Comparison of Leader and Manager Roles in Management and Operations

This document compares the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers in the context of management and operations. It explores the implications of these roles in different situational contexts and discusses important concepts, models, and theories of approach. The document also highlights the significance of operations management and factors that impact decision-making by managers and leaders.

MANAGEMENT AND
OPERATIONS
1

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................3
P1 Compare the different role and characteristics of leader and manager..................................3
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................6
P2 Implication of leader role and manager function within different situational context...........6
P3- Varied concept, models and theories of approach................................................................7
M2- Strengths and weakness of approaches...............................................................................8
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................9
P4- Important approaches to operations management and role that manager & leader play with
it...................................................................................................................................................9
P5- Significance of operations management in context of business objectives........................11
M3- Manager and leader improve efficiency of operational management...............................12
LO 4...............................................................................................................................................12
P6- Factors that impact operational management & decision-making by manager and leader 12
M4- varied factors impact business environment & wider community....................................13
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15
2

INTRODUCTION
Management and Operations are the two important and useful elements that companies
used to get success and enhance their growth. Management may define as a procedure of
creating, maintaining, leading and controlling attempts of workers and a venture as well. While
operations can be referred as an act of managing working environment of organizations. The
current project will be based on Morrison's, which falls under list of leading supermarket chains
in the world. This study will explain roles and traits of leader & manager at workplace. It will
define differentiation between manager function and leader role by applying different models. It
will define the implication of these acts in varied situational context. This project will define
implication of effective models and theories in context of chosen business and also clarify
operational management approaches. . Furthermore, this report will explain factors within chosen
company that impact operation management and decision-making by manager and leader.
Compare the different role and characteristics of leader and manager
Leader: Leader is a person who convinces, guide and inspired their subordinates for
performing their job. (Toor, 2011.). However, leader sees how things can be improved by
connecting with people and they needs to be empathetic.
Manager: A manger is person, who is responsible for performing managerial functions
like planning, organising, directing and controlling as well as supervises people in organisation.
They have power to fire, hire, do performance appraisals and supervise attendance of the
employees. Mainly mangers may have different levels like top, functional, supervisory and line
manger they account for different functions. Managers of Morrison’s must be able to do
planning, organising, directing, controlling, and co-ordinating the activities within organisation.
Basis Leader Manager
Role Problem solver: Effective
leaders firstly identify the
problems and then take
corrective actions by selection
of best alternative. Leaders of
Morrison solve the problem by
Interpersonal Role: Basically
mangers perform different
roles in organisation. They
interact with different people
who are not the part of chain
of command and hire, train
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active listening the problem
Motivator: Leaders of
Morrison's inspire, influence
and guide their subordinates to
participate in day to day
activities by using different
motivation techniques
(Zaleznik 2004.). Moreover
leaders of Morrison provide
regular trainings and take
feedback from employees.
and motivate their personnel.
Informational roles: Relevant
information’s are being
transferred to subordinate and
major decisions are taken with
respect to management of
business. Mangers of
Morrison can collect
information then monitor and
provide that information to
required person.
Decisional Roles: Mangers of
Morrison has performed
functions like- planning,
organising, directing, staffing
and controlling. In performing
the decision making role,
managers act as entrepreneur,
resources allocator, and
negotiator. Managers can
handle difficult problems and
non-routine situations like
strike, labour shortage and
take corrective decisions.
They can negotiate with
suppliers, customers, unions,
governments and other
groups.
Characteristics  Trustworthy: Good leader
always needs to be building
Time management: it is major
characteristics of manager
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trust among the peoples.
Building trust is all about being
honest with their colleague,
team mates, subordinates
whether it’s about performance,
outcomes or expectations, Trust
and integrity always help in
inspiring actions among team.
 Effective communication:
Good communication skills are
always required for
communicate the information
to others. Words have the
power to motivate people and
by using this they can achieve
better results.
because if manager is not
punctual then their
subordinates will also do the
same. Managers of Morrison
efficiently manage their time
and communicate with
employees and address issues
and problems of workforce.
Delegation: A manger alone
does not perform all tasks of
business. In order to meet
targets on time managers of
Morrison delegate its
authority and responsibilities
to their subordinates.
Models Leaders of Morrison can use different
types of leadership styles like,
participative, delineative and
transactional Leadership
Mangers of Morrison can use
different management functions like
scalar chain, unity of command,
division of work, authority and
responsibility and others.
Similarities between roles of leaders and functions of managers-
The above role of leader and manager function is similar on the basis of aim and
objectives that is to increase the productivity and improve performance level of employees. The
most important think that need to take into consideration in the context of leader and manager
roles and function similarity is that they both attempt to strengthen workforce, whether by
providing training which is a leader role or a manager and both of them also making plan for
staffing to achieve the organisation’s objective.
