Management and Leadership Roles at Asda: A Detailed Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of management and leadership within the retail giant, Asda. It begins by introducing the company and its organizational structure, followed by a detailed examination of the distinct roles of managers and leaders, highlighting their responsibilities in various situations. The report then differentiates between management and leadership, exploring the Fayol principle of management, transformational, and transactional leadership styles. Furthermore, it delves into the application of different leadership theories such as system theory, situational theory, and contingency theory, discussing their strengths and weaknesses. The report concludes with recommendations for future improvements, emphasizing the importance of training and situational leadership to enhance organizational effectiveness. The report is enriched with references to relevant books and journals to support the analysis.

Business Management-
Management and
Operation unit

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
1. Introduction of chosen organization...................................................................................1
2. Roles of manager and leader..............................................................................................1
3. Different role of manager and leader at different situation................................................3
4. Theories related to leadership.............................................................................................3
5. Conclusion and recommendation.......................................................................................4
PART 2............................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Management is the process of administering and controlling the affairs within a firm.
Through effective management system, a company easily run its business and also attain define
aim and objectives in better manner. In the same way, current report provides deep
understanding related to management and its importance within a workplace. The chosen firm
for this report is Asda which is the top international retail firm that provide range of new
products after analyzing the needs of customers. The report will describe the role of leader and
manager within a firm and also by using relevant theories and model, report differentiate
between management and leadership. Report further describe situational leadership, system
leadership and contingency leadership theory with their strength and weaknesses and
recommend different ways through which managers made impact on the organization.
1. Introduction of chosen organization
Asda is top multinational retail firm in UK which provide range of material to their
customer at low rates. In 2019, quoted firm also regain its second place position behind Tesco
and this shows that company has brand image at International market. The management
structure of company is Hierarchical structure where every task is delegated to each and every
department and there is a strong connection between its inter-departments (Murphy and Murphy,
2017). In this structure, authority is assigned as per its ranks and employees their direction from
the superiors.
2. Roles of manager and leader
Manager is that person in an organization who is responsible for controlling and
administrating the entire group as well as staff. The role of manager is to delegate all
responsibilities and coordinate the work of others and also lead their subordinates as well. The
main role of manager includes hiring, training, motivating and disciplining employees. Further,
manager also seek and receive information which concern internal and external events to
determine the organization's environment.
Leader is a person who leads and command a group and always motivate their
employees to perform the best work. The role of leader is to represent the organization and also
integrate and reconcile the personal goals with the firm's goals (Covey, 2017). Further, leader
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also posses strong vision and also they execute strategy as well. They keep motivate their
employees in order to attain defined goals.
Difference between Management and leadership
Leadership is defined as a the potential influence and it also drive efforts towards
accomplishment of a goals. While on the other side, management is the process of dealing with
and controlling the things or people. Therefore, leader gets their authority from followers and
managers gets their authority by virtue of his position in an organization. Leadership deals with
leader, while management deals with managers.
Fayol principle of Management: Fayol explain some function of Management, which is
comply by Manager of Asda and this are as mention:
 Planning: In this, Manager of Asda make effective planning and also require active
participation of entire organization. Thus, planning is all about following time,
implementation and coordinate at various level.
 Organizing: Another important function of manager such that there must be sufficient
staff, capital in order to run the business smoothly. It is so because a good structure helps
to meet the define goals of company (Hester, 2017).
 Coordinating: It is observe that organization will function better when all action are
consonant. Manager of Asda also influence employees in positive manner through
effective communication.
 Controlling: Manager of Asda makes proper controlling of the resource and it also
involves examining the progress against management plans.
Transformational Leadership: It refers to where a leader works with team in order to identify
the traits, leader also keep encouraging employees and motivate them to innovate and create
change which assist to grow and share the future success of a company.
Transactional leadership: Another style of leadership in which leaders actually promote
compliance by followers with rewards and punishments. Therefore, leader who opted this style
will help to keep followers motivates or the short- term (Winston, 2018).
Hard and soft skills: Hard skills are easy to quantify and it deals with professional skills such
that expert in the any language. While soft skill is the interpersonal skills and desirable
personality trait that resolve character, teamwork and communication.
