Analysis of Leadership and Management Practices at Ben's Cookies

This report provides a detailed analysis of leadership and management principles, focusing on the case of Ben's Cookies. It begins by differentiating between the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers, exploring their functions in various situations. The report delves into different leadership theories and models, including naturalistic, functional, system, situational, and contingency models, and analyzes their application within the context of Ben's Cookies. It further examines key approaches to operations management, highlighting its importance in achieving business objectives and assessing factors within the business environment that affect operational management. The report also discusses how leaders and managers can improve operational efficiencies and evaluates factors affecting the business environment and the wider community. The content includes an examination of the strengths and weaknesses of different leadership approaches and theories. The report concludes with an evaluation of operational management and the factors influencing it, providing insights into effective leadership and management strategies for the company.

Management
And
Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
A) Key differences role and characteristics of leader and a manager ........................................1
B) Roles and Functions of manager and functions of manger in different situations in Ben's
Cookies ......................................................................................................................................2
C) Theories and models of leadership .......................................................................................3
D) Differences of leaders and the functions of the manager by applying theories.....................4
E) Approaches Strength and weakness of leadership in different situations of Ben's Cookies. .5
F) Critical analysis of different approaches and theories of leadership......................................5
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
A) Key approaches to operations management and role of leaders and managers.....................6
B) Importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives.............8
C) Assessing factors within business environment that affects on operational management.....8
D) Leader and the manager can improve efficiencies of the operational management..............9
E) Factors affecting business environment and the wider community ....................................10
F) Evaluation of operational management and the factors .......................................................11
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Operational management is the key element in the economic growth of the company. It
manages all the operations and productions in order to get maximum outcome with efficiency.
and if necessary to redesigning of business operations. In this all the business practices of
administrations is created with the high levels of efficiency possible within the organisation. All
the operational programs are framed and schedule on the basis of managerial decision regarding
to different functions within an organization(Barratt, Choi and Li, 2011). All the employees in an
organization can do research on various departments and functions like supply chain
management, logistics and distribution. Decisions regarding to proper planning and designing all
the operations and production process in order to achieve maximum production which makes
competitive advantage in market place. Ben's Cookies is a chain shop in England and its a UK
based organisation. It has a huge chain of stores all over the world (Durkee, 2010). This company
bakes and sells chewy biscuits. This organisation bake different types of cookies and very fast
production. This report mainly focuses on the all the theories and approaches associated with the
leaders and managers which helps in to improvement in the performance of the company in the
market place under various circumstances. Operational management is the part of administrative
of business practices which provide high level of efficiency for the ongoing process of
manufacturing of product it defines the combination of raw material and labour convert in to
finished good product in order to maximize the profit of the organization.
TASK 1
A)
Leaders are the individuals who lead a organisation by setting organisational goal and
objectives and assist how to accomplish the work in unfavourable situation. They also use the
innovative method and procedure in work performance which helps in to achieve the targeted
goals of an organization. They also help in seeking innovative ways to do the appropriate
working that helps in achieving the targeted goals of the organisation. Manager is a person who
managers over all work management of the organisation (Gunny, 2010). They manage all the
responsibilities regarding to achieve high revenue and cost elements of the income statements of
Ben's Cookies organisation. Both play different roles but perform for the good will of the
organisation.

