Evaluation of Leadership and Management Roles in Amazon's Operations

This report examines the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers within the context of Amazon's operations, focusing on the impact of technological changes and external environments. It differentiates between leadership and management, exploring their respective responsibilities in areas such as vision creation, strategy execution, and decision-making. The report evaluates leadership and management roles using various theories, including system theory, contingency theory, and situational theories, highlighting how these theories are applied in different operational scenarios. It also analyzes key approaches to operation management, such as Six Sigma and Total Quality Management, and how leaders and managers utilize these approaches to achieve business objectives. Furthermore, the report discusses factors affecting business operations and the decisions made by leaders and managers, providing a comprehensive overview of leadership and management dynamics within a technology-driven, e-commerce environment.

MANAGEMENT
AND
OPERATION

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1. Difference between roles and characteristics of leader and manager.................................1
2. Evaluate role of leader and manager using theories...........................................................2
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
3. The role of management and leadership in different situations which is supported by
different theories and models.................................................................................................4
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
5. Key approaches of operation management and roles of leaders and managers.................7
5. Importance and values of operation management in achieving business objectives..........8
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................9
6. Factors are affect to business..............................................................................................9
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCE.................................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Operation management is an area of management concerned with designing and
controlling the process of production and redesigning business operation in the production of
goods and services (Management & Operations, 2017). Present study is based on the “Amazon”
which is multinational technology company. That is focus on e-commerce, cloud computing and
artificial intelligence in Seattle, Washington. Amazon is the largest internet company by revenue
in the world. Study lays emphasis on roles and characteristic of leaders and managers in
technologies changes in external environment. It is based on roles of leaders and functions of
manager using with relevant theories. Report will highlight by the theories and approaches of
leadership and management in organisation. It is highlight the importance of operation
management in achieving the business goals. Study is also highlighted the factors of business
environment affect the operation management and decisions of leaders and managers.
TASK 1
1. Difference between roles and characteristics of leader and manager
Leader: A leader is a person who influences their subordinates for achieve pre determined goal
of amazon.
Manager: A manager is person who manage company and responsible for planning, directing,
coordination & control (Slack and Brandon-Jones. 2018).
Roles of leaders and managers.
Basis Leaders Managers
Create vision Leaders create vision and mission
forward with changing in
technology for achieve pre
determined goal.
Managers not create vision. Its create
goals and they only focus on process
and control on work of leaders.
Execute strategy Leaders execute strategy for
maximize their productivity and
achieve organisational goal by
install new technological in
organisation (Alhazmi, Bajunaid
Managers don't make strategy and
work according to top management.
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and Aziz, 2017).
Decision making Leaders always take decision
actively on the spot in any respect.
Managers depends on their superior
for decision.
Characteristics of leaders and managers
Basis Leaders Managers
Set direction Leaders set overall future direction
that they make goals and objective
clear for the sub ordinates.
Managers set daily direction to
organisation according to
capabilities and skills of employees.
& also as per circumstances not
technology.
Communication Leaders is good communicator
because they always keep in touch
with subordinates.
Manager may lack of confidence
while communicating with other
employees (Chopra, 2017). They are
not a public speaker.
Innovation Great leader always think creative
and innovative according to change
in technology for achieve amazon
goal.
Manager is not innovative because
they only work in their office. They
have not idea about any market
relate.
2. Evaluate role of leader and manager using theories
System theories - system theory is interdisciplinary theory. It is a complex system in nature,
society and science and is a framework by which one can investigate and describe any group of
object that get result.
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Leaders always work in complex systems. They interrelate with all people and organisation. In
this theory leaders create the condition where people of all level work with potential and
maximize productivity.
Managers works according to this theory that they evaluate all environment whose affect
Amazon and making decision about business like staffing, budget etc. this is efficient way to do
each job in business.
Contingency - this theory is an organisational theory. That there is not the best way to organize a
corporation and make decision. This also depend on internal and external situation.
This theory is not concerned with having the leader adapt to a situation, rather the goal is to
match the leader's style with a compatible situation.
According to this concept leader motivate and establish co ordination to all their subordinate for
increase productivity.
Managers do their work in this theory by proper planning, organizing and controlling to their
particular circumstances (Hasegawa, 2017).
Situational theories - this theory not relate with personal qualities of leader and manager, it is
depends on situation of organisation.
