Roles of Leaders and Managers in Operations: CAPCO Report

This report delves into the distinct roles of leaders and managers, emphasizing their responsibilities within an organizational context, specifically using CAPCO, a consultancy firm, as a case study. It differentiates between leadership and management, highlighting the visionary aspects of leaders and the administrative functions of managers. The report analyzes various leadership theories, including situational, contingency, and system leadership, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. It also explores the importance of operations management and its approaches, focusing on the impact of internal and external factors on operational decision-making. Furthermore, the report discusses conflict resolution, decision-making processes, and team building as crucial elements of effective management and leadership. Finally, it provides a critical evaluation of operations management, offering insights into the application of these concepts within the business environment.

Management &
Operations
Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Define and differentiate the roles of a leader and manager....................................................1
M1................................................................................................................................................2
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
P2 How leader will perform its role and manager will perform its function in different
situational context........................................................................................................................3
P3 Different theories and models of leadership approaches........................................................3
M2................................................................................................................................................5
D1................................................................................................................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................5
P4 Approaches of operation management and roles of leaders and managers............................5
P5 Importance and value of operations management..................................................................6
M3................................................................................................................................................7
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................7
P6 Impact of internal factors upon operational management and decision making....................7
M4 Influence of factors upon business environment and wider community...............................9
D2 Critical evaluation of operations management......................................................................9
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
There are many people in an organization who perform their tasks in an effective way so
that they can lead an enterprise towards success. The company should be focused on their
management and operations departments so that overall targets can be achieved and practices can
be administered on continuous time period (Althaher, Mancarella and Mutale, 2015). The present
report is based on CAPCO which is a consultancy firm and they offer their services throughout
the world. They are focusing on their different management practices so that their growth can be
improved. In this context, the different roles of leaders and managers are explained in detail by
differentiating their characteristics. Along with this, some models and approaches will be
discussed in detail and after that importance of operations management is explained.
TASK 1
P1 Define and differentiate the roles of a leader and manager
When a business organization establish its operations then top executives higher some
people at different levels so that their overall activities can be managed. Leaders and managers
are the one who play a crucial role at work place so that work can be completed in timely
manner. Leaders are the one who holds a position within their field or area and they influence
their subordinates so that specified objectives can be achieved. These people have a control over
others (Ma and et. al., 2016). A leader should be visionary who see the things will get
accomplished in near future. Manager is the one who has some responsibilities or duties
regarding to the overall management and administration practices. He is the one to whom each
and every employee will report so that some actions can be taken for improving the work
practices. This person has to perform their roles efficiently so that CAPCO can attain success and
they will be able to accomplish their business objectives.
The comparison between the roles and characteristics of a leader and manager:
Leader Manager
 A leader is responsible to develop some
effective strategies which will help the
staff members in order to achieve goals.
 This person will take care of every staff
member by individually contributing
 Manager is the one who manage overall
tasks which are performed by the
organization at workplace by taking
care of different resources.
 He is taking care of numbers that how
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into the activities.
 Leader encourages people that how
they will be able to attain success.
 Leaders are risk takers and by taking
the risks they grow personally (Wang
and et. al., 2015).
 He is responsible to solve the issues
which are faced by employees at work
environment.
 They maintain a relationship with their
subordinates so that overall task can be
performed successfully.
 A leader followed some different
leadership styles like Laissez-fair,
autocratic, participative, transactional
and transformational.
profits will be attained by hitting the
targets.
 Manager only direct the workers by
telling them what they have to do.
 These people generally control the risk
or avoid to take risk in future.
 Manager avoid such kind of situations
at the workplace.
 He is responsible to create only some
processes or systems through which the
firm will be able to attain its targets.
 There are some management styles
which are followed by manager like
authoritative, directive, participative
and so on.
M1
The function of a manager and role of a leader can be analysed appropriately on the basis of
some theories. There are some theories which can help the both in performing their task at work
environment. Through trait and behavioural theory, the overall roles can be analysed which are
performed by the leader. Like, trait explain the different characteristics which are possess by an
individual and behavioural will explain the behaviour of a person towards its subordinates. For
managers, two theories are there like human relations and chaos (Brahman, Honarmand and
Jadid, 2015). The first will define the relation of a person towards its staff members and chaos
explains the dynamic nature of a person.
