BTEC HND Business Unit 4: Management and Operations Analysis Report

This report, prepared for a BTEC HND in Business Unit 4, examines the distinct roles and characteristics of leaders and managers within an organizational context. It differentiates between the functions of a manager, who focuses on efficiency through planning, employee management, and decision-making, and a leader, who inspires and influences to achieve organizational goals, fostering growth and change. The report explores interpersonal and informational roles, highlighting the importance of both leadership and management for organizational success. It also contrasts key characteristics such as discipline, confidence, and decision-making skills for managers, with vision, communication, and enthusiasm for leaders. The report emphasizes how management enhances profits through effective resource coordination and strategy, while leadership motivates employees towards achieving organizational goals.

Running Head: MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS
Management and Operations
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS
The different roles and characteristics of a leader
and a manager
Management refers to the activities related to
managing the effectiveness of a particular
organization in order to enhance the profits of the
organization and fulfill the organizational goals as
much as possible (Bedi et al. 2016). It includes the
strategies for accomplishing and coordinating
through the availability of the existing resources
elevating the status of the organization. On the other
hand, leadership refers to the practical approach that
encompasses the ability of the organization as a
whole. In an organization, leadership refers to those
criterions which motivates and guides employees
towards achieving the organizational goals so that
smooth business operations are achieved (Bolden
2016).
Role of Manager Role of Leader
The manager is an important link
between the stakeholders and
the firm. The stakeholders are
the suppliers, the shareholders,
the employees, customers,
society, government and others.
The leader on the other hand is
the person who inspires,
influences and encourages the
people in attaining the
organizational goals.
The roles of the managers are to
plan the details, manage the
employees, make necessary
decisions, attain the required
results(Collinson and Tourish
2015).
The leader on the contrary is
responsible for setting directions
, possessing foresightedness,
inspire the followers, aim
towards growth and
development.
A manager is expected to
manage the process and
procedures avoiding internal and
external conflict
The leader is expected to
manage people who follow
him/her and promote change for
further development. A leader
on the contrary makes use of
conflict as an asset and align
people.
The management is for efficiency The leadership is for
effectiveness.
The characteristics of a manager - A manager is
always expected to be disciplined, committed
towards work, confident, effective decision maker,
competent, patient and all –encompassing.
The characteristics of leader- A leader is expected to
be able to inspire, have sharp vision of the future,
confident, positive attitude holder, have good
communication skills, enthusiastic and open minded
(Donate and de Pablo 2015).
There are various existing theories and approaches related to
leadership in multiple contexts. The interpersonal roles of leaders
include the roles associated with the lifestyle, the personality and other
traits of organization’s practices. For example, in a company the
interpersonal role constitutes the roles of the employee traits along
with their characteristics which might prove valuable for it (Bolman
and Deal 2017). The informational role on the other hand, can be
referred to as the decisional roles that has been kept by the
relationships of the managerial activity. In a given organization, the
informational roles are executed by the superiors of the organization
who take voluntary decisions for the benefits of the employees and the
organization as a whole. Particularly, the decisional roles comprise of
the actions which are taken for resolving an issue in the organization
and accomplish the goals (Bratton and Gold 2017). In an
organization, this role is usually emphasized more for enhancing the
productivity and reputation of the organization.