Analysis of Leadership, Management and Operations at A&R Cambridge

This report provides a detailed analysis of leadership, management, and operations within A&R Cambridge Ltd., a UK-based manufacturer of advanced technical equipment. The report begins by defining and comparing the roles of leaders and managers, differentiating them based on responsibilities, goals, relationships with employees, powers, decision-making processes, and motives. It then differentiates between various leadership theories such as situational, system, and contingency leadership, evaluating their suitability for different managerial contexts. The core of the report examines the roles of leaders and managers in different situations at A&R Cambridge, including technological changes, employee issues, and organizational conflicts. It also applies Henri Fayol's functions of management (planning, organizing, commanding, controlling, and coordinating) to the context of A&R Cambridge. The report further discusses key approaches to operations management, their importance in achieving business objectives, and evaluates the contributions of leaders and managers in improving operational efficiencies. Finally, it explores various factors influencing business operational activities and their impact on the business environment and wider community, culminating in a critical evaluation of operations management and its influencing factors.

Management and Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
LO1..................................................................................................................................................1
P1. Define and compare between leader and Manager..........................................................1
M1. Differentiate on basis of theory.......................................................................................3
D1. Evaluation of different approaches and leadership theory..............................................3
LO2..................................................................................................................................................4
P2. Role of Manager and Leader in different situation at A&R Cambridge..........................4
M2. Assessment of different approaches used in different situation......................................5
P3. Different Theories and model of approaches...................................................................5
LO3..................................................................................................................................................6
P4 Key approaches of operations management at A&R Cambridge Ltd and activities
followed by higher authority..................................................................................................6
P5 Importance and value of operations management to achieve business objectives of A&R
Cambridge Ltd........................................................................................................................8
M3 evaluation of contribution leaders and managers have on the improvement of efficiencies
of operations management in meeting the business objectives............................................10
LO4................................................................................................................................................10
P6 Explaining various factors that influence business operational activities.......................10
M4 How the factor that are discussed above affects business environment and wider
community............................................................................................................................12
D2 Critical evaluation of OM and factors affecting business environment.........................12
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Management of business activities is an important aspect of firm in carrying out business
actions in more effective way. Operations can be termed as the activities or functions that are
followed by an enterprise. It supports the achievement of organisational objectives that are been
set by a entity. The top management of a firm will look after execution of this approaches for
growth and development purpose. Current assignment includes the details of operations
management at UK based advance technical equipments manufacturing corporation, A&R
Cambridge Ltd. It is a technological enterprise which produces high quality and advance
electrical equipments. The report covers roles and responsibilities of leaders and managers and
different situations faced by them is evaluated. The range of theories and concepts of leadership
are also analysed. In addition to this, approaches and key elements of operations management
system is analysed. Also, report will explain impact of CSR, culture, value and ethics on
business functions.
MAIN BODY
LO1
P1. Define and compare between leader and Manager
Leaders are the one who influences other member in the organisation to work efficiently
and effectively for achievement of the organisational goal. Influence power of leader is known as
a leadership style (Cooper, 2015).
Manager are the one who are in charge of the task done in the group of individual or for certain
department in the organisation.
Differentiate between leader and manager are as follow:
Factor Leaders Manager
Responsibilities The main responsibility of the
leader A&R Cambridge is to
build a good trust factor in the
organisation i.e. leader should
trust the skill and knowledge
of employee in return
employee should able to trust
The main responsibility of the
manager A&R Cambridge is to
see the day to day activity of
the organisation and its
department. Manager are the
one who supervises the
working of the team and give
1

the leadership skill of leader
and there need to be a good
trust among the employee as in
the end they have to work in
the team to achieve the goal.
feedback to the team leader,
which helps the leader to
implicate some changes in the
team if require (Nawaz and
Khan 2016).
Goal of the organisation Leaders at A&R Cambridge
has the responsibility to Co-
ordinate the work of the
individual or work of the team
toward achieving the common
goal of the organisation.
Leaders uses different type of
leadership style to influence
the work toward the
organisational goal (Iqbal
Anwar and Haider, 2015).
Manager at A&R Cambridge
are the one who sets the both
long term and short term goals
for the business and ask the
team leader to influence the
work of the team according to
the goal of the organisation.
Relationship with employee Leaders at A&R Cambridge
has the responsibility to create
a good and clear vision in the
mind of employee that what
goal to be achieve by them and
how they will achieve that.
Manager at A&R Cambridge
has the responsibilities to
evaluate the work of the
employee and give feedback to
the employee as it help
employee to sharpen the
working skills.
Powers Leaders has the expert power
as leader are the one who
guide the team and also
sometime posses the reward
power in which leader has the
power to reward employee
who is working well in the
Manager has the legitimate
power in which manager
posses the official power to
control the resources of the
business and allow manager to
reward and punish others.
2