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TASK 2
P2 How leader will perform its role and manager will perform its function in different situational
context
Leaders and managers have their own roles and duties which they need to perform so that
overall operations at CAPCO can be managed in an effective way. Sometimes, a business
organization faces some situations where they need to make some decisions which will be more
appropriate for the firm (Diamantoulakis, Kapinas and Karagiannidis, 2015). At such cases, both
needs to act appropriately so that targets can be achieved within the deadline. There are some
situations which can be occurred at the work environment and these can be like:
Conflict resolution: In such kind of situation, conflicts may occur in between the people
who are working together in CAPCO (leadership Theories, 2017). Here, leader is the one who
play a significant role by providing an effective solution to both the parties. If parties are agreed
with the solution, then work will not be hampered and goals can be achieved. This can be
achieved by providing the task in a group to the people. On the other hand, manager just provide
the solution to some specific issues and both parties need to follow that.
Decision making: This is the most important part of organization where some important
decisions are made by the managers and leaders so that specified goals can be achieved.
Executives or directors make some decisions and they communicate that to the middle manager
and they will further communicate to the leaders (Maron and et. al., 2015). On the other hand,
leader is the one who involve subordinates and take their views so that they can manage their
team work efficiently.
Team building: The manager and leader both have to focus on team building concept as
through this different operation can be completed in an appropriate way. In order to improve this,
the leader has to provide some different tasks to the people in a group so that tasks can be
completed in more innovative way. Manager will not have focused much on this aspect as they
are focusing that in what manner the work should be completed. By performing the function,
they will be able to attain goals.
P3 Different theories and models of leadership approaches
This is the complex process in organisation where leaders are requiring to put their efforts
and to connect with people as well as their needs also. As this complexity is reflected in the
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evolution of leadership theory which focused on the qualities and behaviour of successful leaders
(Wu, Tazvinga and Xia, 2015). In Capco company leadership theory are evolved with greater
number of understanding which is recognising needs of modern employees. In organisation it is
essential for them to understand the increased expectation of their customers as well as workers
and should involve them in decision making so that in autonomy they can achieve objectives of
firm in an effective manner. As there are different number of leadership theories which is applied
in organisation in order to increase the skills of employees. These theories are explained as
below:
Situational leadership theory – This theory focus on the situation which are facing by
leaders at workplace. Further it also suggests that there are no single leadership styles which is
suited on leaders. As it depends on the circumstances that which type of leadership and strategies
are best-suited to task. An effective leader of Capco is taking decision on the basis of their
decision because judgement is based on the situation which is facing by entity. This theory is
also known as task oriented theory because his/her leadership styles is completely depending
upon the circumstances.
Contingency theory – It emphasis on the importance of leader’s personality and
situation in which they are working in organisation (Gormley and et. al., 2015). According to
Fiedler, there is no ideal leadership behaviour in organisation. The favourability of leadership
can be determined by position of leadership power, up to what extent they are structuring and
measuring the subordinate’s responsibilities. This theory does not remain constant because it
keeps on changing when there is change in time. The contingency of situation allows leaders of
Capco to deal with different circumstance which may adversely effect on the operation of
company.
System leadership theory – This is a collective leadership of network of people at
different place. In this leaders are responsible for to manage their work according to management
level and through this they can easily cope up organisation goals and objectives (A point-by-point
overview of systemic leadership. 2017). According to this theory leader can take appropriate
decision if any issues are facing by employees. Along with in Capco company both leaders and
managers are responsible to maintain dignity of firm by strictly complying with code of conduct
of firm.
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M2
The strength and weaknesses of different leadership theory are explained as below:
Situational leadership theory – The strength of this approach is this emphasis on
leader’s flexibility and reminds them to treat all employees as an individual task. Along with
these trained leaders are there who can deal with different issues at same point of time. But the
weaknesses of this approach is that it is hard to define because it is based on assumption of
conceptualisation. Further this also helps in to address that how to deal in certain demographic
characteristics.
Contingency theory – The strength of this approach is that it provides predictive power
to leaders to take more effective decision for organisation. But weaknesses are that at same point
of time leaders cannot deal with number of issues which are facing by employees.
