Management and Leadership in Operations: An Uber Technologies Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership and management within Uber Technologies, examining the roles of leaders and managers, and comparing their characteristics. It explores various leadership theories and models, including contingency, transactional, and transformational styles, and applies them to Uber's operational context. The report further delves into key approaches to operations management, emphasizing its importance in achieving business objectives and assessing the impact of environmental factors on operational decision-making. Through a detailed examination of Uber's practices, including its response to new product launches, the report highlights the interplay of leadership and management in driving organizational success. The report also includes a SWOT analysis of Uber to understand its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS (UBER)

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Part 1...........................................................................................................................................3
P1 Define and compare various roles & characteristics of a leader as well as manager............3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
P2 Role of leader and function of manager in various situations...............................................6
P3 Different Theories & Models of Leadership..........................................................................8
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................9
P4 Key approaches to operations management and role of leader and manager........................9
P5 Importance and value of operations management in attaining business objectives.............10
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................12
P6 Assess factors in business environment impact on operational management and decision
making.......................................................................................................................................12
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
Management of operations is characterised as a field consisting of the supervision, design and
creation of business processes in the manufacturing process. In addition, it also entails
redesigning practises related to the production of products and services (Reid and Sanders,
2019). The project report is based on a company named Uber Technologies incorporation. This
company operates its operations in providing vehicles for hiring, food delivering as well as for
transportation. The report will address the role of employees and followers in different contexts
and the distinction between them in their positions. In addition to this, leadership techniques are
presented in an acceptable way. In addition, the study properly elaborates the approaches to
operational management, the role of operational management in creating profits and the factors
affecting management process & decision-making by leaders.
MAIN BODY
Part 1
P1 Define and compare various roles & characteristics of a leader as well as manager.
Introduction of task and scenario- This task of report is based on analysing role and importance
of managers and leaders. This analysis has been done in accordance of Uber company’s
operations and practices.
Background of the company- Uber Technology, Inc., widely known as Uber, is an American
company that provides rental cars, grocery distribution (Uber Eats), mail delivery, couriers,
ground handling, and hybrid commuter and motorised scooter rental through a collaboration with
Lime. The business is headquartered in San Francisco and has operations globally in more than
900 metropolitan areas. It is one of the biggest gig economy companies and a leader in the
production of self-driving vehicles as well.
Definition of manager-In accordance of Henri Fayol, manager is a person who takes in charge
for managing different kinds of tasks in a company or business. Managers are responsible to do
planning for each and every aspect which is processed inside a company.
Meaning of manager- Managers are responsible for managing and handling personnel within
the company. In addition to this, in different cases, they are often responsible for searching for
and leading departments. Leaders are people that empower, promote and inspire workers to
increase their level of efficiency and innovation in order to accomplish corporate goals within a

defined period of time. In addition to this, executives provide all staff with guidance and training
to aid in the efficient and structured execution of the company's operations (Meredith and Shafer,
2019). Below is the position of leaders as well as administrators.
Definition of leader: In accordance of Rauch & Behling, leader is a person who influence people
with an aim of achieving their common goals and objectives. Leaders are liable to coordinate
each and every person in a direction through which an organization can achieve their goals.
Meaning of leader- Leaders are those who play a significant role in the context of managing and
leading people in a way by which they can reach towards their goals and objectives. In the aspect
of Uber company, leaders are too important in the aspect of managing their tasks and operations.
Role of Leaders
Vision Setting: One of the leader's key responsibilities is to set the vision consistent with the
corporate goal for workers. It is necessary for the leader to correctly direct staff so that the
objective is reached within a defined amount of time. In the aspect of above Uber company, their
leaders play a key role related to directing and coordinating with their employees and this leader
to set their vision in an effective manner.
Decision maker: Another role of leaders is to take appropriate decisions according to the
marketplace circumstances so that both companies and workers can benefit financially. To this
end, it is critical for a leader to have efficient communication tools that enable to efficiently
provide workers with knowledge. Such as in Uber company, leaders contribute in making
decisions in a way which may lead to achieve their common goals and objectives.
Role of Manager:
Allocation of resources: It is regarded as one of the key roles of management that allows
businesses to achieve higher income and also increase their level of efficiency (Gupta, Yang,
and Jain, 2019). Managers optimally distribute capital to help minimise the company's costs and
to help ensure a balance between demand and supply. Its superior officials, in reference to Uber,
are focused on placing the right people in the right position to assist in the correct distribution of
capital.
Monitoring: Another role is to control and track the overall success of workers who also help to
make progress and develop successful strategies. In fact, it is evaluated that managers measure

