Vodafone Report: Leadership, Management, and Operations Analysis

This report provides an in-depth analysis of leadership and management practices within Vodafone, a leading multinational telecommunications company. It begins by comparing the roles and responsibilities of leaders and managers, highlighting their distinct approaches to achieving organizational goals, including setting objectives, motivating employees, and managing tasks. The report then explores how leadership and management functions are applied in different situational contexts, emphasizing the importance of hard and soft skills. It further delves into various leadership theories, such as contingency theory, situational leadership, and system leadership, illustrating how these models are utilized within Vodafone. The analysis extends to operational management, examining key approaches like Six Sigma, Total Quality Management, and Just-in-Time, and their impact on achieving business objectives. The report underscores the significance of operations management in optimizing processes, managing capacity, and transforming resources to meet customer needs and enhance profitability. The discussion covers the application of leadership styles like transactional and transformational leadership within Vodafone's operational framework.

Management and
Operations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Compare roles and responsibilities of leader and manager...................................................1
P2 The role of a leader and function of a manager applied in different situational contexts......2
P3 Different theories and models of leadership..........................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
P4 The key approaches to operation management and the role that leaders and managers can
play..............................................................................................................................................4
P5 Importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives.............5
P6 Factors of business environment impact upon operational management and decision
making by leaders and managers................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Operations management is defined by business practices which is creating highest level
of efficiency in an organisation. It is concerned with labour and materials which is converted in
efficient form to maximise profits. This report is based on Vodafone which is British
multinational telecommunication company. It is world top most company which is listed in
London Stock Exchange. The purpose of this report is to distinguish role of leader and manager
in situational context. An organisation has examined theories and approaches which is played by
leaders and managers. Chosen organisation has defined impact which lay on decisions made by
leaders and managers.
TASK 1
P1 Compare roles and responsibilities of leader and manager
Leaders and manager plays vital role at every level management.
Leader
Leader is defined as a person who is working towards goals. They are setting clear vision
with their team members by motivating, guiding and encouraging them towards achievement.
Vodafone leader is leading with various roles and characteristics in an organisation.
Roles of leader are stated below.
Setting clear objective: Leaders are making clear vision with their team members by
influencing them towards achievement. Leader of Vodafone is performing their duties which
gain profit outcome.
Motivating employees: Leaders look after their team members in order to appraise them
for doing better and well job. Vodafone treated their employees for putting best efforts in tasks.
Characteristics of leader
Honesty and Integrity: Vodafone required honest team members which lead core
benefits in an organisation. Leader are maintaining integrity among its members.
Confidence: Leader of Vodafone is confident about their commands, decisions and
qualities. This characteristic reflected on leaders work (Changalima, 2016).
Manager

Manager is an individual who is working in an organisation for completing certain group
of tasks. Vodafone manager is dealing with functions related to sales, quality, customer support
etc.
Roles of manager
Spokesperson: Manager plays this role by transmitting information to top level managers
by enabling better activities (Danilović, Đorđević and Antonić, 2015).
Positive attitude: It is an asset for manager which is define by people who are working in
inside and outside organisation. Vodafone manager tries to build good relations with various
person.
Characteristics of manager
Experienced: Manager of Vodafone is to be knowledgeable and experienced in its own
field.
This is helpful for producing and managing events in an organisation.
Communication: Manager having quality to communicate with team for performing job
responsibility. Vodafone manager is working with position and listening to their members.
Comparison in between leader and manager
Basis Leader Manager
Meaning Leader is an individual who
promote its team members towards
accomplishing goals.
Manger is an individual who is
managing its organisation by
planning, directing, controlling and
coordinating. Vodafone managers is
participating in sure terms which
improve quality performance.
Approach Leaders are setting target for
achieving goals and objectives.
Managers are preparing plans for
leading success in an organisation.
Aim Vodafone leaders aim is to make
enhancement structure by sharing
responsibility.
Their aim is to build attainment with
positive results.
Focus Their focus is made on peoples
(Baboli And et. al., 2014).
They made focus on plan and
procedure.

