Unit 04 Report: Leadership and Management in Organizational Contexts

This report delves into the core concepts of leadership and management within an organizational context. It begins by defining and comparing the distinct roles and characteristics of leaders and managers, highlighting their respective responsibilities and identifying potential problem areas. The report then examines how these roles apply in different situational contexts, such as product launches and conflict resolution, providing practical examples. Furthermore, it explores and applies various leadership theories and models, including situational, systems, and contingency leadership. The second part of the report focuses on operations management, explaining key approaches and the roles of leaders and managers in this area. It emphasizes the importance of operations management in achieving business objectives and assesses the impact of factors within the business environment on operational decision-making. The report concludes with a synthesis of the key findings and insights gained from the analysis.

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Unit - 04
Management and Operations
Report

Contents
Executive Summary:...................................................................................................................................3
Introduction:................................................................................................................................................4
Task 1..........................................................................................................................................................5
Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager to identify where the
problem lies.................................................................................................................................................5
Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in different situational
contexts.......................................................................................................................................................8
Apply different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership, systems leadership and
contingency...............................................................................................................................................10
Task 2........................................................................................................................................................12
Explain the key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers play........12
Explain the importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives................14
Assess the factors within the business environment that impact operational management and decision-
making by leaders and managers...............................................................................................................16
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................18
Reference:................................................................................................................................................19

Executive Summary:
Management is the core department of the business. It is controlled by the leader and manager of
the organization. Leader and manager have different roles in the organization. These roles of the
leader and functions of the manager have to maintain the organizational different situation
correctly. For this, they have to follow some approaches. Operational management is another
important department of the organization. It has so many important and values. Some other
factors influence the business and its activities.

Introduction:
The organization have so many departments and each department have different responsibilities.
Management is one of the important departments of the organization. It introduces leader and
manager for the organization. Leader helps the organization to motivate the subordinates to reach
their goals. Manager work for making plan and procedure to make it happen. To reach the
organizational goal, leader and manager have to understand their roles and functions also. This
will help them to make a good business operation.

Task 1
Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager to
identify where the problem lies.
The organization have so many activities to do for giving services and making production.
Leadership and management are two main activities organization have to maintain. Leadership is
a quality that drives a group in a path that gives perfect feedback or follows the path to work.
The person who is maintaining this quality is known as a leader (N.J. Aquilano, 2006). In the
organization, management is an activity that manages a group of people and gives them a certain
work to follow and maintain. The person who is managing that certain responsibility is known as
a manager. In the organization, both manager and leader have some important roles and
responsibilities. Both manager and leader have certain characteristics which make them able to
do those roles and responsibilities. Osymar Construction Limited managing director has to know
the roles and characteristics of leader and manager so that they can realize them and apply them
in their business management. In below, we will discuss it.
Roles: Roles are the regular activities that have to do by the manager and leader of the
organization. Osymar Construction Limited company didn't know the roles of the manager and
leader. This will face him problems to manage their subordinates. So, they have to keep proper
knowledge about leader and manager roles.
Influencing Subordinates: A leader of the organization can influence their subordinates by his
behavior. His behavior is a thing that makes feelings in the mind of the subordinate follow them.
A leader can influence the feelings and goals of the subordinates more than a manager. A
manager can't go out of his boundary. He has to work in a certain area. For this, he only can
influence his subordinates in those certain areas. He also tries to influence them in that area so
that they can give the best effort to them. Osymar Construction Limited company can follow this
role so that their manager can know about its responsibilities. He also knows that he can't go
outside his certain area (N.J. Aquilano, 2006). He has to give his best in his certain area to
motivate and influence the subordinates. On the other hand, an Osymar leader has to know that
he can make a direction to manage and influence the subordinates.

