Leadership and Operations Management in Contemporary Business

This report provides a detailed analysis of leadership and operations management within a business context, using Morrisons supermarket as a case study. It defines and compares the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers, examining their application in various situational contexts such as implementing changes and resolving employee conflicts. The report applies different leadership theories, including situational leadership, systems leadership, and contingency theory, to illustrate effective approaches. It also explains key approaches to operations management, such as TQM, lean management, and Just in Time, highlighting the roles leaders and managers play in achieving business objectives. Furthermore, the report assesses factors within the business environment that impact decision-making, providing a comprehensive overview of the relationship between leadership, management, and operational success in a contemporary business environment. Desklib provides past papers and solved assignments for students.

Management and
Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager..........1
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................3
P2 Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in
different situational contexts. ......................................................................................................3
P3 Apply different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership, systems
leadership and contingency..........................................................................................................4
Task 3...............................................................................................................................................5
P4 Explain the key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and
managers play..............................................................................................................................5
P5 Explain the importance and value of operations management in achieving business
objectives.....................................................................................................................................6
Task 4 ..............................................................................................................................................7
P6 Assessment of factors within the business environment that has impacted on decision
making .........................................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCE ................................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Leadership is the process of influencing people by identifying, measuring, directing and
controlling the business activities which can help to increase the business performance and
productivity. Every leader should be understand needs of their employees so kind of products
and services be provided to them and increases the business performance. Management is the
administration of organisation which is operating and controlling by management in order to
operate and continue the business activities and attain the profit abilities (Tuck and et. al., 2019).
To understand about leader and manager's role Morrisons has been selected that is large size of
supermarket operating business by arranging the activities and performance with the help of
leader and managers that increases profitability. This reports covers different topics such as role
of a leader and function of a manager, different between role of a leader and the function of
manager, appreciation of the role leaders and managers play in operations. Moreover, this
involves relationship between leadership and management in contemporary business
environment.
Task 1
P1 Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager.
In a organisation number of employees and management people are working who all
have different roles and responsibilities which they are performing and managing the all
activities. Every person has different roles and targets for which they are working and managing
the activities. In Morrisons, number of people are working who manages all activities and
functions appropriately. The aim of management is to set the goals and attain them by allocating
roles and responsibilities effectively that can help to maintain higher profits.
Definition of leader: This means a person who influences their employees and
subordinates by providing them better solution of their problems is considered as a leader. In
leadership people follow a person who have influencing and attractive skills which can be uses to
complete the workings and attain the common goals. In context to Morrisons, leader provides
training and support to complete task and fill the requirement that make feel good and increases
the performance (Walters and et. al., 2019).
Definition of manager: This means a person who set the goals and vision of organisation
then allocate employee's roles and responsibilities which can help to operate and manage the

business activities. In context to Morrison, management is responsible to manage the employees,
allocation of work, providing them benefits and retain the staff for long period that can help to
operate the business successfully.
Comparison between leader and manager's roles and characteristics
Basis Manger Leader
Definition This means an individual who is able
to manages business activities,
arranging people, controlling
performance and maintaining
effective coordination is consider as a
manager (Rawat and et. al., 2019).
This means a person who mainly
focuses on people's needs, goals,
motivation and guiding the people
that can help to attain the common
goals and increase organisational
profitability.
Traits In Morrisons, manager are managing
all functions as they have traits of
time management, setting goals,
managing people, self motivation,
long vision, arranging intellectual
resources and taking the right actions
which can help to operate the
business.
In Morrisons, leaders have special
traits such as effective
communication, deceive thinker,
risk taker, supportive, people
oriented, emotionally stable,
confident and responsible for their
work which can help to manage
the organisational goals and
complete them.
Role and
responsibilities
A manager have significant roles and
responsibilities as to analyse the
intense competition, formulating
plans for organisation and people
welfare, coordination between
employees, distributing roles and
utilises resources properly which can
help to manages all actions.
Once goals of Morrisons have
cleared then leader is responsible
to analysis the risk which are
facing by employees, brining new
technology and working method,
providing training and
development programme to
employees and obtain the goals by
performing well.
Authority and The management of Morrison have The leader have direct contact and