P2 The role of a leader and function of a manager applied in different situational contexts
Role of leader and functions of manager is determined by actions which are define by
employee performance and productivity. As a Trainee Assistant Operations Manager, HNC
program required excellent employees who can understand and accept future state in
organisation.. Leaders are playing its role with respect to situational context are defined below.
Hard skills management: In this hard management skill the leader used to punish and
force their subordinates in order to get work done by them.
Soft skills management: The leaders use some appraisal tools in order to motivate their
subordinates so that they can perform their task effectively and efficiently.
Manager functions in situational context
Managers of Vodafone is dealing with materials which is prepared by certain principles.
Individual employees are concerned with producing products in effective manner. Manager is
concerned with making plans, then organize it and make final evaluation with effectiveness (He,
Li and Chai, 2014).
Planning: This function evaluates goals by setting course of success. Manager of
Vodafone is making schedule of activities which lead in achieving goals. As Trainee Assistant
Operations Manager company used to prepare definite plan of action by identifying specific
things.
Organising: This function bring material together which made by planning function for
achieving goals. Manager of Vodafone is prioritising on resource which is essential at given
time.
Leading: It is a basic key function which letting staff members of Vodafone manager to
perform their responsibility. Trainee Assistant Operations Manager is leading with supervising
subordinates which is done by motivating their teams in clear ways.
Example: Inventory management: Vodafone is leading with electronic material. In this,
leaders and managers are making plans in order to materials by ensuring definite role. Leaders
and managers are evolved in working properly with team members and subordinates with
effective operation management (Majidi and et. al., 2017).

P3 Different theories and models of leadership
Leadership theory is provided by set of rules which is determine in form of participative
decision in various situation. Vodafone leaders are using theories and models in which their
behaviour are sorted by organisational setting.
Contingency theory: It is an organisational theory which make decisions in best way to
organise corporation. This leadership theory is defined by certain situations which is signified by
certain people and places. It is effectively applied by leaders in right situation. This theory
represents strength and weaknesses which causes in different sectors. The manager can use this
approach in the fast changing situation where situation is contingent and changes very
frequently. This will help manager of Vodafone to keep motivated their employees.
Situational leadership: This leadership style is developed by Kenneth Blanchard who
has define easily and helps in understanding diagnosis. Leaders of Vodafone is providing
appropriate style by meeting needs of peoples. This is described by influencing thoughts and
actions of leader which build support in achieving goals and objectives. It is an interesting theory
which make current discussion by closely looking on situations. The manager can use this
approach moderate situation when situation does not changes accordingly.(Mendis, Muttaqi and
Perera, 2014).
 This theory is useful for organisation in developing people and work groups.
 They are establishing rapport for bringing out best from peoples. It is basically used by organisation via locally, nationally or internationally.
System leadership: Vodafone leaders are leading with principles which made good
communication with relevant tools. This style is basically build professional learning with
standard skills. It establishes strong community with long term efforts of leader. Trainee
Assistant Operations Manager is managing organisation behaviour by having expert knowledge.
This style can be used when there is stable situation in organisation in order to motivate the
subordinates and employees. So they can give their best and organisational goals can be
achieved.

TASK 2
P4 The key approaches to operation management and the role that leaders and managers can play
There is some approaches to operation management which helps in improving
productivity and maximising profits. These can be used by leaders and manager of
Vodafone. These are discussed as below:
Six sigma:-
This enables the managers to take more reliable decisions that can make the competition
of Vodafone more efficient that can create highest value within the company. Profit
maximisation will be high if the firm utilise efficient use of resources and managers and leaders
can be directed and ensured. Many leaders believes that operation management of Vodafone is
suitable for manufacturing industry (Reim, Parida and Sjödin, 2016). The objectives of operation
management can make the customer satisfaction and resource utilization that can achieve
success. Vodafone can generate important behaviours to subordinates such as vision, shared
value and beliefs that can bring people at work. It is largest international mobile operator that can
have global impact on economy Six sigma concept is mainly focus on the customer and remove
non valuable steps and waste from the procedures. As manager of Vodafone can use this concept
in order to maximise their profits by meeting customers needs and expectations. The manager
can use this approach as it is helpful in managing, improving and smoothing the process flow..
Total quality management:-
It is a method in which top, middle and lower managers engage to increase quality of
production, control process can bring all employees in order to increase quality of products on
continuous basis. The main purpose to minimize wasteful practices of organization that can have
optimum use of resources and can have impact on Vodafone. The problem solving action is
given to lower level in organisation, allowing responsible people to take quality control and
corrective measures which is necessary in order to deliver a product or service that can meet
needs of customers. Vodafone can provide products to customers with products and services
quality checked before introducing in market so that customers are satisfied and company makes
efficient use of material and can make the profits in end. The managers can have makes assess
use of resources in company. These can include service evaluation, Quality of service monitoring
and performance of leaders towards suppliers (Rushton, Croucher and Baker, 2014).
Just in time :-

