Reference no: EM131393223 , Length: 4200 Words
The aim of this unit is to help students understand the difference between the function of a manager and the role of a leader. Students will consider the characteristics, behaviours and traits which support effective management and leadership. In addition, this unit will introduce the concept of operations as both a function and a process which all organisations must adopt to conduct business. Students will be introduced to and explore contemporary and historical theories and concepts which will support their learning for this unit. On successful completion of this unit students will have developed sufficient knowledge and understanding of how management and operations make a positive, efficient and effective contribution to an organisation at a junior level. This could be in the role of a team leader or managing a specific aspect of an operation function and/or process.
Scenario 1
You have been offered an Internship with the Human Resource and Operations department of an organisation. You have been assigned to a team that has been working well together over the past year to design and implement the organisation’s plans and projects led by the project co-ordinator. As the new year begins a number of new projects are being introduced and several new members are being added to the team who do not have previous experience with the projects. You have been asked by the Human Resource and Operations Manager to investigate and submit your findings in an Information Pack on the impact of leaders and managers on the operations of this evergrowing company under the headings below
Task 1
P1
The issue of the role and characteristics of a leader as against that of a manager has always been an item of debate in the staff room with no clear winner. The human resource and operations manager has ask you to Define and Compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager in the information pack to bring clarity to the debate
P2
The new year is always an exciting time for managers, leaders like the project co-ordinator and all staff members. However, the introduction of new projects and new members to the team comes with the challenge of how the role of the leader and the function of the manager can be applied effectively. To serve as a guide to the success of the new projects and the new members settling in the team, you have been asked as part of the information pack to Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in: I. Working with new team members II. Working on new projects
P3
Working on new projects and with new team members as stated earlier is always exciting and at the same time challenging. The manager vaguely remembers the different theories and models of leadership that can be applied in such situations. He has therefore asked you to Apply different theories such as situational leadership, systems leadership and contingency to working on new projects and with new team members in the information pack.
M1
The HR and Operations manager has read an article in one of the management journals about the Scientific management theory, Behavioural theory and Leadership traits and styles. He found the article quite informative and wants to share it with managers and colleagues. He sees the information pack as an avenue to share this information. The manager has therefore asked you to Analyse and Differentiate between the role of a leader and function of a manager by effectively applying a range of different theories and concepts such as the Scientific management theory, Behavioural theory and leadership traits and styles in the information pack.
M2
The article also identified the strengths and weaknesses of different management and leadership approaches to situations in the work environment. He once again sees the information pack as a useful tool and an avenue to disseminate such useful information. The manager has asked you to Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the different approaches with particular interest in the situational, systems and contingency approach to the situation of working on new projects and with new team members within the work environment.
D1 (LO1 & 2)
The manager offered you the internship based on your excellent college report and excellent performance at the interview and would like you to demonstrate that ability in the information pack. He has therefore asked you to Critically analyse and evaluate the different theories and approaches to leadership in the context of working on new projects and working with new team members.
Scenario 2
The Human Resource and Operations manager has been very impressed with the contents of your information pack since reporting on the role of management and leadership within the organisation in your first task. The Human Resource and Operations Manager have now asked you to feedback in an Information pack on best approaches and practices with regards to operations management and the role managers and leaders play in achieving business objectives in the business environment and the wider community.
Task 2
P4
The operations in the organisation have over the years been successfully executed under the direction of the manager and the supervision of the project co-ordinator. However, the human resource and operations manager will like to get the team more involved in the understanding of operations management and the role that leaders and managers play in the approaches used in operations management. The manager has therefore asked you to compile an information pack in which you Explain the key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers play in the application of these approaches.
P5
The operations department of the organisation has over the years won many awards in achieving the business objective of product quality enhancement and waste reduction (man-hours and materials) in the operations process. As part of the induction for the new members of the team and to share good practice, the manager has asked you to Explain the importance and value of operations management in achieving the business objective of enhancing product/service quality and the reduction of waste (man-hours and material) in the operations process in the information pack.
P6
The operations manager after years of experience has come to terms with the fact that there are factors within the business environment that impact on operations management and must be taken into account in the decision making by leaders and managers for the successful execution of projects. To create awareness for the new team members, you have been asked to Assess the factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management and decision-making by leaders and managers as part of the information pack.
M3
The operations manager is keen on maintaining and improving the efficiency of operational management in achieving the organisation’s business objective. In the information pack, you have been asked to Evaluate how leaders and managers can improve efficiencies of operational management to successfully meet the business objectives of enhancing product/service quality and the reduction of waste (man-hours and material) in the operations process.
