Roles and Characteristics of Managers and Leaders in Operations and Management

This article discusses the distinct roles and characteristics of managers and leaders in operations and management. It also explores the application of these roles and functions in different situations and the key approaches to operations management.

MANAGEMENT AND
OPERATIONS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LO1..................................................................................................................................................1
P1. Definition and comparison of distinct roles and characteristics among managers and
leaders.........................................................................................................................................1
LO2..................................................................................................................................................3
P2. Examination of examples about the ways roles of leaders and managerial functions are
applied in distinct contexts of situations ....................................................................................3
P3 Apply various theories and models of approach including situational leadership, system
leadership and contingency.........................................................................................................4
LO3 .................................................................................................................................................6
P4 Key approaches to operations management and role that leaders and managers play..........6
P5 Importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives ............8
LO4 .................................................................................................................................................9
P6 Assess factors within business environment that impact upon operational management and
decision making by leaders and managers..................................................................................9
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Operations and management refers to one of business area related to designing together
with controlling mechanisms of production or manufacturing and redesigning entire operations
of entity (Bozarth and Handfield, 2016). Within the area, raw material are converted into
valuable products with proper management of tasks and activities in order to create values for
customers. Morgan Motors Company is motor car manufacturer which was established via
H.F.S. Morgan in 1910 at United Kingdom. It provides fitting antidote for mass manufactured
automotive productions and brings exceptional mix of traditional craftsmanship with suitable
modern technology.
The report differentiates and compares leaders and managers on the basis of roles and
characteristics. It also apply leaders' role and managerial functions in situations, roles played by
both on operations functions and understands relationships among management and leadership to
attain objectives of company.
LO1
P1. Definition and comparison of distinct roles and characteristics among managers and leaders
Leader
Leader is defined to the one who guides or direct other people and see the ways in which
situations as well as operations can be improved to move towards objectives in best possible
aspects. In case with Morgan Motors Company, a leader is the person who holds potentials to
stimulate work addition to behaviour of manpower.
Manager
Manager is the person whose main job is for managing business. Organisational
managers are the one that holds control or administrations of group of staff or entire business. In
case with Morgan Motors Company, managers supervise and motivates entire workforce
together with direct progress of company.
Differentiation among managers and leaders
Basis Manager Leader
Characteristics Key characteristics of effective
managers are as outlined:
Characteristics of leader: The main
attributes or characteristics or
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 Understandable: Effective
manager have quality of
understanding values of its
employees. In context to
Morgan Motors Company,
managers understands efforts
made by each employee and the
values that they adds in
objectives.
 Trust: Good mangers are
characterised as the one who
break down projects in
manageable chunks as well as
delegate as per strengths of
team by trusting that workers
have ability to handle essential
tasks properly (Half, 2020).
qualities of leaders of Morgan Motor
Company are as follows:
 Honesty and Integrity:
Supreme quality of a leader
is unquestionable honesty
and integrity. In relevance to
Morgan Motors Company,
leaders are honest towards
their subordinates and
integrate values, beliefs,
ethics, etc in their workings.
 Confident: A leader have
quality of confidence through
which they ensure that their
subordinates follow their
commands. Leaders of
Morgan Motors Company are
confident and it is reflected
from the trust followers have
on them.
Roles Main roles of managers in the company
are as discussed:
 Managers of Morgan Motors
Company have prime role of
ensuring daily functioning or
operations of all departments
addition to group of workforce.
 Managers articulates short
together with long term
objectives for ensuring
longevity of enterprise.
Major roles played by leaders in the
entity are below:
 Organisational leaders have
role of making things easier
for their subordinates.
 Leaders of Morgan Motors
Company fulfil role of
decision maker for
implementation of strategies,
making hard choices and
working with available
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 Effective managers enforces
policies, practices and rules of
firm for cultivating a
surrounding which makes
workforce holding
accountability for all of their
actions.
information.
 Leaders have role to
effectively listen other and
observe workings of others to
whom they lead (Dong and
Hu, 2017).
LO2
P2. Examination of examples about the ways roles of leaders and managerial functions are
applied in distinct contexts of situations
In context to business, managers and leaders are backbone who support bottom line
together with make efforts for accomplishing identified objectives (Mayo, Nohria and Rennella,
2016). For the purpose of executing all workings systematically, it is crucial and significant for
both to perform with major roles and functions.
Leaders addition to their roles: An individual who lead or guide group of people is
defined to a leader. The major role of leader is for stimulating or influencing followers or
employees to perform job systematically. In case with Morgan Motors Company, leaders plays
key roles of disturbance handler, visionary, strategist, delegator, influencer and facilitator. Apart
from this, leaders also plays some specific role in particular situations.
