ICON COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT

Pearson BTEC HND in Business (RQF)

Unit 4 Management and Operations

Session: April 2017

Programme title TNA67 Pearson BTEC HND in Business

Unit number and title Unit 4 Management and Operations

Unit Type Core

Assignment number & title 1 of 1 Leadership and Management Concepts

Assessors Dr Reza Aboutalebi and Mr David Boyd

Issue Date 24th April 2017

Final assignment
24-29 July 2017
submission deadline

31st July – 5th August 2017

Late submission deadline The learners are required to follow the strict deadline set by the College
for submissions of assignments in accordance with the BTEC level 4–7
submission guidelines and College policy on submissions.

Resubmission deadline TBA

In-class feedback will be available from draft submissions on a task-by-

task basis as a formative assessment as well as summative feedback in
Feedback the form of initial submission.
Final feedback will be available within 2 weeks of the assignment
submission date.

 The work you submit must be in your own words. If you use a quote or an
General illustration from somewhere you must give the source.
Guidelines  Include a list of references at the end of your document. You must give all
your sources of information.
 Make sure your work is clearly presented and that you use correct grammar.
 Wherever possible use a word processor and its “spell-checker”.

Internal verifier Prof Nurun Nabi

Signature (IV of the

nabi@iconcollege.com Date 22/4/17
brief) *
Assignment Brief – continued

ICON College of Technology and Management

Pearson BTEC HND in Business (RQF)
Unit 4: Management and Operations (L4)
Session: April 2017
Coursework
Recommended Word limit: 3,000–4,000

This Unit will be assessed by assignment and presentation.

You are strongly advised to read “Preparation guidelines of the Coursework Document”
before answering your assignment.

ASSIGNMENT

Assignment Context and Business Scenario

You are an Operations Manager of an organisation of your choice and you have been asked by the
CEO to investigate the impact of leaders and managers on the operations of this ever-growing
organisation.

You will need to produce a report for the senior leadership team that includes the following:

1. An introduction to the organisation and management structure.

2. Definition and roles of both managers and leaders, highlighting the differences between
management and leadership.

3. The different roles of management and leadership in application to different organisational

situations, supported by theories and concepts.

4. How classical theories (for example, scientific management) and behavioural theories (for
example, Elton Mayo’s Hawthorne Effect) apply to the organisation and how these have supported
growth and sustainable performance.

5. Conclusions on how managers and leaders have made an impact on the organisation and
recommendations for future improvements.

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Assignment Brief – continued

What you must do

The following tasks are required to be carried out:

LO1 Differentiate between the role of a leader and the function of a manager.

Using examples from your organisation, define and compare the different roles and characteristics
of a leader and a manager [P1].

To achieve M1, you should analyse and differentiate between the role of a leader and function of
a manager by effectively applying a range of theories and concepts in your chosen organisation.

To achieve D1, you should critically analyse and evaluate the different theories and approaches
to leadership using examples from your chosen organisation.

LO2 Apply the role of a leader and the function of a manager in given contexts.

Using examples from your chosen organization, examine examples of how the role of a leader and
the function of a manager apply in different situational contexts. Apply different theories and
models of approach, including situational leadership, systems leadership and contingency [P2, P3].

To achieve M2, you should assess and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different
approaches to situations within the work environment.

LO3 Demonstrate an appreciation of the role leaders and managers play in the
operations function of an organisation.

Using examples from your chosen organisation, explain the key approaches to operations
management and the role that leaders and managers play and explain the importance and value
of operations management in achieving business objectives [P4, P5].

To achieve M3, you should evaluate how leaders and managers can improve the efficiencies of
operational management to successfully meet the business objectives of your chosen organisation.

To achieve D2, you should critically evaluate the application of operations management in your
chosen organisation and the factors that impact on the wider business environment.

LO4 Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between leadership and management

in a contemporary business environment.

