Report: Comparing Roles and Characteristics of Leaders and Managers

This report provides a comprehensive comparison of the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers within an organizational context, specifically referencing Sainsbury's. It differentiates between the functions of a leader and a manager, exploring their responsibilities in setting objectives, motivating employees, and ensuring competitive advantage. The report delves into the skills required, including hard and soft skills, and applies various management theories such as classical management theory, contingency theory, transformational leadership, and transactional leadership. The analysis highlights the importance of adaptability and the application of appropriate theories to achieve effective decision-making and organizational success. The conclusion emphasizes the distinct yet complementary nature of leadership and management, underscoring their combined impact on organizational efficiency and goal attainment.

MANAGEMENT AND
OPERATIONS

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
P1 Compare roles and characteristics of leader and manager......................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Operational management is a requirement in all businesses so that the decisions can be
made accordingly and the organization can function in systematic manner. This helps the
organization achieve their goals and objectives from time to time. Sainsbury's is a public limited
company which is one of the largest groceries in united Kingdom. The headquarters of the
company is in London with total number of employees in the organization is 186,900. The report
is covering the different roles and characteristics of leaders and managers in different
organizations and in Sainsbury's.
P1 Compare roles and characteristics of leader and manager
Manager is the person who is in charge of something and can control the departments
within the organization. Managers have to make decisions for the company to function. Leaders
is a person who can influence a group of people so that the goals and objectives of the
organization can be met (Meredith and Pilkington, 2018). Management is the backbone of all
industries in market and they are the decision-making comity of the companies. Leadership is
defined as an executive who directs, guides and influence the behaviour of the company so that
the objectives and aims are met of an organization.
Basis Managers Leaders
Roles The roles of managers are to set and
plan objectives for the organization so
that there is a sense of direction in the
company of Sainsbury's which is very
important if the results of the
organization has to be better. In order
to achieve the goals the managers
have to make sure that all the
employees are working hard and they
are being able to meet their objectives
from time to time. This control is in
the hands of the manager and the
leader. Managers of Sainsbury's have
It is very important for Sainsbury's to
have a systematic working in
organization so that the out comes are
better and the organization will be
able to achieve their objectives and
goals from time to time. Leaders to
have to match up to the expectation of
the managers of the organization
which is making the employees
achieve their targets from time to
time. Roles of the leaders also
involved motivating the employees
when they are not being able to
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to make sure that they are having a
competitive advantage in market so
that they can have a larger base of
customers for themselves.
function productivity (Pärn, Edwards
and Sing, 2017). To increase the
productivity the leaders will have to
take methods and strategies so that
the employees in the organization are
motivated and the targets are being
met.
Characteristics There are certain kinds of
characteristics which are required in
the managers of Sainsbury's as well
which are great at communication,
time management, delegation,
experience, knowledge, leadership,
organizing and reliability. These are
the characteristics which are required
so that there is a clarity in the
functioning of the organization. For a
long run in market and having a
competitive advantage in market these
characteristics are very important in
organizations. There are a lot of
changes which are taking place in
Sainsbury's which have to be given
importance to but making the
employees understand that change
which these characteristics will help
the manager to get through the
employees of the company (Hill and
Hill, 2017).
There are certain kinds of
characteristics which are required in
managers and specially of Sainsbury's
so that the organization can function
effectively and efficiently. The
characteristics which are required in
managers are communication,
positive attitude, creativity,
confidence, honesty ability to
delegate work and commitment.
These factors are very important in
leaders so that they can have a
command on the employees which
will help the company to have a
competitive advantage and the
productivity in the organization will
improve. Positive attitude will help
the company have a healthy
environment in Sainsbury's which
will help the employees to be able to
achieve their objectives in the
organization faster and better which
will impact on the brand image.
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Vision and
goals
Planning and decision-making of the
goals and objectives are set by the
managers of Sainsbury's so that there
is clarity of work in the employees.
Leader creates a transparency in
Sainsbury's so that the goals which
are set by the management can be got
into reality so that the organization
can achieve their targets from time to
time.
Risk taking and
control risks
Managers have a tendency of
Sainsbury's not to make any decisions
which involves a risk for the
organization. Reducing the risk
factors is the aim of the managers of
the organization.
Leaders of Sainsbury's have a
tendency to take risks so that even if
they fail there will be some kind of
learning in that which is going to add
experience in the employees so that
they can have a better functioning for
the future (Berenguer and Shen,
2019).
M1 Roles and functions of leaders and managers applying a range of theories
Skills
 Hard Skills
Skills which are being used by managers is hard skills because they need to make
decisions for the Sainsbury's. There is a lot of pressure which the managers have to give the
employees and the decisions are final which the employees have to follow and no one can
change them according to themselves. This skill gives a strong control to organization which is
very essential.
 Soft Skills
Leaders have to use the soft skill in Sainsbury's so that they can implement the changes
and have a control on the group of employees who are working under them (Prahlad and Pawar,
2016). It is very important for leaders to control on the employees so that they can make the
organization reach their objectives as fast as possible.
Theories
 Classical management theory
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This theory is not practical for Sainsbury's because this theory only deals with the
employees economic needs and physical needs which is not enough in present scenario. There
are more needs which have to be provided to employees of the organization like satisfaction of
the job they are doing and social needs because they have a personal life as well which has to be
balanced for them.
 Contingency theory
This is the best method which Sainsbury's will have to take because this helps the
management to make decisions accordingly and have a better functioning in market for
themselves. This is applicable for a large organization therefore it is very good for Sainsbury's to
have a clarity in work (Kidd, 2020). Theory is complex in nature but Sainsbury's have
experienced employees therefore it will be easier for the organization to function in market.
 Transformational Leadership
The focus of this leadership style is on the innovation which the company is having and
the leaders make sure that employees are following them from time to time. There are more than
a leader which is present to make this style be applied in businesses therefore this can be a great
advantage for Sainsbury's.
 Transactional Leadership
This style of leadership focuses on planning and execution in business but this requires
only one leader but Sainsbury's is always having innovation in the company which is making the
company have a great advantage for themselves (Thürer and et.al., 2018). They put their own
interest before anyone else's interest which is why this style is not applicable in Sainsbury's.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that roles and characteristic of leaders are
different from one another which helps the organization to function effectively and efficiently.
To make the decision-making and functioning of the organization better it is very important for
the managers and leader to use appropriate theories and models to have a better outcome for the
organization.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Berenguer, G. and Shen, Z.J., 2019. Challenges and strategies in managing nonprofit operations:
An operations management perspective. Manufacturing & Service Operations
Management.
Hill, A. and Hill, T., 2017. Essential operations management. Macmillan International Higher
Education.
Kidd, T., 2020. Handbook of research on technology project management, planning, and
operations. Learning. p.318.
Meredith, J.R. and Pilkington, A., 2018. Assessing the exchange of knowledge between
operations management and other fields: Some challenges and opportunities. Journal of
Operations Management. 60. pp.47-53.
Pärn, E.A., Edwards, D.J. and Sing, M.C., 2017. The building information modelling trajectory
in facilities management: A review. Automation in Construction. 75. pp.45-55.
Prahlad, A. and Pawar, R.S., CommVault Systems Inc, 2016. Systems and methods for
performing data management operations using snapshots. U.S. Patent 9,268,602.
Thürer, M and et.al., 2018. On the meaning and use of excellence in the operations literature: a
systematic review. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence. pp.1-28.
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