Leadership and Management: Roles, Theories, and Operational Management

This report provides a comprehensive overview of leadership and management roles, responsibilities, and their application within a business context, using Sainsbury's as a case study. It defines and compares the characteristics of leaders and managers, highlighting their differing functions and contributions to organizational success. The report examines how leadership and management principles apply in various situational contexts, emphasizing the importance of adapting leadership styles to specific challenges. It explores different leadership theories and models, such as situational leadership and system leadership, and discusses their impact on operational efficiency. Furthermore, the report delves into key approaches to operations management, explaining the roles of leaders and managers in achieving business objectives. It also assesses the factors within the business environment that affect operational management and decision-making processes.

UNIT 4

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1 ...........................................................................................................................................1
P1 Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of leader and a manager ......1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
P2 Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in
different situational context ...................................................................................................4
P3 Apply different theories and models of approach ............................................................5
TASK 3 ...........................................................................................................................................6
P4 Explain the key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and
mangers play ..........................................................................................................................6
P5 Explain the importance and values of operations management in achieving business
objectives................................................................................................................................7
TASK 4 ...........................................................................................................................................8
P6 Assess the factors within the business environment that impact upon operational
management and decision making by leaders and managers ................................................8
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Operation management is defined as the practise and administration of business activities
and creating the greatest level of productivity and efficiency within the company. This is related
with changing the labour and raw material into services and products for maximising profits and
revenue of the company (Åström and et. al., 2017). The operation management helps to balance
the cost for achieving the net operating profit. In the following report, operations and
management of a company are explained considering an organisation naming Sainsbury's. This is
a supermarket chain of UK and it is the third largest organisation of the country. This company
was founded by John James Sainsbury's in the year 1869. In this report, roles and
responsibilities of leaders and managers is discussed. This consists of different theories of
leadership in managing operations of the company. They key approaches and importance of
operational management are discussed. Also, this report consists of factors that affects the
business environment.
TASK 1
P1 Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of leader and a manager
A leader is defined as an individual who is at a superior position and is able to posses a
high degree of control and leaders can influence others for accomplishing the goals and
objectives of the company. On the other hand, a manager is defined as an individual who will
manage a particular group of people who are performing specific tasks (Bott, and Luna, Seven
Networks Inc, 2017). The roles and responsibilities of leaders and managers are slightly different
from each other. In Sainsbury's there are leaders as well as managers who handle different
business operations and functions that have an objective to implement efficient flow of activities.
The roles and responsibilities of leaders in Sainsbury's are mentioned below-
Leaders are required at all levels- Leadership is an important function that is required by
leaders at various levels of organisation. The top level management of a company cooperates
and formulates different policies and plans for smooth functioning of the organisation. Also, the
middle level and lower level of organisation has to implement and execute policies and
programmes that are given by the top management of the company. Leaders have to guide and
counsel the employees when plans and policies are implemented in the organisation.
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Representative of the organisation - A leader is responsible for becoming representative
of the company. The role of a leader is to represent company in various meetings, conferences,
seminars and spread awareness of the company with other people (Chan and et. al., 2018). These
seminars and programs helps to meet other people and search business opportunities for
expanding business and making profits and revenue. A leader has to handle various department
that are present in a company.
Integrates and reconciles the personal goals with organisational goals – A leader
adopts various kind of leadership styles and manages subordinates and employees. A leader
posses leadership traits that help in integration of personal goals and objectives with the goals
and objectives of the company. The leader has to coordinate with employees for working for a
particular goal or objective. This is possible for a leader only when he is able to influence
employees and make them work hard for attaining the targets and goals of the company.
Leader solicits support – A leader is a person who has to be interactive in nature. This
will help him to understand others and also explain different tasks and activities to subordinates.
A leader can only achieve this by enhancing his personality, intelligence, experience and
maturity. This will also help a leader in providing suggestions and solutions to employees for
converting strategies and plans into programmes and actual actions. In this way, a leader is able
to solicit support of subordinates that results in increasing the willingness towards working and
increasing the effectiveness of the company.