Goals and Visions: In the organization, Leader can think openly about their goals. They always
try that their goals and visions should be matched with the organization goals and visions. They
create their goals and vision in a way that should be understandable by their subordinates. On the
other hand, the manager can't create his own goals and vision for the organization. Because he
has to do what is set by the organization. Here is the difference between a manager and a leader.
A manager only can do that he embraces the objectives of the organization and work on them.
Osymar companies can set goals and vision which is related to their business. It is also
understandable by the employees of the organization. On the other hand, Osymar company's
manager has to focus on the company's objectives and work on them. He has certain goals and he
can't think of his own goals for the company.
Characteristics: Characteristics are those things that make the leader and manager able the jobs
perfectly. It also means the personality and ability of the manager and leader. Osymar
Construction Limited have to about the characteristics of the manager and leader.
Experience: When people have experience of work, they feel much confidence whatever he or
she does. Then people call them as an expert. It is an important characteristic for a leader in the
organization. When people work in the same field for so many days, he knows and everything
about that field (N.J. Aquilano, 2006). A leader is a person who has that experience. On the other
hand, the manager may appoint a newcomer for the organization. He has less experience than a
leader. A leader has the skills which gives him much more confidence than a manager. Osymar
company have to see this characteristic so that they can differentiate the manager and leader jobs.
Knowledge: It is an important characteristic for both manager and leader. They have to know
their roles, responsibilities exactly. It will help them to manage their subordinates. It also helps
them to reach the organization objectives. Osymar company have to aware that every leader and
manager have to keep knowledge about their jobs.
Independent in Jobs: It is a common characteristic that a leader is much independent in his job.
He can think about whatever good for the organization. But here a manager's characteristic is the
opposite of a leader. He can't feel independent in his job. He has certain duties which are set by
the organization.

Exercise of power: A leader can easily exercise his power. He has that experience which makes
him capable to exercise his power. But a manager can't exercise his power that much accurately.
Because he has not that much experience of work and he feels hesitant to exercise his power to
his subordinates.

Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in
different situational contexts.
In the organization, a leader is a person who influences the subordinates and leads them to work
for the organization. The role of a leader is so many. He has to guide, motivate and taking the
objectives and make them a goal for the organization. Osymer Construction company can utilize
their leadership roles in their organizational activities (N.J. Aquilano, 2006). This will give a big
dimension to solve their organizational problem. Leader of the organization work in a different
organizational situation. In below, we discuss it.
Product Launch decision-making: An organization is a body which is work for giving services
and products. To deliver a good quality product, an organization have to make a good plan to
give a quality full services and products. Here, the leader has an important role to make it
happen. He has the role to make an initial plan and make it happen. He has to motivate his
subordinates so that they work hard to make a qualities products and services. He also comes
forward to help his subordinate if they face any problem. He has to guide them to reach their
goals. A leader has a perfect vision for the launch of new products. He has the vision that the
product should be profitable for the organization. For this, he makes objectives that are related to
the production of quality services and products. Osymer company can realize the role of a leader
if their leader plays those roles. If they do so, Osymer company can launch quality services to
their customers.
Solve the Conflicts: Conflicts is common things in the organization. When there is two different
thinking arise for one decision-making process, there conflicts happen. A leader has an important
role to solve these conflicts. A leader is a person who has the power to influence subordinates.
Subordinates always happy with a leader decision. When lists happen, it is common for the
subordinates for seeking help from a leader (N.J. Aquilano, 2006). They have a strong trust in the
leader. The leader tries to solve the conflict in a way that both parties will be happy. Osymar
company can realize the power of the leader when they face conflicts in their leader. A leader is
a person who will negotiate the problem and manage the subordinates.
The manager is the official body has had some specific responsibilities. This responsibility is
known as the function of the manager. In the organization, the manager has to do this
responsibility so that they can manage the situation which is given by the organization. In

different organizational situation, the manager can do his responsibilities by taking some
managerial action. In below, we will discuss it.
Product Launch decision-making: Making products and services are the make work for an
organization. For this, organization have to take some step and monitor it at the end of the result.
The manager is the person who has to do this function. When an organization decide for
launching new products, the manager has to make a perfect plan and strategy to implement it. He
has to discuss with another department for seeking help to develop the products. He set the job of
the subordinate. He makes procedure This will help the subordinate to make a good quality
product. If there is a chance of loss for launching new products, it will be responsible for the
manager. So, he has to very careful in his job. Osymer company's manager has to care for his job
on new product launching. He has to make a plan in a way that the company may reach their goal
and launch good quality services.
Solve the Conflicts: In this function, the manager has to take some steps which will solve the
conflicts. They have to introduce some rules and regulation. These rules and regulations will
decrease the rate of conflicts (N.J. Aquilano, 2006). If conflicts arise, they have to make some
decision that will common for both party and they will come forward to solve the problem. This
is the function Osymer companies have to do for solving their conflicts in the organization. They
have to take precaution so that there is less chance of conflicts among subordinate.

