Leader vs Manager: Comparing Roles, Theories and Application in M&S

This report delves into the critical differences between leaders and managers, examining their distinct roles and characteristics within an organizational setting, specifically using Marks & Spencer as a case study. It contrasts the responsibilities of managers, such as implementing policies and controlling tasks, with the roles of leaders in guiding, motivating, and supporting employees. The report explores various management and leadership theories, including modern and classical management theories, as well as contingency and situational leadership approaches, highlighting their impact on operational management. Furthermore, it analyzes the application of leadership and management in different situations, considering stakeholders like consumers, staff members, government, and suppliers. The report also discusses factors within the business environment that affect operational management and decision-making, providing a comprehensive overview of effective leadership and management practices.

MANAGEMENT AND
OPERATION

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Compare various roles and.....................................................................................................1
characteristics of a leader and manage.......................................................................................1
M1 Differentiate among role of leader and function of a manager.............................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
P2 Role of leader and function of manager apply in various situations......................................4
P3 Different theories and models of approach............................................................................5
M2 Strengths and weaknesses of various approaches.................................................................6
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
P4 Approaches to operations management and role of leaders and managers............................7
P5 Significance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives...........8
M3 Leaders and managers can improve efficiencies of operational management.....................9
TASK 4 ...........................................................................................................................................9
P6 & M4 Factors within business environment that effect upon operational management and
decision-making..........................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11
.......................................................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Operation management means a business administration practices in order to develop the
high efficiency and effectiveness level in a business firm. It is related to transforming the labour
as well as materials in to services and goods in order to increase the profit level in a company.
Operation management is related with developing as well as controlling the manufacturing
process and also redesigning the business operation in developing the goods and services
(Akkerman, Farahani and Grunow, 2010). Marks and Spencer is a multinational retail
organisation and it is specialised in selling of home products, clothing and also luxury food
items. In this given report discuss about the various characteristics and also roles of a manager
and leader. The key approaches to the operation management and role of managers and leaders
which they both play is mentions under this given report. In this mention report also discuss
about some factors which can impact on the management operation and the decision making by
managers and leaders.
TASK 1
P1 Compare various roles and
characteristics of a leader and manage
Basis Managers Leaders
Meaning These are the people who
manage and control the work
in an organisation in context to
achieving the business
objectives in an effective or
proper manner (Huang, Lu,
and Duan, 2010). Manager
plays a necessary role in an
organisation and this person in
work on implementing the
policies and also strategies at
workplace. Managers are
They are the people who guide
the employees and suggest
them good direction to do
work in an effective or proper
manner. The main role of
leader is motivate people by
their good communication skill
and also leadership. Leader
motivate its team members so
that the an accomplish the
organisation al objectives in a
specific period of time,. The
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distributed on the different
levels in a business firm in
addition to manage the
activities or tasks in various
departments.
main motive of leaders to
inspire as well as influence
employees in context to
increase their performance
level.
Roles Figurehead Role- In this the
manager perform many duties
of symbolic as well as
ceremonial in nature like sign
on the legal papers, welcome
to the official visitors etc. It is
the head of a company.
Give training- It is the main
role of a manager to provide
training to staff members in
context to increase their skills,
knowledge and competencies
(Jiang, Xue and Geng, 2013).
With the help of provide
training to employees, manage
can increase the motivation
level and morale of employees.
In Marks & Spencer manager
provides training to the new
employees along with the
existing employees.
Increase motivation- The
main role of manager to
enhance the motivation level
of employees so that they can
give their best performance.
Increase morale of
employees- Leaders increase
the morale of staff members so
that they can give their better
performance and also guide
them correctly. From this
employees focus on the set
organisational objectives.
Give support- Leader is that
person which supports its
employees at every stage like
at the time of business
operations and entertainment.
Leaders suggests the good and
beneficial ideas to employees
so that they can do their tasks
or activities in a better way.
Guide correctly- In this leader
of Marks & Spencer company
treat its employees in a fair
way and give them proper
guidance to do the activities
and tasks properly.
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Manager can be motivate them
by appraise their performance,
provide better facilities and
some other things. With the
help of this they can retain in
an organisation for long period
of time.
Entrepreneurial Role- In this,
manager of Marks & Spencer
company is innovator and also
creator (Karangelos, Panciatict
and Wehenkel, 2013). This
person oversee and take
initiative about new goods
which will be helpful in rising
the performance of company.
Characteristics Communication- It is a main
and necessary characteristics
of a managers. In Marks &
Spencer company managers
communicate its employees in
a positive manner. It will helps
in developing positive or good
working environment in an
organisation. Managers have
the ability to deal with any
kind of situation.