success in compliance with the expectations established regardless of the time-period targets
accomplished. Its higher authorities constantly track the efficiency of workers in relation to
Uber, that helps boost the company's competitiveness and profitability.
Characteristics of a leader:
Effective Communication: For leaders, possessing good communication and interpersonal skills
is essential as it helps to send workers orders in a proper way. In addition to this, it also helps to
make strong relations with workers that enable them to move on corporate goals with maximum
capacity.
Self control: For leaders, it is crucial to be able to differentiate between wanting is false and
correct as well. It is known that self-control motivates and inspires a person towards the goals
and objective.
Characteristics of a manager:
Time management: Time management skills is one of the core aspects of a manager, helping to
control all tasks as well as activities over time.
Delegation: Managers are analysed to assign power and transparency to team members
depending on their expertise , experience and talents. This allows companies to carrying out
operations in a timely and productive way (Filimonau and Delysia, 2019).
Difference among leaders and managers:
Dimensions Leader Manager
Goal Focused Leaders are determined to use
their skills to build the
company's strategy and
mission. In comparison to
Uber, the founders use their
innovative minds to inspire
workers to fulfil the goal and
goal set by them.
It is assessed that managers
work according to the
responsibilities and roles
delegated by supervisors of the
organisation to them. With
respect to Uber, its executives
focus on meeting goals, but
have little opportunity to

inspire and control their
subordinates.
People management Leaders matched staff
participants as per their talents,
strengths and level of
commitment, seeking to grow
employee talent to achieve the
organization's goals.
The task of the manager is to
oversee and coordinate
individuals employed in the
company for the purpose of
carrying out operations in a
well-defined way.
Delegation Leaders cannot assign power,
they advised team members to
better carry out tasks.
It is examined that supervisors
assign the task to the staff and
departments to conduct the
operations in a proper way.
Similarities among Leaders and managers:
It is determined, aside from the distinctions, that there are different parallels between managers
and leaders. It is assessed that both administrators and managers concentrate on achieving the
corporate target and enhancing the company's efficiency. In comparison, Both presidents and
executives stress the satisfaction of employee expectations so that they can work on defined
targets with maximum potential.
Contingency theory: This theory claims that there is no unique type of leadership and
techniques are acceptable and appropriate for the group's contexts and circumstances. The
manager's role in this is to obtain insight into the root cause of the situation and convey it to the
manager (Clemm, Zhani and Boutaba, 2020). The task of the leader here is to follow a suitable
leadership approach by assessing the situation and then designing strategy accordingly. This
allows the organisation to cope efficiently and promptly with uncertainties and difficulties.
Transactional style: In this model of leadership style, in order to accomplish corporate
objectives, leaders create plans that are adopted by team members. In addition, employee
representatives are compensated and acknowledged by Uber supervisors due to the contributions
they have to accomplish the organisational goal. The task of leaders in this leadership style is to

inspire workers so that they can better execute the techniques. The task of the manager here is to
validate and review employee practises with defined criteria to help enhance and improve the
company's efficiency.
Transformational Style: Leaders inspire staff to introduce unique and creative concepts related
to the company's products and services. In the sense of Uber, its representatives and higher
parties ensure that workers are provided with a productive and safe working atmosphere as it
helps to bring out the degree of innovation and productivity of the employees that contributes to
increasing the organisation's efficiency and level of efficiency.
SWOT analysis of Uber Company:
Strengths Weakness
It is a company excellently
It has a good quality level, checked drivers,
and vehicles. Uber Black customers enjoy an
incredibly high quality of support.
It has an unrestricted car fleet. Regular taxi
service rules for Uber do not apply.
Uber doesn't have any full-time drivers.
Because it does not recruit drivers, there are no
workplace obligations.
The concept can be imitated quickly. Nothing
would prohibit the presentation of the same
commodity from rivalry.
The arrangement is ethically dubious between
Uber and the operators. The true link is
lacking. So, trust between Uber and its drivers
is supposed to be pretty poor.
Often there is no bonding between the
corporation and its clients. There is no reason
to stick with Uber.
Opportunities Threats
Owing to high costs and long waiting times,
clients are often disappointed with
conventional taxi operators.
In countries such as Indonesia, where taxi
companies are difficult and costly, it will tap
new and wide markets.
It will exploit market opportunities in smaller
cities where taxi companies are not available.
And low-profit margins, riders aren't content.
This could end in negative press. In exchange,
this can deter new drivers from entering Uber.
In countries like China, certain fresh legal
restrictions would prohibit Uber from running.
Local officials' issues will lead to fines. It's
going to gain poor PR too.
Growing competitiveness would inevitably

