Comprehensive Report: Leadership and Management in 4com plc Operations

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership and management principles within the context of 4com plc, a UK-based company. It begins with an introduction that highlights the importance of management in achieving business success, followed by an examination of the duties and characteristics of leaders and managers, differentiating between their roles and responsibilities. The report then delves into various leadership theories and approaches, including trait theory, Theory X and Y, and contingency theory, and how these apply to 4com's operations. Furthermore, it explores the functions of leaders and managers in different situations, considering potential risks and challenges within the business environment. Finally, the report discusses the significance of operations management and its impact on achieving business aims, concluding with an assessment of how effective leadership and management can enhance efficiencies within 4com plc. The report also includes an examination of how the business environment, including factors like physical, location, and technological risks, influences functional management and decision-making within the company.

Management and
Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P 1 Duties and characteristics of leaders and a manager............................................................1
M 1 Difference between the duty of leader and duty of a manager by applying theories..........2
D 1 Different theories and approaches to leadership..................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
P 2 Functions of a leader and the purpose of a manger in various situation..............................3
P 3 Theories and models of approach including different leadership.........................................4
M 2 Strengths and weakness of different approaches to situations within environment............6
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
P4 Important formulations to operations management and the role of leaders and mangers.....7
P5 Values and worth of operations management in achieving business aims............................9
M3 Assessment of leaders and managers can meliorate efficiencies........................................10
D2 Applications of operations management and factors influence the business environment10
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................10
P6 Ingredients within the enterprise environment which influence functional management and
decision-making........................................................................................................................10
M4 Factors affect the business environment and wider community.........................................12
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
In the new scenario, management is an primary aspect which is applicable at every place
because it aids to manage all activities and operations. With the help of this, employers can easy
to get success in the competitive market also can attain goals and objectives. Management can be
consider as a process because in which concluded several activities. Therefore, this report based
on 4com plc it is an small medium company of UK which sells electronic devices, mobile,
software and so more. Thus, this assignment will discussing about major roles and functions of
managers and leaders of the firm. Additionally, various type of leadership models and theories
also will systematically demonstrate. In the last, will elaborate major approaches of operation
management as well as their importance for the selected organisation. In this addition, various
factors within the business environment also will be explain in the context of 4com. (White,
2016)
TASK 1
P 1 Duties and characteristics of leaders and a manager
Generally, managers and leaders of company plays vital role within the work place
because they helps to maintain activities also give appropriate guidelines to staff members
towards their works. Therefore, managers and leaders have their several duties and
responsibilities within the business which have to be effectively performed by them so that
organisation can reach their targets and goals. (Lindström and et. al., 2012) Apart from this,
4com was started in 1999 in UK thus behind establishing this organisation one of the major aim
is to enhancing communication system in the UK market so that people can easy to share their
information and ideas with each others. This company dealing with communication devices,
software, mobile phone, broadband, internet, applications and so more. Managers and leaders of
this enterprise also have some roles and responsibilities which have to be effectively performed
by them at work place.
Leaders: Basically, leadership is an important quality with the help of this an individual
can give appropriate and suitable guidelines and directions to their followers regarding their
works. Hence, they can take competitive advantages from the market place as well as set an
brand image. Generally, a leader has several qualities and skills due to this leader can easy to
handle and manage all staff members additionally motivate to them for getting success.
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Managers: These can be consider as employers of the organisation hence they aids to
carry off business operations in an systematic mode. However, managers of 4com has major role
is to allocate works and tasks to employees as per their capabilities and skills. So that they can
significantly complete their targets. In order to this, managers can become leaders of
organisation but leaders cannot able to become managers because they does not have any rights
to perform managers roles and get rights. (Chen and et. al., 2010) Along with this, here are
demonstrating major roles and characteristics of leaders and managers like:
Role of leaders and managers
 Leaders plays various important role within the organisation because they focus on to
implement appropriate plans and strategies at work place. Thus, all operations can
systematically performed by staff members with required time period. Whereas,
managers has leading role is to allocate tasks to workers as per their qualification and
specialization.