Positive attitude- It is
necessary that the nature or
behaviour of a manager should
be positive otherwise it will
Confidence- Leaders of this
cited firm are very confident
toward their roles and work.
They do their activities and
also work with very
confidence.
Delegate authority-
Sometimes leaders delegate
their authority to another
person who is responsible and
also have an ability to manage
all business activities in a
proper manner. It is helpful in
increasing the motivation level
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develop the negative impact in
the mind of employees.
Decision making- The
managers of Marks & Spencer
are very expert and they
always take decisions which
are in favour of employees as
well as company. They include
employees in the decision
making process.
of employees.
Passionate- It is necessary that
the leader should be passionate
towards the work,. From this
their focus is only on
achieving the set target in an
effective manner.
M1 Differentiate among role of leader and function of a manager
The roles and functions of a manager are varied from each other (Lindström and et. al.,
2012). The main role of manager is to executing the policies in an effective and proper manner at
the work place and leaders main motive is to provide guidance to employees. The functions of
managers are organise activities, monitor and control all tasks, implementing business plans. On
the other hand the role of leaders re passionate, motivator, supporter etc.
TASK 2
P2 Role of leader and function of manager apply in various situations
In Marks & Spencer business firm managers as well as leaders both are expert and
specialist in their work. The main role of a manager to implementation all effective policies as
well as plans in an organisation by including the staff members (Lv and et. al., 2011). On the
other hand leaders always guide or motivate its staff members and suggest the right way to
perform many activities. There are some functions of managers and roles of leaders in different
conditions are mentions below as above:
Consumers- They plays an important or necessary role in making the business
successful. The main role of manager towards customers is to provide quality products as well as
services in order to fulfil their wants and needs. The manager of Marks & Spencer conduct the
research programme to know about the tastes and demands of people .
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Staff members- They are the important resources of an organisation. The employees of
Marks & Spencer are very innovative and also curious towards works. Their main focus is on
achieving the organisational aims in a specific time period (Moghaddam, Seifi and Niknam,
2012). In the situation of employees, it is necessary for managers to motivate them and also
provide them better or positive working conditions to them . It will be helpful in providing them
job satisfaction and they will sustain in company for long time period. On the other hand role of
leader is to guide and provide the effective and simple way of doing the business activities.
Government- It is the responsibility of government to develop some effective policies
and rules in which company has to perform. Manager of Marks & Spencer company applied all
policies at workplace and also do the business activities ethically. This Company pay to
government timely.
Suppliers- The main role of supplier is to provide the better quality of raw material to an
organisation so that firm can provide the good quality of services and products in an effective
manner. In context to this the main role of manager to choose the good supplier which can
provide materials at right time and reasonable cost so from this company can provide the goods
to customers or retailers on proper time period.
P3 Different theories and models of approach
The management theories and leadership theories are varied from each other. With the
help of using or applying these theories, growth and development Marks & Spencer will be
enhanced. There are some management theories are mentions below as above:
Modern management theory- The main focus of this type of management theory is on
increasing the development and also productivity of company along with the staff members
(Nicks and Nelson, 2012). In this, firm used the many tools and techniques which are concerned
with systematic and effective mathematical and also analyse relationship among staff members
and employers.
Classical modern theory- This type of management theory developed when in industry
there are many difficulties arise. Its main focus is not only increasing productivity of firm but
also enhancing the development of workers. This type of management theory is based on values
and belied which can fulfil the economic and physical needs of workers.
Some of the leadership theories are as following:
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Contingency leadership- On the basis of this theory, there is not an effective or a better
way to setting up a coordination as well as cooperation and also take some effective decisions in
order to maximise the profit of company. This kind of leaders use their own leadership style in a
given situation. This theory is also known as the behavioural theory.
Situational approach- It is very adaptive style of leadership (O'Fallon and Rutherford,
2011). It refers to the leadership type where the leadership style is based on the capabilities as
well as abilities of staff members which are necessary in order to completing the given activities
or tasks. The operation management of Marks & Spencer company can be impacted with this
type of leadership by adopting or using the various leadership styles on different conditions. On
the basis of this theory, there is no single style of leadership. In this managers or leaders of
company should adjust their styles in order finishing tasks or activities.
System leadership- This type of leadership applied by Marks & Spencer business firm
and in this there is a control of manager on working performance of staff members and also
interact with them about the condition of an organisation. In context to this theory, it is the duty
of a leader to make the solution of problems as well as issues according to this theory of
leadership.
M2 Strengths and weaknesses of various approaches
There are some weaknesses and strengths of different approaches of leadership:
Situational approach
Strengths
 Give training to the leaders so from this their efficiency will be increased.
 Its nature is flexible.
Weaknesses
 Limited Flexibility
 This approach is based on outside components.
