Roles and Characteristics of Leader and Manager in Operations Management

This article discusses the different roles and characteristics of leaders and managers in operations management. It also evaluates various theories and models of approaches in operations management.

Management and Operations
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................4
P1 Determination of different roles and characteristic of leader and a manager........................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
P2 The role of leader and function of manager in different situational contexts........................6
P3 Evaluation of different theories and models of approaches...................................................8
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................9
P4 Discuss the key approaches in operations management........................................................9
P5 Determine the importance and value of operations management in the success of business
objectives...................................................................................................................................11
TASK4...........................................................................................................................................12
P6 Analyse factors within the business environment that effect the operational management
and the decisions of leaders and mangers.................................................................................12
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13
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INTRODUCTION
Operations management is the process of administration where main focus is to carry
activities within the organisation to provide high level of efficiency and effectiveness in the
operations (Amin and Aiza, 2018). It is a process which is concerned with converting the raw
materials into finish good with the help of labour force as efficiently as possible in order to
provide desire outcomes. The organisation chosen for this report is Barclays Plc. The company is
known as financial service company which is functioning in UK and provides funds to the
people of UK. The organisation is listed on the stock exchange of London and New York. The
topics covered in the report are roles and characteristic of leader and manager, role of a leader
and function of a manger in different situational context, applications of different theories and
models, key approaches to operations management, importance and value of operations
management and factors within the business that has impact on operational management and
decisions of leaders and managers.
TASK 1
P1 Determination of different roles and characteristic of leader and a manager
In an organisation the role of manager and leaders are different but their motive is same
that is accomplishment of business goals and objectives (Dhar, 2016). In context of Barclays,
these functions of leaders and manager help the company in the growth and development and
also make customers and staff members satisfied. The roles and characteristic are described as
below-
Basis Leader Manager
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Definition A leader is most valuable asset
of the organisation as they
motivates its team members to
take right direction. Leader
motivates its team members
and other employees of the
company in order to improve
their performance and
productivity.
A manager is a person who
manages the work and
operations in all situations.
Manager outlines the right path
to the employees of
organisation and contributes in
achievement of goals and
objectives.
Roles The role of a leader is to take
all the members within the
company together. Each of the
employees need to work
together in coordination with
other members of team in
order to accomplish goals and
bring success in the
organisation. The leader need
to focus on the actions and
activities of employees at
work place to make sure they
follow right direction and
providing better outcomes to
the organisation. The role of
leader is to analyse and
evaluate the behaviour and
actions of employees at
different stages of work.
Leader guide and provide full
support to the employees to
work in most effective and
The role of manager in the
organisation is to manage all
the tasks and operations at the
workplace (Chapman and
Blash, 2017). Manager
coordinates with all the
employees and monitors the
work assigned to employees.
The role of manager is to focus
on the continuous functioning
of the activities and operations
along with proper allocation
and usage of resources. They
provide direction to employees
and also solve their problems
in order to ensure that tasks are
completed on time.
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efficient manner and to
improve their performance at
different stages (LILL, WALD
and GLEICH, 2020).
Characteristics Leader is functioning at higher
position and has many
characteristics which are as
follow:
 Honesty- Leaders
perform their work
with full honesty in
order to avoid
mistakes, errors and
inconveniences.
 Decision makers-
Leaders have the
ability of analysing
different situations and
accordingly take most
appropriate decisions.
Hence are good
decision makers.
 Communication- One
of the important
characteristic of the
leader is to be good at
communication that is
effective
communication skills
lead to better
understanding.
Managers have high authority
and has many characteristics
which are featured below:
 Positive attitude-
Manager carry positive
attitude at workplace in
order to motivate and
ensure positive vibes at
workplace.
 Responsible- They
have the responsibility
of all the employees
and responsible to
make sure smooth
functioning of
organisation (Nelson,
Cardemil and Adeoye,
2016).
 Accountable- Manager
is one who is
accountable for the
actions and the
outcomes of business
operations.
 Flexible- Managers are
flexible in nature that is
have the abilities to
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adjust and make
changes in the activities
according to different
situations.
TASK 2
P2 The role of leader and function of manager in different situational contexts
All the types of business has faces different challenges and issues as in various situational
based (Adjei, 2016). In which manager and leaders need to perform in effective manner to
dissolve the particular issue. As ability of business having motive to gain competitive advantages
from high influencing marketplace. In the context of Barclays plc, they have face off different
problems or issues in which certain roles of leader and managers function designed on a different
context below as defined as:
Situation 1. Crises management
In this particular situation, management of company execute the task on the basis of
setting standard modification in each other facility. The stakeholder of business is also suffer
from constant threats by this implication profit ratio get reduces. As in this scenario there is
certain roles of leader and manager function are explained below:
Role of leader
 Leaders can uses their leadership approaches or styles by assessing the situation with
better control.
 To instruct about basic skills and knowledges to employees who are skilled and
unskilled where they can perform better as well as effective decision making.
