Toyota: Comparing Roles of Managers and Leaders in Operations

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership and management within Toyota, a leading Japanese multinational automobile company. It begins by comparing the characteristics and roles of managers and leaders, highlighting their distinct responsibilities in achieving organizational goals. The report then explores the applicability of these roles in various situations, focusing on project management and team-building strategies within Toyota. Furthermore, it delves into different leadership theories, including transformational leadership, classical management theory, situational leadership, contingency leadership theory, and system leadership theory, and how these theories are implemented in Toyota's operational practices. Finally, it examines key approaches to operations management and the roles of managers and leaders in optimizing manufacturing processes, waste management, and overall efficiency. The report emphasizes the importance of effective communication, strategic planning, and employee development in Toyota's success, providing valuable insights into leadership and management in a contemporary business environment.

Management and
Operations

INTRODUCTION
Operation management is the process of planning, designing, controlling and
administrating the team work in an effective manner in order to develop top level of efficiency
within the company. On the other side it is the area of management which is always design kind
of process by which companies can redesign their marketing operations in a perfect way. It
generally involves in the different kind of operations in order to meet actual need of customers
effectively. Whereas, management refers to the several processes such as managing functions of
organisations and coordinate with the team members for achieving targeted goals in a, effective
discipline. Along with this management is also known as technique in which leaders and
managers can take appropriate decision in a perfect way. This present assignment is based on
TOYOTA, which is one of the best Japanese multinational automobile companies, formed in the
year of 1937 through Kiichiro Toyoda in Japan. Further discussion will be made on roles and
characteristics of a manager and leaders as well as their applicability in several situations within
the company (Boyd and Dougherty, 2016). At last, appreciation of their roles and functions into
the contemporary environment of business will get covered.
TASK 1
P1 Comparison of various characteristics and roles of a manager and a leader.
In the current period of time managers and leaders are much effective and essential aspect
for each and every organization. Therefore, they both every time play different roles in order to
achieve company’s goals and objectives.
Leader: They are the people who always getting their work done from the employees and team
members as well. With the help of this they can achieve their goals towards the organization.
Leader plays a very essential role by motivating their team members among the work and make
effective vision of company. They make better strategies for their employees so that they can
work easily and give better performance within the company. In regards with Toyota, leaders
always give their best and make effective concept for employees in a perfect way. On the basis
of this company can enhance their productivity and efficiency.
Characteristics and Roles of a leader in Toyota
Role Characteristics
Leaders are very much effective and
essential part for every organization in which
they allot task to employees in order to gain
higher goals. Along with this they are
responsible for giving productivity, safety
and few aspects for team members for better
Leaders are very polite in their nature because
they always help to their employees in order
to gain particular vision and mission in an
effective manner.

employment within the Toyota.
Leaders have vision for achieving proper
goals by giving better facility to employees
so that they can work accordingly and helps
organization to reach their specific aim.
Leaders have very effective and efficient
communication skills which helps them to
their employee in order to understand every
task within the organization. By which they
can manage their work perfectly.
Manager: They are the only one person who always design and manage organization in order to
manage work accordingly. Along with this they mainly direct and make pre -determined goals in
a perfect way for company (Ellitan, 2017). Here manager is required to formulate on the relevant
strategies in order to make effective plan and objectives as well. In reference to the Toyota
manager always makes unique techniques and strategies for giving better performance within the
organization. Manager also focuses on their appraisals for employees and performs every task
accordingly.
Characteristics and Roles of a manager in Toyota
Roles Characteristics
Managers in Toyota knows as first choice of
company because they always capable to deal
with any situation a play their role effectively.
Apart from this they always make their
effective vision in order to develop effective
growth of an organization.
In context with Toyota, managers have
innovative mindset so that they can easily
develop proper techniques by which other
people can get affected in a positive way and
make proper system in an organization.
Managers of Toyota are generally having duty
to manage their team’s situation in any kind of
reason by which they can meet their goals.
According to Toyota, their managers have lots
of knowledge with the help of this they can
make better business strategies for better
future.
Difference between leaders and managers
Managers Leaders
Manager always makes better policies and
communicates with leaders.
Leaders’ implements on the different
objectives which is given by the managers.
They fix the objective for Toyota. Leaders influence by communicate with
employees in order to make better policies.
Always gives better direction for their
employees.
They always focus on people and offer better
direction to team members.
Generally develops ideas for the betterment for
the respective organization (Eraki, 2015).
They play the role and execute on different
ideas in order to achieve goals.
Managers concentrate on different things and
make planning within the company.
The leader mainly influences people by giving
them better facility within the company.