5

Implication of leader role and manager function within different situational context
Here, the implication of manager functions and leader roles in two different business
situations within Morrison's described below-
Situation 1- Employee resistance-
The most common thing that happens after change implementation at the workplace
within companies is employee resistance. It creates a complicated situation within Morrison's,
where the role of leader and function of manager may contribute in an effective manner. For
example, the most important role that leader play within chosen firm is problem solving (Husam
and et.al. 2018). Leader through effective communication solve the issues of staff members. It
enables them to identify an issue and the reason behind resistance to change, which leader may
solve by developing and using appropriate solutions. In context of similar situation, manager
with their functions handle circumstance, for instance, their function is to develop plan and with
that they may create effective plan to conduct a group meeting, which is really very important to
do in the workplace within Morrison's. They may organize everything in systematic manner and
sent email to all the people who are working within company to achieve set goals and business
objectives.
Situation 2- Conflict between management and workers-
The second situation where leader role and manager function may apply is conflict
between administration and employees. It happens because of several reasons such as lack of
effective communication, coordination and collaboration. It hampers performance and
productivity of staff members, which leads to decrease performance of Morrison's. In that case,
leader plays their role as motivator and motivate individual employee to work better without
making his or her self-uncomfortable. By determining the needs of candidates and conducting
collaborative practices with existing teams, leader may handle this situation. Leader is able to
enhance productivity and staff performance by using effective methods such as communication.
It is actually very essential for company to improve communication process as it help to increase
productivity and boost staff morale.
Furthermore, manager may handle the same condition that leader manages. In context of
same, by using and implementing key functions at workplace manager perform successfully
(Abdel-Basset, Ali and Atef, 2020). Organizing and controlling is the most important functions
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of manager which they may apply in context of varied circumstances within Morrison's. For
example, manager may organize a group conferences and develop plan relate to outing. It gives
the best opportunity to workers in form of communicating with seniors and asks questions about
further plans. Outing is one of the best approaches or methods that manager may use to resolve
conflict between both of them and make them closer as they have to work at similar place for
longer.
Varied concept, models and theories of approach
Situational leadership-
It is one of the most commonly utilized approaches in the world of business by different
leaders within several organizations (Widyadharma and et.al. 2020). Situational leadership
approach is quite easy to understand and simple to use or apply in context of above two different
situations such as conflict management and employee resistance where leader play their role. It
suggests leader to concentrate on current circumstance or situation that affect employee
performance, before taking any decision. Situational approach allow leader to take action after
analysing and understanding overall condition, which in return provide useful and desirable
outcome. It stated that leader needs to match their working style to their applicants or team
members to obtain the best result.
In the context of telling, directing, delegating and participating, situational leadership
theory perspective is that each approach helps a leader to address the concerns of the employees
in the organization in effective manner. It strengthens them and enables to obtain desire
outcomes.
System leadership-
This leadership approach is almost opposite to control and command, it may define as set
of competences and knowledge that leader or manager utilizes to analyse, enable and support
procedure of systems change within Morrison's. System leadership combines coalition building,
collaborative leadership and coalition systems insight to gather creation or innovation (Agus and
et.al. 2020). It is the best leadership style for leader, which enables them to create an
environment in workplace where all workers at each level may work productively. It allows
leader to predict applicant's behaviour in company and offer tools to build effective systems
according to needs of workers.
Contingency leadership-
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Along with above theories or approaches, the current one also supports leader to do their
best and manager as well. Contingency approach of leadership suggest that leader or manger
effectiveness is contingency on whether or not their leadership style match a specific condition
(Tortorella and et.al., 2018).
Leader may support in above situations, by motivating and encouraging applicant's
which in return enhance their productivity, performance and profitability of Morrison's.
According to this style of leadership, leader by applying their work style and make change
according to situation may obtain desire out comes in form of solving conflict and building
strong bond between management & workers.
Basis Situational
leadership
System leadership Contingency
leadership
Strengths Key strength of
this approach is
that it is simple
to use because
it requires
ability among
person to asses
a condition and
adjust to it.
It helps leader
or manager in
form of
suggestions to
create a
comfortable
environment in
workplace.
The best thing
about this form
of leadership is
that it
determines
inter-
dependencies
between
different
sections of
company and
support to get
holistic view
while handling
with varied
situations.
System
leadership
concept
increase
It permits
manager to
make change
within current
policies
according to
business
situations.
It helps to
enhance
leadership and
decision-
making
competence of
manager by
providing
effective
solutions.
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Morrison's
competence to
environmental
changes.
Weaknesses The drawback
of this
leadership style
is that it does
not suggest
solutions to
leaders for
further
challenges or
complicated
situations.