Acts as a friend, philosopher and guide – A leader should posses three dimensional traits
which includes friend, philosopher and guide. A leader can act as a friend so that employees can
share his feelings, desires and opinions with him freely (Ellis and et. al., Smart Storage Systems
Inc, 2015). A leader can be a philosopher and utilise intelligence and experience for supporting
and guiding the subordinates in business situations. Also, a leader can be a good guide and
supervise and communicate plans and policies with employees. Sometimes, a leader can act as a
good counsellor and use his problem solving approach to help subordinates and employees.
On the other hand, the different roles and responsibilities of managers are described below-
Vision and leadership – An effective manager is an individual who is able to achieve
goals and objectives of the company and guide people towards right direction for working
effectively. A good manager must set a vision for the organisation and there must be value in that
vision that reflects the company's offerings and demand in business environment.
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Administration of the department – A manager must know how to administer various
operations which he is controlling. In running a successful business, there are several
requirements needed by doing daily activities. The manager of Sainsbury's ensure that all needs
and requirements of their department is fulfilled (Khlat and et. al., RF Micro Devices Inc, 2016).
The various operations that have to be controlled by managers include reporting and financial
demands, personnel and legal obligations which are to be completed within specified time
frame.
Delegation of tasks to others- An effective manager is one who can delegate workload
of a department efficiently and monitor the progress for completing and not delegating
responsibility for this task or work. The manager has to provide task and work to employees on
the basis of their capability and work which can be challenging for them and help to increase
their knowledge and abilities.
Other operations of a manager – The key responsibility of manager is marketing or
selling of product or service of their company. The managers have to build morale and skills of
employees so that they can increase awareness of products and services offered by company. The
managers of Sainsbury's have to ensure that their advertising and promotions are effective and
they are done in an effective manner.
Collaboration- The managers have to support cross cultural functional efforts and
analyse the working of different employees and ensure that employees are working together
collaboratively (Khan, and Brissenden, Altera Corp, 2017). There should not be conflicts and
fights between employees. This can decrease efficiency of them and thus it is important for
managers to build employee relation at workplace.
The managers and leaders of Sainsbury's are having different roles and responsibilities.
They perform these to make positive environment at workplace and attain the goals and
objectives of the company in specified time frame. Both managers and leaders have to work
effectively and support subordinates in completing their work.
Difference between manager and leader
Basis of comparison Leader Manager
Attribute Foresightedness Mind
Style Transformational Transactional
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Decision making Facilitates decision Makes decision
Aim Growth and development Attaining the desired result
Conflict management Uses conflict as an asset Generally avoids conflict
Management by objective – This is defined as a strategic management model that aims to
improve performance of an organisation by clarifying and defining objectives which are
developed by both management as well as employees. This term was given by management guru
named as Peter Drucker in the year 1954.
hard skills and soft skills of managers
Hard Skills Soft skills
These are those skills or abilities which are
easy to quantify.
Managers can develop these skills by grabbing
knowledge about any particular topic or
management topic.
These are known as people skills or
interpersonal skills.
Soft skills of management and leadership
consists of teamwork, leadership, flexibility,
communication, etc.
TASK 2
P2 Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in
different situational context
Leaders and managers play an essential role in any business. They tackle all problems
and issues of the organisation (KOTZER, Goldman-Shenhar, and Riess, GM Global Technology
Operations LLC, 2019). There are many functions of a manager in an enterprise. These are
mentioned below -
Daily operations – The main role of manager is to ensure that al the daily activities of
business are operated in an effective manner. There are different departments present in the
company for performing several functions and these are managed by managers.
Staffing – The managers of the divide employees of their company into different
departments on the basis of their skills, abilities and knowledge. Employees are interviewed and
then hired by any organisation. This helps to analyse the capability of employees.
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Set goals and objectives – A manager has to articulate long term goals and short term
goals for ensuring that these are achieved in specified time frame.
Liaising – A manger has to analyse that there is an effective communication among
employees and employers. This ensures that work is effectively spread over the company and
every employee know what he has to do.
Administration – The managers have to complete administrative work of the company
and communicate with all departments regarding the completion of project.
