ACCA Applied Knowledge · Business and Technology · Leadership, management and supervision
Which of the following BEST describes a key difference between a leader and a manager?
A leader focuses on setting direction, inspiring people and driving change, while a manager plans, organises and controls resources to achieve objectives. The other options reverse these roles, wrongly linking leaders to routine operations and managers to informal influence.
- AA leader focuses on setting direction and inspiring followers to change, whereas a manager focuses on planning, organising and controlling resources to achieve set objectivesCorrect
- BA leader is always appointed through formal authority in the organisation, whereas a manager gains influence only from the informal support of the team
- CA leader deals mainly with day-to-day operational routines and procedures, whereas a manager deals mainly with vision and long-term strategy
Explanation
Leaders are typically associated with vision, direction, inspiring and change, while managers are associated with planning, organising, controlling and the efficient use of resources. The second option reverses the position, since leaders may emerge informally and managers hold formal authority. The third option swaps the focus of leaders and managers.
Did you get it right without looking?
One question tells you little. A timed set on Leadership, management and supervision shows your real accuracy, how long you take and where you lose marks.
More Leadership, management and supervision questions
- Which of the following is one of the five elements of management identified by Henri Fayol?
- At Brightway Ltd, an employee in the packing department receives instructions on daily output from the production manager and also from the …
- A manager reads industry journals, talks to staff informally and scans press reports to keep up to date with developments affecting the busi…
- According to Mintzberg, which of the following groups contains only roles that fall within the interpersonal category of managerial roles?
- A production manager at Karlov Ltd holds a weekly meeting where the heads of purchasing, assembly and dispatch share schedules so that their…
- Nadia, a department head, has delegated the preparation of a client report to a team member, Tom. She wants to retain control without underm…