Leadership and Management Roles in Toyota's Operational Efficiency

Desklib provides past papers and solved assignments for students. This report analyzes Toyota's leadership, management, and operations.

Management and Operations
(Toyota Motor Corporation)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Main Body.......................................................................................................................................2
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................2
P1 Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager.........3
M1 Analyse and differentiate between the role of a leader and function of a manager by
effectively applying a range of theories and concepts.................................................................5
P2 Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in
different situational contexts........................................................................................................5
P3 Apply different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership, System
leadership and contingency..........................................................................................................6
M2 Assess the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to situations within the work
environment.................................................................................................................................7
D1 Critically analyse and evaluate the different theories and approaches to leadership in given
contexts........................................................................................................................................8
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................8
P4 Explain the key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and
managers play with reference to the chosen organisation...........................................................9
P5 Explain the importance and value of operations management in achieving Business
objectives with reference to the chosen organisation................................................................10
M3 Evaluate how leaders and managers can improve efficiencies of operational management
to successfully meet business objectives...................................................................................10
D2 Critically evaluate application of operations management and factors that impact on the
wider business environment......................................................................................................11
P6 Assess the factors within the business environment that impact upon operational
management and decision-making by Leaders and managers with reference to the chosen
organisation................................................................................................................................12
M4 Analyze how these different factors affect the business environment and wider community
...................................................................................................................................................13
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................13
References......................................................................................................................................14
2

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Management structure of Toyota Corporation..........................................................5
Figure 2: Theories and approaches related to leadership..........................................................9
Figure 3: Key approaches to Operation Management.............................................................11
Figure 4: Ways to improve efficiencies of operational management......................................13
Figure 5: Factors impacting operational management and decision-making........................14
LIST OF TABLE
Table 1: Difference between manager and leader......................................................................6
3

Introduction
Operation management is the key function in service organization as with the help of planning
effective operational activities it will support the organization to perform its practices within the
industry (Haksever and Render, 2018). The present report has been prepared to gain the
perspective regarding the role of managers and leaders in the organization that assists the overall
operation of the business with the aim to improve their production and results in developing the
high-quality products. It basically focuses on considering the case scenario of Toyota the leading
Japanese company commence its operation in the automobile sector.
In addition to this, the report will support in gaining insight knowledge regarding the functions of
managers and the role of leaders towards managing and arranging the employees in an efficient
manner.
4

Task 1
Introduction to the organization and its management structure
Toyota Motor Corporation one of the leading names in the automobile industry whose
headquarter is in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. The company is among the largest companies in the
world by revenue that has created a distinct position in the Automobile sector (Toyota, 2019).
In the year 2012, Toyota was the first automobile producer to produce more than 10 million
vehicles that year and have marked its presence in the global market. Apart from this, cited
automobile company is along among the leader that has an emphasis on selling hybrid electric
vehicles to hearten and inspire the mass-market acceptance of the hybrid vehicles. The
management structure or hierarchy of Toyota Motor Corporation is grounded on the abundant
operations that are carried out by the company across the world.
5

Figure 1: Management structure of Toyota Corporation
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Board of
Director
CEO
Production unit
Assembling
unit
Batch
production
Sales
Technical
administrator
unit
R&D Supply chain
Corporate
Auditor