System leadership theory – Strength of this approach is that it become easy for leaders
to work according to rules and regulations of organisation. But at same point of time they cannot
easily deal with government laws to operate their functions in competitive market.
D1
As per the views of Choudar and et. al., (2015) some theories and approaches are adopted by
leader and manager. There are some advantages and disadvantages of such theories are like
through trait and behavioural, it can be analysed that how a leader will perform on the basis of
some specific behaviour or trait. By using the human relations theory, overall relations can be
maintained between the higher authorities and their subordinates. The disadvantages are that
sometimes higher authority will not be able to analyse the specific behaviours and traits due to
their dynamic nature. Schaltegger, Burritt and Petersen (2017) explained that the benefit which is
associated with the situational leadership is that an individual can behave as per the situation but
due to this people will not be able to analyse the exact behaviour of people. In systematic kind of
approach, when higher authorities take some decisions then due to this overall system will get
influenced.
TASK 3
P4 Approaches of operation management and roles of leaders and managers
Operation management are encompassing with number of theoretical concepts,
applications, suitability which is varies within or across the firm. The manager and leader of
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Capco have to adopt an appropriate approach where they can easily deal with issues which are
facing by operation department (Alanqar and et. al., 2017). In simple words, operation managers
are responsible to manage those products which are the part of production of goods and services.
Ultimately they are responsible for planning and controlling so that there will be improvement in
operation strategy. Below mention are some approaches of operation management which can be
used by mentioned company in order to provide quality of recruitment services to customers or
clients.
Just in time approach – In this, operation managers have to focus on employee’s
efficiency. Along with this they are also responsible for to reduce inventory cost. This approach
is helping to organisation in forecasting demand and supply of services in accurate way. In this
role of managers and leaders are significant. They should be ensuring about that production cost
should be less and changes should be made as per the equal interval basis. Along with this
manager are responsible for utilising funds in appropriate manner.
Six Sigma approach – It is that method which provides tools to improve the capability
of business performance (Bruni and et. al., 2015). Through this performance of employees will
increase and there will be reduction in variation of process. Moreover, it will help to organisation
in increasing profit and morale of employees. Here, the role of manager and leader have to adopt
new strategies and tools where they can improve the performance of employees. Along with this,
they should emphasis on brain storming of activities which are performing by employees so that
their continuous improvement can be analysed in proper manner.
Dynamic approach – In this, leaders and managers if Capco are dealing with different
situations at work place i.e. problem solving, consistency, knowledge and learning. It is
responsibility of manager to use these elements in order to improve their efficiency also.
Whenever there is change in management roles and responsibilities, managers and leaders are
responsible to deal with that. Further, aims and objectives of organisation should be set in such a
manner which does not affected by change in environment. Both managers and leaders have to
coordinate with each other’s so that task can be completed in efficient manner.
P5 Importance and value of operations management
It is fundamental for manager to organise operational exercises of their firm effectively
and efficiently; hence, they can enhance revenues easily. Additionally, if manager manage entire
activities in an appropriate manner, then they can increase work performance of labours.
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Along with this, superior will provide training and development sessions to their staff
members. This will assist them to improve their quality of work. Consequently, it will cater
success as well as improvement to an enterprise (Zhang and Xiong, 2015). If manager wants to
enhance their operations then they can utilize some research tools. In addition, they can gather
required information and data which is much useful at the time of operation process. As a result,
CAPCO will easily accomplish their objectives as well as targets in a proficient way. Employer
of firm wants to accomplish their task within a specific period of time and for this purpose they
will use some strategies or policies. The main aim of company is that, they want to increase their
profits through reducing unwanted expenditures. Therefore, they will develop some sort of plans
for this.
Employer and along with this leaders want to improve potentiality of their operational
management. Thus, they will take assistance of some applications and as a result they will attain
desired objectives within provide time span. For improvisation of market share, employer can
create some impressive products and services for their purchasers. Along with this, they can alter
their current items also to increase its efficiency (Marzband and et. al., 2016). They need to
utilize available resources in an appropriate way; hence, they can decrease wastage.
