Roles and Characteristics of Leader and Manager in Operations and Management

This document discusses the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers in operations and management. It explores the difference between leaders and managers and how they apply in different situational contexts. The document also covers various theories and models of approach in operations and management.

MANAGEMENT &
OPERATIONS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK A...........................................................................................................................................3
Different Roles and Characteristics of Leader and Manager.................................................3
Difference Between Leaders and Managers...........................................................................4
Role of Leader and Function of Manager Apply in Different Situational Contexts..............6
Different Theories and Models of Approach..........................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Operations and management are a very important factor for the company to function so
that the organization can get a competitive advantage over the competition in market. Managers
and leaders play a very different role and differ in responsibility within organization which helps
organization to function efficiently and effectively. Managers of organization has a control over
all employees of firm but a leader is one who commands over a group of employees. It is very
important for organization to have a strong management and leader base for themselves so that
they can get a competitive advantage.
Sainsbury is one of the largest organization that deals its business in retail industry and
took over Tesco in 1995 to become market leader. As of 2018, revenue generated by
organization £28.456 billion and net income was £309 million in same year. Number of
employees working in this company are 186,900 and number of stores which are there are 1,415.
Headquarters are in London, United Kingdom (Sainsbury's, 2020).
The study would consist of roles and characteristics of leader and manager and with the
help of theories like situational leadership, system leadership and contingency theories the topic
will be discussed in brief. The functions and oles differ of a leader and manager in different
situations which is a very important factor to understand. Strengths and weaknesses of the two
will also be discussed so that there is a better understanding of the study.
TASK A
Different Roles and Characteristics of Leader and Manager
Manager deals with over all functioning and decision-making of organization so that
organization can function well. Monitoring all employees is done by manager but leader will
have a command on employees of organization so that they can make sure that everyone is
following the instructions which have been given to them so that the tasks can be completed
within the time limit.
Categories Managers Leaders
Roles and
Responsibilities
Sainsbury's managers play a very
important role in the firm which is to
make the right decision for the
organization to function. Managers
Motivating and solving the conflicts
which are arising in Sainsbury is the
work of the leaders so that the
functioning of the organization can

must have a control on the employees
and make sure that they are following
all the functioning of the organization
(Lee, H.S., 2017).
take place more effectively and
efficiently. Atmosphere or
environment of internal factor has to
be maintained and made healthy for
the employees to work within by
leaders.
Characteristics Communication, Knowledge, time
management, delegation, reliability,
experience, leadership and organizing
these are characteristics of manager
which will help organization to have a
better functioning for themselves (Fu,
2018). The managers of Sainsbury
have the following characteristics in
them which is why the organization is
being able to have a competitive
advantage in market because of this
factor.
Characteristics which are required in
leaders is present in the leaders of
Sainsbury which consist of
communication, confidence,
creativity, positive attitude, ability to
delegate responsibilities, honesty and
commitment. It is very important for
leaders to have these skills so that
they can lead and command over the
other employees. Leaders of
Sainsbury are very motivated
themselves and have a very positive
attitude towards organizations
functioning.
Difference Between Leaders and Managers
Difference Manager Leader
Roles Objectives are set by management of
organization and decision-making is
also done by them (Hübner and et.al.,
2018). Managers have to make sure
that all employees are doing work
that has been allotted to them so that
target of firm can be met.
The command over the employees
of the leader must be strong so that
the operations of the company can
take place in systematic manner. It
is very important to complete tasks
on time because the expectation of
the management is that from the

leader of Sainsbury's. Leaders are
very experience to handle staff
under them which is why the
organization has become successful
in market.
Visions and goals Sainsbury's managers set goals and
targets for functioning of
organization to process in systematic
manner. After analysing external and
internal factors then decisions are
taken so that the errors are not there
and the organization can function
better.
Having a vision in front of
employees is necessary for
accomplishment of a goal. So, main
role of leaders is to turn vision into
reality which is being set by
managers.
Build process and
relationship
The focus of the manager is on the
structure of the company so that the
company will easily function and get
a competitive advantage. This is done
so that desire objective and aim can
be achieved by business. Managers
have to make sure that processes and
decisions which they are taking will
be accepted by employees so that
there is a quality in work that is being
done in organization.
Leaders have to build relationship
with all employees so that
functioning or processing can take
place in a better manner without
any conflicts in organization
(Fahimnia and et.al., 2019). It is
very important to have a smooth
functioning in organization. All
employees must have healthy
relationship and professional
relationship within organization so
that functioning of firm is better.
This will make conflicts within
organization lesser and that will
result in a great growth of
organization.
Take risks and Minimizing risk factors in Risks taken by leaders will be more

control risks organization is work of managers in
organization so that there is a
smoother functioning. There is a
tendency in managers to control
problems and even avoid a lot of
problems which could take place in
Sainsbury. For a better effective
functioning managers will have to
reduce risk in organization so that
operations can take place in a better
way.
because a failure is a step to a
successful path for future (Teller
and et.al., 2018). Sainsbury's
employees have faced a lot of
failure in the past which has given
the employees more experience
from which there is an increase of
knowledge. Failure will motivate
employees to work harder the next
time there is a decision which has
been taken.
Role of Leader and Function of Manager Apply in Different Situational Contexts
Leaders and managers of Sainsbury's have a different roles in different situations and if
that is followed will then the functioning of the organization can take place better (Mou, Robb
and DeHoratius, 2018). Issue which is being faced by Sainsbury are hiring staff.
Manager has to make sure that the requirement in the organization is measured so that
there is no extra employee which is coming in the organization. Sainsbury is a well-established
organization and maintaining that is what the manager must try to do. The recruitment is not just
done by the human resource department but the final hiring decision stays in the hands of the
manager of the company. Getting the right skilled employee for the position which has opened in
the organization is the work of the manager. The final interviews are taken by the managers of
the organization so that they can make the company get the best employees who can make the
organization have a better functioning.
Leaders have to make sure that the work employees are doing is matching the standards
of the organization so that the company can maintain to function efficiently and effectively.
Leader do not have any say when the employees are getting hired but using their skill in the right
place and finding out the expertise of the employee is the work of the leader. The performance of
the employees who have come in the organization is supposed to be managed by the leader.
Delegating the responsibilities for the completion of task is done by the leader and there is no
pressure on any staff is managed by the leaders of the organization. Directing and motivating the