power higher authority and power to
formulate and modify the regulation
which is beneficial for organisation
and make right business decisions.
coordination with employees so
they have power to influence
people, providing them training,
make them comfortable towards
their working which can help to
complete goals.
Task 2
P2 Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in
different situational contexts.
In organisations, leaders are the successful as they have power and responsibility to
perform their functions and activities by guiding employees and completing the task. The
management mainly focuses on functions in specific situation which can help to manage the
work and deliver good performance. Morrisons is a larger super market that sales kind of
products at retail prices and increases activities. Herein, role of leader and function of manager
are applied in different situation are as defined:
Situation 1. Implementation of changes : This is major activity of organisation where it
is important to bring changes and implement them so that functions and activities can be
improved effectively. Morrisons is larger size supermarket that is selling the products at retail
prices. Currently, sale of organisation is decreasing due to Pandemic (Covid19) in which people
have stopped to buy the products and services. In this situation, managers are responsible to
bring changes and new technology which can help to increase the sales, make planning, organise
all activities and direct the employees so they can manage the performance and improve the
sales. In this, role of leader is to understand the new changes and motivate the employees so they
can accept the changes and get ready to work effectively. Therefore, selling activities can be
improve by using digital technology which motivate people that their products are properly
sanitised, safe and secure that will help to make them healthy (Saadatpour, Afshar and Solis,
2020).
Situation 2. Conflicts between employees: Occurrence of conflicts in business industry
is natural as number of people are working who have different ways and methods of working that

may be a reason of conflicts. This situation also arises in Morrisons, as employees are not
sharing their working activities, having different culture and attitude to see their roles that creates
conflicts. Moreover, some employees are getting promotion and good business opportunities that
has created conflicts. To overcome the situation management of such organisation should
analysis the performance of employees, allocate them roles, provide them motivation and give
equal opportunity which can help to make satisfied employees and complete the task effectively.
On the other side, role of leader is to solve each individual problem, provide solution, provide
training so they can be proficient in their work and give equal chance to all staff which can help
to working well and increase performance (Grynning and et. al., 2020).
P3 Apply different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership, systems
leadership and contingency.
Situational Leadership- In this leadership style the leader is directed to adjust their style
which fits for the development of the followers as they are trying to influence. It is up to the
leader to change his style of leadership, not the follower to adapt to the leader's style. The leader
changes the style to meet the needs of others based on the situation. For example, if Morrisons is
facing lack of competence in the employees but they are committed to their jobs then the leader
can use the Telling and Directing style of situational leadership. The leader can be effective by
giving precise direction and show them the way they can work. This will be the appropriate style
for the company while in the time of emergencies wherein the leader can take the control. The
employees will act as per the directions given which will save the time and the work will be
completed efficiently and effectively (Chen and et. al., 2020).
System Leadership- It enables the leaders in the organisation to create the conditions
where the people at all the levels can work in productive manner. This leadership provides a tool
to the leaders that can help in predicting the person's behaviour in the organisation. This
leadership also helps in building effective systems which drive's productive behaviour and can
lead to more effective realisation of the organisation purpose. For example, being a retail brand
Morrisons want to have more growth of the company then the leader can use the Engage and
Energize style of leadership. By asking the employees what they want, breaking the work into
small chunks, by giving the rewards and recognitions the leader can engage with the employees
and energize them with different says (Ngoc and et. al., 2020).

Contingency Leadership – This theory of leadership assumes that leader's effectiveness
is contingent that states their leadership style suits particular situation or not. This theory
impacted by work pace, typical work schedule, standard of behaviour, company policies,
employees morale and relationship between co-workers that can help to increases the business
performance by solving situation. In Morrisons, contingency theory uses by management and
leader that states this suits their organisation to lead the team and complete the all task
effectively. This also define high level of leader member relation is pertaining in organisation
and maintain good position which increases business performance (Bremer and Sundmacher,
2019).
Task 3
P4 Explain the key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers
play
Approaches to operation management is effectiveness that are uses to operate a business
regularly and increases the business performance. The management of organisation should be
analysis the needs and wants of their customers so further planning and activities can be
performed accordingly. This can help to improve the business production and selling activities.
In context to Morrisons, management and leaders are using different approaches are uses in
relation to operation management that are as explained:
TQM: This can be summarised as system of management that consider all employees in
continual improvement. This uses effective communication, strategic planning and integrate with
quality discipline that can help to improve the business performance. This is important for
organisation to understand customer's needs as they are demanding better quality of products and
make efforts to provide which can help to manage the performance. Morrison is larger super
market that is offering kind of products at retail prices which can help to improve the customer
satisfaction level and organisational activities. In this, management and leader focuses on quality
and provide full information which can help to manage business activities (Fu and Zhu, 2019).
Lean management: This approach is related business performance and deliver the
organisation value from customer's perspectives. This mainly uses to eliminate the things or
wastages from ending of products. Whenever company wants to improve their work process,
continuous improvement, increasing value and delivering right products them lean management