 Leaders of organisation assist to give suitable suggestions to their followers towards
their targets so that they team members can understand how they must complete their
tasks additionally which strategies and method should adopt. On the other hand,
managers have to conduct better training and development programmes and system in the
firm. Thus, employees can improve their knowledge and skills in an impelling means.
(Brennan and et. al., 2011)
Characteristics of Leaders and managers
 Leaders and managers must have positive attitude and behaviour so that they can
understand their followers or employees and provide them appropriate suggestions.
 Leaders and managers have responsibility is to equally treat every employees without any
discrimination. It assist to increase employee's motivation and confidence level due to
this they can get various opportunities. (Handschin and Petroianu, 2012)
M 1 Difference between the duty of leader and duty of a manager by applying theories
As per above defined leaders and managers plays different important role within the
organisation. Due to this, every business activities significantly performed by staff members with
sufficient time period. They helps to get competitive advantages and achieve their goals or
2

targets. However, there are different type of theories which can be used for identifying major
difference among role of leaders and managers. Apart from this, leaders are responsible to handle
all their followers and maintain the records of their daily routine. Whereas, managers are also has
major duty is to provide proper training to new appointed employees towards their job. So that
they can understand how they must performed and get success in the competitive external
environment. (Chen and et. al., 2011)
D 1 Different theories and approaches to leadership
In the aspect of leadership, its required to be have some leadership qualities in employees
of enterprise so that they can appendage to them and give necessary directions. There are
different type of theories and approaches such as trait theory, X and Y theory and contingency
method, these can be used by company for increasing leadership qualities and skills in
employees. So that they can identify how they can get success and build an image in internal and
external surrounding of company. All these concepts are beneficial for enterprise because with
the help of them organisation can reach on their targets.
TASK 2
P 2 Functions of a leader and the purpose of a manger in various situation
As per defined 4com is an small business company of UK it sells software and
applications, communication systems, internet, broadband and so more. So that people can easy
to communicate with each others and share their ideas and views effectively. Thus, aim of this
organisation is to improve communication level in UK SMEs market place. Whereas, in this
company has leaders and managers who working for acquiring success. Due to this, they focus
on to adopt and use smart strategies at work place of company. (SmithRahn and Wang, 2010) So
that they can easy to compete with their major competitors and attract high number of consumers
towards business. Therefore, it is major responsibility of company must be delegate and clarify
roles and duties of mangers and leaders. Hence, they can interpret their rights and responsibilities
which have to complete by them in an systematic style. In different type of situations of
company leaders and managers have to be complete their functions. There are concluded various
risks which directly affect on organisation and employee's working manner which can be
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positive or negative in nature. (Lisi, 2010) Hence, here are elaborating different risks which may
be faced by leaders and mangers in assorted conditions such as:
 Physical risk
 Location risk
 Personnel risk
 Technological hazard
 Prioritizing risk
 Management risk
In this addition, work place of 4com company may be occur several type of conditions
there is included several risks which might be affect on enterprise either positive or negative.
Therefore, it is needed to be analyse and evaluate them through appropriate methods and
techniques. Further, leaders and managers has to be complete their roles and functions at work
place of 4com so that it can be attain their objectives. Basically, different type of risks might be
directly impact on profit level of company also worker's working style. Therefore, its necessary
to identify them and major reasons behind occurring at work place. Thus, employers of company
liable to take proper decisions and try to find out effective solutions for resolving them. (Shuxin,
2011)
For example: Managers of 4com company are responsible to conduct effective training
and development programmes for employees while they needs to learn and improve skills.
Whereas leaders are responsibly to give appropriate guidelines and suggestions to them towards
their work and tasks. So that they can complete their targets and get success in competitive
market place. Along with this, it is needful to handle and control any kind of difficult situation of
the company with the help of suitable method so that they can understand that particular situation
as well as its major causes.