Difference between Manger and the Leader are as follows-
Manger Leader
 Manager always tells and gives advices
by giving them directions to the
employees to perform the work.
 The entity vision oriented which assist
in thinking about the future. Mangers
are task oriented as well the need of
staff.
 Leaders never hesitate in taking any
decision that also includes risks. They
are decision-makers for the
organisation.
 They always deal with the conflict
situations and helps in solving the
matters.
 They set plans and give the details to
others.
 Managers always minimize the risks of
the business.
 Leader take the responsibility for doing
the best work and leaders develop
power with people.
 Leader sets his ideas and ways of
working to the employees and tells
them that it will work surely.
 Managers are task oriented they play
all the activities and processes in order
to accomplish the assigned task and
they are also career oriented that helps
in developing the staff's career.
 Managers always depend on the
superior’s decision or higher
authorities of the organisation.
 Leaders avoid involving in the
conflicts. There always stay away from
the conflicts.
 Leaders always set directions and want
to keep everyone together.
 Leader always take risks and stretch
them.
 Manager takes only credit of doing the
work and manager exercise power over
people
This table shows the differences in the role of leader and manager, basically leader have an
individual ability to influence & motivates team member towards the achievement of goal while
the manager is responsible for coordination of all the work activities towards a share objective.
Leaders are mainly people oriented to leading people to achieve the objective. While the
manager is task oriented for managing all human activities in a shared goal. Leader role is subset
of the manager.

B) Roles and Functions of manager and functions of manger in different situations in Ben's
Cookies
The role and responsibilities of the leader and manager are as follows:
Decision making- It is a way to choose one course of action from various course of
alternatives in order to get best solution of a problem ( Jiang, K., and et.al., 2012). The members of
Ben's Cookies Company can take direct and effective decisions without any direct evidence or
reasoning process. Managers and leaders take day to day operational decisions which help in
attaining the goals and objectives.
Taking risks- To do the qualitative work the members of the company has to take the risk
. According to the leaders, they can't expert on all the facts of the business (Helfat and Winter.,
2011). Taking decision and actions in risky and uncertain situational practices having an
undesirable consequence which helps in achieving the organizational goals.
Solving problems- The mangers and leaders of Ben's Cookies uses the appropriate tools
and techniques in problem solving because employees faces issues regarding to qualitative work
(Lun, 2011). The problems can be any type small or big, simple or complex as well as it may be
easy or difficult.
Building team- The organisation makes a good and effective team so that they perform
their best as possible at a competitive market edge. Competitions are the hurdles to solve the
difficult conditions. Competition within an organization between different teams is very healthy
and stimulating. Managers have responsible to discuss and solve the problems with the team
member so that they can resolve the team members issues in order to make best team (Kanchev,
H. and et.al., 2011). To maintain healthy and successful team in the company has to work hard and
perform well so, to make trust among all the members.
Management conflicts- Without proper planning of all the functions which creates
conflict in order to get less efficient outcome.
C) Theories and models of leadership
Naturalistic theories- This is leadership where the first to develop. This was built on the
ideas on that the leaders were born. Many beliefs were made n this theory. It was only the set of
beliefs. Like in many organisation belief is made that they will perform well. The theory says
that the quality of leadership is intrinsic. Leaders are born they are not made.

Functional leadership- These are based on very different assumptions. It mainly focuses
on what actually the leader does in an organisation, that's called their actions and functions.
“Action Centred Leadership” is well know theories used in many different trainings of leadership
programmes. This theory is developed by studying about the successful leaders and their actions,
behaviours.
System Leadership- It follows all the framed policies and discipline for the evaluation of
all the interrelated components which defines the system. It also helps in planning, organizing
and implementing in designing and construction of effective system. This is very realistic and
common system (Cohen and Zarowin, 2010). So only the organisation should follow proper system
on the basis of the members and do the best at appropriate operations at the different levels so to
improve the profits.
Situational Theory- It a different leadership leadership where the characteristics and
behaviour is changes according to the changes in situation. Leaders play an effective role to
handle the situation and enhance the level of their subordinate’s behavioural and contingent
maturity. This style of leadership helps in meeting the needs of employees which depends on
changing environment and situation. It also helps in developing the knowledge and capability of
their employees which minimizes the effect of situational changes.
Contingency Model- This model is based on combination of both Great men theory and
situational theory. In this both the key elements are necessary personality of leader and
situational condition the Ben's Cookies leader tend to operate.
D) Differences of leaders and the functions of the manager by applying theories
Role of leader by applying theories are as follows-
Trait Theory: It’s based on the characteristics of the many different leaders who are both
successful and unsuccessful. It’s the approach study of human personality. The patterns of
behaviour and the thoughts and emotions are the measurements of traits that are defined
according to the primary interest of trait theory (Dekker, Bloemhof and Mallidis, 2012). Successful
leaders of Ben's Cookies have the interest, personality traits and abilities that are different less
effective leaders. This theory describes the physiological characteristics like height, appearances
and weight. The trait approach attempted to identify physiological like height, appearances and
weight. A set of all core traits should be necessary in a successful leadership quality. There are
not responsible to find out about the person will be successful leader or not. The trait theory says