Transformational theory of leadership:
According to this theory leaders can get ideas about valuable changes within the
company and implements on new strategies for better achievement of goals and objectives. In
reference with Toyota, leaders always impact on the employees towards the work so that they
can work accordingly. Therefore, it is necessary theory for leaders to attain their proper
achievements towards an organization.
Classical theory of Management:
It refers to the ideology theory by which manager can understand their requirements in
order to fulfill company’s goals by attaining higher profits and skills in a perfect way. According
to Toyota, managers always make better plan for gaining real output and higher profit from the
market. At last this process is completed by the decision of an organization in an effective
manner.
For example if Toyota will provide better facility to their employees managers and
leaders than they can done their work within the gain period of time and makes effective plan in
order to reach higher goals towards the company (Fan and Liu and Zhang, 2015).
TASK 2
P2 How roles of a leader and functions of a manager can be applicable in various situations.
The functions of manager and leaders can be easily applicable within the organization in
order to changes the different strategies and innovation for improving few operations of
companies. On the other side managers and leaders is the best approach or each company by
which organization can make their vision clearly. In reference with Toyota, they are making
effective business strategies in order to improve their work in the consumer’s desirable manner.
Therefore, both leaders and managers are required to have proper obligations and knowledge in
order to meet organizational goals in a perfect way. Herein, leaders play a very effective role by
giving task to employees and achieve better output. In the same case of managers they also work
properly by giving lot of guidance to their overall employees within the firm. Along with this
Toyota have several kind of strategies for improving their work from the other automobile
industry. They always used unique management and operation in their working style for making
potential customers in a systematic way. Apart from this company has proper vision to make
their customers happy and provide better planning strategies to their employees to achieve higher
goals. Moreover, they can handle their situation in any kind of environment without any impact
on the economy. That’s why Toyota using several kind of functions, those are listed below:
Project management: It is one of the best function which can be create in different kind
of situation within the business activities. In order to improve this company makes several task
and obligation in a perfect manner. In reference with Toyota, leaders and managers have
responsibility to examine overall performance of employees and then give them new ideas for

overcoming such kind of errors. On the basis of this they can conduct different kind of training
and development programs for their employees so that they can enhance their working efficiency
and capability to achieve specific targets in a systematic way. Apart from this managers and
leaders always provide proper guidelines to their team members and employees in order to gain
competitive advantages to overcome difficulties from an organization. Therefore, it is much
important for Toyota, to make effective use of their available resources in order to meet unique
goals and it is also helpful for employees so that they can enhance their higher skills and
knowledge.
Team-building: It can be difficult for an organization because there are different kind of
people as well as team members which all have various mind set and perception to achieve their
goals. Therefore, company is required to have autocratic leadership style in order to develop
labour work on the basis of employees. Along with this managers and leaders of Toyota
generally makes effective and proper guidance so that they can enhance their knowledge towards
the work (Idris, 2016). On the basis of this both manager and leaders can make effective trust on
their employees so that they can easily achieve their goals and also able to influence other people
in order to bring innovative things in the company. It is very helpful aspect for employees in
which they can get lot of knowledge and coordinate with other members in their team. Therefore,
managers and leaders are responsible for making effective and good relations with team in the
Toyota.
P3 Theories and Models of various approaches.
Leadership is the process and activity that includes in having huge number a group of
people into the company in order to check their overall performance and capabilities of
employees. It is also includes for developing effective vision by offering appropriate information
and higher skilled of knowledge for employees so that they can achieve their goals. In Toyota
leaders are following kind of this approach in order to develop proper team relations for total
quality of management. For this concept there are few aspects and theories of leadership, those
are listed below:
Situational leadership: This approach helps leaders while changing the techniques and
strategies within the organization. As per this leaders can follow effective leadership style by
which they can easily communicate with people and make proper balance within the team
towards the work.
Contingency leadership theory: It is also very important for leaders but along with this
it also concentrates on the leaders situation in which they can interact with lots of people. It
shows the contingency in the work when leaders guide their employees when they really needs
help to operating their business with effective aspects. Apart from this it is the sum total of
twofold process for leaders capability.

