Comparing Leadership and Management in the Booker Group

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership and management practices within the Booker Group, a major food wholesaler. It begins by differentiating between the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers, examining their functions in various situations, and applying leadership theories and models, such as situational and system leadership. The report further explores key approaches to operations management, emphasizing its value in achieving business objectives and analyzing the impact of factors within the business environment. It evaluates strategies for improving operational efficiency through effective management and leadership, considering the influence of different factors on the business environment and the wider community. The analysis includes detailed comparisons of leadership styles, managerial functions (planning, organizing, staffing, leading and controlling), and their applications within the Booker Group, supported by relevant academic references.

Management and operations
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Table of Contents
Introduction .....................................................................................................................................3
Task 1 ..............................................................................................................................................3
a Different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager..................................................3
b Examine the role of leader and function of manager in different situation..............................5
c.) Apply theories and models of leadership approach ...............................................................5
M1 Different between role of leader and function of manager ..................................................8
M2 Assess the strength and weakness of different approaches...................................................8
D1 Critically analyses and evaluate the different theories and approaches to leadership ..........9
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................9
a.) Explain the key approaches to operation management and the role of that leader and
manager........................................................................................................................................9
(b) The importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives....10
c.) factors within business environment that impact operations management...........................12
M3 Evaluate how manager and leader can improve efficiency of operational management...13
M2 Analyses how different factor affect business environment and wider community...........13
D2 critically evaluate the operation management and factors that impact business environment
....................................................................................................................................................13
Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................14
References .....................................................................................................................................15
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Introduction
Operation management is mainly referred to the administration of business practices so
that highest level of efficiency can be achieved in an organization. Operation management team
try to achieve balance cost with revenue for achieving the highest profit as possible. The present
report is based on Booker group, which is the largest food seller operator offering branded goods
to over a 400,000 customer. The present report cover, the different role and characteristic of
leader and manager is compared. Along with this, the function of manager in a different situation
is examined. Apart from that, the importance and value of operation management in achieving
business objective is explained.
Task 1
a) Different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager
According to the given scenario, Booker group is the largest food wholesaler operator
which is offering private label goods to its 400000 customer. It adopted various type leadership
approach and management theory. For this purpose, different roles that manager and leader play
in organization are discussed as below:
 Leader: A Leader is a person who holds the dominant position within organization or a
group of people is able to influence group of people towards the achievements of firm’s
goals and objectives.
 Manager: Manager is an individual who is in charge of certain group of tasks and work.
A manager often has a staff of people who generally reports directly to them.
Difference between role of leader and manager
Leader Manager
Leader’s role is to inspire its team members
and make sure that they work towards the goal
of company. For example: in Booker group,
leader encourages involvement of employees
and increases their productivity (Gu, Wu and
Wu, 2014). Further, he encourages employees
Manager always focus on company’s goal and
make sure the success of organization. This
helps in increasing opportunity of sale at
Booker group company. This method help in
increasing the profit of company.
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to give their opinions at the time of making
decision.
Leadership role is to establish honesty and
integrity which is important for winning
employee’s trust. Leader of Booker group
supports employees so that they would give
their best efforts in company.
Manager’s role is to maintain financial records
and make sure that cash handling and all other
functions in firm are performed in a systematic
manner.
Leader makes sure that each employee’s
problem related to work is solved by him.
Leader of Booker group motivates the
employees and support them in their work.
In relation to the employees, manager of
Booker group communicates message to leader
or directly to employees (Demeritt, Nobert,
and Pappenberger, 2013). Complete important
information is passed from upper to lower level
for making sure that business is performing
according to its goals and objectives.
Furthermore,
 Manager of Booker group follow order and drop at upper level while leader give ideas
and views to employee for improving team work.
 Manager have short range perspective, on the other hand leader have a long range view
and ideas.
 Leader ask question to employee such as WHAT and WHY things happened at work
place, while manager ask question to employee to leader that HOW and WHEN objective
can be achieved
 Manager always control the employee and motivate them for increasing productivity at
workplace (Luo and Liu, 2014). On the other hand, leader inspires his team member to
work more effectively.
