An Analysis of Leadership and Management Operations at Asda

This report examines the management and operational practices within Asda, a major retail company. It begins by defining the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers, highlighting their differences and how they contribute to organizational goals. The report then delves into specific examples of how leaders and managers apply their roles and functions in various business situations, such as conflict resolution, product launches, and employee motivation. Finally, the report explores different leadership models and theories, including Hersey and Blanchard's Situational model, System leadership, and Fiedler's Contingency leadership, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses within the context of Asda's business operations. The report emphasizes the importance of effective leadership and management in achieving business success and maintaining a positive working environment.

Management and operations

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................2
ACTIVITY 1....................................................................................................................................3
P 1 Difference between characteristics and roles of the leader and manager in the organization.
......................................................................................................................................................3
P 2 Different examples of roles and function of leader and manager are apply in situations of
the business..................................................................................................................................5
P 3 Various models and theories of leadership............................................................................5
ACTIVITY 2....................................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Management of business operations refers to effective policies and practices which helps
to maintain efficiency of the company in different condition of the market. It is that area of
management which design and controls the process of production which improve the quality of
products and services. The leader and manager are one who controls and directs the activities of
the employees towards goals and objectives of business. This report explains the management
and operation in Asda which is one of the largest retail company. Its headquarter is located in
England, UK. This report includes comparison of different roles and characteristics of the
leader and manager in the organization. Manager and leader performed different types of
functions which helps in proper management of operations of firm so that it will improve
performance of business.
ACTIVITY 1
P 1 Difference between characteristics and roles of the leader and manager in the organization.
Leader: Leader is the person who motivates group of people towards the achievement of
goals and objectives in the given situation of business. To meet the requirement of business
leader of Asda gives effective direction to their subordinates. In every department of the Asda
there is effective needs and wants of the leader which helps to meet the objectives of business.
Manager: Manager is a person who is responsible for all the business activities which is
done in the organization. Manager have the power of hire, fire and maintain discipline in
workplace of Asda (Manzini and et.al.,2018). Manager manages different functions of the
company by proper planning, controlling, directing and organising the activities.
Roles and characteristics of leader:
Leader plays an important role to change the vision in reality which is created by the
manager. Building good relation in workplace is also the another role which is played a leader in
Asda. Leader is the risk taker and works to reach the growth and success of the business. Leader
motivates the employees so that they work effectively which helps the Asda in attaining growth
and success. The role of the leader is to bring the new and innovative ideas and opinion related to
different situation of business.
The leader have the ability and capabilities to inspire the members of team so that they
work to achieve goals of business. The characteristics of the good leader is that they are focused
to in their work to make the best team which performed all the task effectively (Ivanov,

Tsipoulanidis and Schönberger, 2017). Leader have ability to motivate the employees by
fulfilling their personal needs and wants so that they will accurately to meet the business goals.
Leaders is very passionate to complete the task effectively and encourages their subordinates.
Roles and characteristics of manager:
Role of the manager is to set the specific objectives and goals of the business which the
members of team follow to accomplish them. Manager have the role to organise the function of
recruitment and selection of skilled and qualified candidates in business to improve the working
conditions of the Asda (Johnstone, 2016). Manager is the person who reduces risk and problems
of the business operation. Manager will gives instruction to their team members so that they
work to attain the future growth of company. Manager have role to assigns duties and
responsibilities to people to ensure completion of work on time.
Manager is the person who manages all the functions and practices of the business in the
most appropriate manner. Manager set the target of business and share them with their
employees to improve their working. So that they done their work as per the target set by the
manager. Communication skills of the manager is very effective so that they maintain the good
relation with the customers and employees to improve the image of brand (Thomé, Scavarda and
Scavarda, 2016). Manager have ability to manage all the functions of organisation in the most
appropriate manner.
Difference between leader and manager:
Basis Leader Manager
Meaning Leader is the one who inspire their
team members for accomplishment of
business goals.
Planning, direction, coordination
are the function which is manages
by the manager.
Approach They sets direction for the group of
people.
They make effective plans which is
followed by the employees.
Style Leader uses transformational model of
leadership.
Manager uses the transactional
model of leadership.
Focus They focuses on people working in the
Asda.
Their focus is on the policies and
procedure of the business.

P 2 Different examples of roles and function of leader and manager are apply in situations of the
business.
Manager and leader plays various function and roles in business operations which helps
to manage all the activities of the workers by motivating them towards the goals and objectives.
In the business of Asda manager performed various function such as planning, organising,
directing and controlling which helps to meet the success and growth. They also have different
roles to guide, inspire and motivates the people so that they work to achieve the benefits of
business. For example, to resolve the conflicts between employees of the company then the
manager will decides effective and efficient steps for development of plan. So planning is
necessary to improve relationship between the people working ASDA (Mazidi and et.al.,2017).
On the other hand leader will guides members of their team which helps them to maintain
cooperation and coordination with the teams to achieve the common goals.
For example, Asda is introducing new sustainable products in the business by aim to
increases the sales and profits of business so they have to improve the performance of their
employees. Manager delegates work and responsibilities as per their skills and talent which helps
them to work effective in the business. Role of leaders in this situation of Asda is that they will
motivate and inspire the employees so they improve their performance in the best possible way
in working environment (Slack, 2018). Allocation of work as per the ability of the workers will
makes their performance better and increases the sales and profits of new sustainable products.
To bring creativity and innovation in the atmosphere of Asda manager appoint the new
and talented people in the organisation so that they will contribute their efforts with effective
ideas and opinion. For example the company is launching the new products in the business then
their is need of innovative ideas and suggestion for increasing the sales and productivity. HR
manager of Asda will provides training to their employees which brings more innovative ideas in
the business (Keahey, Riteau and Timkovich, 2017). On the other hand leader will train the new
people and directs them in right direction which helps to reach their personal success along with
the success of company by increasing the sales of new products and services.
P 3 Various models and theories of leadership.
Models and theories of leadership determine the behaviour of person in the particular
situations and environment of company. To become an effective leader every person uses
different theories of leadership approach which improve their skills and capabilities. In Asda