P 3 Theories and models of approach including different leadership
Leadership is a concept, in which an individual have several qualities and skills with the
help of them leader can give proper suggestions to their followers so that they significantly
performed their tasks and get success. Therefore, leaders of organisation are responsible to
examine and understand their team members because with the company may be occur different
type of situations and risks which can be affect their working capabilities and skills. Due to this,
leaders are plays various roles and functions at work place of company for this employers can
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achieve competitive advantages from the market. Apart from this, different type of leadership
theories and approaches helps to interpret leadership concept as well as with the help of them can
followers may be improve their quality and capabilities. (Rani and Moreira, 2010) Thus, there
are elaborating various kind of leadership theories in the context of 4com organisation such as
follows:
Illustration 1: Leadership concept
(Source- Blanchard, 2013)
 Trait theory: This most important leadership theory which is totally based on traits and
values of individuals. Furthermore, while using this aspect can easy to examine and
identify traits of staff members. Additionally, with the help of trait theory company can
easy to enhance employee's skills and capabilities in an impelling mode. So that workers
can finish their operations within necessary time. (Blanchard, 2013)
 Theory X and Y: This leadership theory depends upon two major terms which helps to
define two type of different person. With the help of this concept can easy to identify the
actual nature, working performance, capabilities and skills of persons. Hence, X type of
staff members are does not like to do work due to this they are not motivated and
confident towards their works and operations. These kind of employees of motivation and
confidence level might be enhance through incentives and punishments which is only
provided by employers of company. (Neck and Manz, 2010) Whereas, Y type of persons
are fully motivated and encouraged towards their work because they seeks to get success
5

and build an brand image in internal and external surrounding. However, there is no any
need to provide rewards, bonus, incentives, extra benefits and so more for attaining
targets and getting success in the higher competitive market.
 Contingency theory: This is the last leadership theory with the help of this aspect
employers of 4com company can easily identify and measure actual working abilities and
qualities in persons. Therefore, contingency leadership theory can be used by 4com
organisation for identifying working quality and skills. Additionally, staff members of
enterprise may be resolve different kind of difficult situations of organisation through
appropriate and suitable solutions. In the last, as per above elaborated three type of
leadership methods which can be adopted by the 4com company for increasing and
implementing some required leadership qualities and skills in staff members of the
organisation. These leadership concepts aids to increase abilities and capabilities of
followers so that they can easy to understand critical situations also can resolve them
through the appropriate solutions. ( Mendis, Muttaqi and Perera, 2014)
M 2 Strengths and weakness of different approaches to situations within environment
As per higher up demonstrated several type of leadership approaches and methods which
all are beneficial for the organisation become with the help of them leaders can enhance working
performance and skills of staff members. Due to this, they can get success and take proper
advantages of competitive market. Every leadership concepts and methods has some strengths
and weaknesses which may be impact on workers or followers. Therefore, its required to analyse
and evaluate their positive or negative points with the help of appropriate and suitable methods.
At the work place of enterprise have included different risks and factors which negatively affect
on organisation as well as employees. Further, must be choose suitable and applicable leadership
methods and approaches. So that leader can give proper suggestions and guidelines to followers
towards their job and work.
TASK 3
P4 Important formulations to operations management and the role of leaders and mangers
According to the above represented major roles of leaders and managers of the company
which also played vital role in the formulation of effective operations management plan in the
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company. Thus, with the help of this leaders can systematically give proper guidelines and
directions to staff members and followers. Whereas, managers can significantly allocate works
and targets to employees as per their skills, qualification and capabilities. So that they can
complete their tasks with high motivation and confidence level. Apart from this, effective
formulation and implementation of operations management concept at work place of 4com. In
order to this, managers and leaders have major duty is to properly examined several situations
and conditions of the firm. Therefore, there are several type of methods and approaches which
can be used by 4com organisation. With the help of them it will reach their targets as well as get
success in the market. On the other hand, operations management can be carried out as an
essential concept for business firm so that they can manage all operations of the company.
Further, managers and leaders having different roles at the work place of 4com organisation
which have to be significantly performed in several situations and conditions such as:
Managers Leaders
 Systematically allocate tasks to staff
members as per their qualification and
skills.
 Must have to be conduct appropriate
motivational and confidential
programmes at work place.