Using examples from your chosen organisation, assess the factors within the business environment
that impact upon operational management and decision-making by leaders and managers [P6].

To achieve M4, you should analyse how the relationship between leadership and management
affects the business environment and wider community of your chosen organisation.

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Assignment Brief – continued

In addition to writing a report on the role leaders and managers play in the operations
function of an organisation (LO3) and on the relationship between leadership and
management in a contemporary business environment (LO4), the CEO of your chosen
organisation wants you to have a 5-10 minute individual PowerPoint presentation (and a 5
minutes allocated for questions) of these two LOs covering the following areas:

1. An introduction to the key operations of the organisation.

2. Details of each of the key operational functions, identifying the roles and responsibilities of
managers in the key operational functions.
3. Explanation of the key operational approaches to operations management and their value.
4. An evaluation of the impact of external business environment factors that affect decision-making
by leaders and managers.
5. How operational efficiencies can be improved to successfully meet business objectives using
appropriate management and leadership approaches.
6. Conclusions and supported recommendations for future improvements to be taken by the
organisation.

Grading Criteria

Learning Outcome Pass Merit Distinction

LO1 Differentiate
between the role of a
leader and the
function of a manager
LO2 Apply the role of
a leader and the
function of a manager
in given contexts.
LO3 Demonstrate an
appreciation of the role
leaders and managers
play in the operations
function of an
organisation.
LO4 Demonstrate an
understanding of the
relationship between
leadership and
management in a
contemporary business
environment.
P1 Define and M1 Analyse and D1 Critically analyse
compare the different differentiate between and evaluate the
roles and the role of a leader different theories and
characteristics of a and function of a approaches to
leader and a manager. manager by effectively leadership in given
applying a range of contexts.
theories and concepts.
P2 Examine examples M2 Assess and
of how the role of a evaluate the strengths
leader and the and weaknesses of
function of a manager different approaches
apply in different to situations within the
situational contexts. work environment.
P3 Apply different
theories and models of
approach, including
situational leadership,
systems leadership
and contingency.
P4 Explain the key M3 Evaluate how D2 Critically evaluate
approaches to operations leaders and managers application of
management and the role can improve operations
that leaders and efficiencies of management and
managers play. operational factors that impact on
P5 Explain the management to the wider business
importance and value successfully meet environment.
of operations business objectives.
management in achieving
business objectives.
P6 Assess the factors M4 Analyse how these
within the business different factors affect
environment that the business
impact upon environment and wider
operational community.
management and
decision-making by
leaders and managers.

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Assignment Brief – continued

Relevant Information

Guide to student

1. Preparation guidelines of the Coursework Document

a. All coursework must be word processed.
b. Document margins must not be more than 2.54 cm (1 inch) or less than 1.9cm (3/4 inch).
c. The assignment should be in a formal business style using single spacing and font size 12.
d. Standard and commonly used type face such as Arial should be used.
e. All figures, graphs and tables must be numbered.
f. Material taken from external sources must be properly referenced using the Harvard
referencing system.
g. You should provide references using the Harvard referencing system.
h. Do not use Wikipedia as a reference.

2. Plagiarism and Collusion

Any act of plagiarism or collusion will be seriously dealt with according to the College
regulations. In this context the definition and scope of plagiarism and collusion are presented
below:

Plagiarism is presenting somebody else’s work as your own. It includes copying information
directly from the Web or books without referencing the material; submitting joint coursework
as an individual effort.

Collusion is copying another student’s coursework; stealing coursework from another

student and submitting it as your own work.

