Detailed Analysis of Unit 4 Management and Operations at Amazon

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of management and operations within Amazon, focusing on the roles and characteristics of leaders and managers. It defines and compares these roles, highlighting the impact of leaders and managers on Amazon's operational management. The report examines situational leadership, transactional leadership, and Henri Fayol's principles, applying them to the Amazon context. It explores factors influencing decision-making and operational management, including the business environment and community impact. The report also discusses different approaches to operations management, their strengths and weaknesses, offering valuable insights into Amazon's organizational structure and management strategies.

Unit 4
Management and Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Activity 1.........................................................................................................................................3
P.1 Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager........3
Comparison of role and characteristics of leader and manager..................................................4
Manager:.....................................................................................................................................5
Leaders and managers impact on operational management in Amazon ....................................6
P.2 Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in
different situational context.........................................................................................................6
P.3 Apply different theories and models of approach, including situationals leadership,
systems leadership and contingency.........................................................................................10
P.4 Explain the key approaches to opperations management and the role that the leaders and
managers play............................................................................................................................11
P.5 Different approaches Strengths and weakness....................................................................12
Activity 2.......................................................................................................................................13
Covered in PPT.........................................................................................................................13
P.6 Factors that impact decision making and operational management ..................................19
Factors affect business environment and community...............................................................19
Application of operations management....................................................................................20
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................20
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................21

INTRODUCTION
Operations means manufacturing of products, creates service and manage quality of
goods in organization. Management refers to the area where management control the overall
system of firm functions and activities that is very important for success (Jacobs, Chase and
Lummus, 2014). Management and operation mean administrating and managing all the activities
which are related to organisation so that target is achieved. The present report is based on
Amazon which is E-commerce company, it is a multinational technology organization that
focusing in artificial intelligence and cloud computing in Seattle, Washington.
In this study discuss about the impact of managers and leaders on operations'
management in company. Moreover, explain the role and characteristics of leader and manager
and clarifies the differences between both positions by using appropriate theories and models in
report. Furthermore, the present study justifies the different approaches to operate management
and role of leader and managers which they play in organization. In this report will explain about
the factors that impact on business environment, decision making and operational management.
Activity 1
P.1 Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager.
Definition of leader-
Leader is a person who influence team or group of individuals towards achievement of
objectives and goals in organization. They need to be able to effort a high degree of control or
influence over the other peoples. Leaders commands or leads group, country and organization in
manageable way. Amazon leaders support business to build strong team that give their hard work
performances in workplaces.
Definition of manager-
Definition- An individual who is in charge of certain team of tasks and some subset of
organization. It is different from the other role in company, they have many responsibilities of
entire business functions and activities in which they need to manage or operate successfully.
Managers is a person or individual that are responsible for administering and controlling
company or group of employees. They charge the entire department and individual who work in
the firm. For example, Amazon manager is charge of the whole business functions and activities.
Upper, middle and lower level of management are the types of company hierarchy which need
different managers to control or manage each level.

Definition of leader-
 A person that holds superior or dominant position within its area and able to exercise
high degree of influence or control over others.
 Leader is a person who have an ability to visualize business goal as completed fact, a
thing already gain.
Definition of manager-
 Individual that are responsible for administering or controlling or group of staff members
are known as manager.
 Coordination and organization of functions or activities of business in order to gain
defined goals and objectives.
Comparison of role and characteristics of leader and manager
Roles Leader Manager
Vision and goals Leader create Vision and
inspire their employees toward
achieve aim and objectives of
Amazon (Schuh and et.al.,
2014). They engage workers in
turning that vision is very
important into company.
While, manager focus on
measuring, setting and
achieving goals in Amazon
company, to make their
business successful more than
another.
Coaching and staffing Leader provide training and
coaching to employees that
develop their skills and
knowledge more. They give
proper direction to its team to
improve their work
performance.
As compare to leader, manager
staffing by selecting,
recruiting, training, and
developing workers in
Amazon. They work in the
organization as human
resource department and other
level of management to
accomplish business and its
goal.

Characteristics Leader Manager
Innovative and
communicative
Amazon leader is innovative
and creative which is one of its
best characteristics for
managing diverse workforce.
They make creations and
innovations to execute vision.
They can adjust or adopt any
business environment and
work according to it in
workplaces.
Furthermore, managers of
Amazon are innovative and
creative in maintaining
employee’s relations.
Motivating and Problem
solving
Through motivation leader
build their relationship and
influence employees to work
in different business situations.
. They focus on individual
performance and convey
appraisal to management
which boost up moral.
As compare to leader of
Amazon manager’s
characteristics is negotiation
after identifying problems in
workplaces or business that
barriers in success and growth.
Manager:
Planning knowledge
Manager has the ability to take right decision and make effective plan that develop
business more and more. Make good plans is one of the best approaches that they must use in its
performance in the organization.
Customer knowledge