Managers with their functions: A person who manages, administers and control all types
of operational addition to executional activities is said to a manager (Scase and Goffee, 2017). In
an organisation, different managers work for different department, but, all perform common
functions. In case with Morgan Motors Company, managers are required to perform functions of
planning, organising, staffing, directing and controlling as per pertaining situations. At same
time, communication is major function that is performed by all managers.
Roles of leaders and functions of managers in situational context
Major product launch: At the time when company have decided to launch a product,
then managers and leaders execute their roles and functions effectively. For instance, when
administrators of Morgan Motors Limited are launching a new model or car, then in this
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situation, managers plans all activities, procedures and tasks which will be player by each
employee. Further, in organising function, managers arranged essential resources. In function of
staffing, adequate and qualified employees are hired, trained and developed. Managers also
direct paths to all employees and control deviations with effective solutions. Similarly, in the
same situations, leaders of company have role to influence employees for sharing ideas about
launching product in innovative manner and executing strategies that are devised by managers.
Change management: Changes in practices, tasks, resources and operations are part of
all business concerns. For example, top authorities of Morgan Motors Company have decided to
change their organisation structure from flat structure to divisional structure. To manage the
change, managers will implement functions of planning activities to devise different divisions,
organising required resources and segregating them in divisions, hiring new employees and
communicating planned workings. Further, managers perform function of directing or motivating
employees to work in divisions as per specialisation so to achieve objectives. In the same
situation, leaders of Morgan Motors Company is to manage changes in effective manner and
ensuring that expectations of staffs are met properly. They also influence them to work as per
allotted divisions with full potentials and determinations (Doppelt, 2017).
P3 Apply various theories and models of approach including situational leadership, system
leadership and contingency
In current condition of the organisation is changes on a regular basis according to the
changes occur in the business environment. To manage and organize the business in an effective
way leaders and managers can use the various theories and models of leadership in their working
place. In case of Morgan Motor Company these approaches can be shown below(Ferguson and
et. al., 2017).
 Situational leadership- In this style of leadership, leaders and managers can select their
style according to the needs that fits the development level of the followers within the
business firm. In this style it influence the employees according to their demand of
different circumstances. It is most suitable and flexible leadership style in which changes
are executed in appropriate manner. In this leader of Morgan Motor Company adopted
this style to maintains and manages the different situations according. This can be
segments into various aspects in the company that can be shown below.
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◦ Telling - In this aspects leaders can work as a decision maker who can communicate
and transfer the information according to the needs of the employees so that goals can
be achieved on time(Nakagawa NEC Corp, 2015).
◦ Selling – In this process leaders can sell their ideas and guidelines that are used in
processing the plan so that working on it would be easy and simple. This also helps in
clearly understanding the ideas by the employees so that goal can be achieved on
time.
◦ Delegating – In this framework of the situational leadership style leaders and
followers are stay in the parallel that means they both take the participation in
planning and decision making so that positive results can be get. And this helps in
accountable to everyone who involved in the planning and making strategy.
◦ Participating - In this aspect leaders are working for inspiring their team members
and motivates them for productive work so that company will get innovative and
proficient ideas and outcomes in their survival.
 Contingency leadership- This style of leadership states that in every organisation no
one style is appropriate for every situation that was occur in the working environment. In
it the effective way to tackle the situation in the firm by the leaders is based on the three
basic factors that is task structure, employee relationship and position power. In this
leader of the Morgan Motor company can analyse the situation and according to that
match the structure and style. This will encourage the employees for good working. In
this work is to be managed according to the circumstances so that business firm will get
higher results(Song and et. al., 2015).
 System leadership – In this approach of leadership, leaders can set the individual
employees as per their skills and capacities that will helps the organisation to raise the
performance of the team and developing the individual personality in the professional
context. It reflects the combination of collaborative leadership and intrinsic creation that
helps in decentralised the overall network. In this every team mate are free to present
their ideas and thoughts in a effective and innovative way. In context of Morgan Motor
company, leaders can creates effective value and position and manages the work in an
appropriate way in all departments. Due to this company can gain the high market share
and also sustain in the market for a longer time(Spring and et. al., 2017).
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It also includes the several models that is effective for the manger and leaders to maintains the
company profits and productivity that can be shown below in relation to Morgan Motors
Company:
 Autocratic style- In this manager can pass the orders to their leaders for reaching the
task and the leaders and convey this assignment to their team mates so that it can be
effectively and efficiently. By using this style decision can be taken effectively and
quickly but at the same time it will reduced the employees satisfaction within the
organisation.
