Different Roles and Characteristics of Leader PDF

UNIT 4

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1 ...........................................................................................................................................1
P1 Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of leader and a manager ......1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
P2 Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in
different situational context ...................................................................................................4
P3 Apply different theories and models of approach ............................................................5
TASK 3 ...........................................................................................................................................6
P4 Explain the key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and
mangers play ..........................................................................................................................6
P5 Explain the importance and values of operations management in achieving business
objectives................................................................................................................................7
TASK 4 ...........................................................................................................................................8
P6 Assess the factors within the business environment that impact upon operational
management and decision making by leaders and managers ................................................8
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Operation management is defined as the practise and administration of business activities
and creating the greatest level of productivity and efficiency within the company. This is related
with changing the labour and raw material into services and products for maximising profits and
revenue of the company (Åström and et. al., 2017). The operation management helps to balance
the cost for achieving the net operating profit. In the following report, operations and
management of a company are explained considering an organisation naming Sainsbury's. This is
a supermarket chain of UK and it is the third largest organisation of the country. This company
was founded by John James Sainsbury's in the year 1869. In this report, roles and
responsibilities of leaders and managers is discussed. This consists of different theories of
leadership in managing operations of the company. They key approaches and importance of
operational management are discussed. Also, this report consists of factors that affects the
business environment.
TASK 1
P1 Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of leader and a manager
A leader is defined as an individual who is at a superior position and is able to posses a
high degree of control and leaders can influence others for accomplishing the goals and
objectives of the company. On the other hand, a manager is defined as an individual who will
manage a particular group of people who are performing specific tasks (Bott, and Luna, Seven
Networks Inc, 2017). The roles and responsibilities of leaders and managers are slightly different
from each other. In Sainsbury's there are leaders as well as managers who handle different
business operations and functions that have an objective to implement efficient flow of activities.
The roles and responsibilities of leaders in Sainsbury's are mentioned below-
Leaders are required at all levels- Leadership is an important function that is required by
leaders at various levels of organisation. The top level management of a company cooperates
and formulates different policies and plans for smooth functioning of the organisation. Also, the
middle level and lower level of organisation has to implement and execute policies and
programmes that are given by the top management of the company. Leaders have to guide and
counsel the employees when plans and policies are implemented in the organisation.
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Representative of the organisation - A leader is responsible for becoming representative
of the company. The role of a leader is to represent company in various meetings, conferences,
seminars and spread awareness of the company with other people (Chan and et. al., 2018). These
seminars and programs helps to meet other people and search business opportunities for
expanding business and making profits and revenue. A leader has to handle various department
that are present in a company.
Integrates and reconciles the personal goals with organisational goals – A leader
adopts various kind of leadership styles and manages subordinates and employees. A leader
posses leadership traits that help in integration of personal goals and objectives with the goals
and objectives of the company. The leader has to coordinate with employees for working for a
particular goal or objective. This is possible for a leader only when he is able to influence
employees and make them work hard for attaining the targets and goals of the company.
Leader solicits support – A leader is a person who has to be interactive in nature. This
will help him to understand others and also explain different tasks and activities to subordinates.
A leader can only achieve this by enhancing his personality, intelligence, experience and
maturity. This will also help a leader in providing suggestions and solutions to employees for
converting strategies and plans into programmes and actual actions. In this way, a leader is able
to solicit support of subordinates that results in increasing the willingness towards working and
increasing the effectiveness of the company.
Acts as a friend, philosopher and guide – A leader should posses three dimensional traits
which includes friend, philosopher and guide. A leader can act as a friend so that employees can
share his feelings, desires and opinions with him freely (Ellis and et. al., Smart Storage Systems
Inc, 2015). A leader can be a philosopher and utilise intelligence and experience for supporting
and guiding the subordinates in business situations. Also, a leader can be a good guide and
supervise and communicate plans and policies with employees. Sometimes, a leader can act as a
good counsellor and use his problem solving approach to help subordinates and employees.
On the other hand, the different roles and responsibilities of managers are described below-
Vision and leadership – An effective manager is an individual who is able to achieve
goals and objectives of the company and guide people towards right direction for working
effectively. A good manager must set a vision for the organisation and there must be value in that
vision that reflects the company's offerings and demand in business environment.
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