Apply different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership, systems
leadership and contingency.
Leadership is a way that influences people to drive into specific thoughts. There are many
differences in the style of leadership. These differences depend on the different situation and
circumstance. Osymer company will find the different situation to operate their business. In this
different situation, their leader has to act differently. We can discuss some different approaches
to leadership (N.J. Aquilano, 2006). This is known as Contingency leadership, situational
leadership and system leadership. In below, we will discuss it.
Contingency Leadership: leadership approach said that leadership style will depend on the
favorability of the situation. That means if the situation is in favor of the leader, he can manage
and motivate the subordinate and drive them to organizational goals. There are two parts to
contingency leadership. These are Leadership style and Favorability of the situation.
Leadership style: In the organization, there are different type of people exist. The leader will
maintain their style of leadership by creating two categories. One they maintain their leadership
by making good relationship with the subordinates. This will make them understand their
subordinates and they can motivate what subordinate needs. Second, the leader makes task-
oriented leadership with their subordinates. Because all of the subordinates are not the same.
They are different in their characteristic. For this, the leader gives them a specific task that makes
them able to reach their organizational objectives.
Favorability of the situation: Leadership will depend on the favor of the situation. If a co-
worker has mass support to the leader, he or she can influence. There is some dimension in
leadership favorability.
The relationship is one dimension that makes a good situation to control their co-worker. If the
leader can maintain a good relationship, the situation will be in favor of him (N.J. Aquilano,
2006).
The task is another dimension to control the situation for favorable leadership. If a leader can
organize an easy structure of the task, they will get a favorable situation for their co-worker.
The last dimension is power. When a leader has more power, he or she can exercise it toward his
co-worker.

Osymer company faces some problem in their management. A leader can solve this problem by
taking appropriate leadership style and make the situation to favorable for him to solve.
Situational Leadership: Leadership can't control all their subordinates in the same way and the
same strategy. They have to understand the situation. Situation matter for controlling the
subordinates. The different situation has a different strategy to control the subordinates.
Situational leadership tell by four different styles (N.J. Aquilano, 2006). These are in the below.
Style of delegation is a situational approach that is needed for controlling mature people in the
organization. They need some delegation. They don't need extra care. Because they have old
experience of work.
Style of participating is a situational approach that is needed for an experienced worker. This
style of leadership will guide them to keep their working effort and maintain the service quality.
Style of selling different from others style. It tells the subordinates to sell more than before and
keep their working quality.
Style of telling is a situational leadership approach that explains that a leader has to work along
with the subordinates. This will like less relationship and more work activity.
Osymer company can follow this leadership approach while they are launching their new
projects. This will guide them to reach their destination with the help of different leadership
style.
System leadership: This leadership style tells that leader and the employees work together and
share their thoughts. By applying this leadership style, the organization will find the best result.
It changes the organizational structure significantly (N.J. Aquilano, 2006). This leadership style
is most powerful for the organization. Osymer Construction Limited company can use this
leadership approach and get the best result. This leadership style will not arise any conflicts in
the organization.

