Management vs. Leadership

Management vs. Leadership

Management and leadership are two terms which have been developed in order to examine behavior in workplaces. These concepts are fluid, indeed, they are often used interchangeably. Some researchers argue that leadership is simply an aspect of management. Others argue that leadership can replace management. In fact, each of them has its own function and they both are necessary for the success in today’s complex and dynamic business environment.

Managers are often seen as a people who seek to achieve stability and to cope with complexity. Development of management is a response to the emergence of large organizations. Managers’ main role is to bring order and harmony to the complicated initiatives. They are also responsible for the coordination of tasks and allocation of work. In contrast, leaders are less concerned with work tasks than with motivating and inspiring the staff. Their function is to drive new initiatives and to cope with change. In recent years the business world has become more competitive for that reason some major changes are necessary for the survival in this fast-paced environment. (Potter 1990) Therefore, more leadership is demanded because leaders are the ones who generate positive change and inspire others to overcome obstacles. In other words, “the manager does things right; the leader does the right thing”. (Bennis 1989, p.45)

Mainstream approach is focused on how to manage and lead in order to increase profit. It is interested in meeting the present goals of the organization rather than the way they will be achieved. Organization, management and leadership are determined as “three distinctive but interrelated elements of a system that is treated as an object of manipulation and control.”(Knights and Willmott 2007, p.265)

Classical thinkers paid minimal attention to motivation and to related human aspects of work organization. For example, in “Principle of Scientific Management” Frederick Taylor believes...