According to this practise in Barclays plc , workforce can developed their problem
solving capacity and handle any situation by appropriate manner.
Function of manager
 The manager of Barclays plc by assorting to collect necessity information which si
related to specific crises. Through proper planning frame by manager can complete the
task on given time (Chase, 2017). To create certain rules regulation related with issues
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by manager and motivate to employees for taking participation by following the plan in
compliance order.
 A manager of Barclays plc need to plays important responsibilities through which
different set of duties is presumes for managing the situation. Some of duties of manager
like instruct about task, coordination, excellence way of communication can provides
clarity of ideas and transferred within the business priorities to solve the crises in
appropriate manner.
Situation 2. Enhance New Technology
It is situation within company related when management introduce new technology in
workplace for better improvement in business (Shariff and Nawarathna, 2018). Similarly, the
Barclays plc develop new technology with a motive to increase the work mobility or efficiency
of individual workforce that brings productive towards organisation. There are some roles of
leader and function of manager of Barclays plc use their skills to making understand to
subordinates of having advanced resources.
Role of Leader
 As in this situation, leaders of Barclays plc role is to motivate the employees about
involvement of technology can increase the productivity and employees can achieve their
targets efficiently.
 Leaders improves the skills and other attributes of individual employees along with better
understanding about how employees can utilise the technology for their working aspects. By conducting important seminars and webinars by leader of Barclays plc related with
Technology training and its impact can helps to employees behaviour.
Functions of Manager
 Manager of Barclays plc form various policies in perspective of new resources alignment
through employees need to follows the guidelines at time of utilisation in workplace.
To motivate by manager and providing positive performance appraisal in terms of productivity
enhancement and influence to work in team which build healthy relationship between others
staffs.
P3 Evaluation of different theories and models of approaches
Leaders in the company are responsible for enhancing the morale of employees and
motivating them by identifying and analysing their needs and desires. Leaders evaluate the
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external environment and changes that may take place due to external factors and accordingly
takes decisions and actions in order to provide benefit to Barclays from these changes (Samier
and Milley, 2020). There are different type of leadership styles which leader adopts according to
the prevailing situations. In context of Barclays these styles help leader in maintaining
effectiveness in the workplace. The leadership styles are explained below:
Situational leadership
The situational leadership is used by leader in almost all the situations where according to
the skills, talent and abilities of individuals task are assigned to them (Niesche and Gowlett,
2019). Leader analyse and evaluate the market trends and conditions and accordingly decisions
are taken by them in the organisation. This theory helps in figuring out best strategy and solution
to the face the situations that are arising in the marketplace. Leader need to focus on and
consider all the factors which are present in the external environment as something these factors
play negative role in the decisions and actions of the organisation. For example, increase in the
issue and conflicts in the team and in allocation of roles and responsibilities among the team
members can be rearranged and changed by leader. These small small steps and decisions helps
in resolving the conflict and helps in creating healthy working environment at workplace.
System leadership
The system leadership style is basically a leadership quality whose main motive and
focus is on results obtained that is don't consider method or process involve in it. This theory
considers the results rather than process and focus on the improvement of results and build
strategies accordingly. The strategies and tasks are plan earlier and according to plans the actions
are taken and obtained results are matched with the set objectives and plans. Barclays is one of
the largest finance and investment organisation and has many departments and each department
has its own objectives and function accordingly to accomplish their own goals.
Contingent leadership
Contingent leadership style is used by leaders in different situations that are taking place
in the Barclays Plc. It is helpful in random issues where issues are picked up and proper study is
been conduced by the leader and accordingly solutions are been suggested to the management
(Gray and Rhodes, 2018). Mainly this style is used by the leader to find out various directions
and paths in order to achieve the goal and objectives.
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TASK 3
P4 Discuss the key approaches in operations management
Different approaches are used in the activities of business in order to understand the
management and its operations in a better way. These approaches help in identifying and
analysing the different conditions which company face and taking corrective actions accordingly.
These approaches are discussed below:
Approaches Evaluation
Just In Time This method is helpful in the production
process. The production process is very
important in the organisation and should be
completed on time with the assigned targets.
This also helps in accomplishing desire results
according to plans which are set much earlier
(Haque, Azad and Choudhury, 2019). In the
production process is it essential for the
management to carry operations in such a way
where waste is minimize and resources are
used in the proper way. These activities where
steps are taken to reduce the wastage and the
available resources are used in most effective
and efficient manner is known as just in time.
Along with this its the responsibility of
management to take care of the machines and
equipment as to conduct manufacturing
process in the correct way and attain the desire
results.
TQM Total Quality Time is define as the process
which provides support in the formulating
plans and strategies for long period of time
with the motive to get success. The success are
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been achieved in this approach if plans are
formulated and implemented properly and also
help in earning profits (Ramos, 2019). This
approach helps in maintaining the quality of
services which are offered by Barclay plc.
