Leadership and Management in Operations: A Corus Case Study Report

This report analyzes leadership and management practices within Corus, a steel-making company. It begins by differentiating between the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers, highlighting their responsibilities and the similarities in their objectives. The report then examines how leadership and management functions are applied in various situational contexts, such as implementing new technologies and addressing employee turnover, and how leaders and managers use different approaches to overcome such situations. Key theories and models, including situational, contingency, and systems leadership, as well as Mintzberg's model and transformational leadership, are discussed to explain the approaches used. Furthermore, the report explores key approaches to operational management and the importance of operation management in achieving business objectives. It also identifies factors within the business environment that impact operational management and decision-making processes. The report ultimately provides insights into the relationship between management and leadership in a contemporary business environment.

Management and
Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Role and characteristics of a leader and manager...................................................................1
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................5
P2 Role and functions of leader and manager apply in different situational context..................5
P3 Theories and models of approach including situational leadership, contingency and system
leadership.....................................................................................................................................6
Task 3...............................................................................................................................................7
P4 Key approaches to operation management and role of leader and manager play.................7
P5 Importance and value of operation management in achieving business objectives...............8
Task 4...............................................................................................................................................9
P6 Factors in business environment that impact upon operational management and decision
making..........................................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCE.................................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Management and operation is associated with business administration practices that
creates the high efficiency level in order to achieve business objectives. Management is needed
within all organization which is manages by Human resource manager by formulating different
policies and legislations. Operation management is used to converting material and labour in to
finished goods as possible to raise organizational profitability. Management and operational
mainly consider planning, organizing and supervising about production of goods and services
(Zhang and et. al., 2016). To understand about this Corus has been taken that is the part of Tata
Steel Group managing their operations efficiently. Corus is steel making company whose
headquarter in London, UK. Corus was formed in 1999 through merger of Koninklijke
Hoogovens and British Steel Plc. The managers of such company are handling all business
activities efficiently. This report covers difference between role of a leaders and functions of
manager and their characteristics, how they plays a different role in different situation and
approaches of operation management in which manager and leaders plays important role. In
addition importance and value of operation management is used to accomplish business
objectives and various factors that can impacts on operation management and decisions which
are taken by managers and leaders. Such report will help to understand about relationship
between management and leadership in a contemporary business environment.
Task 1
P1 Role and characteristics of a leader and manager
Leader: A person who convinces other people to follow and provide them proper
guidance to complete the common goals is known as leader. It make rules, guides and inspire
other to work efficiently.
For instance, Corus is a steel making organization where number of employees are
working. The leader of Corus company understand the goals of company and motivates their
employees in order to accomplish goals.
Manager: Business activities and functions are manages by a person by evaluating
employees performance and formulating policies is called manager. Manager is appointed by all
organization for the purpose of making smooth all business function and grow up continuously.
Such as the manager of Corus company decide the goals, run business and make it

profitable with the help of employees. It make plans and strategies to grow up the business and
further implement that helps to maintain profitability.
Role of leader:
 Mentor is main role of leader that guides right directions to its employees in
Corus in order to reaching new heights.
 Leader is a person who constructs specific objectives for supporting mission.
Therefore, leaders of Corus plays a role of navigator.
Characteristics of leader:
 Leaders are needed to decision making skills because it affects business entity
while making decisions (Olatomiwa and et. al., 2016).
 Leader should have ability to resolve conflicts which may arises within
organization.
Role of manager:
 In business organization managers plays a role of plan and decision maker. Such
as Corus's manager formulates plans for expanding business.
 Manager handle all disturbance and build liaison with employees that make feel
good and achieve business goals.
Characteristics of manager:
 Positive behaviour of managers motivates others and helps Corus to accept
challenges (Sabri, Danapalasingam and Rahmat, 2016).
 Communication, time management and coordination helps managers to handle
critical situation within organization.
Difference between leader and manager
Basis Leader Manager
Meaning Leader influences its subordinates
in order to achieve common goals.
A person who is responsible for planning,
organizing, directing and controlling the
business.
Employees /
followers
Leader has followers who follow
them and work accordingly.
Manager has employees who works
according to manager's guidelines.
Decisions It facilitates decisions and have It make decisions as they have mind,