that people are either born or made by certain qualities that makes leader are excellent in nature.
Certain type of qualities are present in the leader are intelligence, sense of humour, responsible
& creative in nature. Trait theory describes the characteristics must be essential in a successful
leader are analytical, mental, physical and social characteristics in order to achieve charmistic
personality.
Behavioural Theory: This theory mainly focus on the study of specific behaviour of a
leader. This theory provides real potential of marketing to the leader and as the behaviour of the
leader predict and influence of the leadership which is the best determinant of the leadership
success. Every company has different types of leaders who are also using behavioural theory and
they focus on organising, clarifying, initiating, and the gathering of the information. Behavioural
theory focuses on the behaviours of the leaders as opposite to their mental, physical or social
characteristics.
Functions of Leader by applying Theory-
Human Relations Theory: It helps the leaders in performing the proper functioning by
using mechanism and proper structure of the organisation (Lun, 2011). In human relation it helps
in providing the motivation, group motivation and leadership. Further, it helps in maintaining the
relationship between the employee and employer so that leaders can do the their work and can
not face any problem.
Chaos Theory: It helps the leader in the appropriate functioning in Ben's Cookies. In the
system of the company, small changes in an environment of an organization create the major
changes in the overall organisation system. It helps in to understanding the environmental
changes tool and techniques in biological, human and growth in population, which makes a
major changes in day regular activities.
E) Approaches Strength and weakness of leadership in different situations of Ben's Cookies
There are different approaches as follows-
Trait Theory- Trait theory measures the human personality and its characteristics in order
to effectiveness of leader. This theory main strength is that lot of valid research on the human
features which are essential for a leadership. Along with it gives knowledge regarding to a
leadership quality and its process (Zang, 2011). Weakness of this theory is that it is very complex
and most of the factors which are included in this theory related to the situational factors. The
trait theory says that people are either born or made by certain qualities that makes leader are

excellent in nature. Certain type of qualities are present in the leader are intelligence, sense of
humour, responsible & creative in nature. Trait theory describes the characteristics must be
essential in a successful leader are analytical, mental, physical and social characteristics in order
to achieve charismatic personality.
Behavioural Theory- It shows the behaviour and attitude of leader and manger towards
the workers which motivates behaviour of a worker in order to increase productivity in an
organization which appreciates and motivates the workers efficiency for well being. Also build
the strong relationship between the workers and managers. Weakness of this theory is that
difficult to predict human behaviour at workplace because its process is very simple cant
determine critical human behavioural factors.
Human relation Theory- It shows the human relationship at the workplace without under
pressure of certain rules and procedure. The communication between the employees and the
manager should be open to share their problems and helps in to take correct decision regarding to
business concern and other phenomena(Ashby, Leat and Hudson-Smith, 2012). It provide greater
advantage to make proper relationship and contact between the employees ans consumers to
resolve the service related problems and issues.
Chaos Theory- This theory shows the applicability of technology advancement in
modern science which makes work easier and time saving. This type of theory believe in proper
management and open communication are necessary to take correct decision. The negative
aspects of this theory is to compile all the relevant parameters which have different characteristic
is complicated so that outcome is not appropriate(Green Jr, and et.al., 2012). It helps in
computing all dynamic parameters in order to achieve accurate outcomes which are highly
complex.
F) Critical analysis of different approaches and theories of leadership
Analysis of different theories are-
Situational Theory:- In this theory the leadership fully depends on the situations that
occurs in Ben's Cookies. This theory help to know about different types of situation handling
problems. This help to performance task according to the situations and every types of them
needs the different styles of leadership ( Jiang and et.al., 2012). If the leader is good then, the
leader will adopt the leadership that will help in achieving the objectives and goals for the
successful business. Situational theory is the simple and easy to apply. The company member or