Motivation to employees – Motivation is an important factor that drives individuals to
work effectively and achieve the goals and targets of the company. A manager has to motivate
employees for ensuring that work is done effectively.
Training and evaluation – Training is provided by managers to employees for increasing
their knowledge and abilities (Leeuwenburgh and et. al., 2014). Managers are responsible for
providing training to different individuals working in the company on the basis of area in which
they require improvement.
Enforcing policy – Managers enforce company policy for cultivating an environment
which will make employees to hold one another accountable for different actions.
There are different business situations where managers handle issues related to growth
and development of employees. These are listed below-
Conflict management – There are many situations where conflicts and fights occur
among employees. Managers resolve issues among subordinates so that they can function
properly and attain their targets in time.
Low Employee turnover - Employee turnover is a great issue in any organisation. In
Sainsbury's, the managers have to control the issue of low employee turnover. This is done by
providing rewards and appraisals to individuals (Pavlineri,, Skoulikidis, and Tsihrintzis, 2017).
Also employee can be retained by giving them positive workplace and giving them attractive
bonuses and incentives.
P3 Apply different theories and models of approach
The operational efficiency can be achieved by adopting various kind of leadership styles
in the organisation. The different theories and models of leadership are mentioned below -
Situational leadership – This is a kind of leadership which is developed for managers
and leaders for adjusting the style of leadership according to the organisational situation. In a
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situational leadership style, the leaders have to change their way of influencing and handling
employees according to the consequences of business. In Sainsbury's, the situational leaders
analyses and evaluates the situation and then take decisions.
System leadership – The system leadership was developed by Dr. Ian Macdonald.
According to him, the business operational activities must be distributed to all levels of
employees. The system leadership is a kind of leadership in which leaders of an organisation
create a business situation where individuals of different levels come together and work
effectively.
Contingency leadership – This leadership theory proposed three types of factors in any
leader's management and this is listed below-
Leader member relations – The ability of leaders to influence the subordinates is
considered in this factor (Parisio, Rikos, and Glielmo, 2016). There must be good relation
between employer and employee. If there are no good relations then efficiency of leader is
declined.
Task structure – This is defined as the structure and clarification of the task that is given
to employees. If employees understood the task given to them, then the business situation is well
understood. But if it is not achieved then tasks and business activities both are not suitable.
Leader's positional power – This is defined as the amount of power which a leader has
over his subordinates. Power is defined as the ability for providing rewards and incentives to
individuals. If there is more power with leader, then he is able to influence more number of
followers. On the other hand, if there is less power with leaders, then followers do not follow that
leader for accomplishing the targets.
Classical management theory – This theory depends on belief that employees have only
two kinds of needs - physical and economic needs. It does not take into account social needs or
job satisfaction, but believes on different aspects like specialization of labor, centralized
leadership and decision-making, and profit maximization
Contingency leadership – According to this style of leadership it is seen that leadership
is important for handling different business situations. It is important for leaders and managers of
company to examine different business situations before implementing this theory in the
business environment. By using contingency theory of leadership, leaders of Sainsbury's can
achieve goals and objectives of the company in specified time frame. There are some business
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situations which can affect the business environment in a negative manner. Thus, leaders must
adopt contingency leadership theory in order to eliminate conflicts and disputes. Also, business
environment is dynamic, complex as well as flexible in nature, and as a result various adverse
situation arise in the company which affects the overall performance and profitability.
TASK 3
P4 Explain the key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and mangers
play
Six sigma:
It is a statistical approach which is broadly used within the company in order to reduce
defects or errors which occurs during production process. Leaders and managers of Sainsbury's
use this approach for increasing or enhancing the productivity level of workers within the
organisation. As a result, organisational objectives and aims can be achieved by them within
given time period. This operations management approach is used in Sainsbury's for analysing the
performance of employees and workers within organisation and finding out if there are any
defaults.
Role played by leaders in Sainsbury's: Leaders of Sainsbury's plays an important role
in company as they encourage employees and staff members positioned at various levels,
departments and functions within company to make proper use of techniques and processes for
providing good services and products to customers.