foresightedness attributes. management skills and knowledge.
Aim The main aim of leader is growth
and development through
completing targets.
To attain the required results by deciding
goals and putting efforts.
Changes Change are promoted by leaders. React on changes by managers.
Similarities between manager and leader of Corus
The manager and leader of Corus plays most important role as they manage works by
motivating employees in effective manner so that they can attain business goals. Similarities
between manager and leader's role and characteristics are explained below:
 Effective communication: In Corus manager and leaders have such characteristic
that is used to conduct work efficiently through proper communication among
employer and employees.
 Innovator and motivator: Such role is played by Corus's manager and leader
who bring new technology or plans and motivates to its staff that helps to accept
challenges smoothly (Seo, Lee, Kim and Koo, 2017).
Difference between role and characteristics of a manager and leader are as explained:
Leader Manager
On the basis characteristics
Leader have ability to inspire people. For
example, the leader of Corpus motivates or
inspire employees to work efficiently
(Difference between characteristics and role of
a manager and leader, 2019) .
On the basis characteristics
Discipline is the main characteristics of
manager that helps Corpus to manage all
function smoothly.
In Corus company, leaders have good
communication skills that attracts people and
solve their problems.
Managers have confidence as they are working
correctly. For example, manager of Corus steel
are highly confident towards their work and
procedure.
The another characteristic of leaders are In addition to manager have patience, etiquette

enthusiastic and open minded which helps
Corus to work with more energy and openly by
sharing with employees.
and competence characteristics that helps
Corus to survive long term and compete with
its competitors.
On the basis Roles On the basis Roles
Required at all level is the main role of leaders
who are interpret and execute plans at middle
and lower level.
Managers are playing a role of entrepreneur as
they develop new ideas and uses new
technology for expanding business.
Leaders of Corpus are playing a role of
motivator in which they attracts people to
accomplish targets.
Corus's manager focusing on role of monitor in
which they monitor employee's performance
and business activities.
Good learner is another role of learner who
aim is to be better person. For instance, Corus
leader's develop their knowledge, skills and
abilities by learning new things.
Manager are playing role of resource allocator
and decision maker that helps to distribute
resources and making right decisions.
Roles of management and leadership by applying in to diverse situation
In Corus there are various situation like low productivity, low employees involvement,
conflicts between employees etc. in which manager and leaders plays different role for
overcoming them. Role of management and leadership helps to reduce such situation like:
Situation1: For increasing production
Role of leadership
 Leader provides proper training and development to employees so employees get
motivate and make efforts to increase production (Meyers and et. al., 2015).
Role of management
 Manager of Corus make plans and monitor on each employee's activities so that
production can increase within organization.
Situation 2: For reducing conflicts
Role of leadership

 In Corus, leader treats conflicts as assets so they conduct debate among
employees that helps to get new ideas and provide them solution in order to
resolve problems.
Role of management
 In respective company, manager communicate or conduct proper meeting with
employees so problems can be solve easily.
Therefore, In Corus leaders adopts contingency approach in order to deal with low
production and conflicts. Another side, management adopts motivational approach to deal with
above situations. By applying both approach employees can get proper motivation, guidance and
solution of problems.
M1 Role and function of leaders and manager
To understand the role of leader and manager different theory and Mintzberg's model is
used by Corus's manager that are as explained:
Mintzeberg model: This model is given by Mintzeberg in order define the role of managers that
are given below:
Interpersonal roles:
 The figurehead: Manager are performing ceremonial duties under this role that
helps employees to understand the needs and complete it stipulated period.
 Liaison: In this role manager of Corus keep contact with outsiders and peer
through vertical chain of command that make feel good and work properly.
Informational roles:
 Monitor: Manager of Corus are playing a role of monitor in which as they
monitor employee's performance and also scan the environment for the purpose of
collecting new information.
 The Disseminator: This role is played by manager of Corus by passing on
privileged information directly to subordinates that helps to make right decision.
Decisional roles:
 Entrepreneur: In Corus managers are playing a role of entrepreneur that helps to
improve the unit by initiating projects.

