Unit 4 – Management and Operations

Management and
Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P 1 Define and compare different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager..............1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
P 2 Examine examples of how role of a leader and function of a manager apply in different
situational contexts......................................................................................................................3
P 3 Apply different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership, systems
leadership and contingency.........................................................................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
P4 Explain the key approaches to operations management and role that leaders and managers
play..............................................................................................................................................7
P5 Explain the importance and value of operations management in achieving business
objectives.....................................................................................................................................8
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................10
P6 Assess the factors within business environment that impact upon operational management
and decision making by leaders and managers........................................................................10
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
The term “Management” refers as to the process of planning, organising, decision
making, leading and controlling financial, physical, information and human resources of an
business organisation to achieve the goals and objectives of business organisation. The term
“Operations” refers to management of inner working and business practices of organisations,
so that business operations can be managed effectively and efficiently.(Levy, 2018)
Management and operations are the areas which is concerned with the designing organising and
controlling the process of production and designing various business operations in order to
produce goods and services for customers. The below report is based on management and
operations of Unilever plc, which is a British multinational consumer goods manufacturing
organisation. Unilever plc manufactures various products such as food, confections, energy
drinks, soft drinks, ice cream, coffee, toothpaste and other household’s products for customers.
The report below includes critical analysis and evaluation of different theories and approaches to
leadership, definition and comparison of different roles and characteristics of a leader and a
manager, analysis and differentiation between role of a leader and functions of a manager,
different leadership theories, explanation of importance and value of operations management in
achieving business objectives, assessment of factors in corporate social responsibility, culture,
values, ethics and sustainability along with its conclusion.
MAIN BODY
TASK 1
P 1 Define and compare different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager.
Manager:
A manager is defined as a person who is responsible for carrying the business practices
effectively and efficiently in corporate market. Manager is a person whose main aim is to
manage the business practices of an organisation. Organisational managers are individuals who
have control over the administration on carrying business activities effectively. In context to
Unilever plc, managers of the organisation manage and supervise entire human resources in
order to carry the business practices with higher potential to achieve its goals and objectives.
Leader:
1

Leader is an individual who guides and directs staff members of a business to achieve
desired goals and objectives in a better manner. Leader of an organisation ensures that
operations as well as situations are carried in best effective way. In context to Unilever
plc,leader of Unilever is an individual who has a capability to influence human resources in
order to perform duties and responsibilities in effective and efficient way (Reid and Sanders,
2019).
Differentiate between leader and manager:
Basis Leader Manager
Definition A leader is a person who influence
behaviour of workforce in order to
accomplish planned goals and
objectives of an organisation in
timely constrained.
A manager is an individual who
manages workforce of an organisation.
They also directs duties and
responsibilities to staff members of an
organisation to achieve desired goals
and objectives of organisation.
Role The role of a leader of Unilever plc
are:
 Leader of Unilever accomplish
the role of decision making in
an organisation. The role of
leader is to make corrective
decisions and according to that
implement decisions to have
better performance.(Lee,
2018).
 The leader of Unilever plc,
listens effectively and observe
performance and encourage all
staff members to perform their
roles and duties effectively
and efficiently.
The role of a manager of Unilever plc
are:Manager of Unilever organisation
identifies and plans the short term and
long term objectives of organisation to
ensure long run survival of an
organisation.
 The manager of Unilever plc,
implements all policies, code
of conduct and rules for
carrying business practices
which holds accountability for
all actions.
 The manager of Unilever has
main role of ensuring regular
and daily working and
functioning or operations of all
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