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3. Different role of manager and leader at different situation
Conducting new marketing campaign: In Asda, to let people know about new
product, managers conduct a marketing campaign. In this situation, manager delegate roles and
manage team who who to conduct the marketing campaign in better manner. Further, leader
delegate roles and responsibilities to employees and provide guidance in order to manage the
work in effective manner (Ruben and Gigliotti, 2017). In this situation, leader opted situational
leadership style so that they deliver the project in better manner and helps to raise sales.
Change in management structure: In order to change the management structure of the
company, manager make effective planning and also provide direction to the leaders. On the
other side, leader prepare their employees in order to accept the change and motivate them as
well. Currently company follows hierarchical management structure and in order to adopt new
structure, both manager and leader perform their duty and make sure that they comply with laws
and legislation as well.
4. Theories related to leadership
System theory: this theory enable the leaders in the firm in order to create the conditions
in which people at different level may work in productive manner. This theory also use sound
principles about human behavior in order to create models for good leadership, organizational
strategy. If a leader comply with this theory, then it will help leaders to interact with employees
and also assist them to take better decision (Grandy and Sliwa, 2017).
Situational theory: Another theory of leadership which refers to those leaders who
adopt different leadership styles as per the situation. It is consider one of the effective way of
leadership because it adapts to the team's needs and also set beneficial balance for whole
company.
Contingency theory: This theory state that there is no best way to organize as well as
lead the company and it also state that leaders' effectiveness is contingent upon how their
leadership style match to the situation.
Advantages Disadvantages
System theory  The theory helps in proper
coordination of special
activities.
 It also increases
 It is not suitable in complex
situation and it delay in
decision- making.
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organization's adaptability to
environment changes
(Wilson and et.al., 2017).
 Also focus on multiple
dimension of management
 This theory is not suitable for
big and complex system.
Situational
Theory
 One of the most easy theory
for leaders and leaders are
effectively adapt this style to
built relationship with their
team members.
 Provide comfortable
environment for workers and
also takes different phases
into an account.
 It is focused more on
immediate needs.
 It did not provide enough
information to some leaders
and it affect the overall
decision.
Contingency
theory
 Theory is dynamic in nature
and that is why it changes as
per situation.
 Assist managers to enhance
their leadership and decision
making skills.
 Provide variety of option to
employees to grow and share
their ideas.
 It is consider complex
approach and it is basically
reactive in nature (Golensky
and Hager, 2020).
 This theory suffers from
inadequately of literature and
sometimes manager face issue
to handle complex situation.
5. Conclusion and recommendation
By summing up above it is concluded that both managers and leaders creates positive
impact upon the organization, but both plays different role with single aim to lead a business
towards further direction. Moreover, report also concluded that by complying Fayol function,
they run the business in smooth manner. Further, three different leadership theories are also
presented which assist leader to maintain the positive behavior and also improve its operations.
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On the other side, it is also recommended for future improvements that leaders and
manager must organize training session for their employees so that it will assist them to make
their employees comfortable at workplace. Further, to run the business at smooth manner, it is
also recommended to use situational leadership style that assist to take better decision even at
complex situation.
PART 2
Enclosed in PPT
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Covey, S., 2017. 8.1 Leader Versus Manager. Career Skills for Surgeons, p.143.
Golensky, M. and Hager, M., 2020. Strategic leadership and management in nonprofit
organizations: Theory and practice. Oxford University Press, USA.
Grandy, G. and Sliwa, M., 2017. Contemplative leadership: The possibilities for the ethics of
leadership theory and practice. Journal of Business Ethics.143(3). pp.423-440.
Hester, A., 2017. Management Starts With You: Gain Confidence and Success as a Leader and
Manager. Hachette UK.
Murphy, R. M. and Murphy, K. M., 2017. Manager Vs. Leader: Untying the Gordian Knot.
Routledge.
Ruben, B. D. and Gigliotti, R. A., 2017. Communication: Sine qua non of organizational
leadership theory and practice. International Journal of Business Communication.54(1).
pp.12-30.
Wilson, S. and et.al., 2017. Revitalising leadership: Putting theory and practice into context.
Routledge.
Winston, B. E., 2018. Contrast Leader, Manager, and Administrator. In Biblical Principles of
Leading and Managing Employees (pp. 1-5). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
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