team (Lucas, 2016).
Decision making Leaders has no power to make
decision in the organisation.
Leader are the one who
facilitates the decision taken
by the manager and senior
management and influence the
work of the team according to
that decision
Manager has the power to take
the decision in the organisation
and pass on that decision to the
subordinate in the
organisation.
Motive The main motive of the leader
at A&R Cambridge to co-
ordinate the work of all
department and to ensure it is
in the correct direction Leaders
believes in the process of the
task.
The main motive of the
manager at A&R Cambridge
is to achieve the goal of the
organisation. Manager believes
in the end result.
M1. Differentiate on basis of theory
Situational Leadership: Leadership style which changes depending upon the requirement of
employee. This theory is suitable for leaders but not for manager as leader deals with employee
directly but manager looks the overall work of the organisation.
System Leadership: Theory in which a environment is created that employee from all level can
work according to their skill. This theory is suitable for manager as it will help manager to
supervise all but for leaders it will be difficult to address each and every employee in it.
Contingency Leadership: Theory which changes according to the situation. This theory of
leadership is better for the manager as manager has the regular information about the
environment and factor affecting the business so he can change the style of management.
D1. Evaluation of different approaches and leadership theory
Situational Leadership:
3

These style of leadership helps the company to create a good working environment for
the employee to work but on the otherhand these style is only take cares about the short term
objective of the individual, long term objectives of the organisation takes a backseat.
System Leadership:
These Style helps the business to bring the interconnectivity and co-ordination between
all the department of the business but on the other hand it is difficult to change the instruction in
these style of leadership.
Contingency Leadership:
These style helps the business to be flexible which helps business to adapt the changes in
the environment but also on the other hand sometime it become difficult for manager to find the
solution for the change.
LO2
P2. Role of Manager and Leader in different situation at A&R Cambridge
The leaders and manager has variety of Responsibility in the A&R Cambridge as they see
through various function and activity of the organisational operation. As the organisation goes
through different situation in the long term working, the management of A&R Cambridge has to
look for a solution to tackle the hurdle which comes in a different situation. Some of the roles
performed by the manager and leader in A&R Cambridge are as follow:
Changes in technology
Function of manager: Manager plays a very vital role in changing of the technology, as on the
environmental research done by research and development team of the company manager of
A&R Cambridge decides that is there a need of technology change or not. After technology
change A&R Cambridge manager also fixed the revised goal to be achieved after adoption of
new changes.
Role of Leader: Leaders at A&R Cambridge also plays a vital role in technology change as they
are the one who closely analysis the work and knows the difficulty which are faced by employee
due to technology. Leaders at A&R Cambridge also require to change the leadership style after
change in technology as new technology always bring new challenges and efficiency in work.
Employee's Turn around
Function of manager: Manager at A&R Cambridge performs a research in the organisation itself
to known the reason why the employee are not happy with the organisation and leaving the job
4

and after addressing the problem manager try to resolve it by offering employee a good working
environment to work, which help manager to prevail the employee for long term.
Role of Leader: Job satisfaction for the employee is always prove to be very important factor for
employee to leave the job at that point Leaders at A&G Cambridge plays a very important role
by motivating the employee and also helping them by resolving the issue which they are facing
in completing the task.
Conflict in Organisation
Function of manager: As manager are in charge of the activity done in the company, its
managers responsibility to address the conflict in the organisation by properly communicating
between both party and resolving that in the time (Engle and et.al.,2017).
Role of Leader: Leaders plays a crucial role in A&R Cambridge to resolve the conflict, as
leaders are the one who are too close to the working of the organisation leaders realises about the
conflict at the initial stage itself which help leader to resolve on time as conflict in working
environment can cause negative effect to productivity.
Fayol’s description of manager’s function
Planning- This is the process of thinking and doing planning of all activities which will be based
on experience and other facts important for filling up of gaps between where an individual is and
where they want to go. Thus planning function of manager will be including decision making
process that is enabling them to identify areas of changes or developments.
Organizing- This is the system of putting together the most important part or resources to apply
into work. Organising is that process which will have authority of relationship between selected
people or workplace so that group can be working together efficiently.
Commanding- This involve giving working instructions and orders which should be made clear
so that employees can be optimising the returns when the work is carried out. All the successful
managers who should be possess integrity and communicating clearly with making down
decisions.
Controlling- This is the process of examining that all implementation is working according to
resources or team which should be aligned with rules and procedures as well.
Coordinating- It includes coordinating all activities properly and actively so that areas of
modification and changes could be identified on timely bases.
Apply the function by using manager:
5