The expected time of arrival would minimise
the increase in the number of Uber drivers.
This is going to make Uber more valued. The
company will get more money and drivers will
also benefit from it.
lower costs. This will deter drivers from
entering new markets for start-ups. This will
result in client losses. Revenues from Uber
would decrease.
TASK 2
P2 Role of leader and function of manager in various situations.
It is examined because some of the conditions have arisen in each enterprise that have a direct
influence on the organization 's success level. The scenario with Uber is listed below, together
with the position of leader and the roles of manager relevant circumstances:
New product Launch: The management of the related company understand that electric car use
is growing in the industry. To this end, Uber 's senior authorities have agreed to build and
produce electric cars with the goal of gaining a significant market share and improving its
standard of achievement. In this case, the position of manager and leader is described below:
Role of leader: In this scenario, the task of the leader is to better explain the case to employees
of the new product (Babich and Hilary, 2020). In addition to this, any function associated with
the new product is essential for the leader to explain. In addition, the task of the leader is to host
a briefing that illustrates the vision of delivering a new product and to inspire workers towards a
new product.
In addition, the leader 's function is to advise or advise team members according to the goals set.
In addition to this, the task of the leader is to obtain an awareness of employees' view of new
products, which will help improve the optimistic attitude of employees towards new products.
Function of manager: The assignment of activities or duties according to the abilities, skills and
expertise of staff members is one of the key roles that workers are able to undertake here. In
contrast to this, administrators build techniques that help the marketplace deliver a new product
successfully.
In this specific case , effective preparation and implementation of plans according to the goals of
new goods is the key task of the leader. After that, the role of the manager is to delegate duties to

the right individuals in accordance with their talents, expertise and awareness. In order to
accomplish cumulative targets over time , it is necessary for managers to track the tasks carried
out by workers according to established expectations.
Crisis Management: It is defined as managing crisis that is arise so that it does not impact on
the performance of company. In relation to Uber, its managers & leaders face crisis at the
recession time. Due to this, the company decline pay scale of employees which is main reason of
increase in turnover and absenteeism rate. This affect negatively on the productivity as well as
profitability of the organisation and leads to decline in market performance and share of
company.
Role of Leader: In this case, the task of the leader is to inspire and establish positive relationship
with the team members so that they do not worry about leaving the company (Russell and
Taylor, 2019). In addition to this, it is crucial for leaders to take fast decisions and apply them to
workers in a proper and established manner.
Function of manager: The manager's job is to gather insights into the causes for the problem
and share it with the head of the company. Another role of the manager is to delegate duties to
group mates in their consideration, helping to maintain staff for a prolonged period of time.
P3 Different Theories & Models of Leadership.
Depending over time , the role of leader and manager varies, leading to changes in their
leadership relationship. Leaders and administrators follow an autocratic model according to the
conventional leadership and management method, since they do not include staff in the decision-
making process. In addition, they often do not include workers in various administrative roles
such as planning , scheduling, leading and so on because of the drop in employee morale level
and because at that time employees do not feel important to the organisation (Tönnissen and
Teuteberg, 2020). But at the other hand, administrators and leaders at current adopt a cooperative
leadership and management strategy that includes workers in multiple administrative roles.
Situational approach- According to the specific solution manager and Uber chief, they will make
reasonable decisions depending on the circumstances they are actually facing in the workplace.
In this technique, the corresponding business manager will carry on the planning managerial role
in order to plan plans according to the scenario. The situational theory of leadership applies to
such leaders who, regards to the circumstances and the level of growth of their teammates,