the employees should be mature and the competence of the group is often looked at the overall
factor. This theory is not all applicable to the managers. Situational leadership style is varying in
nature because it basically depends on the situational characteristics sometimes they are
favourable and unfavourable.
System leadership Theory:- In an every organization all the employees belongs to
different geographical area their norms, culture, tradition and belief are different so that the
situation for leaders have critical to manage all employees at a single platform. All the
leadership theories and approaches are universal to apply at all type of organisation where
employees belongs to different background. This theory uses critical tools and techniques for
managing workforce. Along with this it criticized as being too abstract and vague. This theory is
holistic and integrated in the view(Wang, 2010.) of mangers of Ben's Cookies It must have to plan
all the separate activities are properly integrated in order to achieve competitive goal. This theory
provides the combination of all traits regarding to geographic and cultural issues because every
organization have people who are belongs to different geographical area and culture so that
leader always follow the universalistic nature to handle all kind of people.
Contingency Leadership:- This theory shows the leaders of Ben's Cookies can approach
the success and various functions of contingent work task or a group. It has a perspective type
nature. Leaders should do research with the help of experts in any specific area to become the
company functions are smooth and flexible (Trkman, 2010). But it is very complex in nature
because leaders faces many issues during the research and situational perspectives. This theory
helps in proper functioning of all operations in order to get valuable advantage. Contingency
theory states that no one leadership style is applicable to all situation. every leadership style
have certain qualities based on certain situation. It basically the extension of the trait theory that
human traits are related to situation
TASK 2
A) Key approaches to operations management and role of leaders and managers
Operations management is evident to play a vital role in the process of production that in
turn support the organizations like Ben's Cookies to operate with a systematic configuration of
their work. It is with a fundamental sense of operating with distinct strategic formulations to
attain the undertaken goals of the enterprise with a prompt role of their leaders and managers to
opt for some below outlined approaches-

 System approach- It is basically in context to adopt a systematic procedure in
processing the food with an expeditious acquisition of raw materials. This will in turn
assist the affiliated personnel's of Ben's Cookies in a timely conversion of their raw
materials in usable form of output with a further requisition of transporting it (Green
Jr, and et.al., 2012). A systematic formulation of work is hereby liable to give a prime
assistance in the fulfilment of all preceding objectives of procurement, manufacturing
and distribution (Dima, 2010). Wherein, a distinct economic system for all these
measures it also evident to prevail into the convergent marketplace of the cited firm.
As a result to which, a systematic approach is apparent to support them where they
can hereby refer to carry a primary assessment of their marketplace. By which, they
can hereby refer to identify the extrinsic factors that are prevailing in their market and
frame accordant strategies of work to correspond with the discovered scenario.
 Dynamic approach- It is mainly in accordance to meet out the current impulsive
means of the environment to adopt the strategies of global economy. This will in turn
benefit the quoted entity to work as per the present requisition of their market by
employing various strategies too meet out the prevalent demands of the consumers. As
per this dynamic approach, Ben's Cookies is required to displace its focus towards
learning new procedural with distinct occurrences and cognition to resolve any
pertinent difficulty in work (Naphade, M., and et. al., 2011). It is thus by concentrating
upon these particular constituents the ventures can refer to bring betterment in work
by meeting the technical and other related changes in the environment.
Both these approaches are however required to be undertaken by the deputed leaders and
managers of Ben's Cookies with a distinct set of roles as stated below- Leaders has a vital position in the organization where they are the direct responsible
bodies to handle the teams by together managing their work and other related concerns. It
is also in regard to set some primary missions of the establishment with respect to their
envisioned goals (Koontz, 2010). Wherein, it duly assists them to formulate liable
strategies to operate in a prospective manner. In context to which, they are hereby
required to align the work of their respective group members with the operational context
of their business for a timely accomplishment of their targeted objectives.