Leader work base on this theory that they evaluate situation and then moulds them according to
needs of given situation and then they do work.
Managers directing and guiding activities of organisation. This function begins with supervising
and monitor them.
Management by objective
It theory model help to organisation for set their specific and clear goals and objective
which is achieved by the company. It is process of defining specific objectives. In this theory
management of Amazon convey their messages to team members and give correct information
which is help to handles any situation at organisation. That played an important role in the
organisation when every team members are understood the structure of company then no critical
situation faced by the employees and management.
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TASK 2
3. The role of management and leadership in different situations which is supported by different
theories and models.
Leaders and manager have various responsibilities in different type of situation within the
organisation. Both are played significant role in Amazon. Different approaches applicable in
different situations are as follows:
Situational leadership theory
Situational leadership theory is the best theory of leadership. This help to evaluate the
situation and give effective solution to their team members. For example: miscommunication
related to new technology applied in Amazon. This create problems regarding to uses of
technology and digital (Role of a Leader, 2017). In that role of manager has to make sure about
technology information which is communicated to team leaders like how to use this and applied
supply chain. Meanwhile, leader is also sure about before conveying messages to team member
and give proper direction to team member because they don't know about the technology uses. In
that management have to give proper knowledge of new technology. According to situational
leadership theory, leaders of Amazon handle the situation of miscommunication happens in the
team. In that leaders use effective and easy language to communicate with their team members.
This help to understand the new technology uses and work. Situation is affect the business and it
growth. Miscommunication is the most effective and valuable part of the organisation. This
affect to role leader by creating work related, by doing wrong work. This is also affected to role
of manager by listing in not proper way and doing wrong work.
System theory of management
System theory help to identify the interrelationship between the employer and employees
of the organization. For example: unsafe working environment is not good for the employees as
well their female employees of firm (Hrle, 2016). Most of time female's employee not satisfied
by work culture and environment of office. In this role of leaders of Amazon, to make positive
work environment in team by motivating employees and effective feedback also to provide safe
working environment to females employees. Meanwhile, manager are responsible for setting
goals for the organisation. Organized effective and safe work environment for the employees as
well as their female employees. That's simply means is that safe work environment provide to
their employees whereas they feel safe from their job. This is happened by the location and
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culture of the company. It is affect to role of leaders by unsafe environment and miss happing
with employees. And also to affect the role of manager in by happing wrong in workplace and
employees is injured then manager have to take decisions. By this affect to role of manager and
leaders.
Thus, in the situation of miscommunication leaders have to use clear language and have
to build relationship with them so that confusions can be minimised. Furthermore, manager has
to create healthy workplace environment so that people discuss their problems with managers
without any hesitation. By these, employees are able to give their hard contribution to achieve
goal of Amazon and also top understand the uses of technology.
Strength and weakness of different approaches to situations within the work environment.
Different approaches with different situation within the organization.
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Theory Strength Weakness
Situational theory  The strength of this theory
is to understand easily and
easily applied to different
context.
 This recognize the need for
flexibility in team
(Nakamura, 2015).
 It helps to leaders to
circulate effective
communication in team
which is most important for
team as well leaders.
 The weakness of this
theory is hard to define
the commitment is
conceptualized.
 This theory is based on
skill level of leaders.
 Leader is not able to
communicate right
message to their team
then team get wrong
messages from the
leaders its not good for
team growth.
System theory  This theory is
multidisciplinary.
 This theory focus on the
achieving goals of Amazon
and also help manager to
create safe working
environment within
organisation and team.
 It helps to minimize cost
and maximize rewards
within managers and
leadership relationship.
 This theory is not
applicable on the
practical problems. It not
provides tools.
 It takes time to solve the
problem related to
employees.
 According to this theory
manager only make
system not to provide
any equipment related to
problems.
Contingency
theory
 This theory is reliable
approach to explain that
effective management can
achieve goal of firm.
 Weakness of this theory
is not explained in the
organization.
 This theory only focus
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 It focuses on relationship
between leadership style.
 This theory help to perform
better in Amazon.
on the situation not on
the resources (Slack and
Brandon-Jones, 2018).
 The weakness of this
theory is not explained
exactly what to do and
how to teach leaders.
TASK 3
5. Key approaches of operation management and roles of leaders and managers.
Approaches provides better system, people, process and technology that help to
determine the wastage of product and also help to control on wastages resources.
