it always

believes is using such strategies and methods in its daily operations, which can easily provide
excellent results to the Tesco in the UK’s retail industry (Mor and et.al., 2018). There is manager
is the only who has right to pass a specific fund and budget for different departments of this
organisation, like; HRM, marketing, production, etc. The manager plays an excellent role in
taking decision towards providing some productive training and developments sessions to its
different employees and people. Generally, a leader within Tesco also responsible to take orders
from the manager. With support of these sessions any employee can easily improve its skills and
abilities and at the end, Tesco is able to achieve an effective workforce. On the basis of these all
factors, a manager also plays an effective role in the Tesco.
LO2
P2 Role of a leader and function of a manager in different situations
The role of a leader and function of a manager are completely different in various
situations in the business scenario, and have wide operational situations, in which their role and
function are vary massively with their different affect levels to logically uplift high levels of
performance goals. Suppose, if a new employee is joining the production team, in which the role
of a leader to train and motivate that new employee with all required skills and abilities for
improving operational efficiency. A leader is always required to provide the behave very well
with an employee. Many times, employees face different problems, difficulties and issues in their
daily operations, in which leader plays great role in solving those issues, problems and
difficulties. In this dynamic and modern, every business organisation is taking lots of productive
steps towards more and more developing skills and competencies of their respective employees
(Gunessee and et.al., 2018). In this situation, leaders within Tesco are also responsible for taking
decisions towards enhancing different skills and competencies of its employees.
There is function of a manager also too necessary to systematically dealing with various
situations of Tesco. For example; currently most people within market like to purchase products
and services from those organisations and companies which always provides products and
services with excellent quality. In this situation, manager within Tesco always takes decisions
towards implement different quality control techniques within its production processes. On the
other side, manager systematically considers the concept of operations management for

producing different products and services with excellent quality. Day by day competition within
the UK’s retail industry is increasing, in this situation manager plays an effective role by taking
steps towards using modern and well-developed marketing strategies for gaining huge
competitive advantage in the market (Slack and Brandon-Jones, 2018). At the end, the manager
within Tesco always removes those all elements from its workplace which can negatively affect
its daily business operations, that’s why function of a manager is very necessary within Tesco for
properly dealing with every organisational situation.
P3 Different models and theories of approach
Currently there are different theories and models of leadership available in the market
which each team leader needs to follow in its daily operations. On the other side, top-level
management at Tesco needs to run some productive training and development programmes, in
which it is required to inform its various leaders about the actual role of leadership theories and
models. In this situation, there are systems leadership situational leadership, and contingency
three key approaches of leadership which has been described below;
Systems leadership
System leadership is very useful approach which helps to a leader for completing its
different tasks in a systematic manner (Upadhyay and et.al., 2018). Currently upper management
of Tesco tries to take teach its various leaders about the system leadership, because the
leadership approach is very useful to leaders to properly lead various employees and team
members in the workplace. Complete every target and task in systematic manner is too necessary
to a company, in which this approach of leadership make able to the Tesco to do this. This is the
main reason that, system approach of leadership is useful in achieving all goals and objectives,
so leaders in Tesco highly need to consider this approach in its daily operations. Strength of
systems approach is, it helps to leaders to complete different gaols in the systematic manner.
Weakness is, leader always need to put its huge efforts to gain excellent results by this approach.
Situational leadership
This is one of the key leadership theories which every leader in the Tesco highly needs to
be considered within the workplace. Generally, situational leadership supports to leaders to
properly deal with different situations in the workplace. The leader in Tesco is always required to

deal with many situations. For examples; many times, some conflicts have raised between team
members, in which leader responsible to deal with that situation through solving conflicts
between members or employees. On the other side, when members not perform perfectly in the
workplace, then a leader responsible for providing various training and development sessions to
team members (Spring, 2017). In this case, situational leadership approach is very useful to
various leaders. With the support of situational approach, a leader can easily handle each
organisational situation. Strength of this approach is, situational leadership approach supports to
leaders to properly deal with different situations in the workplace. Weakness is, by using
situational approach the leader can achieve only limited benefits.
Contingency
This is another very productive approach of leadership, in which contingency also highly
needs to be considered within Tesco by various leaders. Generally, this approach is a mixture of
system leadership and situational approaches. In this situation, by employing this approach in the
daily operations, a leader can easily manage various organisational situations in very systematic
manner. The contingency approach always encourages and motivates leaders to turn its common
team into an effective and productive team. That’s why leaders in the Tesco highly need to
consider this approach in their regular leadership operations. Strength of contingency approach
is that, it is very useful approach in developing an effective teamwork. Weakness is,
implementation in daily operations is tough task to a leader.
LO3
P4 Key approaches of operations management
There are Lean Production and TQM (Total Quality Management) etc. (van der Zee and
Sloot, 2018). some prime approaches of operations management, in which these prime
approaches of operations management have been explained below with roles which has played
by managers and leaders.
Lean Production