P1 Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager
Managers within the organization are the one that engages in designing and managing the
workflow with the key direction to accomplish the pre-determined objectives of the company.
Within Toyota, Corporation manager plays a significant role that engages in developing certain
policies and strategies for the workers so that they may perform their individual tasks and
responsibilities in accord with the objectives (Hitt et al. 2016).
The key characteristics of the manager include planning, managing, organising as well as
monitoring and reviewing to the daily operations and tasks performed by the staffs. In addition to
this, the manager’s characteristics also focus on appraising the overall performance of employees
so that they improve their performance within the workplace and lead to enhance the
productivity of the organization.
On the contrary to this, leaders also play a vital role within the Toyota Corporation as they are
the one that focuses on inspiring and guiding the staffs to get the work done with concerning
towards accomplishing the goals of the company. The role of leader also focuses on motivating
and appealing to the employees regarding their inbuilt vision for the organization that needed to
be attained in the future. Along with this, the aim of the leader also focuses on influencing the
employees to perform effectively within the unit that results in enhancing the overall efficiency
and output of the organization (Daniel, 2018). As compared to the manager, the leader also
features distinct qualities and characteristics that support the leader in encouraging their staffs
and employees towards performing the effective practices that lead to attaining the desired
direction of the organization. With the above assessment of role and characteristics of the leader
and manager, it has been identified that there are certain differences such as-
Table 1: Difference between manager and leader
Basis of differences Manager Leader
Setting of Objectives The manager is one who
engages in drafting and setting
the overall objectives for the
corporation (Kim et al. 2017).
On the other hand, leader is
the one that persuades
employees to accomplish the
objective formulated by the
manager.
Communication Manager is the one that starts
communication and
Further leader communicates
the policies and strategies to
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communicates policies to the
leaders.
the workers and staffs.
Direction Manager gives direction to
group.
Leader gives direction to the
team.
Focus It focuses on things. It focuses on people.
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M1 Analyse and differentiate between the role of a leader and function of a manager by
effectively applying a range of theories and concepts
Through addressing the role of manager and leaders in the setting it has been analysed that both
are distinct from each other. This differentiation is analysed through applying a range of theories
and concepts such as system theory for management and transformational theory for the leaders.
With the application of system theory of management, it has been assessed that manager is
regarded as the key element that interacts within the environment and results in accomplishing
the organizational goals effectively and efficiently (Clarke and Mahadi, 2017). In addition to
this, the theory also supports in solving the problem that exists within the environment. Contrary
to this, the leader also has distinct characteristics that differentiate them from the manager. In
regard to this, transformational leadership has been taken into consideration that mainly focuses
on idealising, inspiration, individualisation as well as intellectual simulation qualities within the
leader. Therefore, with the application of a range of theories, it has been analysed that the role of
manager and leaders within the Toyota Corporation is distinct from each other (Hill and Hill,
2017).
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P2 Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in
different situational contexts
In Toyota Corporation, manager and leaders play a significant role in managing their diverse
operations associated with the manufacturing of the automobiles. It has been examined that the
managers of Toyota institutes range of standards and values for enhancing the staffs in the
company. On the other hand, the function of leader will focus on competent interpersonal
communication skills that support in getting work done by the employees taking standards into
consideration that were established by the managers (Meyer et al. 2017).
For instance, at the time of starting the new batch production of the automobile, the manager will
impart their role by managing and arranging the tasks for staffs so that they may effectively
engage in performing the manufacturing activities. In this situation, the leader will also focus on
encouraging the staffs and employees to work on the equipment so that they engage in
manufacturing the quality of unit for the automobile.
In addition to this, another function is associated with the staffing that focuses on getting
competent and qualified employees for the company. For the production process, Toyota
Corporation recruits the staff and assigns the job accordant with the possessed skills and
capabilities. In this situation to make the new candidate work leader within the workplace
continue towards motivating the staff so that they may render required services (Slack and
Brandon-Jones, 2018). On the other hand, in this situation manager should also apply their role
of allocating the work according to the abilities of selected staffs. In this situation, both manager
and leaders would play a significant role in managing the business practices.
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P3 Apply different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership,
System leadership and contingency
In order to maximize the efficiency of employees towards achieving the organizational goals, it
is required by the leaders and management to apply different theories and models associated with
the situational leadership, system leadership as well as contingency theory. The situational
leadership is defined as an effective approach of the leadership where the leader’s style is
depending on the situation arises in the workplace (Fredendall and Hill, 2016). This approach to
leadership will positively influence and persuade the employees towards the completion of a
task. It has been further assessed that operations management of Toyota Corporation is directly
affected with this form of leadership. In the present scenario, cited Japanese firm is facing certain
issues associated with increased cost as well as the increasing level of conflict within the
workplace where situational leadership can play a major role in overcoming the issues
(CORNER, 2016).
Figure 2: Theories and approaches related to leadership
Apart from the situational leadership, System leadership is also applied in the Toyota
Corporation. With the implementation of this leadership style, leader controls the activities of
staffs and communicate regarding the situation so that staffs may easily engage in performing
according to the need of the company (Hübner et al. 2015).
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Theorie
s and
models
Situational
leadership
System
leadership
Contingenc
y
leadership

Lastly, contingency theory of leadership is also applied in the Toyota Corporation where the
leader focuses on addressing personal characteristics and values to find out that their style fits the
situation or not. The theory of leadership is also concerned with addressing that leader is
effective when his style of leadership fits with the situation prevailing in the company.
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