 Leader accepts the challenge and fulfil it within given time, while, manager focuses on
the system. Along with this, manager keeps some distance with its employees while
leader makes contact.
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 Further, manager say what to do in any critical situation and leader suggest idea how to
come out from critical situation.
There are different type of leader who play different role in organization such as
democratic leader, laissez faire and autocratic leader. Democratic leader role is to participate
equally in the work process of its team member and allow group to make decision. On the other
hand laissez faire leader is that which allow its team member to work by their own way. This
leader give freedom to its team member to work by their own and make decision by itself.
b Examine the role of leader and function of manager in different situation
Leader most important role is to make quick decision on any critical situation. At a time
when the manager of Booker group to make a decision and announces it, it in this situation role
of a leader is to identify the problem and try to take out a possible alternative for its team
member and for the firm. Further, team leader encourages its team member to accept the
decision, if they find that decision is best as they analysed. –
Role of leader in organization at Booker group is that it support its team member at the
time of work load. Further it resolve the issues of its employee and make them capable to work
by their own. It tries to maintain strong relation with its team member, so that employee
motivated toward the work.
Management has a different role in an organization that is planning controlling, directing
etc. for example, At Booker group company manager planned some new strategy, then leader
needs to implement those strategies in an effective manner so that employee accept and work
according to this strategy (Bates, 2014). While on the other hand, if the manager of the Booker
group, define some limit and ask leader and employees to take a decision. In this situation
democratic style team leader discuss with other worker and make a decision while having a
problem in mind. Limit which is defined by a manager is also well defined, and they are not
allowed to go beyond those limit. Hence this allows the team leader to take a democratic
decision within a company. Apart from that, manager of Booker group take a decision that
employee work on the weekend than in this situation autocratic leader not discuss with its
employee and force them to work on the weekend.
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Manager role is planned way through which company goal can be achieved. For example,
goal of management is to improve company sale, in this situation manager first need to decide
which step is necessary to accomplish the goal. In this step it may include increase sale staff,
increase inventory or advertising. Further role of leader of Booker group is use different way for
inspiring its team member toward the goal, it need to continue plan of manager by including its
own suggestion and ideas. There are different function of manager such as planning, staffing ,
organizing and leading and controlling. For improving the company sale manager need to decide
that which step is required to accomplish the target on time. For this purpose it need to develop
plan. Along with this it need to provide training and development facility so that employee can
work more effectively and efficiently
c.) Apply theories and models of leadership approach
There are different theories of leadership that are as follow
Situational leadership model is a most recognized, utilized and effective leadership. It is
powerful and flexible tool which enable leader to effectively influence other. According to this
model there is no single best style of leadership (Thompson and Glasø, 2015). This Situational
leadership style is applied as per the need of situation. For example at the when employee are not
able to perform task effectively then leader support them in understanding their work. The
effective leader is task relevant, most of successful leader used to adapt different leadership style
according to the situation and look to cues such as nature of group, and type of task and other
factor. For example, at a Booker group company. Leader need to aspect and change its style of
working so that it match with its team workers. In a situation when employee is stuck with a
particular decision or not satisfy with work then situation leader need to delegate responsivity in
which leader is involved in an activity. It also permits employee to chose a task and direct them
especially at the time of peak periods. – GOOD
In this situational model leader involve a four leadership style that is as follow
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 Telling (S1): This style involves leader that tell people what to do and how to perform it.
Leader direct and supervised its employee in starting (Oakland, 2014). At Booker group
this type of leader tell employee a way of working – for example at Booker group if
employee are not able to understand their work and cannot achieve task on time then
leader direct and supervised them.
 Selling (S2): In this style leader focus on high relationship that is, leader define role and
task but take ideas and suggestion form its group member. They are involved in decision
making but still required direction because they are not much experienced. This style is
used when group member are highly motivated and initiate in group work and like to give
ideas and suggestion to team leader.