There is lean production is an innovative approach of operation management that gives
opportunity to a company for developing productivity of its manufacturing department.
Generally, when a business has productive manufacturing processes, then it can easily
manufacture the best quality products and services. Managers and leaders of Tesco plays very
excellent role in the implementation of lean production approach. For example; a manager at
Tesco is always taking important decisions for removing those factors from its manufacturing
processes which can negatively impact to its manufacturing department. There is manager is the
only main responsible person in the Tesco who passes order to successfully implement the lean
production approach within the manufacturing department.
Then, a leader in Tesco responsible for taking order from its senior management for
implementing lean production technique within the workplace (Bäckstrand and Engström, 2019).
The leader needs to prepare a productive plan for informing its employees about the impact of
lean production technique on the company. Generally, employees always are depending in their
leaders to know about the organisational changes, in this situation implementing lean production
in the workplace is also a new change or thing to existing employees. So, leaders at Tesco play
an effective role by informing their employees about every information of lean production
approach of the operations management.
Total Quality Management (TQM)
TQM is one of the major approaches of operations management which is highly needs to
be considered within the Tesco’s production department. Generally, TQM approach supports in
the controlling quality of various products and services within the production department. There
are managers and leaders of Tesco are playing excellent roles in the implementation of TQM
approach. For example; the manager has always prepared a specific plan to systematically
implement this approach within the production department. A manager is the only person who
has taken final decision for implementing this technique or approach (Coughlan and et.al., 2018).
The manager at Tesco mostly gives order to various leaders to successfully implement total
quality management approach in the production department.
On the other side, there are leaders also play effective role in the implementation of total
quality management approach. For example; the leader at Tesco responsible to properly take

order from its top-level manager to implement TQM within the production processes. After
implementation, a leader is the only responsible person who train or team members and
employees about ‘how control the quality of various products and services through the TQM
approach”. The leader always responsible for providing outcome report to its senior management
that it has prepared by total quality management approach.
EVALUATION
There are managers and leaders put their great efforts within the daily operations of
Tesco for developing productivity of operational management for successful meeting the
business objectives. A manager of Tesco mostly tries to take some effective and appropriate
decisions to systematically manage various operations and activities. It is necessary to achieve all
decided targets in decided time period (Radnor and Bateman, 2016). After manager, a leader at
Tesco is also very active in its respective job role, in which this is too excellent factor for the
Tesco, because managers and leaders make able to company for achieving its various
organisational objectives on time.
P5 Value and importance of operations management
Operations management is very necessary to different organisations, so upper
management at Tesco need to always consider the concept of operations management within its
daily business operations. Currently most companies and businesses within all over the world
takes lots of advantages by operations management, in which some key importance and value of
operations management has been explained below;
Improves quality of products and services
The operations management is too helpful in improving quality of various products and services,
so that the Tesco will be easily provided excellent quality products and services within the global
retail sector with the help of operations management. Basically, operations management involves
some productive techniques called TQM (total quality management) and lean production, so that
these techniques of operations management effectively contributes in controlling quality of
various products and services (De Vries and Van Wassenhove, 2020). That’s why the
management at Tesco should always consider operations management within its workplace.