 Maintain business activities and
operations in an systematic style.
 Should try to enhance working
performance and skills of employees
so that they can attain their targets.
 To give appropriate and suitable
guidelines to followers regarding their
works and tasks.
 Make healthy and friendly relationship
with staff members so that they can
share their issues with leaders.
 Should focus on to increase motivation
and confidence level of followers.
 Clarify the roles and responsibilities to
all team members thus they can
understand how they should finish
their tasks.
In the other words, there are different type of methods and approaches which can be
adopt by 4com organisation like:
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 TQM (Total Quality Management): Every business firm focus on to manage and
increase quality of their services and working system. So that employers can softly attract
high number of consumers towards organisation. Along with this, this technique focus on
to maintain quality of products. Thus respectively increased income and sales of business
firm. (Pinkerton, 2011)
 Learn production: This is an another one necessary method, it helps to increase
production level of company's products and services. So that consequently increased
profit and revenue. With the help of this approach staff members can maximum use
resources and the materials.
 Six sigma: This is the last method it can be adopt by 4com company for increasing the
results and outcomes of business firm. While using this approach by organisation then
respectively get success and reach their pre decided targets. Generally, this aspect
founded by Motorola company in 1986 for decreasing the level of removing defects and
issues from existing devices. In order to this, all these methods assist to enhance quality
and working performance of company and employees. To boot, business can softly get
attention from customers if they provides better quality of services as per their
expectations and needs. (Bahmani-Firouzi and Azizipanah-Abarghooee, 2014)
P5 Values and worth of operations management in achieving business aims
Basically, operations management is an crucial construct for every organisation because
with the help of this employers will systematically manage all operations and dealing of the firm.
Apart from this, while organisation using this aspect within the company than they can expand
their firm in several areas. Additionally, they will compete with their major competitors within
the market. In in addition, operations management is an beneficial term for 4com company
because by this enterprise provide better services and facilities to them as per their needs and
demand. Further, there are elaborating actual benefits and values of operations management such
as follows under below:
 Enhance organisation productivity: Operations management helps to increase profit
and sales of the organisation due to this significantly increased productivity level. In this
addition, employers and employees of selected company will consequently provides
better quality of services and facilities to them as per their needs and requirements. In the
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last, while using this term within the organisation then employers of administration can
significantly attract high number of clients towards firm. Company's profit and sales are
totally depends upon productivity level therefore top management of firm try to increased
profitability and fecundity so that they can set an effective image.
 Management of customer's satisfaction: Consumers are major element for every
organisation because its income and profit level totally depends upon service quality and
management system of firm. Therefore, employers concentrate on to understand client's
demand and needs with the help of appropriate methods and techniques. Due to this, they
can get proper satisfaction towards their expectations. In order to this, it is necessary to
be manage and enhance satisfaction level of customers. Additionally, through this term
company can be get high attention from clients and set and brand image in the
competitive market place.
 Expensive but important: Basically, operations management is an costly and crucial
prospect but it is very beneficial for business firm because it aids to control and maintain
operations and activities in an systematic style. Additionally, with the help of operations
management can significantly increased profit and income level. Due to this, it is
compulsory to be used and implement proper operations management concept within the
firm so that employees can get success and give better services to clients. In the last, this
aspect is one of the prime term for every enterprise because through this they can reach
on their pre decided targets and set an brand image. (Niknam, Meymand and Mojarrad,
2011)
M3 Assessment of leaders and managers can meliorate efficiencies
Leaders and managers of the company plays vital role within the organisation because
they aids to maintain working environment as well as give required guidelines and directions to
all staff members. So that they can complete their operations and achieve their pre decided
targets. Effective and qualified leaders of 4com organisation assist to increase efficiencies and
effectiveness of followers with the help of this they can take appropriate advantages and
opportunities to get success in the competitive market place. However, its needed to be analysed
and assess of all leaders and managers of the company after that must be delegate some
authorities and powers to them so that they can take suitable and appropriate decisions in several
situations.