Task 2
Explain the key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and
managers play.
Operation management is an important part of a business organization. It's mainly worked for
making goods and services and managing the qualities. The manager and leader of the
organization have some important duties to main the operation management. They can follow
some approaches which will help them to do their work properly (Skinner, W., 1978). There are
some operational management approaches to follow. These are the Just in time approach, Kaizen
approach and Lean Production. Osymer Construction company can follow these approaches to
know how their manager and leader should play their roles and functions. In below, we will
discuss it.
Just in Time approach: This approach is used for inventory management in operation. The
leader and manager have to minimize the cost of the production by applying this approach. When
an organization produces products, they have to store and manage them. This will raise the cost
of the products. But this theory helps them to minimize the cost. When the market has enough
demand, leader and manager have to a product that demand order for the market. This will help
the organization to minimize cost. The manager and leader of the organization have to perfect
knowledge about the market current situation and demand. Then, they can manage operation
management by this approach. Osymer company operations have some lacking so that they can't
manage its work and projects. If they try to follow this approach to minimize their production
cost, they can still be in the market. The company's leader and manager have to forecast the
market properly and manage it.
Kaizen approach: Organization always tries to keep their success in the marketplace. But
sometimes they face problem because of changing market demand. In this case, the Kaizen
approach said that organizational success will remain if they are continuously improving their
internal and external process (Skinner, W., 1978). This will remain a successful situation. Kaizen
said about some factor which has to focus. The leader and manager of the organization have to
make a good team. A good team will give a good return to the organization. Then it said that to
eliminate the waste of the operation management. There is some waste which increases the

expenses. They have to remove it. The leader and manager have to keep efficient equipment for
the operation management. This will bring quality products and services. Product and service
quality should be kept in a constant ratio. Leader and manager have to take suggestion from the
subordinate to develop their production and operation management. The business has so many
loopholes which need to fix. This approach motivates the leader and manager to keep improving
the business by playing good operational management. Osymer company can follow this
approach to keep improving its operational management. Their leader has to improve those
loopholes which affect them to progress. They have to follow the Kaizen approach to all factors.
Those factors will help them to improve in their operational management and keep their success
in the market.
Lean Production approach: This approach is so helpful for organization. It tells the manager
and leader of the organization to reduce the waste of the production and increase the production.
This will increase the profit of the organization (Skinner, W., 1978). Organization can minimize
the cost of production by following this approach. Osymer Construction Limited company can
follow this approach to increase productivity. They can reduce all procedure which will not help
them to progress. Then they can reduce their operational conflicts and make a profit.

Explain the importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives.
Operational management is the key part of the business organization. It is the department which
maintains the key factor like products and services. So, the importance and value of operational
management are many (Skinner, W., 1978). Osymer company have to realize the importance of
operational management. If they focus on the value of operational management, they will not
face any problem in their business operation. In below, we will discuss some operational
management important points and values.
Distribute and Control: Operational management tries to distribute its products and services to
their customer. They distribute in a way that they can satisfy the market demand and keep their
market brand. They also try to control the waste so that they can reduce the production cost.
Osymer company's operational department have to give their service in a way that they can fill
the market demand. They also have to keep the cost of production by controlling the waste.
Developing goods: It is important to work for the operational department to developing goods.
They collect good quality raw materials and convert them to goods.
Designing the process: To make goods and services, the operational department has to design
all process of production. They design the process of the production so that they can get an
efficient number of products. Osymer company have to design for its operational management.
This will bring some quality to the production.
It is also important to know the operational management objectives this will help to the
importance of operational management.
Increase product quality: The organization is here for giving services and making products for
the people. Operational management works for improving products quality so that it will satisfy
the customers (Skinner, W., 1978). So, they take the necessary steps to keep their product
quality. It is a primary objective of operational management. Osymer company have to focus on
their services. It is also a primary objective for the company to keep their service quality at a
level that their customer will be satisfied.

Reducing waste: It is another objective of operational management. Waste is the things that will
increase the cost of production. Operational management always tries that they can minimize
waste and make them productive for the company. They try to recycle it and make a by-product.
Osymar company have to focus on this objective. This will reduce its cost of production.
Reduction of cost and profitability: Operational team have to make a plan that will reduce the
total cost. Because reduce the total cost increase the profitability. This can happen when they
have the intention to reduce the total cost of the operational department (Skinner, W., 1978).
Osymer company can reduce its total cost by following some approaches to cost reduction. This
will help them to increase their profitability.
Reduce investment and Increase revenue: If organizations have ideal money, they can't make
revenue. Because ideal money doesn't generate any profit. In this case, operational management
has to reduce its investment. They have to cut down some unprofitable investor. This will help
them to find a good ratio of revenue. Osymar company have to think about this when they have
an unprofitable investor. This investor will cut down the profit ratio and nothing else. So, they
have to cut down that investor and increase revenue.

