Pearson BTEC Level 5: Management and Operations Assignment Report

This report, submitted by Hafsa Mohammed for the Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Management and Operations, Unit 4, analyzes leadership and management principles within the context of a chosen multinational organization based in the UAE, specifically Microsoft Corporation. The assignment fulfills the requirements of the unit, covering topics such as differentiating between the roles of a leader and a manager, applying various leadership theories (situational, systems, and contingency), evaluating operations management, and understanding the relationship between leadership and management in a contemporary business environment. The report includes a company overview, critical analysis using research articles and journals, and an interview with a manager from Microsoft, whose perspective is compared with the research findings. It addresses key approaches to operations management, the role of leaders and managers in achieving business objectives, and factors impacting operational management and decision-making. Finally, the report offers recommendations to address the identified operational challenges. The report adheres to Harvard referencing and a word limit of 3,500–4,500 words.