follow leadership styles. It is a successful leadership approach because it adjusts to the demands
of the staff and sets a positive equilibrium for the company as a whole.
Merits- The advantage of the respective strategy is that it lets administrators and executives
develop decisions for product innovation as well as helps to develop decisions for essential
business management.
Demerits- Although there is a certain disadvantage, including the long-term approach such as
new product introduction is not deemed acceptable.
System approach- Uber 's leader and manager will build a supportive situation as per this
strategy so that workers are empowered and inspired to improvise their jobs. Different ownership
roles such as inspiration, preparation, partnership development and so forth by the different staff
leader are included in this strategy so that they accomplish their objective of desire effectively.
The approach to structures is based on the generalisation that all entities are dynamic and
interrelated. A structure is made up of connected and dependent elements that form a unifying
whole while in contact. A structure is essentially an amalgamation of things or pieces comprising
a complicated object, or a mixture of them.
Merits- The influence of the respective strategy faced by the respective business management
when designing new goods and confronting critical situations is that they are able to accomplish
goals efficiently. It also helps to properly concentrate on activities.
Demerits- Whereas the limitation associated with the same condition is that enormous time was
taken.
Contingency approach- As per this company succession strategy, there are two important aspects
that Uber manager must concentrate on, i.e. circumstance and skill set, not just linked to the
qualifications (Glock, Jaber and Smunt, 2019). Directing, coordination, inspiring and so on are
the managerial tasks included with this strategy by the Uber manager. The contingency strategy
is a management philosophy that indicates that the most suitable leadership style is based on the
context of the conversation and that it is ineffective in the long run to follow a single, fixed
model.
Merits- The benefit of this policy is that the participation of all personnel is not required in new
product creation and vital management.
Demerits-Whereas deficiency is that for daily shifting situations such as vital governance, it is
not necessary.

TASK 3
P4 Key approaches to operations management and role of leader and manager.
Operation control is perceived as a corporation's efforts to accomplish the target objective in a
satisfactory manner. There are many tasks in an enterprise from which they can accomplish their
goal and desires of desire effectively. With respect to Uber, they manufacture luxury and quality
cars and the entire process has many main operating functions, many of which are described
below:
Transformation of raw material into finished goods- As per this operating purpose, the business
would produce luxury sports cars according to the needs and specifications of the customer (Qi
and Shen, 2019). The corresponding operations needed to convert raw material into the finished
product, i.e. the sports car. Worker interest, properties such as parts of the vehicle and much
more are crucial inputs in this. The role of director and leader in this method is that they
formulate plans and also prepare and inspire workers so that they can do their jobs properly.
Logistics and inventory management- According to this function of the specific business,
management is able to better control inventory to assist them in producing goods according to
consumer demand. A good distribution and material control system or programme, employee
concentration, finished item and many more are the primary input here.
There are also some main organisational management techniques that need to be implemented by
Uber, several of which are described below:
Lean Production- By following this strategy, Uber would be able to reduce waste without
compromising the efficiency of the car in its manufacturing process.
Role of manager- In this method, the task of manager is to develop policies and processes that
reduce waste, as well as to formulate a strategy for reuse of waste.
Role of leaders- In addition, the task of the leader would also be to ensuring that all strategies are
carried out efficiently, as well as to give preparation and feedback to staff so that duplication can
be avoided.
Total Quality Management- The respective organisation will be able to inspire its staff as per this
strategy so that they can do their job in the right way and produce the best performing sports car.

Role of manager- In this position, organizations should establish training and development plans
so that workers can conduct their roles appropriately and properly (Wamba and Queiroz, 2020).
Role of leaders- In this position, the leader of the corresponding organisation is to ensure that all
workers are engaged in the training exercises so that their productivity is increased, leading to
the successful achievement of the target of want.
Just in time- Uber would be able to minimise the waste involved with time, job and storage with
the right strategy. The key role of the management and leader in all this is that they must
concentrate on whatever they need, if they need it, and market appetite for the commodity.
Role of manager- With regard to Uber, manager implements techniques that contribute to a
reduction in duplication and work done on time.
Role of leaders-Under this leader would ensure that all tasks are carried out efficiently so that the
allocated work is carried out in an optimal and fruitful way.
Six sigma: Six Sigma is a technique for quality management developed by Motorola, Inc in
1986. The approach uses an information review to restrict and manage faults or defects. Six
Sigma stresses progress in cycle-time whereas production errors to a frequency of no upwards of
3.4 incidents per million tonnes or incidents at the same period. In other terms, with fewer errors,
the system is a strategy to operate better. Six Sigma highlights the fact that this would take a six-
standard-deviation occurrence numerically from the norm for an error to occur.
Role of manager- In creating a strong Lean Six Sigma company, managers of Uber play a key
role. They need to build and promote an atmosphere which sets the stage for the performance of
employees. Defining duties and commitments specifically. Communicate, collaborate, and
interact.
Role of leaders- Leadership plays a significant role in the Six Sigma business. It's because the
Six Sigma project's whole success rests in the support and encouragement of Management Team.
Management Team has an immense duty to push a firm's Six Sigma community.
P5 Importance and value of operations management in attaining business objectives.
Operations management is characterised as core business that produce a high degree of
productivity within a business. In order to increase the company's financial level, the
corresponding management is often responsible for turning material as well as manpower into
goods and services (Benjaafar and Hu, 2020). In contrast to this company's operational control, it