Comparing Leadership and Management: Roles, Functions, and Theories

This report provides a comprehensive comparison of leaders and managers, outlining their distinct characteristics and roles within an organization. It delves into the functions of managers and the roles of leaders, highlighting their application in different business situations, using Barclays as a case study. The report explores various leadership theories, including situational leadership, contingency management, and systems leadership, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. It critically evaluates these theories, providing insights into their practical application and impact on organizational outcomes. The conclusion summarizes the key findings, emphasizing the importance of both leadership and management in achieving business success. This report is a valuable resource for students studying management and leadership, offering a clear understanding of the concepts and their practical implications.

MANAGEMENT AND
OPERATIONS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
PART A...........................................................................................................................................3
Compare and define different characteristic and roles of leader & manager..............................3
Differentiate between functions of manager and roles of leaders................................................5
Role of leader and function of manager apply in different situation...........................................5
Apply different models and theories of method..........................................................................6
Strengths and weakness of different approaches to situations.....................................................6
Critical evaluation and analysis of different theories and approaches to leadership...................7
PART- B..........................................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Management and operations are the crucial part of businesses, management play role as
to manage operational efficiencies and control external and internal activities of companies. The
present report is based on Barclays company listed on London stock exchanges, in UK. This
study defines the role and characteristic of leaders & manager, functions of manager and role of
leader in different situation with different theories. Furthermore, it also analyses the different
theories to leadership in given contexts.
PART A
Compare and define different characteristic and roles of leader & manager
A leader is the one in charge, the individual who convinces other people to follow, they
are able to inspire other workers and moves them to action.
Roles of leader-
Motivator-
Leader play their role in company as motivator, they are able to motivate staff to act and
work in advantageous manner that help to reach at business goal and help to achieve its
objectives (Wells, 2017).
Mentor-
The another role of leader in small or large firm is mentor, they guide employee in right
direction to get long term success.
Communicator-
Leader plays their vital role as communicator, they are able to listen to incoming message
efficiently and articulates what being stated to others in understandable as well as concise
manner.
Characteristics-
Communication-
This is the most important characteristics that effective leader possess in themselves to
assure business success, it gave numerous benefits. It is considered as fundamental way to
achieve better productivity levels and stimulate work environment. Leaders are able to make
effective communication, it establishes direction, casts a clear vision, reinforces key values,
shapes objectives & goals and clarified tasks (Putra and Cho, 2019).
Caring-

Caring is the best characteristics of leader, it means showing genuine concern and sincere
interest for team and other members at workplace. Leaders with caring nature seeing all the
workers as the most essential resources in firm.
Courage-
Another most vital characteristic of effective leader is courage, they are capable to take
risks in achievement of organization goals with no assurance of success.
Manager is a skilled person who is accountable for part of organization for example they
manage business activities and in charge of people and department who work in it.
Roles of manager-
Liaison-
Liaisoning is interpersonal role of manager, they contract to external and internal
agencies for gathering business related information and essential data.
Disturbance handler-
It is very different from other role of manager, where they make decision which arise
from functions beyond their unpredicted and control.
Resource allocator-
Manager in Barclays play role as resource allocator, they determine where organization
assets are best applied, it includes allocating funding, assigning worker and other organizational
resources.
Characteristics-
Good planner-
Manager is able to always make a good and effective plan, they plan their every step in
systematic manner, known what need to be done and when it required to be done.
Problem solver-
Manager had problem solving ability, this is the key characteristic of manager which
make them able to create positive environment at workplace. As they are capable to determine
cause of issues and solve it as soon as possible by implementing effective strategies.
Time management-
It is one of the most important characteristic of manager, permits prioritizing their day,
making assure that they have time to communicate with employees and completing goals
throughout week.

From all above analysis, it has been defined that roles of manager and leader is quite,
leader role is to motivate and manager role is to allocate resource. Along with this another
comparison between leader and manager is based on characteristic. Leader has caring in nature
on the other hand manager has problem solving ability.
Differentiate between functions of manager and roles of leaders
Leader-
The role of leader in Barclay company is to lead and guide team by providing clear and
appropriate direction related to work, that enhance their productivity as well as efficiency
(Rothman and Melwani, 2017). They take good care of staff performance and motivate them in
order to increase their work practices much better than before that contribute in development of
business.
Manager-
The function of manager in firm is to make plan after analysing the situation and identify
the need of each worker. They have to understand relation with employees by analysing their
desire and requirement.
Role of leader and function of manager apply in different situation
Situation 1-
The progress and development of Barclays are slow, slow modification in company out
comes in delay in tasks and results in reduced the amount of profits. Changes being made in
internally are results of changes made in externally. For example, organization earned slow profit
because lack of employee efficiency is results of slow market growth. In this situation leader
play effective role, they guide workers right directions towards achievement of common goal.
They motivate staff and encourage them to enhance their productivity and efficiency of work that
help to improve development and growth process of company rather than before. In context of
same, manager function is to make plan. They can make plan for making internal changes after
analysing the overall situation. Manager create plan of training session for existing and new
applicants that help to enhance efficiency and productivity contribute to increase growth and
development of Barclays.
Situation 2-
Due to globalization, the growth of market impact on Barclays, rapid changes in business
bring new innovations and trends whereas, on the other hand these changes effects in