Planning- As per the view of Henri Fayol planning is the most important and crucial among all
other functions of managers. The managers at A&R Cambridge should plan according to the
required active participation for the entire company so that it could work smoothly. There is
various aspect of planning which managers at A&R Cambridge should consider like it is
continuous process and should be flexible. Planning must also be broadly covered as before it
nothing can be organised or directed.
Organizing- This is another important process of establishment of authority relationship within
the selected people or workplace. So its duty and responsibility of manager that they are
organising all the need and action plan so that objective can be achieved. There are certain steps
which manager should follow like listing out activities for achieving goal, grouping up of work,
delegating work and authority for establishing formal reporting relationship.
Commanding- This will include understanding and knowing the members of team so that
manager could be able to deal with them smartly and efficiently. They must also be working
together with their team mates for helping them in achieving individual and professional goals.
Controlling- The manager must be controlling that involves examining the progress that could
be against management planning that could ensuring progress and performance that is recording.
Establishing performance standards that are based on objectives that must be reporting or
measuring the actual performance of company.
Coordinating- This involves coordinating and structural overview of all tasks so that managers
are performing it on better terms.
M2. Assessment of different approaches used in different situation
Change in technology: Technology change helps the company to bring change in the quality of
the product which affects the company in positive manner on the other hand it also increase the
finance requirement of the company. So before taking decision manager and leader has to take
these factor into consideration (Min-jung and Remy, 2018).
Employee Turn around: Decision taken by manager and leaders to cut down the employee turn
around rate helps the company to prevail the employee but also on the other hand sometime it
also create a feeling of company dependency in the mind of employee.
Conflict: Decision taken to resolve the conflict in the organisation is beneficial for organisation
as conflict in working environment always harm company productivity in negative way.
6

P3. Different Theories and model of approaches
As the business entity comprises of variety of operation function and activity to achieve
the organisational goal, There are many theories which helps the business to achieve the
organisational goal more efficiently and effectively. Some of the theory which is used by A&R
Cambridge are as follow:
Situational Leadership: In this theory leaders and manager uses different type of leadership
style to influence the work of the employee. Leadership style depends upon the employees need.
This type of theory requires the good communication between the leader and the employee
(Laudon and Laudon, 2016). This theory helps the leaders in improving the motivation level of
the employee as by the help of these theory employee is able to do the self learning and the
dependency on other is also reduce. At A&R Cambridge this theory helps the leaders and
managers to increase the efficiency level of the employee and also helps to create a good
working environment in the organisation.
System Leadership: In this theory the leader tries to create a environment in the organisation
where all the level of employee can work together with their potential. It helps the organisation
to build a good and effective personal behaviour driving process. This theory also helps the
company to bring a good relation and interconnectivity among the employee and department of
the company, also helps leader to assume about the future behaviour of the person in the
organisation (Wakui and et.al., 2017). At A&R Cambridge system leadership helps the leader to
use their resources in the best possible ways and also helps company to co-ordinate the work of
all the department for achievement of the organisational goal.
Contingency Leadership: This theory of leadership explains that there is no leadership style
which is universally good for the organisational success. Leaders are only effective if leaders are
able to adapt the situation and changes the leadership style according to the current situation. In
this theory manager is require to evaluate the factors and environment at timely intervale to find
out the changing situation. This policy also advise leaders to communicate the proper plans and
instruction to the employee at timely basis. Contingency leadership theory helps the company to
evaluate the companies factor and environment on regular basis which helps in improving the
productivity of the company.
7

LO3
P4 Key approaches of operations management at A&R Cambridge Ltd and activities followed
by higher authority
Operation's management (OM) can be termed as business practices that an organisation
follows to increase its efficiency. It is associated with the improvement in quality and raising the
profitability of enterprise (Importance of operations management, 2018). In order to carry out
these activities related to handling of organisational functions, different models or approaches
are followed by leaders and managers. They will work in an effective way to implement concepts
and measures related to OM within firm. The major operations management models which are
followed are described as below:
JIT: Also termed as “Just in Time”, it is an inventory management approach used to
maintain the raw materials. This approach helps in effective execution of business operations and
functions at work place by cost cutting the production process (Akalin, Huang and Willems,
2016). It allows the management of corporation to perform its activities in a stipulated time
frame. The resources are allocated and used only when they are needed in production process. It
will leads the top authorities of organisation to improve their customer satisfaction level as well
as reduce overhead expenses. Administrators and leaders at A&R Cambridge Ltd will effectively
follow out this approach to save the financial resources and improve the response time of firm
with its suppliers and buyers. The top management of organisation will look after effective
planning and its implementation in order to achieve the desired outcomes with more preciseness
and efficiency and that too within the inventory budget. It assists in increasing the standard of
performance within business enterprise and deliver the service or product with low
manufacturing cost.
TQM: Abbreviated as “Total quality management”, this approach of OM supports in
maintaining the quality standards within an enterprise. It is a long term process which supports
improvement in customer satisfaction (Kato and et.al., 2015). It increases the efficiency of
organisation to follow different guidelines related to sustaining superiority of products
manufactured by A&R Cambridge Ltd. It integrates a quality improvement policy, where each
and every stage of production process is monitored by management to produce high quality
equipments. As the quality standards are improved, sales of products will see a raise and hence,
increases profitability and revenue generation. It includes a complete involvement of work force
8