 Managers on another hand exists with a distinct set of role where they are more
concerned about pursuing a well structured format of work. In relation to which, they
hereby review the carried performance of the employees to correspond it with the
standardized norms of working by together ensuring a qualitative operation by them. For
which, they tend to fix a reliable criteria for the same with a mandate outlook of pursuing
it.
B) Importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives
The concept of operations management has a substantial role in the organization with a
prime contribution in the production procedures of the businesses like Ben's Cookies. It is
strategic tact that converts the inputs into usable commodities to further serve it to the clients and
users by together adding a principle value to it. It thereby strives to enhance the efficiency of the
establishment to fulfil the pertinent needs and demand of the consumers. The term operations
management is duly associated with three main strategic intrusions that includes overseeing,
designing and controlling the production procedural (Dhoul, 2014). It is however with a
fundamental sense of redesigning the functional prospective of the business in context to the
production of their products and services. The function of operations management tends to differ
as per the nature of the organization where its existence in a manufacturing industry like Ben's
Cookies.
It will be distinct as that of any service based organization with no tangible products to
serve their customers. It therefore depends on the convergent intent of the enterprises where the
cited entity will involve designing effective procedures to produce their goods by timely
acquiring the raw materials. This will also necessitate them to ensure sufficient number of
employees with proper training to work and maintain the structural equipment's in their
respective number of factories. Wherein, on referring to the value of operations management,
this process is evident to add worth to the offered products and services of the quoted firm where
it also tend to ensure quality control at the forepart of their undertaken system of production
(Rippel, Suchánková and Teplý, 2012). This is basically with reference to insure an optimum
utilization of the available resources with no prior wastage in it that will in turn help the
establishment to improve their overall productivity.

C) Assessing factors within business environment that affects on operational management
There exists varied environmental factors that duly impact upon the operational
management of a business as referred below- Internal factors- These are the factors that are duly involved within the organizational
set and are therefore in control of their [prevalent administrative bodies where these
constituents are further divided in some below described components-
◦ Fiscal variables- It is mainly in context to specify those financial elements in Ben's
Cookies that are highly dependent on the context of their operations management. It
is basically in context to the structure of their capital resources. This will in turn
stipulate the allocation of budget along with other fiscal norms and policies to
directly impact upon their undertaken decisions (Armstrong, 2014).
◦ Intrinsic relations- It is basically to depict the internal affinity among the business
participants like the employees, administration, proprietor, suppliers and investors,
etc., to assure a coordinated outlook of work in them. A determined affinity among
them is evident to impact upon their operational management with a foremost role of
the manager to frame accordant decisions to create a sound relation between them.
 External factors- These factors are certain extraneous components that are often in the
control of the administrative bodies in the establishment (Drusch and et.al., 2012). This is
for instance to specify about the contenders of Ben's Cookies in the market where a high
level of competition among them will necessitate their operations manager to frame
accordant decisions. It is with a fundamental sense of combating the contending situation
in the market by closely observing the undertaken operational strategies by the rivals
(Helfat and Winter, 2011).
D) Leader and the manager can improve efficiencies of the operational management
Operation management is a key element in the success of any organization and to achieve
highest possible efficiency in an outcome of an organization. Organization have
multidisciplinary operations and functions in different aspects of Ben's Cookies. The leaders and
mangers focuses on different functions to do a qualitative work as well as possible. Managers
and leaders are responsible for effective coordination of all work performances for better
efficiency and reduces the issues effectively which makes less impact on the work performance
Its a duty and responsibility of an employer and employees of an organization(Zang, 2011).