M3
As there are different approaches of operation management where managers and leaders
have to make lots of efforts to cope up with organisational objectives. Managers and leaders
should be ensuring about that whatever strategies they are using must be implemented in time
period where they can maintain the production cost also (Ding, Sarikprueck and Lee, 2016).
Along with this resources can also be utilised in appropriate manner.
TASK 4
P6 Impact of internal factors upon operational management and decision making
There are several elements which are related to business environment can affect
operational administration and in addition judgement making procedure of CAPCO either
directly or indirectly (Ding, Sarikprueck and Lee, 2016). Some components are stated as
beneath:
 Technological factors
 Political factors
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 Demographic factors
 Educational elements
 Social cultural elements
 Legal factors
Therefore, above described environmental components can affect judgements of an
employer in functional administration as it is much wider aspect.
Instead of all, there are some other variables which can also influence management
operation of CAPCO, are mentioned as below:
Corporate social responsibility: As indicated by term, an organisation has to
accomplish their CSR activities in an adequate way. As a result, they can easily compete their
competitors at marketplace. It will also assist organisation to improve their goodwill. It is
fundamental obligation of any kind of association which they need to accomplished, as it will aid
them to survive in market for long period of time.
Business ethics: According to this, while an enterprise is operating their business they
have to do it ethically. This term is associated with beliefs as well as value which has to be taken
after by firm when they are executing their task. As a result, they will attain targets and
objectives in an appropriate manner. It is like a direction for firm; therefore, they will conduct
their business in right manner.
Stakeholders: They are considering as an integral part of an association. They are blood
for business, as they cater fund to them; hence, manager can do their business effectively and
efficiently (Penn and Pennix, 2017). Along with this, they provide money to company; thus, they
will expand their business and along with this items and services also. Bondholders of an
organisation can be external as well as internal. It will comprise banks, institutions, government,
suppliers, partners and so on.
Therefore, it is required for manager that, when they are going to take judgement for
firm, they need to consider them; as, they can influence their decision in a direct or indirect way.
Apart from this, superior has to accomplish corporate social responsibilities; hence, they can
compete their competitors at marketplace and easily enhance their profits. Additionally, an
enterprise needs to do their business in ethical way.
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M4 Influence of factors upon business environment and wider community
Both kind of components, micro and along with this macro plays a vital part to attain
desired targets and objectives within a specific period of time as they are much affiliated with
each other. Indeed, if CAPCO is using assets in an adequate way then they can provide growth
and improvement to association (Moazeni, Powell and Hajimiragha, 2015). It is fundamental for
company to determine intrinsic and extrinsic elements because it can affect needs and wants of
buyers. Thus, there are several components which are related with business environment, are
described as beneath:
 Micro as well as macro elements can affect the overall enterprise through applying many
sorts of techniques which are related with growth and improvement.
 It is essential for manager of an association to determine demands of buyers; hence, they
can fulfil it within a specific time span.
 If CAPCO wants success, then it is must for them to build a friendly and healthy
relationship with their purchasers. It will also aid them at global market.
D2 Critical evaluation of operations management
It is necessary for an employer to manage their operational activities in an adequate
manner. Work of this department is to convert crude materials into finished items within a
specific time span; thus, they can accomplish demands of their buyers and take benefits from
their rivals (Sherif, 2015). Instead of this, there are several applications related to management
operations are stated as beneath:
 It is must for an employer to organise entire project of company in an effective and
efficient manner. For this purpose, they will take assistance of some techniques and it
will include critical path investigation, project evaluation tool and so forth.
 Employer has to produce goods and services; therefore, they can easily fulfil demands of
their clients i.e. foreign and domestic. It will aid them to compete their competitors at
competitive world.
CONCLUSION
From above mentioned report it has been concluded that both manager as well as leader
plays an eminent role in company. An employer has to resolve problems of firm within a specific
time span; therefore, they can accomplish their targets with provided period of time. Duties and
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responsibilities are much effective in organisation and they need to develop leadership qualities
into their staff members. To improve their work efficiency superior will provide training. In this
report there is description of significance of operations management. Along with this, it is
fundamental for manger to consider all factors which can affect their judgement making
procedures either directly or indirectly. These elements can be corporate social responsibilities,
business ethics and so on. Instead of this, employer need to evaluate their operational activities;
hence, they can accomplish demand of their purchasers timely.
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