Lean production This theory is based on the method which are
used in the operations of business that is best
method should be implemented by the leaders
in order to get the desire results. In order to get
the desire outcomes in the business it is
important to use resources in most effective
and efficient way and minimize the wastage of
resources (Di Mauro, Galatro and Liotta, 2020)
. The proper use of resources helps in
increasing the potential level and capacity of
employees to work more efficiently. Its the
responsibility of the leader and manager to
make the employees aware of the resources
that is how to effectively use them and to
reduce the wastage. This method focus of this
method is to improve the productivity level in
the organisation and to provide support to
employees to enhance their skills and abilities.
Role of Manager
 The role of the manager is to identify and select the skilled and talented person for the job
role as it becomes easier to enhance their skills and abilities. Its the duty of manager to
allocate right task to right person at right time.
 The resources are managed by the manager according to the skills and potential of
workforce.
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 Manager is responsible to look at the activities of the employees and ensure on time
completion of task and also the desired outcomes are achieved or not.
Role of leaders
 The role of the leader is to identify and analyse the essential needs and desires of the
workforce and motivate them so that they perform efficiently.
 The role of the leader is to enhance and rise the level of potential and productivity among
the employees.
 Leader also need to ensure that employees are taking right directions in the operations
and focus on the accomplishment of desire outcomes (Edtmayr, Sunk and Sihn, 2016).
P5 Determine the importance and value of operations management in the success of business
objectives
In an organisation, the importance and value of operation management need to be
understand properly in order to achieve the desire results. In context of Barclays, its very
important for administration to understand the importance and value of operation management in
accomplishing business objectives.
Increasing revenue: The effective implementation of operation management helps in achieving
desire results and also contributes in increasing the sale and profit volume. The increase in the
level of profits contributes in expanding the business in different cities and capturing the
different segments of the marketplace. The success in the business help in identifying and
analysing new market which company can acquire and accordingly new targets are set and
strategies are made in order to achieve them.
Trends in the market: In the current market scenario new trends take place and organisations
needs to consider them. These trends plays very important role in the operations of business as
the success of the business is dependent on them only. Its important for Barclays plc to consider
these tends and take measures and step accordingly in order to provide satisfaction to the
customers and the employees. The employees and customer satisfaction is very important in the
success of the business. Moreover company need to focus on the retention of old employees as
they know the organisation properly and the new employees requires time to get to know the
organisation and its functions. Hence old employees has the ability to provide better results in
comparison to new employees.
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Increasing sales: Operating management provide great support in the sales of the company that
is helps in increasing the sales volume with the help of proper research about the new methods,
techniques and the strategics of competitors (Kamel, Rezk and Abdelkareem, 2020).
TASK4
P6 Analyse factors within the business environment that effect the operational management and
the decisions of leaders and mangers.
There are so many factors in the business environment which effect the decision making
and the operation management of the Barclays Plc (Achim, 2017). These factors need to be
properly analysed by the management as they can effect the organisation in negative way. These
factors are as follow-
Organisational resources: In an organisation, resources function together and helps in the
completion of task on time. In context of Barclays Plc, resources are humans and raw material.
Hence these resources need to be handled properly and manager need to ensure that resources are
used in proper and systematic manner in order to achieve desire goals and objectives.
Financial status: The financial status and the resources available in the Barclay Plc, provide
great support to the managers and leaders in strategy formulation and right paths are been
followed by them. The right directions and strategies helps in achieving the goals and objectives
of the company. The decisions related to the funds and interest on the products and services
offered to the people of UK by the company (Barclays) are effected by the cash flow, expenses,
profits, etc.
Market Trends: Changes in the trends of market are very frequent and effects the profits of the
organisation (Jabeen, Aliyu and Mahmood, 2016). These trends need to be analysed and study
properly in order to take the benefit from them. In context of Barclays, the research team should
identify and evaluate the new trends and also the requirements of the customers so that corrective
measures can be taken to increase the number of customers.
Stakeholder: In context of Barclays, the stakeholders of the company are customers, employees,
investors, etc. The investors of the company changes according to different situations that is they
only prefer to invest when they get desire interest and profits.
Political and legal changes: In context of Barclays, as they are dealing in financial services so
the changes in the legal and political factors effect the business at large scale. So its important for
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company to be prepared to handle such issues. For that its the responsibility of the leader to
predict the future actions and accordingly make strategies (Cherunilam, 2020). Whereas manager
is responsible to arrange and manage the resources which are required by leader so that in
difficult situations they are ready with their resources to handle situations.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it has been concluded that organisations have different approaches
and strategies to handle different situations. Centralized organisational structure is consider as
most effective structure where operations are carried in most effective way and desire results are
achieved. The power is divided among the employees according to their abilities and skills. With
the help of different theories and approaches, the operations become easy to perform and are
completed on time. The operation management play important role in the survival and success of
the business as with the help of operation management the work get easy and managers and
leaders get appropriate time to develop the strategies.
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