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Abstract
It is important to distinguish the difference between leadership and management, both of which are considered necessary. Leadership and management are often used interchangeably, but they are two distinctive and complementary processes.
Organizations need strong leadership and strong management for optimal effectiveness. In today's dynamic workplace, we need leaders to challenge the status quo and to inspire and persuade organization members. We also need managers to assist in developing and maintaining a smoothly functioning workplace.
Key-words: leadership, management, workplace
JEL Classification : M10, M20
INTRODUCTION
The present debate about 'management' and 'leadership' is not new. There is a long history of research into what management is, what managers do, and what managers need to have in order to do their jobs well. 'Leadership' has been of interest at different times and in different ways.
The subject of the differences between leadership and management has been discussed at length in the literature. John Kotter (1990) developed a structure for determining the difference between leadership and management behaviour and tasks. Kotter's view was perhaps more extreme than Drucker's, but also supported it to a large degree. Kotter argued that leaders and managers have tasks that are almost opposite in nature. He felt that management works towards order and stability. Management does this because order will lead to consistency, and consistency to smooth and efficientrunning operations - a goal of management. Conversely, Kotter purported that leadership strove to deliver constructive change and movement in organisations. He argued that successful leaders would seek "continual adaptive change" with a goal of continuously improving organisations for success. Kotter felt that leaders should aspire to continually 3 improve organisations so that they would have a greater chance of survival in a continually adapting business environment and those that stay static will not succeed. Kotter was a strong supporter of both leaders and managers in organisations however, arguing that both were necessary to an organisation that runs effectively. A sense that can be gained from some an academic study by Kotter is that managers make the vision of leaders work. For example, leaders provide a sense of direction, reviewing the big picture, and then creating a vision. Managers take this vision and direction, commit to it and then establish timelines and...