System leadership theory: It is helpful for leaders and managers as well in which they
can provide better environment for employees within the Toyota. It is followed by the leaders by
which they can modify their techniques in order to manage difficult operations of an
organization. This approach helps company to enhance their productivity and efficiency within
the marketplace for achieving better goals.
Therefore, this can be said that managers and leaders have authority to guide their
employees and make their working skills effective for attaining appropriate goals within the
company. It is also targeted specific time in order give better services to customers in a perfect
way (Ma and Sun, 2012).
TASK 3
P4 Key approaches to management of operation and managers and leaders role.
Operation management refers to the procedure by which company can start their
manufacturing process of product and convert raw material in to the finish goods. Herein,
management used several practices in order to recycle wastage material from the company and
convert in to them end goods. In reference with Toyota, the management of operation always
keep records in their company and make proper goals in a perfect way. Along with there are two
types of functional leading activities of this company in regards with transportation system, those
are given below:
Transportation: According to this concept company makes their goods first and then
sent it them to the appropriate locations which is called transportation process. According to
Toyota, they always make best vehicles for customers comfort and mainly able to offer them
within the demanding time.
Production: This function shows the combination of raw material in to the end goods
that’s why the primary section of each and every business industries.
There are different kinds of trading operation management, those are given below:
Six Sigma:
It refers to the strategically approach which is generally used in industries in order to
overcome different issues from the gods and services. In regards with Toyota, managers and
leaders always used this process in order to increase higher profit and increase employees
working capabilities. By this company can achieve their goals in a perfect way. According to this
approach company can generate effective tools and strategies for better results and production
process.
On the other side, Toyota always used this strategy for identifying their overall
performance of employees within the company. This approach is divided into two parts such as

DMAIC and DMADV which shows the current employees performance and provides better
advices to improve standard of quality.
Just in time approach: This approach is generally used for eliminate different reasons
while manufacturing the process of goods. It is the main process by which employees can finish
their work within the given period of time. Leaders and management used this process and
employees implements on this so that can get higher profit towards company and help to reduce
huge ample of amount from it. Along with this it keeps inventory control and minimizes old
stock from the firm.
Total Quality Management: In present time every firms are using this approach for
gaining better output and effective results for future. In context with Toyota, it helps them to
grab potential customers and make effective relations between them. On the basis of this they
can sustain for long period of time within the marketplace. It needed employees efforts so that
they can easily reduce consumers problems and able to provide them effective and better
qualities of product (Nayak, 2015). That’s why it is necessary for company in order to gain
competitive advantages in a business environment. According to this leaders and managers play
their role, which is given below:
Role played by a manager: According to Toyota, they played very effective role by
managing their overall stock within the effective period of time. They always perform their role
by using this approach so that they can make consumer’s choice of product and make proper
policies in a perfect way.
Role played by leaders: As leaders are very effective and attractive part of every
company in Toyota they always gives better task to employees in order to follow proper
functions of respective company and used proper resources in order to gain appropriate
objectives.
P5 Significance and operations management value to achieve business objectives.
According to this process of operation management companies can develop different kind
of activities and functions that comes under the planning, controlling, directing and monitoring
the work effectively. As per the Toyota, they mainly ensured that they will give better services to
customer and make their product with higher technologies. There is few significance of operation
management, those are listed below:
Increasing overall productivity: According to this leaders and managers of Toyota, can
easily focuses on their different kind of necessary elements in which employees can implement
on their task for fulfilling the consumers’ needs in an effective manner. There are some main
objectives which is necessary for company to manage their work. As leaders and managers gives
their best so that employees are able to perform their roles in a perfect way.