M4
The annual shareholders meeting is coming up and the operations manager has been asked for information on the activities of the department and how the different factors that impact on operations management affect the business environment and the wider community. The manager has asked for your support in the provision of the information for the shareholders and has asked you to Analyse how the different factors you assessed in P6 affect the business environment and wider community. The analysis must be included in the information pack.
D2 (LO3 & 4)
The operations manager is considering presenting to the shareholders in-depth information on the application of different operations management approaches together with the factors that impact on the wider business environment. For this purpose, you are to Critically Evaluate the application of operations management approaches and the factors that impact on the wider business environment in the information pack.
Sources of information:
Textbooks 1. HILL, A and HILL, T. (2011) Essential Operations Management. London: Palgrave. 2. PETTINGER, R. (2007) Introduction to Management. 4th Ed. London: Palgrave Macmillan. 3. SLACK, N., BRANDON-JONES, A. and JOHNSTON, R. (2013) Operations Management. 7th Ed. Harlow: Pearson. 4. SCHEDLITZKI, D. and EDWARDS, G. (2014) Studying Leadership: Traditional and Critical Approaches. London: SAGE.
Assignment Instructions
Scenario 1 (for LO1 and LO2)
P1 Define leaders and managers.
Compare the roles of a leader and a manager.
Compare the characteristics of a leader and a manager.
Hint: Clearly explain what leaders and managers mean and give an example, if appropriate, to show what you mean. Also identify the role of the leader and compare with the functions of the manager
P2 Examine examples of how the role of a leader apply in:
I. Working with new team members
II. Working on new projects
Examine examples of how the function of a manager apply in: I. Working with new team members II. Working on new projects
Hint: Identify and apply the role of the leader and the functions of the manager (Planning, Organising, Controlling and Directing) to the two situations stated in the question.
P3
Apply situational leadership theory, systems leadership and contingency theory in I. Working with new team members II. Working on new projects
Hint: Clearly explain the meaning of the theories identified in the question and apply the meaning to the situations identified in the question.
M1
The assessment verb is ‘Analyse’. In order to analyse, you need to break the subject or complex situations into separate parts and examine each part in detail; identify the main issues and show how the main ideas are related to practice and why they are important; reference to current research or theory may support the analysis
Discuss in detail the differences between the role of a leader and function of a manager. Use theories and approaches such as Scientific management, Behavioural theory and theories of leadership traits and styles when analysing and differentiating the role of a leader and function of a manager. Hint: Identify and explain the separate theories stated in the question, say how they are related and how each one contributes to the topic under discussion
M2
The assessment verb is ‘Assess’. In order to assess you are required to use the available information to make a judgement. Hint: Make a judgement based on the strengths and weaknesses of situational, systems and contingency approaches in
I. Working with new team members II. Working on new projects
D1
The assessment verb is ‘Critical Analysis’. It is a development of ‘analyse’ which explores limitations as well as positive aspects of the main ideas in order to form a reasoned opinion. Another assessment verb for the criteria is ‘Critically Evaluate’. It is a development of ‘evaluate’ where the candidate debates the validity of claims from the opposing views and produces a convincing argument to support the conclusion or judgement.
Discuss in detail various leadership theories such as situational leadership, systems leadership, task or relationship approaches. Explore the limitations as well as positive aspects of the theories and approaches. Produce a convincing argument to support the conclusion.
Scenario 2
( LO3 and LO4) P4
Explain the key approaches such as TQM, JIT and Kaizen to operations management. Explain the role that leaders and managers play in the approaches.
Hint: Set out in detail the meaning of the approaches (Total Quality Management, Just in Time, and Kaizen concept of continuous improvement) with reasons. Start by Introducing the topic then give the ‘how’ or ‘why’
P5
Set out in detail the meaning of at least three operational functions and their importance in the achievement of the business objectives of enhancing product/service quality and the reduction of wastage (man-hours and material) in operations.
P6
The assessment verb is ‘Assess’. In order to assess you are required to use the available information to make a judgement. Assess the factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management and decision-making by leaders and managers. Give careful consideration to all the factors (CSR, Ethics, Culture and Values and sustainability) that apply and identify how important or relevant they impact on management decision making.
M3
The assessment verb is ‘Evaluate’. You need to examine strengths and weaknesses, arguments for and against and/or similarities and differences; Judge the evidence from the different perspectives and make a valid conclusion or reasoned judgment Evaluate how leaders and managers can improve efficiencies of operational management to successfully meet the business objectives of enhancing product/service quality and the reduction of wastage (man-hours and material).