Customers knowledge is collection of value and experience which is needed and created
during the exchange between manager and customers. Manager must have the knowledge who to
manage clients and fulfil their expectations.
Performance measurement
Manager need to measure the entire employee's performance that help them to understand
its ability and skills. By measuring it they will change the whole business environment and
motivate workers according to it.
Leader:
Self-awareness
Self-awareness helps leader link its emotions of effectiveness of their connection with
others. By having this skill they understand other emotion as well as employee's or customers.
Motivating others
Leader have to inspire other people in firm and its employees to go the extra mile for its
company. They need to learn what motivators work better for their workers or group of
individual to encourage passion and productivity.
Building effective teams
Leader builds an effective team that give its hard work performance in organization. By
motivation and support they increase workers level of interest that boost up its morale and drive
them towards performance.
Communication
As become a leader they need to be able to succinctly and clearly explain ton its
employee's everything about company goals to special tasks. The most important part of
communication is listening, they have to listen other thoughts and then take actions at workplace.
Better communication skills is one of the best skill of leader that make a good leader in firm.
Leaders and managers impact on operational management in Amazon
Amazon is international technology company which focuses in making business more
successful by offer good quality products to customers. Firm is measured by its high revenue and
market position and capitalization. They run its business successfully with the help of their
leaders and managers that operate each function effectively in workplaces (Dubey, Gunasekaran
and Ali, 2015). Leader give training and developing the knowledge of employees and manager
make plans, organize business operations, managing entire performance in firm and control all

the activities of businesses effectively to make things manageable in way. Manager is the most
important person in Amazon that give their work performance for managing entire business and
organize functions and activities. On the other side firm leaders give their creative performance
through set goals and objectives in business. They provide training and coaching to employees
that helps to develop skills and knowledge more.
P.2 Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in
different situational context.
Situational leadership theory-
Situational leadership is the best style which has been use by the leaders and managers of
organization. Through this theory they adjust or manage the business environment in possible
way that develop interest and moral level of employees. This model is repeatable, timeless and
make framework for leaders to match its behavior with workers performance and needs of
individual that they are effort to influence. It serves proper framework to identify each condition
based on performance readiness.
Illustration : Situational leadership theory
(Source: Situational Theory of Leadership, 2018)

Directing, supporting, delegating and coaching are the role and responsibility of
organization leaders. In the firm there are many situations get developed through changes in
business environment. Thus, according to these situation leaders make their decision regarding
with the position which they are placed in company. They provide appropriate direction and
guide employee to accomplish their tasks and motivate them for develop their interest more and
more. According to the conditions Amazon leaders give workers training and coaching for
developing its skills and knowledge that they used to achieve set target market goal.
Types of leadership-
Transactional leadership:
This leadership continues or maintains the status of business and it also involves an
exchange process, whereby employees get immediate tangible rewards for carrying out leaders
orders.
Transformational leadership:
If defines about initiating change in firms, group, oneself and others, transformational
leader motivate other people to do more than they naturally intended and often even more than
they thought possible.
Servant path goal:
This theory focuses on how leaders support and motivate their workers to accomplished
given tasks. In order to do this they must select proper style or behavior based on both task and
follower characteristic.
Amazon applies transactional leadership theory in their business structure and work
according to it that improve their position and raise productivity and probability more than
others.
Henri Fayol's principles of administrative management
Henri Fayol management theory is based on 14 principles that are based on fundamental
truth. Most of the managers apply this theory in their performance to make functions manageable
in the firm. Division of work- manager give employees duties and task according to their ability
and skills. This process has been held on the bases of workers experiences and knowledge areas
in which they are expert. Every individual has different skill and specialized in other areas that
help them to do work. Responsibility and authority- In way to do thing done in company

manager has authority to give command and order to workers. Management of firm give all the
rights and responsibility to the manager that they use on subordinates.
Discipline and obedience is the most important part of manager role in which they focus
on core values of vision and mission in way of good conduct and honorific interactions. It is very
essential for them because it helps to run organization smoothly. It means that managers order
individual employee and they need to receive orders and answerable to about that to manager.
On or more manager command create conflict among staff and make confusion as well that
impact on their performance. So, for that one individual will always lead the command over the
management. Manager gives order to employee in the company that have the right assets at their
power, so they used to manage each and every function properly in firm. According to their
position they have many responsibilities more than leaders. Equity is the most essential quality
of manager position in organization. They need to treat workers equally and kindly. They treat
them within following all the rights of employee's that develop their morale more towards firm
business. Manager monitor and supervise this entire procedure and should behave staff
impartiality and fairly.
Mangers make or create new ideas that encourage involvement and interest of
employee’s and creates value for organization. Their responsible for improving and developing
morale in work areas; individually and also in the areas of communication. According to their
position manager role and responsibility that they need to develop good culture and create
healthy and collaborative environment including understanding and trust.
Trait Model of leadership-