inappropriate decisions. At this situation leader role is key element of success, they conduct team
meeting, communicate with all their groups members and inspire them to do their best in order to
gain competitive advantages. They had to play role as communicator, guide employees and
discuss how to innovate something that is beneficial in context of business growth. In addition
with it, changes arise in external and internal environment cannot manage by company, in which
manager function is to prioritize important task. They make schedule, prioritize task that they
need to be done in desired time and allocate resources according to requirement at workplace.
Apply different models and theories of method
In context of above situation leader apply situational leadership theory because it is
relevant to it. It is one of the best leadership theory in which leader of Barclays assigns activities
and work according to the abilities and skills of their team members (Thompson and Glasø,
2018). Before assigning work, leader analyse the whole situation and then give activities. This
theory support in finding out the best possible solutions arise in workplace. They identify the
reason behind low efficiency and productivity of staff, provide responsibilities according to their
interest which help to drive their mind towards achieving better results. Manager with
contingency management theory handle the above situation effectively and bring out the
positive outcomes. For example, manager focus on cause of low efficiency and then plan training
session because it is one of the best source of improving productivity and efficiencies of staff
(Helseth and et.al., 2018).
In context of second situation, leader with system leadership theory focus on outcomes
more than steps and procedure. Before starting communication process, leader in Barclay
company analyse it outcome and benefits, then begin act effectively. The topic of conversation
being planned by them earlier and outcomes are matched with desired results as staff are
motivate with the help of effective communication conducted by leader and ready to give extra
efforts. Manager with behavioural management theory, build strong relationship with their
existing workforce, it helps to control and lead team. They make plan of group activities to
inspire and refresh the mind of workers and also take part in it that help to make strong bond
between them.
Strengths and weakness of different approaches to situations
Basis Situational
Leadership
Contingency
management
System
leadership
Behavioural
management

theory theory theory
Strength This leadership
theory is quite
beneficial in
context of
analysing the
situation
effectively.
Contingency
management
theory, permits
manager to
change practices
and policies
accordant to
organizational
situation.
This theory is
beneficial in term
of leader role,
help to identified
inter-
dependencies
between different
parts of company
and help to obtain
holistic view
while handling
business
situations.
One of its
strength is that,
this theory is
scientific in their
methodologies, it
allow greater
control over
different variables
in situation.
Weakness Situational
leadership theory
does not cater
enough
information for
some leaders.
It Does not fully
explain why
people are more
effective manager
in some situation.
It may not be
always leaded to
delays in
decision-making
process.
The disadvantage
or weakness of
this theory is that
it is too
behaviourists
believe that
people behaviour
is identified only
by environmental
effects.
Critical evaluation and analysis of different theories and approaches to leadership
Situational leadership theory focuses on use of leaders natural abilities and personal skills
to lead in current organizational situations. It works to assure success of company, it is more
flexible approach to leadership and work productivity of employees will be enhanced by leader
with situational leadership theory. On the other hand, system leadership approach to leadership,

does not cater to particular style of functioning in company, it does not have any flexible
structure.
PART- B
Covered in PPT
CONCLUSION
From above analysis, it has been summarized that leader and manager both play vital role
in Barclay company, they act towards increasing efficiency and productivity that help to gain
better success and increase growth of business rather than before. Furthermore, by applying
different theories in different situations leader and manager find out the possible suggestions and
handle the condition in context of business benefits.

REFERENCES
Book and Journals
Chun, J.U., Lee, D. and Sosik, J.J., 2018. Leader negative feedback-seeking and leader
effectiveness in leader-subordinate relationships: The paradoxical role of subordinate
expertise. The Leadership Quarterly. 29(4). pp.501-512.
Helseth, S.A and et.al., 2018. Training community-based treatment providers to implement
contingency management for opioid addiction: Time to and frequency of
adoption. Journal of substance abuse treatment. 95. pp.26-34.
Putra, E.D. and Cho, S., 2019. Characteristics of small business leadership from employees’
perspective: A qualitative study. International Journal of Hospitality Management. 78.
pp.36-46.
Rothman, N.B. and Melwani, S., 2017. Feeling mixed, ambivalent, and in flux: The social
functions of emotional complexity for leaders. Academy of Management Review. 42(2).
pp.259-282.
Thompson, G. and Glasø, L., 2018. Situational leadership theory: a test from a leader-follower
congruence approach. Leadership & Organization Development Journal.
Wells, C.W., 2017. A Survey Comparison of Virtual and In Situ Leadership Competencies.
Online
10 Characteristics of an Effective Manager. 2017. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.ccu.edu/blogs/cags/2017/06/10-characteristics-of-an-effective-
manager/>