Cost reduction: This factor is necessary for removing large cost from the production system in
order find proper way to make effective utilization of resources. In reference with Toyota,
managers and leaders makes good quality of products and services that increase employees speed
of work and they are able to work in a comfort zone by giving better products within the
marketplace.
TASK 4
P6 Factors within the business environment that influence decision making through managers
and leaders and operational management.
Business environment combination of two types of factors such internal and external in
which organizations can make their decision accordingly (Plesser and et. al., 2014). In reference
with Toyota, managers and leaders can get affect by different factors like techniques, employees
and competition etc. There are some factors which are given below:
Internal Factors
These are those factors which can be rise within the company any time. There are several
kind of factors which influence the working culture of organizations, those are discussed below:
Shareholders (Owners): Shareholders are the owners of an organization so that they
have different kind of investment by which they can achieve effective profit within the firm. In
reference to the Toyota, managers always makes better strategies in order to give better attraction
towards their vehicles product and invest highest amount of shares so that they can easily
increase their growth of an organization in an effective manner (XIANG, Chen and Zhang, 2013).
Human resources: Human resources management is the strategically approach which
helps company to make their goals in a perfect way. On the basis of this company can enhance
their profit by hiring skilled people in their organizations. In reference with Toyota, managers are
effectively using this approach in order to select and recruit proper people to manage their work.
As per the competitive business company required to have proper goals and vision so that they
can easily implement on their new ideas in an effective manner. According to this they can select
proper candidate with full of knowledge in this effective field. Apart from this, by using these
strategies they can make their brand very famous and attractive in front of other people.
On the other side Human resource refers to the various functions by which they can
resolve conflicts in a proper way (Tristancho and Gutiérrez, 2012). On the basis of this people can
get job opportunities from Toyota and able to work with them in a perfect manner. Therefore,
HR works for companies in a precious way. Along with this each and every industries are using
this approach in order to gain competitive business environment in a perfect way. So that people
can increase their knowledge and skills for better future to attain proper goals and objectives
perfectly.

External Factors
These factors rise outside of the organization within the business environment in order to
control few aspects. These factors heavily impact on the companies functions by which they can
be little bit confuse for making few strategies. There are several kinds of external factors which
influence working culture of the company, those are mentioned below:
Technological factors: These factors influence the proper functions of organizations in
both positive and negative way. But technological factors are much necessary for company’s
growth and productivity in a better way. Sometimes it can be barriers for company while they are
not using proper technologies. In reference with Toyota, managers and leaders ensures that they
are using proper techniques in order to make attractive policies for long term stability in market.
Along with this it minimizes the factors which can be the reason of conflicts within the business.
Legal factors: The factors also influence business entity across the globe. According to
this factor, changes in law can develop negative impact on companies by which company’s
management operations can get affect at higher level. This is all because these factors are not in
managerial control (Yun and et. al., 2018). As per this every country have different kind of rules
and regulations in order to manage policies and strategies in a proper way. In reference to the
Toyota, managers take effective decision in order to make unique strategies in order to follow
country’s policies by which they cannot get affected and make proper decision in a proper way.
On the basis of this they can make better expending and diversification within the business in
several countries in an effective manner.
CONCLUSION

According to the above representative report it has been concluded that, operation
management is very effective and important part of every organization in order to control,
planning, directing proper strategies for gaining marketing effectiveness in a perfect way. In this
present assignment Toyota has been taken which is one of the best automobile industries. There
are different kind of roles and characteristic of a leader and a manager by which they can guide
their employees to gain objective at higher level. Along with this there is different type of
approaches which helps company to achieve their competitive advantages. Herein, several kind
of factors which influence the decision making process of this respective company in a positive
way by which they can make better policies in order to manage functions of an organization.
Apart from this, leaders and managers can make organization better ad able to achieve goals and
objectives.
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