 Participating (S3): In this style leader pass decision, daily and allocate the task. The
leader facilitated and take decision but control is in leader hand. Further there is lack of
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Illustration 1: Situational leadership model
(Sources:Situational leadership style . 2016 )

confident in employee and not need much direction for completing a task (Rushton,
Croucher and Baker, 2014.). For Example, at Booker group leader of this style motivated
its employee and support them so that they can work confidently. This style is used by
the leader if employee are enough capable of working but because of less confidence than
unable to perform.
 Delegating (S4) : In this type of leadership style leader need to involve in decision
making process and in problem solving. However, control is in follower hand. For
example at Booker group company if any problem face by employee then follower
decides how the leader will be involved. In this style leader used when team leader want
to motivate its team member so it involves employee in decision making process.
System leadership style System leadership described as a leader across the organizational
boundaries. This style is closely related to a leadership of emergence and transformational
leadership style. In a transformational leadership style it involves a communicating a vision and
developing a trust in employees. Further, there are some core capabilities of system leader, that
are different in personality and style (Armstrong, 2014.). They have ability to see reality through
a eye of employee at Booker group company. After listening its team people they build a
relationship with them, network of trust and collaboration. They think that something can be
done without waiting for a fully developed plan. They take feedback for improving themselves
and try to build themselves and eventually infuse larger changes efforts. At a Booker group
system leader can easily solve short term problem. This style is used when leader want to involve
its team member and team member are highly skilled.
At Booker group style leader develop so that they can foster collective leadership. They
can easily see larger system, in complex setting, leader focus their attention on organization
system which is more visible from their point. The second capability of system leader is to
involve fostering, reflection and generative more conversation. In this reflection means thinking
about a change which can be taken place at Booker group (Purce, 2014). Third capability is s it
can solve problem in effective manner. Changes take place which cannot be adopted by a
employee at work place, they may resist the changes , For this purpose, system leader build a
positive relation with employees and encourage them to accept the changes.
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Contingency theory of leadership –
Contingency theory show states that effective leadership is not depended on one style.
This theory is similar to situational leadership theory. This theory is very effective for the Booker
group company because this type of leader change themselves according to the situation (Gu,
Wu and Wu, 2014.). For Example, at Booker group employee are not much experienced and
unable to work effectively, in this situation contingency leader change their way of working
according to the given situation. They support employee in their work and properly guide them
so that they not face any type of difficulty.
This style is adopted when leader are more effective in situation while if they are
relationship oriented. This theory show that leader will not be effective in all situation and but
only the one which suit them best. It mainly focuses on building a relationship when there is
mistrust take place and insecurities with leadership intentions.
M1 Diffrent between role of leader and function of manager
There are different style of leadership and each play a different role in a organization
with a function of manager.
Some of leadership style is as follow
Democratic leadership style: Autocratic leadership style
According to this style leader play a
significant role in organization they always
support employee and involve them in decision
making process. For example, At Booker
group manager make a strategy for motivating
an employee, while democratic leader
implement this strategy so that employee get
motivated. While Democratic leader support
employee and solve their issue which motivate
them toward the work.
Autocratic leader not make relation with
employee, its main role is to direct and
supervise worker. They also not involve
employee in a decision making process.
Further manager function planning, directing,
controlling etc (Demeritt, Nobert, and
Pappenberger, 2013). for Example, manager
of Booker group set some boundaries for its
employee, while autocratic leader make
decision without discussing with team worker
and take decision to accept this limitation.
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M2 Assess the strength and weakness of different approaches
There are different type of leadership approaches and all have some strength and
weakness that are as follows
Situational leadership style
Strength of situational leadership style is that it is well known and frequently for
encouraging employee to work hard. Further it is a practical approach which is easy to
understand and apply at Booker group. Different perspective of this leadership style help in
achieving organizational goal on time.
Apart from this there are some weakness of this style that is employee work under
pressure and can not develop their skill.
Strength and weakness of contingency leadership style;
Strength is that leader is involved employee and decision making process. Further leader adopt
changes according to the situation. Some power and authority is given to a employee which
motivate them to work hard.
Further this style have some weakness that is leader not motivate its employee toward the
work.