It tends to only
concentrate on
short term
aims, instead
of long term
goals.
System
leadership lead
to delays in
process of
decision-
making as it
provides
practical
suggestions
which consume
a lot of time.
System
approach does
not provide
specific style
of functioning
in company in
regard to
different
situations.
Contingency
leadership
approach has
spelled out
different form
of actions, but
does not
indicate that
where these
actions would
be applied.
Suggestions
cater by this
style is simple,
but when
manager put
into practice it
may become
quite complex.
Above leadership styles put positive impact on company in term of increasing the
productivity of workers, on the other hand affect negatively upon leader role when may not use
these in effective and systematic manner. It critically analyses that situational, contingency and
system theories of leadership may impact roles of leader in company and function of manager as
well, in positive manner in term of driving their attention towards taking varied beneficial
actions into their consideration, like understanding workplace environment, etc. that help to
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obtain positive outcomes. While it may impact negatively in term of consuming a lot of time and
efforts as well.
Important approaches to operations management and role that manager & leader play with it
Operations management have described as area of administration that concerned with
planning, organizing, managing and examining procedures of business operations. It provides
benefit to chosen supermarket by considering and then implementing different approaches that
relate to operations management concept and accessible in the world of business.
Six sigma
Six sigma is one of the best operations management approaches, it is quite effective in
term of providing the most appropriate tools to company which they may use to enhance
competence of current venture procedures (Ruben, Vinodh and Asokan, 2018).
Manager also benefit firm, with this method by developing effective plan to improve
operational efficiency and control employee's performance by monitoring their act and practices
put at workplace on daily basis. With this approach leader play their role by using key stages of
six sigma method. For example, they define issue to solve problems or handle situations,
measure existing management practices and analyse the reason behind conflict that impact
Morrison's success.
Lean manufacturing-
This approach contributes in context of strengthen business and improve operations such
as production, supply chain and other practices (Bai, Satir and Sarkis, 2019). It drives attention
of manager towards cutting out unnecessary use of resources.
Manager play their role by using lean manufacturing approach, they develop plan to
purchase necessary things. In order to manage current business practices and reduce wastage act
in firm, leader play their role by directing and guiding workers to perform effectively and use
accessible resources without wasting them.
Kaizen approach-
This approach can be defined as the process of change and continuous improvement
within a company, which makes its business capable to deal with challenging situations. Leader
may use this approach to play their role within Morrison's successfully. For example, team work
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is the key element of chosen approach which leader used to improve productivity of company as
they guide groups to work according to fix schedule and developed plan.
Manager use Kaizen approach to improve process of product production and supply
chain. They may utilize in form of measuring and monitoring operations and worker’s
performance. Leader use this approach and according to that they provide training to employees
that help improve performance of all the staff members.
TQM-
Total quality management is also included in list of approaches used in context of
operations management within many firms just like Morrison's. It allows leader to play vital role
in firm by detecting process of manufacturing. It permits manager to eliminate errors by making
effective plan and organize everything in new form.
Significance of operations management in context of business objectives
Operations management mainly concerned with varied functions and practices of
administration such as planning, supervising etc (Mišić and Perakis, 2020). It is one of the most
valuable and important components of companies. It is essential within Morrison's for several
reasons, the main reason is that it help to manage, control and monitor quality of products and
services. It can be said that effective operations management bring a lot of advantages for an
organization. As it contributes in regard to supermarket by managing performance and
productivity of workers. (Reid and Sanders, 2019). Operations management help to achieve
specific objective of firm by determining and analysing the process of production. It enables
manager to find out issues relate to poor quality of goods. By conducting this practice, operations
management support improves product quality which in return boosts satisfactory level of each
buyer.
This concept is important within Morrison's, because it helps to increase productivity of
supermarket by assuring staffing of skilled and talented application to resources to get desire
outcomes in form of increasing sales and performance of business. Operations management is
beneficial and essential in the workplace as it assure that administration is able to effectively
organize and manage different attributes in production firm such as equipment, systems,
technologies, workers and information relates to supermarket, manufacturing and other
operations as well.
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Waste reduction is the best and important element of operations management, as it helps
to decrease production cost and increase profitability of Morrison's, even better than its rivals
such as TESCO, ASDA etc.
Manager and leader improve efficiency of operational management
It has been analysed that leaders and managers while playing their roles within
Morrison's improved operational or operations management efficiencies. It helps them to
successfully meet set business objectives. By using above approaches like total quality
management, six sigma’s etc. manager & leader put their contribution in context of supermarket
growth and success within retail sector. In order to obtain desire outcomes, leader guide workers
on the basis of their job accountabilities and tasks. It helps in context of improving operations
efficiencies and meeting objectives that is to increase satisfaction level among target buyers.
