Management and Operations: Approaches, Roles, and Theories

Management and
Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1 ...........................................................................................................................................4
P1 Differentiate between characteristics and roles of manager and leader ................................4
TASK 2 ...........................................................................................................................................5
P2 Functions of leaders and managers in various business situations .......................................5
P3 Leadership theories and models ............................................................................................6
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................6
PART 2 ...........................................................................................................................................7
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................7
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
P4 Explain the key approaches to operations management and role of leaders and managers ..7
P5 Operations management value in attaining objectives of business .......................................9
TASK 4 ...........................................................................................................................................9
P6 Factors in the business environment that affect the decision making of leaders and
managers ....................................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Operations and management is one of the most important function of any organisation
and it is the administration of various business practices. These are helpful in increasing
efficiency and productivity of the company. The main aim of operation management is to
convert materials as well as labour into services and goods in order to enhance profits. The
company taken into consideration while doing this file is Toyota. This is a Japanese
multinational automotive manufacturer which has headquarters in Aichi, Japan. This company
has various operations that are operated effectively for attaining organisational objectives and
goals. The following report consists of differentiation between characteristics of managers and
leaders. The role of managers as well as leaders in different business situations are discussed.
There is discussion of various leadership models and theories in this report in context of Toyota.
TASK 1
P1 Differentiate between characteristics and roles of manager and leader
Introduction to Toyota
Toyota Motor Corporation is an automobile manufacturer which deals worldwide and its
headquarter is located in Toyota, Aichi, Japan. The company was founded in 1937. Toyota
motors has incorporated five brands which are Toyota itself, Hino, Daihatsu, Ranz,and Lexus.
Toyota is also listed on various stock exchanges around the world such as Tokyo Stock
Exchange, London Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange. It started from a small
number of around 4000 units of production in year 1937 since then the company has grown
enormously and produces around 5 million units now only in Japan. Its production and sales
worldwide have also grown over the years. Other than automotive industry, Toyota is also
indulged in philanthropy, higher education, robotics, aerospace,agricultural biotechnology.
In order to attain goals and objectives in an organisation within a given time period, it
becomes essential for the management to put in all efforts for development of company. Leaders
are the one who take lead in team and give orders to team members to fulfil goals. Whereas, it is
the duty of managers to keep employees under check. Administrating and controlling employees
is duty of a manager.

ROLE OF LEADER:
Taking Decisions: One of the most important job of a leader is to study market closely
and then take decisions which will benefit the firm. Along with it, manager requires to be good
at communication skills so that goals and decisions taken by manager can easily be
communicated to employees of organisation. In case of Toyota, leaders at company are
competent enough to take decisions and to communicate them to rest of the employees as well.
Guiding Employees Towards the Decision Taken: Another role of leader after setting up
goals and communicating them is to also explain the path to attain them. It is very important for
employees to know the clear idea of what they would be doing in order to attain those
objectives. When looking into Toyota , it is found that leaders of company are well prepared with
a road map to attain their objectives. Along with goals, they also communicate the ways in which
they must be achieved.
ROLE OF MANAGER:
Resource Allocation: Due to scarcity of resources and unlimited wants, it becomes
necessary in an organization to use the available resources carefully. It is therefore an important
part of a manager's job to allocate all the resources available with them amongst various
department in organisation (Battini, and Et.Al. 2016). When referring to Toyota, they follow lean
production method due to which wastage of any resource is not tolerated. The managers in
company very effectively and efficiently manage all available resources.
Characteristics of leader:
Communication skills: Communication is a very important skill which a leader must
posses. If a leader could not communicate his thoughts well it will be impossible for the firm to
attain its objectives. The leaders at Toyota are very good with their communication skills. They
efficiently deliver the goals and objectives to employees and also answer their queries if
required.
Self Motivated: In hard times, when company is going through a rough phase it is very
important for a leader to be self motivated. If leader is not self motivated, it becomes difficult for
them to motivate others. Also employees start giving up when they see their leader demotivated.
All leaders at Toyota are self motivated who also take various steps required in order to
motivate their employees.