 Disturbance handler: Manager of Corus are playing another role that is
disturbance handler that helps to control the disturbance which are arises within
organization.
Role of leaders:
Action centred relationship: This model is sued by leader of Corus company that helps
to perform different role and responsibilities. It is based on three elements such as team, task and
individual which are perform by leader of Corus in order to accomplish common goals.
Transformational leadership: This theory is used by Corus's leaders in order to identify
the changes, creating vision and inspire employees to accept changes effectively. This model is
useful to accept the changes in Corus that is steel making company and focus on goals.
Therefore, it has been analysed that leader and manger are playing important role and
functions within organization that helps to accomplish common objectives in fixed period of
time and maintain productivity.
Task 2
P2 Role and functions of leader and manager apply in different situational context
Different activities are running by business organization in which manager and leaders
plays most important role in order to make successful business. Corus is a steel making company
that deals with different situation for performing business activities. Leaders and managers helps
to face such situation by playing role and performing functions accordingly:
Situation: New technology implementation in Corus
Role of leader:
 For the purpose of implementing new technology in Corus leaders plays a role of
motivator which helps to motivate employees and provide guidance to adopt
advanced technology (Wu and et. al., 2015).
 Leaders provide training and more learning skills to employees that helps to cope
up with changes and also helps to leave traditional method.
Function of manager:
 To deal with situation manager formulate effective policies and process that helps
to implement advance technology in effective way.

 Manager of Corus understand the employees problems and conduct training and
development programme which helps to use new technology effectively.
Situation: Increase turnover in Corus
Role of leader:
 For increasing turnover leaders implement plans and strategies which are
formulated by managers maintain good relation between people.
 Leaders of respective firm will guide staff so employees can focus on quality of
production which attracts people and process to high turn over.
Function of manager:
 For increasing turn over manager decide the goals and formulate solid strategies
that helps to work according and increase turnover by beating competition.
Moreover, manager will evaluate employee's performance on daily basis so work
can be complete effectively.
P3 Theories and models of approach including situational leadership, contingency and system
leadership
Business organization many adopts different types of theories and model which helps to
make effective decisions according to situation. As Corus is manufacturing steel at wider level
facing different situations during business activities. So following theories and models are used
by leader and manager that are mentioned below:
System leadership: A situation is develop by leaders that make feel motivate to
employees which helps to conduct particular work effectively. For instance, Corus has decided to
use new technology for manufacturing steel. For dealing this situation manager and leader will
conduct training and development programme systematically that will help to use new
technology in systematic manner (Zargar, Samani and Haghighi, 2016).
Strength Weakness
 By using this approach Corus can attain
their goals which are decided by
managers.
 Leaders and manager can manage
operations effectively that increases
 There is require more skills and
knowledge to bring new technology
within organization which may be
difficult for Corus.
 It is not appropriate approach to deal

productivity and profitability. with all problems.
Situational leadership: This approach is associated with situation which are currently
going through, and manager make decisions according to situation. For instance, management of
Corus are making effective decisions by developing plans that helps to face the present situation
accordingly. Strength and weakness of such theory are designed below:
Strength Weakness
 This approach helps manager and
leader of Corus to develop effective
plans and formulate policies to deal
with present issues.
 It helps to make good and comfortable
atmosphere for employees.
 It increases leader and manager's
awareness.
 This is not appropriate approach to
fulfil long term requirement of a
business organization.
 This approach can be ineffective in
Corus as it has lack of command in task
oriented environments.
 IT is not based on leaders skill level.
Contingency leadership: This theory states that the success of a leader cannot be depend
on his abilities and capacity. There should be focus on two factor such as situation and skill set
of manager which helps to maintain positional power, task structure and employees relation in
order to accomplish targets.
Strength Weakness
 By using contingency approach
management of Corus can analyse
impact of particular situation positively.
 It provide guidance to face the
upcoming problems or situation while
running business activities.
 This is not perfect approach for
constant changing situation or business
environment structure.
 It does not provide enough information
to leader in Corus firm.
M2 Strength and weakness of different approaches