Role played by Managers in Sainsbury's: Managers of Sainsbury's plays an important
role by maintaining a path or track of performance of their staff and workers so as they can
evaluate the difference between company's actual and desirable output. For this, managers of the
company often make strict policies and procedures for the attainment of organisational goals and
objectives.
Total quality management:
This approach is commonly used by those companies whose main aim or objective is to
maintain the quality of goods and services (Nayak, 2015). Total Quality Management approach
widely requires efforts and commitments from all the staff members collectively so that scraps or
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wastages can be reduced or eliminated and consumers can get high quality of products. Within
Sainsbury's, this approach help the managers and leaders in ensuring that their customers stay
loyal towards their brand for a long period of time. Along with this, TQM help the management
team of the company in enhancing the organisational working culture of Sainsbury's by
encouraging operational quality across company.
Role played by leaders in Sainsbury's: Leaders of Sainsbury's have to improve
processes and techniques for improving quality of products and items offered by this company.
They provide instructions to employees and workers so that wastage can be minimised and
eliminated.
Role played by Managers in Sainsbury's: Managers of Sainsbury's plays an essential
role in total quality management process of the company. The managers of company have to
adopt new techniques in their organisation for reducing wastage while making of products. They
assure that leader's instructions are followed and targets are achieved.
P5 Explain the importance and values of operations management in achieving business
objectives
Operational management is a process which includes organising, planning, supervising,
producing and manufacturing process. The major objective of an operational management is that
it ensures delivery of products and services in given time (Mateo and et. al., 2014). The
operational management plays an important role in running of a successful business. These are
listed below-
Operational management include similar management – In every industry, operational
management of every industry includes similar management and the various functions include
staffing, controlling, planning, monitoring, controlling, directing and motivating. Sainsbury's
has an effective operational management process.
Increases overall productivity – The operational management helps to increase the
overall productivity of the operations. An effective management will provide information
regarding efficiency of employees as well as organisations. In Sainsbury's, overall productivity
of the company is enhanced by using effective operational management.
Heart of an organisation – Operational management is defined as the heart of
organisation. This includes optimum utilisation of the resources and making enormous profits to
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organisations. The operational management plays an crucial role in the company because it
manages different functions like designing, operations and maintenance of system which is used
for producing goods and services.
TASK 4
P6 Assess the factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management
and decision making by leaders and managers
Decision making is defined as the process by which top level management and middle
level management do analysis and design guidelines for employees. There are various factors
that affects decision making of an organisation. Some major factors which impacts on decision
making procedure of Sainsbury's are given below:- Corporate social responsibility – It refers to activities which are conducted by a firm in
order to serve society and resolve their issues and problems. These activities can be in
monetary term or non monetary terms. Through this, company is able to enhance their
goodwill as well as attract more customers. In respect of Sainsbury's, They conduct many
CSR activities like donation for education and health, providing food and blankets to old
people, donating money in NGO etc. It is essential as it a business have to consider
welfare and interest of community while taking decision as a part of their service to
society. Culture – It refers to values, believe and ethics of a company which provide them a
proper guideline in order to conduct work and communication in effective manner. In
every firm it is important for to provide a positive culture to employees in order to
increase their efficiency. In context of Sainsbury's, this company develops and
maintains a good working culture that helps in accomplishing of work in proper way.
Sainsbury's develop policies as well as rules that are followed in the organisation so that
business operations follow ethics while accomplishment of targets and goals. At the
same time while making crucial decision a business organisation makes sure that
cultural factors are given due consideration to make sure that positive outcomes are
achieved.
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 Ethics – It is important for a big company like Sainsbury's to follow ethics while
working in the company. Various policies and procedures are made by managers and
leaders of Sainsbury's for providing a positive environment at workplace and doinf all
business activities appropriately. The ethical and moral principles which are followed by
the organisation are given due consideration while making decisions so that
sustainability in operations could be maintained.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been concluded that there are various roles and
responsibilities of managers and leaders that provide effective handling of business activities.
Managers and leaders must know how to manage and handle all business situations and lead to
an effective running of all operational activities. There are different theories and approaches of
leadership which are adopted by managers and leaders to easily mange the business operations in
order to increase the productivity and efficiency of the company.
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