Roles and Characteristics of Leaders and Managers in Operations Management

This report discusses the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers in operations management. It covers the difference between leaders and managers, their roles in decision making and resource allocation, and the importance of communication and time management. The report also explores different theories and models of leadership, such as situational leadership and contingency leadership. Additionally, it discusses the role of leaders and managers in crisis management and new product launches. Overall, the report highlights the importance of effective leadership and management in achieving organizational goals in operations management.

Management &
Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................2
PART 1............................................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
P1 Define & compare various roles as well as characteristics of a leader and manager............3
P2 Role of leader & function of manager in respective situations..............................................5
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
P3 Different Theories & Models of Leadership..........................................................................6
PART 2............................................................................................................................................7
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
COVERED IN PPT.....................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Operations management is basically an area that involves controlling as well as designing
of business operations within the process of production. With this, it also manages redesigning
activities which is related to the development of products and services (Davis and et. al., 2018).
The essential role of every senior management prevailing within the organisation is to manage
activities and operations effectively so that goals can be achieved within the specified time
frame. In the current report, Aston Martin is chosen as a base company with an aim to gain an
understanding about operations management. The company basically deals in auto mobiles and
offers luxury goods at marketplace. Aston Martin was founded by Rober Bamford and Lionel
Martin in year 1913. The current report consist of two parts, the first is Leadership &
management concepts and the other part is Leaders & operations management. The report covers
various roles of a manager & leader considering the difference among them. It also discuss about
their roles related to the situations given. Moreover, it covers various approaches of Leadership. \
TASK 1
P1 Define & compare various roles as well as characteristics of a leader and manager.
A manager is one who is responsible to administer & control the overall staff members of
an organisation whereas a leader is a person who gives direction or the command to team
members or employees with an aim to attain organisational goals as well as objectives within
time frame. The role of manager and leaders are as follows:
Role of Leaders
Decision maker: The main role of a leader is to analyse the situations prevailing at the
marketplace and then take decisions effectively which are beneficial for both the staff members
and company (Springer and et. al., 2016). An effective leader needs to be have good
communication skills so that information which is presented by them effects positively on the
employees.
Vision Setting: An effective leader is one who develops vision for group members
considering the objectives to be attained within given time frame. The activities is effectively
performed by employees related to the vision when leader have the ability to give proper
guidance to the team members.

Role of Manager:
Resource Allocation: The main role of manager is to properly utilise the resources of an
organisation so that objectives can be achieved on time. Along with this, it is significant for
manger to allocate resources appropriately so that the gap is not arise in the demand & supply of
an organisation. With reference to Aston Martin, the manager of company puts right people on
the right place which assist them to allocate resources properly.
Monitoring: The second role of manager is to monitor as well as check the activities
which are implemented by subordinates of the company. With this, the manager checks it with
the set measures and then provide feedback according to it so that improvements can be taken
out appropriately. With reference to Aston Martin, its managers evaluate the performance of
employees on continuous basis which helps them to attain goals effectively (Tian and et. al.,
2015) .
Characteristics of a leader:
Communication: It is important for a leader to have effective communication skills as
they give guidelines to employees to achieve task, reinforces values & set vision. Good
communication develops emotional connection & healthy relationship among the leaders and
subordinates which helps company to retain its employees for longer time frame.
Self control: A leader must have the ability to differentiate among what is to be accepted
and what not. With this, self control makes person encouraged & motivated towards their vision
and goals.
Characteristics of a manager:
Time management: A manager must have the skill to manage activities and operations
on time. It effects positively on employees which helps them to attain desired goals within the
time frame.
Delegation: An effective manager is one who has the ability to delegate the authority to
its employees according to their skills and competencies. This assist them to complete task
effectively and appropriately.
Difference among Leader & Manager:
There are different factors on the basis of which the difference between leader and
manger is discussed which are as follows:
Dimensions Leader Manager

Goal Focused An effective leader uses
his/her skills to develop and
create objectives for the
organisation. With reference to
Aston Martin, the company's
leaders uses their creative
mind to influence employees
so that goals developed by
them should achieved within
time frame (Townsend, 2018).
The manager works as per the
task or duties which are
authorised by superiors to
them. In context to Aston
Martin, their managers focused
on achieving goals but did not
have the ability to influence as
well as motivate their
subordinates.
Decision A leader facilitates decision in
an effective and appropriate
manner.
A manager makes decision
about the activities take place
and then delegate tasks to its
employees.
people They aligned employees as per
their skills, interest and
capabilities that helps a
company to develop zeal in
employees and achieve targets
on time.
The main role of manager is to
organise and manage people
prevailing within the
organisation so that activities is
carried out in a defined
manner.
It has also been identified that different forms of leadership style is adopted by the
leaders of an organisation which is mentioned below:
Transactional style: Herein, the leaders formulate strategies which is to be followed by
employees with an aim to attain organisation goals. In addition to this, employees are rewarded
by higher authorities of Aston Martin as per the inputs they put on towards company goals and
objectives.
Transformational Style: In this form of Leadership, the leaders motivates as well as
encourage overall staff members with an aim to bring out innovative and new products (Zhang
and Chen, 2014). With reference to Aston Martin, its leaders always ensures that healthy and