It has been assessed that system leadership helps Corus to complete the work in stipulated
time by using a systematic structure, situation leadership helps to face the different business
situation in which manager and leader get solution of problems and complete targets. Moreover,
contingency approach helps to accomplish targets by involving skill set and situation which can
arises business organization and need to solve. All approaches have some weakness such as it is
based on only situation and can solve through systematic manner. Moreover, contingency
approach is not enough to get exact information by employees and business. There is need to
used other approach which can helps to make profits that can be costly for organization.
Task 3
P4 Key approaches to operation management and role of leader and manager play
Operation management is effective within business industry as it helps to convert
material in to finished goods and services which attracts people and make profitability. Operation
management is associated with different approaches and method that influences leaders and
managers role effectively. Some approaches are followed by Corus that are as mentioned below:
Total quality management: This approach is related with better quality of products and
services which is provided through leaders and manager by checking quality and providing
guidance. In context to Corus manager and leader are following this approach that helps to
minimize the wastages by removing unnecessary phases from manufacturing process. Moreover,
manager maintain better quality of steel which encourages clients to purchase (Hussain, Bui and
Kim, 2017).
Six Sigma: This approach is related with conducting continuous improvement in
products and business procedure. For example, the manager of Corus has noticed that
productivity of organization is reducing so, manager and leader identifying detect in procedure
and products. Manger and leader of respective firm formulate policies for improving production
by reducing unnecessary cost. Therefore, leader and manager of Corus plays important role by
following this approach which helps to make continuous improvements within organization.
Management approach: It is related with managing all operation and business activities
in effective way by developing effective strategies according to situation. Such as manager of
Corus make effective plans in order to manage operations effectively and achieve business goals.

By adopting above discussed approaches manager and leader manage their work
effectively, reduce wastages and improve the quality of manufacturing products that helps to
maintain high profitability (Propa, Banwet and Goswami, 2015).
M3 Leader and manger can improve efficiency
The leader and manager perform different role and function within organization for the
purpose of accomplishing goals. They can improve their performance which was evaluated as by
using TQM, management approach and six sigma manager can perform business activities
effectively and maintain the profitability by reducing cost. TQM approach helps to control the
quality of products and six sigma reduce the cost that helps Corus to improve the efficiency of
operational management in order to meet with objectives.
P5 Importance and value of operation management in achieving business objectives
The essential factor of organization is operation management that's associated with
managing products, different practices, and maintaining good performance in order to achieve
business objectives (Nassiri and et. al., 2016). All business functions and activities are managed
through Corus managers by preparing plans and implement them. In context to Corus, object is
to increase production, developing international relation and increase profitability. Therefore, to
achieve business objective operation management is important and valuable that are as
explained:
Value and importance of operation management:
Converting raw material in final product: The main function of manufacturing
industry is to convert material in to finish products so customer get attract more. It is important
for Corus for instance, manager uses operation manager in order to covert raw material in to
different types of finished goods which influence customers. As result, it can achieve it
objectives which is high productivity at minimum cost. So operation management is valuable for
company which reduces cost of product while manufacturing products and increase production.
Minimization of waste: Proper waste management is important for organization that
helps to control the cost of organization with the help of operation management. For instance,
respective company uses operation management which reduces wastages from production
process and also recycle the wasting material. It helps to attain business objectives increase
profitability by using operation management. Moreover, it increase goodwill of organization
which helps to maintain good relation with international level (Loucks and Van Beek, 2017).