Management and Operations: A Comprehensive Analysis

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Management and Operations
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MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Task 1:.............................................................................................................................................4
P1: Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager............4
Definition of Leader:...................................................................................................................4
Definition of Manager:................................................................................................................4
Common Elements between a Leader and a Manager:...............................................................4
Comparison of Leaders and Managers:.......................................................................................5
P2: Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the functions of a manager apply in
different situational contexts............................................................................................................6
P3: Apply different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership, systems
leadership and contingency..............................................................................................................8
M1: Analyze and differentiate between and the role of a leader and function of a manager by
effectively applying a range of theories and concepts...................................................................10
The Role of Leaders:.................................................................................................................10
The Functions of Managers:......................................................................................................10
Difference between Hard management Skills and Soft Leadership Skills:...............................11
Mintzberg Managerial Roles:....................................................................................................11
M2: Assess the strengths and weakness of different approaches to situations within the work
environment...................................................................................................................................14
D1: Critically analyze and evaluate the different theories and approaches to leadership in given
contexts..........................................................................................................................................15
Task 2:...........................................................................................................................................17
P4: Explain the key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers
play................................................................................................................................................17
Definition of Operations Management:.....................................................................................17
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Different Models of Managing Operations:..............................................................................17
The Role of Retail Store Manager:............................................................................................17
Basic Functions of Manufacturing Manager:............................................................................18
P5: Explain the importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives
.......................................................................................................................................................18
The Importance of Role Managers:...........................................................................................18
P6: Assess the factors within the business environment that impact upon operational
management and decision-making by leaders and managers........................................................19
M3: Evaluate how leaders and managers can improve efficiencies of operational management to
successfully meet business objectives...........................................................................................20
M4: Analyze how these different factors affect the business environment and wider community
.......................................................................................................................................................22
D2: Critically evaluate the application of operations management and factors that impact on the
wider business environment..........................................................................................................25
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................27
Reference.......................................................................................................................................28
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Introduction
The entire business world has changed due to the immense competition between the rival
competitors. Even it has become tough to sustain in the international market. For the smooth
running of the business appropriate operation management is mandatory so that in any difficult
situation proper guidance could be provided. The role of leaders and the managers needs to be
enhanced so that the business entities would be able to achieve their goals and objectives having
positive ethics in their business operations.
TESCO is a multinational company having many outlets in a different location throughout the
world. The organization has many employees those help them in their entire operations of the
business. The structure of the company is designed in such a way that the higher authorities have
the maximum responsibilities to perform. To upgrade their business into a better form the
management of TESCO should implement the best strategies which will be suitable and effective
for them.
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Task 1:
P1: Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and
a manager
Definition of Leader:
The leader is the person that influences every member to reach to his or her desired goals and
objectives easily and efficiently. The person is also responsible to carry out the vision and also
sets new aims and objectives for the organization. A leader of the company has to take an
important decision and even effective strategies also done by them so that the growth of the
business can be maintained.
Definition of Manager:
A manager is responsible to take important decisions and also for organizing, control, planning,
direction and coordination. The person has the power to hire and even to fire any employees if
getting not performing up to the expectations of the company (Harrison and Lock, 2017). The
organization needs managers at a different level so that the entire business operation could work
smoothly. Any kind of project can only be achieved by having the right skilful manager into
account.
Common Elements between a Leader and a Manager:
There are some similarities in their roles and responsibilities as they both play an important role
to enhance the business performance of TESCO. Hence, the common elements are discussed
below:
 Leader and a manager are both responsible to design the motivational process so that it
could enhance the performance of the employees.
 For the better improvement of the business performance, the managers and the leaders
must have a strong communication
 Both of them set goals so that all the employees should be a focus on achieved on those
goals and objectives to get appreciation
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 Both of them are responsible for getting in the same direction so that the pace of the
business can be maintained.
 Relations that are made by both of them are to enhance the business performance.
Comparison of Leaders and Managers:
Traits:
The leader and the manager of TESCO should take the responsibilities to motivate employees so
that they could be a focus on their respective goals. In the form of leading it becomes easy to
engage all the employees so that they could maximize their performance for the better
improvement of the business operations. The management team of TESCO should have the
practice to lead people and also treat everyone with respect so that a strong bond can be formed.
For example: While dealing with any kind of sale related issue the manager and the leader both
have to necessary step to overcome from such problematic situation.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Leader and a manager role in TESCO need to be improved so that they can handle any type of
situations. The improvement of the organizational performance can be only achieved having the
best characteristic of leadership and also management (Heizer, et al. 2017). The leader and the
manager should be flexible so that they can change and also could be able to take decision more
rapidly. For example: The management of TESCO should have the information about the market
as the customer always follows the trend. Due to change in the market the leader and the
manager has to take necessary actions.
Authority and Power:
The leader and the manager both have their respective powers and authorities which they use
them for the better improvement of the business and also to improve the future place of the
company in the international market. TESCO's leader and manager should take adequate steps so
that they could also enhance employee motivation and skill. This step can be done by having
regular training and also with some kind of educational sessions. For example: The management
of TESCO has the power and also the authority to make necessary changes as per the
requirement.