positive environment is given to employees which assist them to procure out innovative products
and develops positive outcome for the organisation.
P2 Role of leader & function of manager in respective situations.
There are different situations take place within an organisation that impacts on the
performance of Aston Martin. These situations is mentioned below with the role that managers
as well as leaders play in these condition are as follows:
Crisis Management: It is basically how an organisation need to plan and manage when
things happened seriously wrong within the company. In context to Aston Martin, its leaders and
managers face crisis at the time of recession. Its employees leave organisation due to decline in
the level of their pay scale. The productivity & profitability of company declines which
automatically decreases its market share. Below is the description of leader or manager at this
situation:
 Role of Leader: The role of a leader is to influence employees and maintain a healthy
relationship with them. In order to handle this situation effectively, leaders take decision
quickly & execute it in defined manner (Zhang and et. al., 2016).
 Role of manager: In the situation of crisis management, the role of manager is to collect
information properly and provide it to leader of company. Along with this, managers
assigned responsibilities to its subordinates which assist company to overcome with this
situation rapidly.
New product Launch: The higher authorities of Aston Martin analyse that electric
vehicles is adopted by customers in the market. With this, they decide to manufacture electric
vehicles in order to sustain for long term at marketplace. The role of a leader as well as manager
when company launch new product is mentioned below:
 Role of leader: Herein, the role of leader is to present the new product as well as vision
of company to the employees. In addition to this, leaders can conduct press conference on
which they provide information to employees about new markets and how these new
product attain long term growth.
 Role of manager: The role of manager is to assigned work as per the skills as well as
competencies of employees so that new product reach company towards leading position
and the organisational goals can be achieved on time. The manager have the

responsibility to devise appropriate strategy and roadmap that helps in successful launch
of a product in market.
TASK 2
P3 Different Theories & Models of Leadership.
There are various theories and models of leadership which is followed by company are as
follows:
Situational Leadership: This theory is adopted by leaders as per the situations as well as
development level of employees in the organisation. In this type of leadership, the factors which
are considered includes skills, competencies as well as capabilities of employees who perform
business operations effectively. In context to Aston Martin, their leaders acquire situational
leadership so that coordination level rises and the task is completed in an accurate manner. This
theory mainly emphasise on the capabilities of group members due to which employees get
motivated and work with their full potential (Schönsleben, 2018). Hersey- Blanchard Model
recommends that no particular leadership style is suitable at workplace. This model consist of
four styles that is Delegating, selling, participating and telling style. In context to Aston Martin,
its managers uses this model to clarify goals to employees and what they expect from them to
achieve it.
Contingency Leadership: This theory states that no specific organisational approach is
suitable on the situations arise in an organisation. In context to Aston Martin, if this approach is
adopted by the leaders then it is important for them to considered both external as well as
internal factors of a company. In addition to this, it assist leaders to implement activities in an
appropriate manner and within the time frame.
System Leadership: This theory signifies that activities related to the particular project
should be carried out systematically which assist in achieving organisation goals in a proper
manner (López and et. al., 2015). In context to Aston Martin, its leaders adopt system leadership
at workplace. They analyse the market conditions and according to it provide appropriate
information to the production team which helps company to manufacture goods as per the
demand as well as needs of customers. In addition to this, this leadership approach helps
company to cope up with the changes quickly. This will enhance companies profitability level as
well as market share of Aston Martin.

Fiedler's Contingency Model: This model states that a good leader is one who can
effectively used characteristics as well as as skills of employees as per the situations occurred.
This theory is similar to the contingency theory of leadership. It involves three factors that is
leader relations, task structure & positioning power. With reference to Aston Martin, its leaders
can adopt this model at workplace which will help them to optimally utilize skills and talent of
employees if any circumstances occurs.
PART 2
TASK 3
COVERED IN PPT
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been concluded that operations management helps an
organisation to develop as well as implement business activities in a defined manner. This affects
positively on the performance which enhance the productivity of an organisation. With this, it is
important for a company to have effective leader and manager who can guide the overall staff
members about their objectives which is need to be attained within the specified time period. The
different style of leadership are situational, contingency and system leadership which assist an
organisation to deal with problems effectively and timely.

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