 Democratic style- In context of Morgan Motor Company manager can highly focus on
adopting the de3mocreatic leadership style in some situation so that targets can be
attained with full employees satisfaction. Due to this high profitable results can be come
out.
Strength and weakness of several leadership theories
Leadership style Strength Weaknesses
Situational
leadership style
 The major strength of this
type is that it helps in
solving the complexities
due to this employees feel
more comfortable in
process their task.
 It also beneficial for
Morgan Motor company
because it offers the
suitable direction to the
business so that firm will
get proficient results.
 It is not merely suitable for
attaining the long term
goals.
 In this for leaders it is very
difficult to gather the
information quickly due to
this decision making is
affected(Kazancoglu and
Ozkan-Ozen, 2018).
System leadership
style
 In this style of leadership
all the followers are done
their work with proper
manner.
 IN this style the major
drawback is that is more
time consuming due to this
taking and selecting
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 In this direction is provided
in diverse range according
to the task so that clarity is
showing under completing
the task.
appropriate decision would
also time taken.
 In this all the conditions are
interrelated due to this
conflicts may be arises.
LO3
P4 Key approaches to operations management and role that leaders and managers play
Operations management- It refers to an administration of the organisation practices that helps
in creating the high level of the efficiency possible with the company. It is a significant term that
can transform the materials and labour into the products and services as effective as possible so
that firm will enhance their profits and revenues in the marketplace. In context of the Morgan
Motor Company, this is an essential term because it can helps in converting the raw material into
the finished good by removing the wastage so that they will get higher returns. For this
organisation can adopts the various approaches to operation management that can be shown
below(Torlak, Demir and Budur, 2019).
Approaches to operation management
 Six sigma - It refers to a set of techniques for improvement by eliminating the mistakes.
This is used to limit the wastage and defects in the process. This approach provides the
organisation a effective results by enhancing the quality of the business processes. This
term is helpful to analysing the opportunities and loopholes so that company can satisfy
the customers demands and needs in an appropriate form. It is basically used in the
manufacturing process where mistakes and defects the to be minimised by using this
model. In a way there is five aspects can be included that reflects the DMAIC in context
of Morgan Motors Company. In this manager can play the role of planning the task so
that wastage can be removed and quality can be maintained within the business
enterprise whereas leaders can direct the plan and motivates team mates to work
effectively so that work can be attained properly and improvements can be don
appropriately(Graham and Potter, 2015) :
◦ D - Defining the goals and problems of the particular objectives within the company
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◦ M - Measuring various liable components that helps in accomplishing the task
◦ A - Analysis of the information so that task can be achieved in an effective and
proficient way
◦ I - Improvement can be done in the process after analysing the task and information
so that objectives can be gain on time period
◦ C - Controlling on the working process so that task can be done in systematic way.
 TQM – It refers to a management approach that helps in achieving the long term success
by customer satisfaction. In this continuous improvement can be done in the
manufacturing and production process by removing the wastage and included the quality
resources as per market demand in a systematic way. This helps the concerned company
to sustain in the market for a longer period of time with more efficiency(Robinson and et.
al., 2016). In this leader and the manager of the Morgan Motor company play an
essential role for developing the quality standards so that firm will sustain for a longer
period of time in the competitive marketplace. In this leader can increase the commitment
level that shows it ensures that work can be done on set time and managers can use
various approaches to develops the operations(Sartal, Rodríguez and Vázquez, 2020).
 Lean principle – This principle of operation management can suggest the collaborative
team effort by improving the overall performance to eliminating the wastage and
deducting the variations in the production process. It is very effective for satisfy the
customers towards the company products and services. In this leader of the Morgan
Motor company can play the supervision role where they can supervise their team
members so that positive outcome can be received. Whereas manager can manages all the
task and responsibilities so that work can be completed on time(Urie and et. al., 2018).
P5 Importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives
Operational management is the major component of the business firm that helps in
developing and enhancing the values of the various activities. Morgan Motor company is the
largest company can deals in manufacturing of the car. In this they can produces the car in an
efficient manner by removing the wastage and optimally utilised the resources so that their firm
will grow with high extent. Due to this complexities can be removed so that efficicincy of
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working would be enhanced. In context of Morgan Motor company some basic concepts of
operations management that shows the importance can be included that can be shown below.
 Planning – It is the major role in the business firm in which manager can makes the
different plans that is adopted to making higher profits and revenues by offering the
quality products and services. In this Morgan Motor company can included the efficient
strategy so that goals can be achieved in an effective way(Gellhaus and et. al., 2015).