Six-sigma
It refers to a process which is determined the fault in product and services of the company
for improvement in the quality. It is also finding the causes of fault and reduce variables in
manufacturing. It is focus on quality of product and it is important.
Amazon creates this six sigma system in the company for offering the best quality of
product and low cost products in the shortest time by eliminate the wastage through quality and
quantity management. In that, roles of manager have to ensure about the quality of goods which
are they offered online (Waskito and Tamura, Hitachi Ltd. 2017). Other hand, roles of leaders
have to provide effective and proper tools of working. This system help to improve customer
satisfaction and increase the interest of online shopping in customers towards the Amazon by
offering the best quality of product.
Total quality management
It is the process which is used by the company to improve their internal process and
increase customer satisfaction. It places strong and proper focus on the process of measurement
for continuous improvement.
In the context of Amazon the total quality management plays a vital role in contributing
higher quality of product and quality at the all level of the company (Slack and Brandon-Jones,
2018). Through that, company solves problem regarding the quality of goods. By using this
approach, manager provide better quality of product to their customers, while leader have to
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provide better quality of tools for using in their process. That help to maintain quality of product
in the organization.
5. Importance and values of operation management in achieving business objectives.
Operation management is important and valuable for achieving business objectives. It
helps to improve the employee's efficiency and find the strength and weakness of firm. That help
to increase the profit and improve the productivity of Amazon. Meanwhile, it is important to
improve overall productivity of firm.
 Supply chain management is an important and valuable for operation management to
achieve business goals. It is the strategic decision of business growth.
 Inventory management also an important for the operation management. That help to
maintaining the optimal inventory ordering and holding by the customers and employees.
 Operations management is important to improve overall productivity of organization.
Ratio of input and output its termed as productivity (McAdam, Miller and McSorley,
2019).
 It is the management of various business activities that takes place within the
organization. That contribute in making product align with customer requirement and
with uses of technology.
 That help to measurement of manager and employees at workplace. Also, to focus on the
uses of resources and technologies in the best way. That help improves the overall
productivity of firm goal and successfully meets with business goals.
 It is also important for the process and capacity design the product and services. For
example: company considering the online services on its output. This approach of
operation management is highlight importance of the automation and technologies is
enhanced the process and capacity in e-technology (Alhazmi, Bajunaid and Aziz, 2017 ).
 It is difficult to manage operation process, for that manger have a depth knowledge of
operation management. Thus, operation management help to improve the productivity of
firm and also to successfully meets with business objectives.
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TASK 4
6. Factors are affect to business.
Factors of business environment that direct affect to operation management and decision
making of leaders and managers that are as follows:
Economic factor: that factor of Amazon is direct affect to overall economic system of
organization. That includes inflation, interest rate and unemployment. This factor always affect
the demand of product. For example: when interest rate is high or customer are less than
company borrow money. That affect the decision making process of manager and leaders and
operation management system. In that manager and leaders have to make changes according to
the interest rate increases and operation manager have to make proper balance between customer
orders and holdings (Chopra, 2017 ).
Technological factor: technologies are also affected to Amazon and its productivity. For
example: technology and tools are using in the production and supply chain management. At that
time manager and leaders must be careful about the technology. That affect to operation
management by automated and data analysis technology. In that manager take effective and
accurate decision on new technology uses and purchases. By this, technology affect to Amazon.
Political and legal factor: that factor include the business government relationship and laws of
business, law, legislation and government policies. Like government introduces the law of
compensation in their policies. In this, managers and leaders of Amazon have to include this in
their term and condition. This affect to decision of leaders and manager like law of compensation
says give amount when employee injured at time they have pay and also to operation
management.
Conclusion
From the above study it had been concluded that operation management played an
important role in the organisation. Report has covered by the role and characteristics of manager
and leader at the time of technology changes in the external environment. Technology affect to
the business and its supply chain management. Manager and leaders reacted on the different
operational situation like miscommunication and unsafe work environment from technology.
Study has covered by the situational theory, system theory and contingency theory helped to
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solve any situation happened in organisation. In that also discussion on role of manager and
leaders in applied six-sigma and total quality of management. Operation management has the
important role to achieve business goals of company. Report has also covered by the business
factors like political, technological and economic affected to operation management and
decisions of leaders and managers.
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