Management: Leadership

Management and leadership are central to business success, but they are not the same thing. Management focuses on planning, organising, and controlling resources to achieve specific goals, while leadership is about inspiring and motivating people to follow a vision. In the OCR A-Level Business syllabus, this topic explores the key differences, theories, and styles that shape how businesses are run. Understanding this distinction is crucial because effective organisations need both strong management and inspiring leadership to thrive in competitive markets.

This topic covers classical management theories (e.g., Fayol's five functions and Taylor's scientific management) alongside modern leadership approaches like Blake Mouton's managerial grid and situational leadership. Students will learn how different styles—autocratic, democratic, laissez-faire, and paternalistic—affect employee motivation, productivity, and organisational culture. Real-world examples, such as Steve Jobs' visionary leadership or Toyota's lean management, help illustrate how theory applies in practice. Mastering this content is essential for analysing case studies and answering exam questions on business behaviour.

Within the wider OCR A-Level Business course, management and leadership link directly to motivation (e.g., Maslow, Herzberg), human resource management, and change management. A strong grasp of this topic allows students to evaluate how leadership decisions impact financial performance, stakeholder relationships, and strategic direction. It also provides a foundation for understanding organisational structures and corporate culture, making it a core component of the 'People' section of the specification.