It is a set of strategic activities which are formulate to achieve maximum production with
minimal maintenance of inventory. It is applicable to various types of organization that can be
implemented to managers to make Vodafone well utilised in economy. The company can use
products related information such as product's name, code and storage location in order to lead
managers competent, make economies well efficient that can guide all managers to take a
competitive role in the global market Managers and leaders can make a rivalry firm market.
P5 Importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives
Operation management is defined by higher efficiency which is created by services
provided to customers. Vodafone employees are working consistently by improving
performances. There involves many of the circumstances for achieving business objectives. An
organisation is managing operations by resolving issues occur in between employees of
Vodafone.
Process design:
This tool is define by models and material which is transformed by design. Vodafone
company is determining use of equipments, work flow and transforming of materials.
Transformation of latest resources into finish product:
It is determine by transforming fresh and latest material into finished product. This
product is define in order to make delivery and received to final consumer. Vodafone manager is
basically leading with transformation which is helpful in producing fresh and latest product in
market.
Capacity management: In this, manager of Vodafone is having responsibility that ensure
with ability and make effective cost. Customers are having capacity issue which serve focal point
and supported by management.
Various theories and method of leadership
Transactional leadership:
This leadership style is making focus on supervision and performance. Vodafone leaders
is promoting compliances by reward and punishment. Leaders are playing integral part for
managing command of operations (Strande and Brdjanovic, 2014).
Transformational leadership:

This leadership approach causes change in individuals and social system which create
positive change among followers with end goal. It is most inspiring leadership style which is opt
by Vodafone company. Leaders modify effective behaviour of staff.
P6 Factors of business environment impact upon operational management and decision making
by leaders and managers
In present era, Vodafone is functioning with various business activities with
environmental factors. It is define by elements which impact on company long term and short
term. There is internal and external factors which basically categorised in micro and macro
factors which influence business operations.
Micro factor:
These are influenced with profitability and particular time frame. They are of various
forms which are defined below (Virmani, Saha and Sahai, 2018).
Customer: Manager of Vodafone wants to perform well in market and generate
maximum profits. An organisation is providing valuable services to customers such as fast
delivery. Cash on delivery option and return back policies etc. If customers are not satisfied than
it effects on market position which reduces profit. Manager of Vodafone always tries to make
their customers happy.
Supplier: Supplier are those who supplies goods and services by encloses product for
distribution. Vodafone supplier is commonly specialising inputs to deliverables. They are using
definite tool for making things for sale. Their purpose is to provide something which is needed to
customer such as product or service.
Macro factors: There are various types of external factors which influence the business
operations and same are defined below.
Demographic factor: This factor includes size, density, age, gender, occupation and
other statistics which determine individual perception. It leads large and diverse opportunity with
challenges for business. Vodafone manager is making study of people perception about product
in crucial market.
Political factors: It includes different trade policies, government rules and regulation and
tax rate that have to be implemented on companies operating in region. Their having sudden
changes in policies which is influenced by Vodafone company. This effect came on decision

which is made by leaders and managers. Government is putting force in changing wages rate of
labour which impact came on decisions (Webb, 2017).
Economic factors: This factor includes rate of inflation, deflation and economic
condition that impact came on customer purchasing power. Manager of Vodafone is making
valuable decision for determining better results among different regions. This factor is playing
important criteria in GDP, GNP, import duty rate, sales tax etc.
Social Factors: It is defined by predominant culture and target audience. This factors is
related to customer preferences, taste, trends etc. so manager of company focus and take decision
to develop services and product according to the taste and demands of customer. Manager of
Vodafone is leading with right approach of communication which takes place in between
customers and buyers. In case if customer is not provided with the best quality of good it may
reduce the profitability.
Technological factors: This factors includes advanced technology and improved
techniques. Manager of Vodafone is implementing effective technology in their business
operation which make sufficient sales. Leader and manager is taking valuable decision which is
implemented by advanced technologies. Sales process is considered for making profit by
reaching large number of people.
CONCLUSION
From the above mention report, it is concluded that leader and managers of Vodafone is
equally working by attaining goals and objectives. Role of leader concluded that they are doing
well job with attaining maximum outcome. Soft skills management concluded that they are
helpful in solving issues and errors which occur in organisation. Contingency theory maker
conclusion for sustaining better performance and examining growth in a particular period of
time. Environmental factors has concluded that they are making positive impact on leaders and
managers.

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