Leaders and managers assure the values and concepts to operations management by
monitoring performance of workers who are contributed to manage daily activities. They
enhance operational efficiency of operations management in term of monitoring staff
performance, which enable them to determine areas related to improvements that help to enhance
operational effectiveness after making plan to improve things.
Factors that impact operational management & decision-making by manager and leader
Internal environment or factors-
Corporate culture- The administration with Morrison has created positive and effective
communication culture that affects productivity and competences of staff in positive manner. It
may put positive impact on decision making process of manager in company in term of engaging
workers and enable them to obtain creative ideas from them.
Ethics- it is another internal factor that impact current management practice within
Morrison's in positive manner because manager follow and conduct ethical business activities. It
may affect positively upon managerial decision in term of taking action to conduct ethical
practices like encouraging workers to take part in judgment process.
Values- this element directly affects employee engagement and motivation positively
because leader value suggestions and opinions given by workers relate to operations
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management process. It may affect in term of driving the attention of manager to take decision
regarding respecting employee’s ideas and creative thoughts in term of rewarding them.
Stakeholders- lack of contribution from worker's side put negative impact on decision-
making act and operational management within Morrison's as it leads to decrease venture
productivity. It may affect decision taking process in term of driving efforts of developing plan
for employee motivation which made them capable to contribute in success and growth of
venture.
All above factors put positive impact on managerial decisions of company when
employees work ethically and other stakeholder contribute to achieve set aims of firm.
External environment or factors-
Political factor- Trade restrictions put negative impact on supply chain operations and
decision of leader and manager relate to similar operation. It affects decision making process in
term of driving efforts of management to consider trade barrier and develop plan to overcome
each.
Economic factor- unemployment is one of the most affecting economic factors that also
put negative effect on recruitment and selection operation within Morrison's. It gives chance to
HRM in context of employee’s selection and recruitment. They hire skilled and talented people
from market who are unemployed and perform productively. It put positive impact on
managerial decision in form of developing recruitment criteria and conducting practice
accordingly.
Social factor- market trend impact the way leader guide employees and manager prepare
list relate to raw material or essential resources. In recent time, consumers adopt vegan
consumption as leading trend, which put negative impact on Morrison's operational management
& decision-making act. It affects manager decision in precise manner for example, they may take
judgment to conduct market research on time and provide training to staff which made them
capable to produce or offer everything according to key market trend.
Technology factor- Technology advancement put positive impact on marketing operation
and decision-making activity of Morrison's that conduct by marketing manager. As it helps
company to reach at global level and boost brand awareness. It impacts in positive manner, in
term of driving efforts of management to buy those technologies that are beneficial for brand.
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Environment factor- Consumer and government are concern for environment safety that
put positive impact on Morrison's operations management and other activities. As company has
already taken their steps in context of reducing carbon foot print. It may impact managerial
decision making activity in form of guiding workers to take more initiative to conduct CSR
practices in varied manners.
Legal factor- Change in employment laws and business regulations put negative impact
on management practices of Morrison's and affect way manager take decision-making to run a
venture. It may put negative impact on decision making process of manager as it put a lot of
pressure upon management to take better action in term of restructuring existing plans.
Morrison's address environment elements through CSR-
In context of above issues and impacts of environment factors, Morrison's may take
better action through its corporate social responsibilities. For example, Company might
overcome negative impact of economic factor by hiring and selecting new applicants according
to need and demand at workplace.
Business environment impact on leader and manager decision-making-
An environment of business encompasses all above elements that directly impact the way
leader and manager take decision within Morrison's. Leader overcomes this problem by
encouraging and motivating employees to take part in decision-making process, which enhance
their contribution and commitment level, relate work (Pérez-De-Lema and et.al. 2019).
Varied factors impact business environment & wider community
All above discussed factors affect business environment and community in varied
manners as it drives attention of management towards selling organic and vegan items, because
target consumers in recent time like to purchase these things. Political factor put negative impact
on Morrison's, but by using effective approaches and developing strategies, management
overcome these.
CONCLUSION
By summing up above discussion, it has been concluded that leader and manager by
working together and using their competences, traits and skills has increased the productivity and
profitability of firm. By providing appropriate guidance to employees, leaders have driven their
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attention towards conducting productive activities and improve performance level which is really
very essential for management. Furthermore, from above analysis, it has been summarized that
by using six sigma stages, applying total quality management suggestions and following lean
production steps, manager and leader bring benefits for company in term of increasing
operational efficiency and sales. Usage of Situational, system and contingency approaches of
leadership has permitted both contributors to handle above two different organizational situations
that have occurred in Morrison's. Moreover, it has been analysed that by taking right decision
and developing effective solutions, leaders has overcome negative impacts of certain external or
internal factors that impacted firm business environment.
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