during day to day production process. Managers and leaders will look after the adoption of
strategic performance improvement in effectiveness of produced good. The managers will plan
the strategies and leaders will see through their implementation which supports establishing of
pre defined quality standards like ISO 9000 standardization within A&R Cambridge Ltd. They
will look after the strategy of continues improvement in both, analytical and conceptual manner.
Even the performance measures are evaluated in order to meet the quality requirements and meet
customers expectation from the enterprise.
KAIZEN: It is an Japanese approach or OM activity that focuses on improving the
effectiveness of operations which are carried out within organisation. It is a combination of many
operations management approaches like lean management as its cores. The basic concept of
Kaizen approach is to increase the effectiveness of manufacturing operations, encourage the
workers, have customer satisfaction, promoting innovations and waste control. Leaders and
managers perform a deep analysis such as value stream mapping (Khanna, 2015). The top
management of organisation will work with employees to look after the enhancement measures
to prevent any sort of technical defect in its equipments. Besides this, it involves creation of
consistent innovative products as an effective way to cater demands and requirements of quality
standards. Improvement measures includes activities like quality monitoring, precise allocation
of resources and regular checking of production process, Other than this, authorities of business
firm will train their employees and team members to increase their ability to produce high
quality products or services at A&R Cambridge Ltd. It also leads to value creation and attain the
targeted objectives in more precise way. The consistent improvement by top management will
lead to enhancing the products quality and increase profitability and brand image of enterprise.
JIC: The “Just in Case” approach of OM focuses on inventory management that helps
the helps in predicting the customer demands and produce the goods precisely as per customer
needs and demands. It prevents the organisation to sell the products out of its stock (Hitt, Xu and
Carnes, 2016). This approach creates a demand in market for the product and helps in gaining a
price advantage over its competitors. The managers and leaders at organisation will roughly
predict the demands and manufactures the goods or services below the estimated demands.
However, it causes the management to place a high cost of their products and hence may lead to
a reluctance among buyers to purchase goods from A&R Cambridge Ltd. Hence, they are
9

required to plan this strategy accordingly in order to mitigate any sort of adverse effect of this
approach.
P5 Importance and value of operations management to achieve business objectives of A&R
Cambridge Ltd
The operations management measures plays a very important role in achieving of
business objectives. This helps an organisation to achieve their goals and mitigate the risk factors
that can affect the performance of corporation. Following it will not only helps in handling the
customer needs but also improves overall production capability of organisation. Besides this, it
plays a very important role in value creation for enterprise. It helps in improving the overall
quality of products and optimal utilization of available resources (Heizer and et.al., 2017).
Operations management has following importance and value at A&R Cambridge Ltd:
 Enhances product quality: The approaches of OM helps in improving the efficiency of
electrical equipments. The approaches like JIT, Kaizen and Total Quality management
supports in development of advance products to cater the needs and demands of their
buyers. It leads to improve brand image of organisation and enhances the customer
satisfaction level. Other than this, the OM approaches is also important to induce and
implement a range of innovations and provide a superior product to their buyers. The
channelisation of various business activities in proper direction will guide the
organisation to carry out operations in most effective way (Dharamdass and Fernando,
2018).
 Supports in forecasting expenses: The effective following of the A&R Cambridge Ltd
guides the organisations will help in superior growth. All this measures that are
assimilated will lead to enhancing the cost efficiency of organisation. It assists the
organisation to track down its expenses and identify the useless expenditures of
organisation. The setting up of the budget and following it to execute the operations. As
the lean production approach is considered, the suitable allocation of resources and their
proper utilization is observed. The day to day production measures of business firm are
monitored and suitable policies of financial management are undertaken by enterprise.
 Increase in revenue: Implementation of operations handling is important for
development and manufacturing of high quality products and services (Quarshie, Salmi
and Leuschner, 2016). This will attract more and more customers to get attracted towards
10