approach is uses by leaders that can help in operation management and improve the profitability
(Ding and et. al., 2020).
Just in Time: This is defined as common management technique in relation to
management which are designed to increase the efficiency, decreasing waste, cutting cost by
receiving goods only when they are needed. This is important for management to analysis the
need and offer the products that can fill the requirement and increases the productivity. In
Morrison, management uses this approach in a better way as it helps to lower inventory holding
cost, less dead stock and improve the cash flow by storing large volume of inventory at the time
of requirement which can help to increase the business performance and profitability (Ma, Song
and Shang, 2020).
P5 Explain the importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives.
Operation management is defined process which is uses by organisation in order to
increase the sales and profitability by arranging operational activities. This is a technique by
considering planning, organising, directing and controlling the production process that can help
to improve the business performance by attaining the business objectives. Morrisons is using
operation management by defining their value and importance that are as defined:
This can help to use available resources: Operation management is a kind of
management that can help to manages the day to day activities by making plans, organise
activities and control the functions. In Morrisons, operation management is valuable as it
provides right guidance for managing activities by using available resources properly. The
management are making good use of resources such as money, human resources, capital, raw
material and others which increases business performance (Majidi, Mohammadi-Ivatloo and
Anvari-Moghaddam, 2019).
Improves overall productivity: The meaning of productivity is ratio of input and output
which is important to increase by managing all activities. Operation management is important
that gives measure of employees and manager's efficiency that provides a way to achieve the
business goals. In Morrisons, manager and leader are responsible who focuses on discipline and
all regulation to business which can help to attain the goals and improve organisational
productivity.
To satisfy the customers: The success of businessman and their organisation lies on
customer satisfaction which is needed to be focus by management. If customers are satisfied then

they make decision to buy again and refer to other that can help to increases sales. The
management of Morrison understand the needs and wants of customers then provide the kind of
products which can help to fill the requirements and attain the business goals. In Morrison,
management playing important roles as they analysis needs of their customers and provides the
better quality and design of products which can help to increase sale by satisfying customers.
This can also help to improve the productivity and profitability by influencing customers towards
products.
Management of Inventory: Operation management is the activity that uses to ensure the
that organisation is using inventories in a better way. This is important for organisation to make
the effective use of inventory and stock that can help to utilise available resources and manages
the good performance. In Morrisons, management uses TQM approach which is helpful to
provide the better quality of products and services which can help to improve the business
performance and profitability (Labbé and Michaud, 2019).
Supply chain management: In organisation, important thing is to maintain good
relationship with suppliers and obtaining the higher profitability. The management of Morrison
analysis needs and build good relations with employees as well as customers that increases their
confidence level and attaining the higher profitability.
Task 4
P6 Assessment of factors within the business environment that has impacted on decision making
Factors are the elements that relates to business environment and has impacted on
management and leaders decision making. Description of such factors in context to Morrison are
as defined:
CSR: This is self regulated business responsibility where organisation are contributing in
social and environmental concerns that can help to improve the brand image. If businesses are
well aware about CSR then it become a participants and affects the decision making process. In
Morrisons, management make decision to provide the better quality of products at retail process
which is beneficial for societies and contributes in environmental responsibilities that make sure
people that environment is not harming from production, selling and operational activities.
Moreover, role of leaders of such organisation make decision to provide better quality and design
of product at certain time which can help to make happy society and increases the profitability.

Organisation culture: Culture are showing personality, tradition, attitude, behaviour and
unique feature that uses in business operation. Morrisons is following diversified and flexible
culture where function of manager is understand different culture of employees and allocate
them work as per their culture so they can work effectively and retain them for long period,
Therefore, this has influenced management decision making and increases the business activities.
In this role of leader is to communicate with employees, providing them training and
development programme that can help to learn new working culture and will help to improve
business performance and profitability (Tu, 2020).
Organisational Ethics: Ethics are the values and standards of an individual and
organisation that can help to understand how easily people can accept the changes and responds
the external environment. This is important for management to maintain good ethics and attitude
of themselves as well as organisation that can help employees to accept the changes easily and
complete task. In Morrison, manager is a person who states company's ethics and role of leader
that can help to work ethically and implement the regulations properly which increases the
business performance. This also helps to develop the position and power of employees as they
are working in ethical structure and manages the all actions efficaciously (Labbé and Michaud,
2019).
Therefore, from the above factors it has been defined as in business environment there
are many factors which arises while working and needed to be consider in managing all activities
and functions accurately. Corporate social responsibility is major factor that needs to be consider
by management which increases the value of organisation by performing social responsibilities
and increases the value that make sure organisation is thinking about people. Organisational
ethics is uses to work with ethically and principle which can help to operate and manages the
business activities by delivering right products which proper information which can help to
maintain good performance. The culture of organisation should be very effectively as Morrison
is adopting flexible culture where changes can be accepted and being improve the business
performance that maintain high profitability.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that operation management is the wider term
to understand that uses to manage the business activities and increases the performance by
completing task. Management has super power and authority to analyse performance and make

business decision. Where as leaders are responsible for influencing, motivating and inspiring
employees by solving their problems and provide them optimum solution which can help to
increase the business productivities. Lean management, TQM and other approaches are uses to
make effective operation and increase production process.

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