Trait theory of leadership is based on role and characteristics of leaders both unsuccessful
and successful. It is used by the leader to predict their effectiveness and identify different
personality traits that are connected to successful leadership style across many of situations.
Amazon leader motivate employees and make innovation in business to encourage and
engage workers towards success and career growth. They utilize information from the theory that
help to measure their position in company. They give all the information's to employees about
their job roles and duties. Leader give its support to workers for developing their skills and
knowledge that help to build strong team. All their efforts make them successful in workplaces
as well as in their career. By using this theory, they get aware about their weakness and strengths
and understand the ways for developing leadership qualities themselves. They need to be honest
in their work and ambitious about achieving task or goal. Leader has the desire power, money
and influence according to leadership position that is very beneficial for firm. Ambition and
desire is the most important tool that help to achieve success and objectives.
P.3 Apply different theories and models of approach, including situationals leadership, systems
leadership and contingency.
Situational leadership
As per according to the Siegling, (2014) Situational leadership is very effective style that
help leaders in managing their functions. Amazon leader use this style to make decision
according to the situation or need at workplace. They give employees training and coaching in
competitive business environment that build strong team. This individual team provide their
support and give effective work performance that develop business more than its competitors.
Leader of Amazon act at the present conditions like provide coaching and training to
employees. Effective leader can take their right decision according to the situations in
workplaces and look upon such things that impact on their performance. They need to tell
individual about their work and how to do things. They sell their thoughts and ideas to get staff
members to apply into their work process. They motivate workers and encourage them for taking
part in giving ideas and creating new thoughts that help to develop Amazon business more and
more.
Traits leadership

According to Daft, (2014) Trait leadership theory aware leader about their skills and
characteristic which they are using to make decision for employee's career growth. They apply
this model in their framework which help utilize information or evaluate position in Amazon.
This theory only focuses on leader not follower or condition which directly influence on
employee's performance and business success. Trait model is based on success and unsuccessful
traits which base on the role and activity of leader and manager both.
Elton Mayo's Human relations theory
As explained by ….... This theory focusses on manager function and activity of taking
interest in employees. They treat them as individual who worthwhile opinion and realizing that
staff enjoy interaction with the others in workplaces. Through using this theory in their practices,
they make good relationship with its colleagues and other members as well that make
environment healthy.
P.4 Explain the key approaches to opperations management and the role that the leaders and
managers play.
Conflict management-
Role of leader-
Conflict situation is the most difficult problem that influence on employee's performance
and business growth. Leader need to understand need and requirement of staff and provide them
all the facilities which make them comfortable and satisfied at workplaces. In a team of different
individuals, the chance of conflict arising is much higher. In that situation leader play an
important role by collaborate with employee's and try to interpret their issues (Hassan and
Hatmaker, 2014). They use Situational leadership style for solving problems in work area.
Leader need to resolve conflicts by understanding conditions of employees through using
different strategies such as telling, participating, selling and delegating with employee's they
solve the problems.
Functions of manager-
Manager play second role for resolving the issues in the organization which is very
important for business growth and success. They knew as mediator, in the firm manager identify
solutions with workers which bring conflict to peaceful resolution. Management by objectives
is the best approach in which has been use by the manager of Amazon for solving the issues and

manage conflict situations. In this function of manager is negotiating with employees to make
individual agree on one common perspective. Through this theory they determine needs and
objectives of workers and organization than provide feedback on results. Manager makes new
plans and focus on making new ideas which help to resolve issues. They need to continuously
monitor workers performance as well as other departments.
Policy formation
Role of leader-
Policy formation is the implementation and creation of laws, funding priorities and
regulations or other actions which has been done by the leaders of Amazon company.
Situational leadership help leader to make any decision and convey need to change to
management in organization. They play an essential role as developer, under their role they
develop culture and structure of organization. Through making policy in firm they try to change
thoughts and thinking of employees. Leader adopts this approach to identify strategic gaps so
that proper policy strategy has been formulated.
Functions of manager-
Amazon Manager make their decision in specific policy area that will be consistent with
in the bound established by government policy. Management of objective approach help
manager to make their opinion about the situation (Matsui and Amagai, 2015). By identify
problems in organization they create new policy that indented to resolve problems and improve
quality of performance. They determine the need and objectives of firm which is very important
during making policies. Thus, they make their decision in specific policy areas where their
opinions will be consistent within Bound by government policy.
P.5 Different approaches Strengths and weakness
Situational leadership
Strength-
Situational leadership theory is based on ideas and thoughts that has been used by
Amazon leader for working together with its employee's and other members in collaborative way
in changing business environment. It makes leader flexible in making decision for resolving
conflict situation which is beneficial for business.
Weakness-