Suspected plagiarism or collusion will be investigated and if found to have occurred will be
dealt with according to the College procedure. (For details on Plagiarism & Collusion
please see the Student Handbook)

3. Submission
a. Initial submission of coursework to the tutors is compulsory in each unit of the course.
b. Student must check their assignments on ICON VLE with plagiarism software Turnitin to
make sure the similarity index for their assignment stays within the College approved level. A
student can check the similarity index of their assignment three times in the Draft
Assignment submission point located in the home page of the ICON VLE.
c. All Final coursework must be submitted to the Final submission point into the unit (not to
the Tutor). A student would be allowed to submit only once and that is the final
submission.
d. Any computer files generated such as program code (software), graphic files that form part
of the coursework must be submitted as an attachment to the assignment with all
documentation.
e. Any portfolio for a unit must be submitted as a hardcopy to the Examination Office.
f. The student must attach a tutor’s comment in between the cover page and the answer in the
case of Resubmission.

4. Good practice
a. Make backup of your work in different media (hard disk, memory stick, etc.) to avoid distress
due to loss or damage of your original copy.

5. Extension and Late Submission and Resubmission

a. If you need an extension for a valid reason, you must request one using an Exceptional
Extenuating Circumstances (EEC) form available from the Examination Office and ICON
VLE. Please note that the tutors do not have the authority to extend the coursework
deadlines and therefore do not ask them to award a coursework extension. The completed
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Assignment Brief – continued

form must be accompanied by evidence such as a medical certificate in the event of you
being sick.
b. Late submission will be accepted and marked according to the College procedure. It is noted
that late submission may not be graded for Merit and Distinction.
c. All Late coursework must be submitted to the Late submission point into the unit (not to
the Tutor). A student will be allowed to submit only once and that is the final submission.
d. Only one opportunity will be given for reassessment (resubmission) will be permitted and the
assessment will be capped at Pass for the unit. In addition, no resubmission will be allowed
in any component of the assessment for which a Pass grade or higher has been achieved.
e. Repeat Units – A student who has failed to achieve a Pass in both Final/Late submission
and in the Resubmission must retake the unit the full attendance and payment of the unit
fee. The overall unit grade for a successfully completed repeat unit is capped at Pass for
that unit. Units can only be repeated once.

6. Submission deadlines
Submission deadlines Online to the ICON College VLE
Final Submission date: 24 – 29 July 2017
Late Submission date: 31st July – 5th August 2017

Glossary:
Analyse: Break an issue or topic into smaller parts by looking in depth at each part. Support each
part with arguments and evidence for and against (Pros and cons). Break something down into its
components, examine factors methodically and in detail to recognise patterns by applying concepts
and making connections to predict consequences.

Apply: Use a particular method/technique to solve a problem

Compare: Estimate, measure or note the similarity or dissimilarity between one thing and
another…(compare something to) draw an analogy between one thing and another for the purpose
of explanation or clarification.

Critically Evaluate/Analyse: When you critically evaluate you look at the arguments for and
against an issue. Decide the degree to which a statement is true or the importance or value of
something by reviewing the information. Include precise and detailed information and assess
possible alternatives, and consider strengths and weaknesses if they were applied instead.

Assess: Evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of something. Provide sufficient detail
and/or understanding in responses. Learners will break something down into its components,
examine factors methodically and in detail to present logical and coherent reasoning.

Define: State or describe exactly the nature, scope, or meaning of something- establish the
character of something; mark out the boundary or limits of something.

Differentiate: The state of being strikingly different from something else, typically something in
juxtaposition or close association. Point out the differences between at least two phenomena.

Demonstrate: Show that you can do a particular activity or skill. Provide several relevant examples
or related evidence which clearly support the arguments you are making.

Evaluate: Examine in detail the meaning or essential features of a theme, topic or situation; break
something down into its components; examine factors methodically and in detail, identify separate
factors, say how they are related and how each one contributes to the topic to make reasoned
judgements and conclusions. Review the information then bring it together to form a conclusion.

Examine: Inspect (someone or something) in detail to determine the nature or condition.

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Assignment Brief – continued

Explain: When you explain you must say why it is important or not important. Clarify a topic by
giving a detailed account as to how and why it occurs, or what is meant by the use of this term in a
particular context. Provide sufficient detail and/or understanding in responses.