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P2: Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the functions of a
manager apply in different situational contexts
Planning:
It is called as the most important part of any business operations as it helps the management to
predict the future of their business operations. TESCO and its management team should have an
effective planning so that they could improve their sales in different markets. The use of best
resources should be utilized so that the company could get benefited and also could reach their
goals easily and effectively. For example: It will help the management of TESCO to be flexible
in their daily operational activities so that the standard level of service could be given to the
customers.
Organizing:
The process of organizing helps to achieve positive results easily and with perfection. TESCO
and its management team should work as a team so that they could handle any kind of situation.
The entire team should have a good relation and a good communication so that they could
deliver their best performance and could satisfy customers (Hemmer and Labro, 2017). For
example: The management of Tesco would be able to expand their business both in the position
of vertically and horizontally.
Commanding:
It is important to motivate employees so that they could be a focus on their respective goals.
Leading is the best process to engage all the employees so that they could maximize their
performance for the better improvement of the business operations. The management team of
TESCO should have the practice to lead people and also treat everyone with respect so that a
strong bond can be formed. For example: Any kind of instruction will be followed having the
best leadership style in the business operations of TESCO.
Controlling:
The management of TESCO should have a tight control and monitor overall its departments so
that any kind of issue regarding the operations of the business could be identified and could be
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solved without wasting much time (Uhl and Gollenia, 2016). The use of perfect technique should
be utilized so that the performance of employees and also the increase of sale could be done
easily. The entire process should be done in a controlled work environment. For example: It will
help the management if TESCO to compare the performance level of each employee so that they
could identify any kind of low performance from any individuals.
Co-ordinating:
It helps the organization to be active in any considerable moment and even it helps all the
employees to be harmonized for the better improvement of the company. The process also helps
to motivate the employees so that every member could be in discipline. The use of the effective
leadership is regularized for the exceptional performance growth of the employees. For example:
Proper communication could be made through the process which will also help the company to
achieve its goals and objectives easily and efficiently.
Figure 1: Fayol’s Functions of Management
(Source: Akalin, et al. 2016)
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P3: Apply different theories and models of approach, including situational
leadership, systems leadership and contingency
Situational leadership:
According to the theory, it is important to have the best leadership style in the business operation
so that it could provide help in the smooth running of the business. Having the best leadership
into account any kind of situation can be handled easily by skilled people. It is important to
utilize every essential available resource so that the best outcome could be achieved easily and
perfectly. It is also important to take the decision as per the requirement or demand.
System Leadership:
According to the theory, the management needs to create a positive atmosphere in the working
place so that every member could work systematically. The performance level of the employees
should be judged so that any kind of negative issues can be put into some effective barrier ( Hitt,
et al. 2016). To overcome from the issues effective use of skills and knowledge should be
utilized so that the strategies that are taken should be appropriate and exact.
Contingency Leadership:
It is important to analyze the situation before taking any kind of decision so that the best step
could be taken. It can be seen that the growth of the business can be also depended upon the
management as they are the person those leads the entire organization (Slack and Brandon-Jones,
2018). Even steps that are taken should have a support plan so the success can be achieved
without any kind of failure. It is important to achieve goals so that the performance level of the
company and of the employees can be increased.
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Figure 2: Leadership Style
(Source: Chevalier, et al. 2015)
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M1: Analyze and differentiate between and the role of a leader and function
of a manager by effectively applying a range of theories and concepts
Behavioural Theory:
It can be considered as the best theory which should be utilized by the management of TESCO
for the smooth running of the business. Even it can provide help in increasing the profit margin
as the employees will get a positive working environment. The performance level of the
employees can be also increased as it will provide fruitful results in favour of the company.
Human Relation Theory:
It will help the management of TESCO to have a healthy relationship with all the members while
interacting with the other members (Kapadia, et al. 2018). Every member working under the
company should give respect and honour so that a healthy culture can be regularized.
The Role of Leaders:
 The leaders of TESCO should ensure that the policies made them are well accepted by all
the employees. Any kind of change in the policies can be only done by the leaders. They
always give importance to the employees so that they can be motivated.
 The main objective of the leaders of TESCO is to guide everyone by having the best
possible ideas so that they could deliver their best performance which will be beneficial
for the improvement of the company.
The Functions of Managers:
 The managers of TESCO should follow every rules and regulation implemented by the
leaders of the company. It should be said that the rules and policy are made by the leaders
and every member of the organization should follow those instructions.
 It is the manager’s duty to ensure that all the employees are given their task and
employees should complete their allocated task with the specific time given by their
managers (Schwarz, et al. 2015). The entire working process should be monitored by the
managers so that the business of TESCO could run smoothly.
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Difference between Hard management Skills and Soft Leadership Skills:
Hard Management Skills:
 It helps to enhance to develop various languages so that an effective communication
could be made.
 Even relevant skills also could be improved or learned to enhance the level of
performance.
 It also helps to operate the entire business smoothly and with perfection.
Soft Leadership Skills:
 Every member of the company could work flexibly in any kind of situation.
 The best and the effective leadership style are also accepted for the better improvement.
 It also teaches to work in a team for the same cause or initiative so that any kind of work
could be completed on time.
Figure 3: Hard management and Soft Leadership Skills
(Source: Ferguson, et al. 2017)
Mintzberg Managerial Roles:
It is divided into three groups such as Interpersonal Roles, Informational Roles and Decisional
Roles.
Interpersonal Roles:
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