Assess the factors within the business environment that impact operational management
and decision-making by leaders and managers.
Businesses environment are the things which are maintained by the operational department. It is
an unavoidable thing for the business. There is some factor in the environment which have some
effects on business (Skinner, W., 1978). These factors influence business activities. Operational
management has to maintain these factors. It will discuss below.
Corporate social responsibility: It is a common factor for business which have a lot number of
influences. Business is not for its profit. It has to see the society people. Business is for the
people and fulfils the demand of the people. Besides, it has to look for the social problem. It has
to come forward to some development program of the society. When people of the society can't
eat properly due to poverty, they have to come and make a food campaign for those people. They
have to take those social steps which will make society productive for the future. They can
recruit unemployed graduate people to their company, they can donate to NEO school to
eliminate the illiteracy from the society. Osymar company also can't about this Corporate social
responsibility. They have to take some innovative step that their society people will make their
society productive and fresh.
Culture, Values and ethics: In a business organization, we can see that people come from
different culture and region. They have different language accent and food habit. They wear
different outfits. So, it is the responsibility of the leader and manager of the organization to give
them values to their culture. There is no place for racism in the business organisation. This
should keep maintaining in the business organization. The leader has to maintain the values of
different culture so that they can interact with them and expand their business. Moral
responsibility should be properly practised in the business organization. While operational
department deciding on their new products, they can apply these ethics, values and cultures. This
will help them to understand their customers and the current market situation. Osymar company
have to keep knowledge about different culture, values and ethics. It will help them to adjust
with their subordinates and also help them to expand their business in a different region.
Equal Opportunity: It is common discrimination in society to not give equal opportunity. In our
society, women are always find discriminated on the workplace. Operational management has to
fix this problem they have to keep some space for women. There is another problem we can see

that people are not equally treated for their religion. If a Muslim come for the job, they treat as a
terrorist. That's not far for society. Before judging a people, you have known him perfectly.
Osymar company also can follow this thing. They have to keep the equal opportunity for women.
They have to identify the people and judge them.
Osymar Food campaign: It is the primary responsibility of the organization to think about
society and keep contribute to society (Skinner, W., 1978). Osymar company can take part in
food campaign in the rural region of the world. They can supply food to poor people around the
world. They can raise a fund from the developed country in Europe. This will also increase their
reputation.
Political conflicts: It is common for the business organization to face political conflicts. These
political conflicts make suffer the business very badly. Operational management has influenced
by these factors. This will reduce the production and services. Leader and manager have to think
of some innovative plan and strategy which can't affect the operational management. Political
conflicts sometimes change the business market environment. Here in UK, when Brexit
happened business find a point to lose their marketplace (Skinner, W., 1978). So, organization
have to think of a different marketplace where they can continue their business. Osman company
have to face these factors. They have to take initiative steps so that they can continue their
business during political conflicts.

Conclusion:
This report is all about the management operation. Here, leader and manager are an important
part to know about their roles and function in the business organization. This report will help the
business student the roles and responsibilities of the leader and manager. Then they can learn the
approaches of leadership in a different situation and different style. This will make them able to
maintain management operation.

Reference:
Klassen, R.D., and D.C. Whybark, 1999, “Environmental Management in Operations: The
Selection of Environmental Technologies”, 3rd edition, Decision Sciences, New York.
Skinner, W., 1978, “Manufacturing in the Corporate Strategy”.4th edition, John Wiley & Sons,
New York.
Klassen, R.D., and D.C. Whybark, 1999, “Environmental Management in Operations: The
Selection of Environmental Technologies”, 3rd edition, Decision Sciences, New York.
Skinner, W., 1978, “Manufacturing in the Corporate Strategy”.4th edition, John Wiley & Sons,
New York.
Chase. R.B., F.B. Jacob, and N.J. Aquilano, 2006, “Operations Management for a Competitive
Advantage”, Eleventh Edition, Irwin McGraw-Hill, New York.
Friedman, T.L. 2005, “The World Is Flat”, 2nd edition, Farrar Straus and Giroux, New York.
Galbraith, J.K., 1958, “The Affluent Society”,2nd edition, Houghton Mifflin, Boston.