leader uses various approaches and theories of leadership which helps them to perform their roles
and function effectively which is related to business operations. These approaches of leadership
will motivate, inspire and encourage the employees so that they will works to increases sales and
profits of the business to maintain the good environment in the business by resolving the
conflicts. Some strength and weakness of different theories of leadership are explained below in
the context of Asda business.
Hersey and Blanchard Situational model:
According to this style of leadership, leader changes their style as per the situation or the
task performed by them. Leader adopts the style of leadership as per goals and objectives of the
business (Zhang, Wang and Lin, 2019). This approach is very effective for managing the
workforce of Asda so that they work effectively when they introducing the new services and
products in market. When there is any kind of conflicts between the people working in the
business operation then the leader uses the situational leadership model which helps to use their
style of working as per the business situation. This approach will helps to maintain good relation
between their people. There are the four style of leader in this theory which are describe below:
Telling: In this style of leadership, leader makes an effective decision and then communicate
with the members of team so that they perform their business activities as per the decision taken.
Selling: It refers to that the leader will give their ideas and suggestion to their subordinates in
respect to maintain the cooperation and coordination in the workplace.
Participating: By using this style leader encourages and motivates the people of Asda. They
also guide and supervise the people to meet the goals of the business in the future (Bromiley and
Rau, 2016).
Delegating: As per this style, leader of Asda allocates all the work and task to the members of
team and they are responsible for all the work and task which is allocated by leader. The work is
assigns by the leader top employees as per their skills and qualification which does not creates
any kind of conflicts in the workplace. So delegating is important step of situation theory which
is used by leader of Asda
Strength: This style gives comfortable working environment to the people working in
the company so that the employees will easily understand features of the new products launch by
Asda. Team will increase their ability and capabilities to work together towards the common aim

of business (Reid and Sanders, 2019). The team perform all function of business in the most
effective manner with the help of this approach by leader.
Weakness: The leader focuses only on the present needs and wants of the company not
on the future needs so it the major drawback of situational leadership. When business have
difficult task then it cannot be effective. Leader cannot get the full and clear information and data
by using this theory of leadership in their working.
System leadership: Leader of Asda creates effective conditions from which the employees in all
department of business are work to become more productive in future. It explains ability,
capabilities and skills which is used by person in difficult and uncertain situation of the company
(Matthias and et.al.,2017). So in Asda when there is any kind of difficulty leader provides the
effective support to their subordinates which helps to gain the profits of business.
Strength: With the help of this theory leader will not avoid any kind of complexity and
problems of business and develop various opportunities for innovations and development of
Asda in future. It will helps the business to solve the problems and conflicts of workplace by
applying this style of leadership.
Weakness: By using the system leadership by the leader of Asda it cannot be always
practical and creates delay in their decision making process. It cannot explained the nature of
inter-dependence in the company.
Fiedler's Contingency leadership:
This kind of leadership approach states that ability and skills of the leader did not
explains the success and growth of company (Heizer, 2016). So in simple terms success is not
depend on the effective and efficient skills and ability of leader which they uses in the business.
In the business of Asda leader will perform their activities and function as per the situation to
meet the business objectives. With proper knowledge and skills of leader they manages the
workforce effectively and directs them to increases the sales of new products and services in
market. The key element of this theory are leadership styles, situational variables and relation
between the situation and style.
Strength: The leader will increases the skills of decision making and workforce
management to meet the goals of the business (Hitt, Xu and Carnes, 2016). The employees will
have the opportunities to share their ideas and opinion in the business which helps them for their
personal growth.

Weakness: The company could not use this approach in the practical situation of
business because it is very complex approach. Sometimes manager faces lots of difficulty in
handling the situation of business while applying this approach of leadership (Anand and Gray,
2017).
ACTIVITY 2
Covered in PPT.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it can be concluded that to meet the objectives of business leader
and manager are essential elements of the business. The manager of the company will makes
plans and organise them for the proper management of workforce. Leader uses different style of
the leadership while motivating the people of team. Different approaches and theories of the
leadership have various strength and weakness which will affects the functioning of the
company.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Anand, G. and Gray, J.V., 2017. Strategy and organization research in operations management.
Journal of Operations Management.53. pp.1-8.
Bromiley, P. and Rau, D., 2016. Operations management and the resource based view: Another
view. Journal of Operations Management.41. pp.95-106.
Heizer, J., 2016. Operations management, 11/e. Pearson Education India.
Hitt, M.A., Xu, K. and Carnes, C.M., 2016. Resource based theory in operations management
research. Journal of Operations Management.41. pp.77-94.
Ivanov, D., Tsipoulanidis, A. and Schönberger, J., 2017. Global supply chain and operations
management. A Decision-Oriented Introduction to the Creation of Value.
Matthias, O and et.al.,2017. Making sense of big data–can it transform operations management?.
International Journal of Operations & Production Management.
Reid, R.D. and Sanders, N.R., 2019. Operations management: an integrated approach. John
Wiley & Sons.
Slack, N., 2018. Essentials of operations management. Pearson UK.
Thomé, A.M.T., Scavarda, L.F. and Scavarda, A.J., 2016. Conducting systematic literature
review in operations management. Production Planning & Control.27(5). pp.408-420.