employees who are hired in the organization is a very important factor which is dealt by the
leader of Sainsbury so that the organization can function better.
Different Theories and Models of Approach
 Situational Leadership
There are four styles of leadership which are involved in this which are directing,
supporting, delegating and coaching. Right set of leaders are hired in Sainsbury so that
functioning and leadership style is followed well. Leaders of Sainsbury's know how to take steps
and measures in mostly all situations rise in front of them. Leaders are directing employees under
them perfectly, supporting them when required and training employees so that standards of
establishment can be met (Ayers and Odegaard, 2017). To finish work on time and targets are
being completed effectively. Right work to right skilled employee is a very important factor so
that processing or operations in organization can take place in a better format. Employees need a
healthy environment to work in and leader has to make sure that firm is providing employees
with that need. Leaders of Sainsbury using this approach so that they have a better trained work
force for the organization. New employees are coming in Sainsbury and it is very important that
the employees match the standards of the organization.
Advantages of using this leadership style will make a friendly environment in
organization which will help employees work more and take out their best. The biggest
disadvantage for this style is that there is no enough information which is provided to leaders in
firm. There is a sense of dependency in organization which will limit organization in total. There
is no new thinking which will create limitations on company. It is very important for Sainsbury
to get new ideas and strategies so that they can make company leading retailer in market and
maintain that for a long run.
 System Leadership
It is necessary for leaders to understand productivity of human behaviour so that
processing and functioning of work can take place. Right decisions be made by leaders of
organization so that they can take out best from employees of Sainsbury. Leaders have a lot of
experience and all steps they make they learn something from it so that they can make decisions
in future accordingly which will beneficial for firm. Leaders are answerable to managers of
business there they make sure that employees are putting in their best in making operation take

place in productive manner (Caro, Kök and Martínez-de-Albéniz, 2020). There is a clarity in
work which employees of organization has so that leaders will find it easier to monitor all of
them. This style will help leader to provide firm with good leadership, organizational strategy,
social process and system design which will make Sainsbury have a better customers base for
themselves since this will attract more of them. The team of Sainsbury is very experience and
loyal to the organization therefore it is very easy for the organization to have a better workforce
for themselves. Having a strong work force is making the organization met the demands and
needs of the customers.
Advantages of this leadership style is that employees will be motivated which will make
efficiency in organization improve and demand of customers will be met from time to time.
Dimensions of management can be focused on for functioning which will be very beneficial.
Disadvantages is that there will be delays in decision-making in firm which will make
processing of firm slower. This style is not going to work in a small organization but in
Sainsburry they will not be able to use it since it is time-consuming and is making demands and
production slower of firm.
 Contingency Theory
Analysing external and internal factors before making any decisions for organization is a
very important and essential step which managers follow. Managers make sure that decisions
they are making or taking are going to be liked by employees so that producing can take place in
a better way. Sainsbury's managers have experience, and they know how to make decisions in
organization therefore they are being able to keep employees under control so that targets of
organization can be met on time. Standards are already set of firm over years and managers make
sure that they are maintained in future as well so that they can attract more customers in
company (Heizer, Render and Munson, 2016). Managers make sure that they are making the
right decision for the organization so that they can stand on the standard of the organization.
Trend change has to be followed by Sainsburry which is making the organization's manager
make decisions accordingly.
Advantages of this style is that managers of Sainsbury will be able to make decisions for
employees so that employees are satisfied with the processing of organization. But major
disadvantage of this theory for Sainsbury is that it is very complex in nature and it is not

feasible for the organization because there are too many determine to keep in mind to follow this
process. Time consuming is the weakness for the organization.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ayers, J.B. and Odegaard, M.A., 2017. Retail supply chain management. CRC Press.
Caro, F., Kök, A.G. and Martínez-de-Albéniz, V., 2020. The future of retail operations.
Manufacturing & Service Operations Management. 22(1). pp.47-58.
Fahimnia, B and et.al., 2019. Behavioral operations and supply chain management–a review and
literature mapping. Decision Sciences. 50(6). pp.1127-1183.
Ferguson, N.T and et.al., 2017. Secure management of operations on protected virtual machines.
U.S. Patent 9,578,017.
Fu, Y., 2018. Essays on Empirical Operations Management in Retail Sales and Service.
Heizer, J., Render, B. and Munson, C., 2016. Principles of operations management:
sustainability and supply chain management. Pearson Higher Ed.
Hübner, A and et.al., 2018. Retail operations.
Lee, H.S., 2017. Essays on Retail Operations Management.
Mou, S., Robb, D.J. and DeHoratius, N., 2018. Retail store operations: Literature review and
research directions. European Journal of Operational Research. 265(2). pp.399-422.
Teller, C and et.al., 2018. Retail store operations and food waste. Journal of Cleaner Production,
185, pp.981-997.
Online
Sainsbury's. 2020. [Online]. Available through <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainsbury%27s>