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D2 Applications of operations management and factors influence the business environment
Operations management is an important aspect for every organisation because it aids to
manage and control business activities in an systematic style. Therefore there are several kind of
applications of operations management which can be used by 4com company because with the
help of this they can attain goals and objectives as well as set an brand image in external market.
Whereas, in the business environment concluded several type of factors and causes which might
be impact on firm and employee's working performance which influence may be positive or
negative in nature. Due to this, it is required to be analyse and examine all factors through
methods and techniques.
TASK 4
P6 Ingredients within the enterprise environment which influence functional management and
decision-making
Business environment define its working system and management as per that can easy
identify the actual internal and external surrounding of firm. Therefore, in which included
several factors or causes which might be affect on firm either positive or negative in style. Due to
this, it is necessary to be analysed and examined all major factors through the methods and
techniques so that employees can easy to perform their operations and attain their targets.
Basically, business environment categorised into two parts such as internal and external due to
this can effectively determine causes and identify their major reasons behind developing them.
Systematic evaluation aids to increased profit and income of the business additionally with the
help of this they also can give high quality of services to clients according to their demand and
needs. (Thacker and et. al., 2010) In order to this, here significantly explained two type of major
causes within the linked of 4com organisation such as follows:
 Internal: In the construct of internal environmental factors, here included several causes
such as employees, employers, management system, rules, polices, regulations, working
system and so more. All these things are directly affect on firm their implication might be
positive or negative. In the sense of positive, while employers adopt smart and advance
management system, appropriate polices, rules and regulations than consequently
increased employee's working performance and quality. Whereas, unhealthy environment
and ineffective polices, values of firm also influence on workers through this they cannot
10

maximum use resources as well as cannot attain the targets. (Ruiz-Alvarez and et. al.,
2012)
 External: In which concluded competitors, suppliers, customers, investors and so more
which also can be understand as stakeholders of the business firm. These aspects also
affect on organisation as well as employee's working performance. Therefore, it is
necessary to be maintain and control all external causes and try to understand their needs
and requirements so that employees will provide better quality of services and facilities to
them as per their needs and expectations. So that they can get fully satisfaction towards
their demand. In the last, as per their demand and satisfaction level customers will set
their mind about company.
In the other words, business environment also affect on functional management system
and decision making process of the organisation therefore, it is required to be properly analysed
and evaluate that as well as should try to develop healthy working surrounding within the
business. By doing this, employees effectively finish their activities and get success in the
competitive market place. Additionally, environmental causes also directly affect on decision
making process of company due to this employees and employers will cannot significantly take
appropriate decisions in some critical situations as well as cannot able to find out suitable
solutions for resolving them. In the last, it is necessary to be develop healthy working
surrounding and try to implement better management system within the organisation so that staff
members can manage business activities and performed their targets with high results and
outcomes. Therefore, through the evaluation company can take competitive advantages and get
success.
M4 Factors affect the business environment and wider community
Business environment assist to define its working style, system, management and so more
as per this concept can easy to identify the actual and reliable nature of organisation.
Additionally, there are included several factors which might be impact on company as well as
staff members either positive or negative way. Thus, it needed to be analysed and examined all
factors. So that staff members can softly execute their works and operations and get success in
the competitive environment. Apart from this, managers and leaders of company are responsible
11

to measure all major factors because due to this enterprise and employees may be face some
difficult situations within the organisation. (Expósito and et. al., 2016)
CONCLUSION
From the above mentioned assignment it has been included that management and
operations is an crucial concept for every kind of organisation because with the help of this
significantly handle all business operations also got success in the competitive market place.
Therefore, this report has been discussed about major roles and responsibilities of leaders and
managers of 4com company at the work place additionally their functions which had to be
performed by them. However, several type of leadership methods and aspects also has been
demonstrated which has been used by 4com organisation for increasing and enhancing
motivation and confidence level of employees towards their targets and goals. Through has been
used these leadership methods by selected company than effectively improve capabilities and
qualities in team members due to this they has been performed their works. In the last here as
been defined and analysed appropriate business environmental factors with the help of
appropriate methods.
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