System Leadership theory
Strengths
 It provides the control (Parry, Mills and Turner, 2010).
 Helpful in developing the coordination between emendation activities.
Weaknesses
 Over- conceptual
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 Less universality
 It can nota applied in practical conditions.
Contingency approach
Strengths
 The opinions an suggestions of employers are necessary
 Valid and reliable in nature.
 Focus on one style of leadership.
Weaknesses
 Complex in nature.
 Reactive
TASK 3
P4 Approaches to operations management and role of leaders and managers
The main objective of this operation management is to make improvement in the [quality
of products or goods so that the productivity of firm will be increase (Sheu, 2010). There are
some roles of leaders as well managers are given below as above:
Planning- It is important for Marks & Spencer to develop effective plans in a proper
manner. Planning is helpful in making the business process better. Planning is concerned with
the future.
Managing- In each business firm, managers plays a necessary role for motivating team
members. It is the responsibility of manager to manage all functions of company as well as
employees in a systematic manner.
Coordination- It is essential that in a organisation there should be coordination between
different departments or functions (Tang and Musa, 2011). In Marks & Spencer business firm
horizontal and also vertical both are the two major integration which report to the manager.
There are different types of operation management approaches given below as
above:
Lean production- It is very effective approach in minimising wastage in manufacturing
process. From this additional workload will be reduced. Its main focus on make improvement in
the quality of goods through reducing extra wastage.
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Just- In- Time- This kind of strategy is very effective and its main objective is to increase
the efficiency or quality of products by reducing any kind of damages as well as wastage (Tayur,
Ganeshan and Magazine, 2012). In order to make improvement in the quality standard, Marks &
Spencer company uses this approach. For achieving the organisational goals, managers make
some modifications in its manufacturing process.
Continuous improvement- In context to this, it is necessary for an organisation to raising
its manufacturing process, quality of products and services. The delivery process and continuous
monitoring can improve efficiency and effectiveness of business operations. In addition to this,
role of manager is to improving process of business and provide satisfactory services and
products to consumers.
P5 Significance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives
Management refers to a process by which many different resources can be combine and
then transform them in to the goods. If the operations of company will be good then it will
develop the good or positive impact on business. The Marks & Spencer abusiveness firm do its
business operations effective in order to increase the efficiency of operations of company.
Importance of operation management given below as above:
Raising Quality- If the quality team will be effective and active then firm will make
some improvements in the quality of goods and services in a proper manner. If quality of
products will be good then in this case m ore number of customers will be attracted and the sales
or profit level of Marks & Spencer will be enhanced.
Minimize wastage- In order to make improvement in quality standard of goods and
services then it is necessary for manager to use the different kinds of quality management
approaches. It will be helpful in reducing the wastages and defects from the process of
manufacturing. With the helps of this the cost of production will also be reduced.
Increasing growth and development- It is a duty of manager to do its operations of
company in a proper manner and with the help of various tools and techniques, try to make
improvement in the quality of goods (Ward and et. al., 2010). It will increase the development
and productivity of firm and from this company will retain at the market place for long time
period.
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Increasing goodwill- If firm will give the effective and good quality of products as well
as services to consumers by reducing any wastage then it will be helpful in developing the
positive impact in the mind of customers and the goodwill of firm will be enhanced.
M3 Leaders and managers can improve efficiencies of operational management
In order to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of operation management,
managers and leaders both plays a necessary role (Cheng and et. al., 2012). The main role of
manager is to manage and also control all the business related operations and activities. On the
other hand leaders guide or lead them so that employees can do their work in an effective
manner. The main motive of leaders and manager both to make some improve in the operation
management and provide better quality of product to customers at minimum cost.
TASK 4
P6 & M4 Factors within business environment that effect upon operational management and
decision-making
There are various factors which can develop an impact on the business environment. In
this there are two factors are included internal and external. In internal factors include customers,
suppliers, government, employees etc. and on the other hand in external factors consist political,
economical, social, technological, legal and environmental (Chen and et. al., 2011). These both
the factors impact on abusiveness operation. So it is the duty of manager to analyse these all
factors and work on reduce their impacts on business.
Internal factors- These factors impacts business environment internally from an organisation. In
this includes:
Consumers- It is the responsibility of the manager to produce the goods and services on
the basis of customers demands and op references. In context to this, Marks & Spencer firm
provide the better quality of goods to consumers which can satisfy their needs. It is helps in
developing the positive impact on business. In case if firm will not give the qualitative products
then the business of this firm will be negatively impacted.
Employees- They are essential resources or part of company. It is necessary for manager
to provide them better working conditions, positive environment etc. So, from this they can work
on achieving the goals of company. If the manager will do communicate with them properly and
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