 Organising – In this Morgan Motor company manager can organise their work and plans
in an systematic way so that firm will achieve the target in an proficient way with better
accuracy. It is very essential path because in this manager can control the mistakes so that
goals can be attained in an appropriate way and work can be processes in a manageable
form.
 Directing – In this leaders of the Morgan Motors Company can disclose the clear path
and directions to their followers so that good connectivity and relations can be
maintained that gives the responsible results. It will reflects as a major importance of the
operation management.
 Controlling – In this managers of Morgan Motor Company can manage the work process
by taking the corrective actions on every step. This helps in done the work in organised
and manageable form. This term is highly valuable within company as operation
management can effectively control all the activities.
 Product quality- It is one of the major importance of operation management in which
Morgan Motor Company can highly focus on their quality that will suits the customers
taste and perception. It is done because of applying the several tools that are six sigma,
lean production etc.
 Customer satisfaction- It is another benefit of operation management in which cost can
be used in producing the products and services are low because of proper planning and
execution. It is highly significant to Morgan Motor company.
In this Morgan Motor Company can adopts the total quality management to manage and
organise the manufacturing process so that they will effectively work that helps in satisfying the
customers so that demands of the products in the market would be enhanced. In this company
wants to planning to increase their profits by 20% and customer base by 30% . for this they try to
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optimally utilised their all their resources in which mistakes and defects can be eliminated and
proficiency and productivity can be increases.
LO4
P6 Assess factors within business environment that impact upon operational management and
decision making by leaders and managers
There are various factors included in the business environment that will majorly effect
decision making of leaders and manager which related to the operation management. In context
of Morgan Motor Company these factors can be shown below(Ding and et. al., 2018).
 CSR- It refers to a type of self regulating model of the business in which companies are
socially responsible for the welfare. In terms of Morgan Motor Company leaders and
managers are both involved in CSR policies by using different practices. This is very
useful for the manager to attracting the customers towards the company by focusing on
several aspects which is included in CSR policies that taking initiative for welfare of
society that helps in enhances their profits and revenues. This term also used by the
leaders for encouraging and motivating the followers to work effectively so that they can
work accordingly and gain the competitive advantage in marketplace which is based on
the benefits of the society. In this organisation can focus on protecting the environment
by providing the environmental friendly products like offering electric cars to the
customers. In this business venture is working more systematically so that wastage can be
removed and efficiency can be maintained. Due to this company decision making reflects
the high positive results in case of company.
 Ethics – This defines the moral responsibilities in which a person follows code of
conduct according to their profession so that results can be presneted in a positive way. In
case of Morgan Motor Company, manager can reflect the proper transparency with their
shareholders this will reflects as god ethics related to company so that they can show
their more interest into the company and firm will get higher returns. It helps in taking
the decision effectively and efficiently. Proper ethics helps in reducing the working gap
due to this productivity can be shown and organisation can sustained for a longer period
of time. In this leaders can provides direction to the team mates with full support and
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participation that helps in accomplishing the task and represent the positive ethics within
working environment.
 Sustainability – In this Morgan Motor Company can focus on their long their long term
sustainability in the market. For this they can work systematically and effectively with
more new ideas and thoughts so that large number of customers get attracted. At this time
manager of enterprise can take the responsibility of making effective decision for
achieving the goal where leader can work on this and provides proper guidelines to their
followers as per the set decisions. This will maximise the profits earning and image of the
brand.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it is to be concluded that the management and operations is an
essential term for the company smooth functioning all the activities. In this leaders and managers
plays a significant role for achieving the success and development in an appropriately
satisfaction level. In this management and leadership advanced the performance of working in
the business entity in a satisfaction level by using the effective theories and models of leadership.
Further various approaches of operation management can gives the productive results in the
working of leaders and managers. It also helps in inculcating the importance of operations
management which is beneficial for the firm to attaining their overall objectives. At last it
involves the several aspects in business environment like CSR, ethics, values etc. that helps the
manager and leaders to take the decisions effectively due to this company will sustain for a
longer period of time.
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REFERENCES
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Doppelt, B., 2017. Leading change toward sustainability: A change-management guide for
business, government and civil society. Routledge.
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machines. U.S. Patent 9,578,017.
Gellhaus, P.T. and et. al., 2015. Robotic management of genitourinary injuries from obstetric
and gynaecological operations: a multi‐institutional report of outcomes. BJU
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Graham, S. and Potter, A., 2015. Environmental operations management and its links with
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Half, R., 2020. Characteristics of effective manager. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.roberthalf.com.au/blog/employers/12-characteristics-effective-manager>
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