Increase levels of customer satisfaction
Operations management is too helpful in increasing levels of customer satisfaction as
well, because with the help of operations management, Tesco will be able for producing various
quality products and services, so that when this company has provided quality products and
services within the market, then its different customers can easily get satisfied with the Tesco.
According to many business experts, there are high levels of customer satisfaction is everything
to an organisation for generating huge profit within the market, so that operations management
has highly contributed in increasing the levels of customer satisfaction. This is the main reason
that, the management at Tesco always need to consider operations management’s concept in its
work environment.
Contributes in achieving large market share
The operations management is too important for Tesco to gain the large market share in the UK’s
retail sector. Currently many of other companies are continuously achieving huge market share
with the help of operations management. In this situation, top-level management of Tesco also
highly need to be considered concept of operations management within its work environment. Of
course, achieving large market share is not the small task to an organisation, because an
organisation is always required to fulfil various requirements and wants of many customers
within different market segments. For example; many people and customers in the UK’s retail
sector like to purchase quality products and services, so that operations management is the main
way for Tesco to produce quality products and services (Williams and Caley, 2020). At the end,
when company provides such products and services within the market, then it can be easily
achieved large market share within the UK’s retail sector.
LO4
P6 Factors that impact decision-making and operational management
Nowadays there are many factors exists in Tesco’s business environment which are
affecting operational management and decision-making of leaders and mangers in the workplace.
There are some key factors of Tesco’s business environment have been mentioned below with
their influence on decision making of leaders and managers and operational management.

Technology: Technology is a major factor in the Tesco’s business environment which impact to
decision-making of leaders and managers and operations management. Basically, the manager in
Tesco takes various decisions to implement new and modern technology in daily operations and
activities. On the other hand, there are leaders is required to take decisions to inform and guide
their different team members and employees about the new technology. Generally, this is too
necessary task for a leader, because without proper guideline and information, no employee can
be implemented technology in the workplace (Ivanova, Tsipoulanidisa and Schönbergerb, 2019).
The leader is always required to take some specific decisions for providing various training and
development sessions also, because well-trained employees always takes many advantages
through new technology, so that this factor highly influences decisions of managers and leaders
and operations management.
Product quality: There are product quality is the next main factor within Tesco’s business
environment, because upper management at this retail business always believes in providing
quality products and services within various market segments. Basically, the main objective of
management of Tesco is to gain the large customer base through providing products and services
with excellent quality. In this situation, product quality factor influences to the manager of Tesco
to take decisions for implementing various quality control techniques of operations management
in its manufacturing department (Ravinder and Kollikkathara, 2017). On the other hand, this
factor affects Tesco’s leaders to take decisions for properly leading its team members and
employees to maintain an effective quality of different produced products and services.
Market competition: This is another major factor in Tesco’s business environment that affect to
decision-making of leaders and managers and operations management practice. It can be
explained as, nowadays market competition in the UK’s retail sector is too high. In this situation,
the manager always needs for taking decisions towards implementing various approaches of
operations management to improve its levels of customer satisfaction, because if manager
improve its levels of customers satisfaction, then it will be easily deal with the high market
competition factor. On the other side, this factor mostly affects to leaders at Tesco for taking
different decisions for providing some productive training and development sessions, because
through getting these sessions Tesco’s employees can easily put their lots of efforts within daily

operations (Helmreich and Merritt, 2017). That’s why this factor has highly impacted operations
management and decision-making of managers and leaders at Tesco.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR): The management of Tesco always need to take decision s
towards fulfil CSR in the market. Basically, CSR give opportunity to company for working in
the social welfare.
Ethics: Ethics should be always considered by manager and leaders of Tesco for creating an
ethical workplace. Business ethics can give great growth opportunity to this retail company.
Sustainability: Top-level management at Tesco need to always maintain sustainability in its
daily operations, because this can provide sustainable profit to Tesco.
Stakeholders: Currently customers, employees, shareholders and suppliers etc. keys stakeholders
of company, so that upper management of Tesco should maintain an effective relationship with
these all stakeholders.
CONCLUSION
It be concluded that more improved business framework to gain stronger business
practices in managerial operations there has to be the best working fundamentals for bringing on
productive operations management. This report can be concluded with various differences
between leader and manager who are the most necessary functional roles for playing in
improvement of business performance. It can be concluded further that currently many theories
of business management and leadership which make able for building on positive synergy, and
regular working fundamentals of positive working environment. Report further has explained
importance and value of operations management, and how mangers and leaders has played a key
role for developing long turret synergy. At the end, Report also concludes about how business
environment factors impact upon operations management and decision-making by mangers and
leaders at Tesco to bring on more productive working determinants. Top-level management
should forever consider operations management to gain huge competitive advantage in the
market.

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