D1 Critically analyses and evaluate the different theories and approaches to leadership
There are different theories of leadership that which are discussed below
The trait model of leadership is based on different characteristics which both successful
and unsuccessful. This leadership theory help in predicting effectiveness of leadership.
According to this style leaders have ability to inspire other and guide them (Strom, Sears and
Kelly, 2014). At a Booker group company trait leadership theory help in motivating an
employee so that they can easily achieve goal on time. In this leader are give full effort to the
organization. Leader are higher in thing such as extroversion and self confident and always think
positive. It can be critically analyse that behaviour Behavioural theory of leadership is classified
on the basis of its behaviour of leader. For behavioural theory a leader is the best predictor of his
leadership influences which result in a leaders' success. This theory show that how leader can
take a effective decision at a Booker group company.
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Task 2
a.) Explain the key approaches to operation management and the role of that leader and manager
According to the given scenario, Booker group is reviewing its operation and manage to
seek to increase the quality efficiency, responsiveness of the firm to become more competitive
by reducing cost and improving on services targets. For this purpose, it is required to review the
current process through understanding a operation management.
Some of the approaches are disccsued below
Operation management play important role in the production process
System approach: It is a approach of operation management in which company need to follow
systematic process in which Booker Group company receive raw material and process to convert
it a usable output
Dynamic approach; dynamic approach is that in which company need to shift its focus toward
the learning and problem solving and knowledge. If Booker Group focus on this element that
then it can make improvement for meeting the technological and environment changes.
Role of manager in operation management
Operation management is referred to the management of business practices for creating
the highest level of efficiency in an organization. At a Booker group company manager attempt
balance to balance any cost with the income so that it can achieve the highest profit (Luo and
Liu, 2014. ). There are some important roles of manager at a Booker group in relation to
operation management which include inventory management. In this manager understand the
work process and provide raw material which is required for completing a work. Furthermore,
manager role is to set budget at Booker group and it also controls the cost as well as keep
financial record. It also used different method that are cost benefit analysis, to improve the
efficiency of Booker group. Then it also set goals for the leader after forecasting and panning
any strategy.
Role of leader in operation management
Further leader also make sure that customer and employee are satisfied and happy with
their services or not. This operation management process is called a delivering management in
which leader make sure that employee are delivering a high quality work to customer on right
time or not. Further leader also focus on motivating an employee and encouraging them to
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increase booker productivity (Strom, Sears and Kelly, 2014.). While productivity is a key driver
for a good operation management and it also required versatile from a leader.
A strong operation manager always understand employee because it knows that employee
are valuable resources. At Booker group manager communicated effectively with its operation
staff and make them clear the objective and goal of company. They not only deliver to employee
a hard fact or a constructive feedback but also listened them and solve their issues related to
work. The relation between a transformational leader and leader member show that team with
strong and trusting leadership always impact the team member (Armstrong, 2014.). For example
at a Booker group when cost of production is increased and production activity is slow down
then lead communicate directly with employees which is a better approach for company. The
goal of company cannot reached if employee are empowered to share with management the
information for developing alternatives.
An operation manager look for efficiency and motivate employee toward the goal. It always try
to decrease the cost of products and services per unit by leaving a margin price for gaining a
competitive advantage. Further it focuses on a production cost, product quality and to minimize
the excess time.
(b) The importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives
In the modern era, effective management of business operations has become very
essential for overall growth and success of any organization. In simpler terms, operations
management can be defined as the efforts which are being placed by companies with an
objective to manage their overall business practices (Jiang, 2014). Along with this, the concept
of operations management also lays emphasis on creation of the highest level of efficiency
within the business enterprise. It can be stated that operations management has started to play
very important role in enhancing sales and profit of companies such as Booker ltd. One of the
main and most important advantage associated with operations management is that it helps the
selected business enterprise in ensuring that all business practices are conducted at the their
highest possible efficiency. This helps Booker ltd. To attain all its objectives and business goals
which it has formulated. On he other side of this, it can be asserted that if the operations'
management of a company is ineffective then various obstacles arises terms of accomplishing
business aim and objectives. The concept of operations management is valuable because it
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