Module 1
Module 1
Introduction to Management
Management:- Definition
According to Mary Parker Follett, “Management is the art of getting things done through
people.”
Harold Koontz defined as, “Management is the art of getting things done through and with
people in formally organized groups.
FUNCTIONS OF MANAGEMENT
Different authors offering different names for the same functions of management
Henri Fayol identifies five functions of management viz, planning, organizing, commanding,
coordinating and controlling.
Koontz and O’Donnell, divides the management functions into planning, organizing, staffing,
directing and controlling.
Warren Haynes and Joseph Massie classifies management functions into decision-making,
planning, organizing, staffing, directing, controlling, and communicating.
Luther Gulick, states seven such functions under the catch word “POSDCORB” Which stand
for
P – Planning
O – Organizing
S – Staffing
D – Directing
Co – Coordinating
R – Reporting
B – Budgeting
As per managers are concerned, the following five functions are essential. They are Planning,
Organizing, Staffing, Directing, and Controlling. In addition to above five functions, the two
functions such as Innovations and representation are also necessary for managers.
. For managerial purpose, the following five functions are very essential for managers. They
are planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling.
(i) Planning:- Planning is the function that determines in advance what should be done. It is
looking ahead and preparing for the future. It is a process of deciding the business objectives
and charting out the methods of attaining those objectives. In other words, it is the
determination of what is to be done, how and where it is to be done, who is to do it and how
results are to be evaluated.
Following are the sub functions of planning: forecasting, decision-making, strategic
formulation, policy-making, programming, scheduling, budgeting, problem solving,
innovation and research activities.
(ii) Organizing:- It refers to coordinate human resources with other resources such as
material, machine, money etc. According to Allen, this organization refers to the structure
which results from identifying and grouping work, defining and delegating responsibility and
authority, and establishing relationships.
The process of organizing involves the followings:
• Identifying the activities necessary to achieve the objectives.
• Grouping activities into various departments.
• Assigning duties or tasks to appropriate individuals.
• Delegating necessary authority to individuals and fixing responsibilities for results.
• Defining authority and responsibility relationship among individuals.
(iii) Staffing:- Staffing may also be considered an important function involved in building
the human organization. In staffing, the manager attempts to find the right person for each
job. Staffing involves the selection and training of future managers and a suitable system of
compensation.
Staffing function has the following sub functions. They are manpower planning, recruitment,
selection, training and development, placement, compensation, promotion, appraisal etc.
(iv) Directing:- After plans have been made and the organization has been established and
staffed, the next step is to move towards its defined objectives. This function can be called
Directing. Through this function the manager explains to his people what they have to do
and helps them do it to the best of their ability.
Directing thus involves three sub-functions. They are as follows • Communication,
Supervision • Leadership and • Motivation. •
(v) Controlling. The manager must ensure that everything occurs in conformity with the
plans adopted, the instructions issued and the principles established.
Three elements are involved in the controlling function.
• Establishing standards of performance.
• Measuring current performance and comparing it against the established standards.
• Taking action to correct any performance that does not meet those standards.
Levels of Management
I.Top Level Management/ Strategic Level
Top level managers are managers who operate from the highest level of an organisation.
Top-level managers, or top managers, are also called Strategic level managers or senior
managers or executives. They include individuals are at the top one or two levels in an
organization and hold titles such as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer
(CFO), Chief Operational Officer (COO), Chief Information Officer (CIO), Chairperson of
the Board, President, Vice president, Corporate head.
Functions:-
1. Top managers have the overall responsibility of managing the organisation.
2. They make organisation wide decision with long term implications for the survival and
growth of the firm.
3. They sets new directions for the firm.
4. They spent more of the time planning and directing and less time on controlling.
5. They determine the nature of relationship between organisation and its external
environment.
6. They also guide the firm’s interaction with external individuals and institutions.
Functions:-
They execute the plans of the organization in accordance with the policies and directives of
the top management.
1. They make plans for the sub-units of the organization.
2. They participate in employment & training of lower level management.
3. They interpret and explain policies from top level management to lower level.
4. They are responsible for coordinating the activities within the division or department.
5. It also sends important reports and other important data to top level management.
6. They evaluate performance of junior managers.
7. They are also responsible for inspiring lower level managers towards better performance
In other words, they are concerned with supervising, direction and controlling function of
management.
Their functions include -
Values in Management
“Values are the moral code of an organization—the set of rules you all embrace and
abide by that reflect the ethics of the people in the organization and hold everyone
accountable to the right standard of behavior.”
These values are the virtues, or principles, that management lives by. They guide all
of the following:
• A manager’s relationships and interactions with employees
• Decision-making processes
• Business decisions
• Relationships with clients
• Workplace processes
• Communication norms
Having great management values improves business.
Classical management theory: emerged from the Industrial Revolution and revolves
around maximizing efficiency and production.
The classical theory of management, which emerged during the 19th century’s
Industrial Revolution, is a management approach that prioritizes efficiency and
productivity in organizations.
It views employees as having primarily economic and physical needs while neglecting
their social needs and job satisfaction.
The theory emphasizes streamlined operations, specialization of labor, and centralized
decision-making under a clear hierarchical structure
9. Scalar Chain:- Fayol defines scalar chain as ’The chain of superiors ranging from
the ultimate authority to the lowest”. Every orders, instructions, messages, requests,
explanation etc. has to pass through Scalar chain.
10. Order:- This principle is concerned with proper & systematic arrangement of
things and people.
Arrangement of things is called material order and placement of people is called
social order.
11. Equity:- It implies that managers should be fair and impartial while dealing with
the subordinates. They should give similar treatment to people of similar position.
They should not discriminate with respect to age, caste, sex, religion, relation etc.
12. Stability of tenure:- Fayol emphasized that employees should not be moved
frequently from one job position to another i.e. the period of service in a job should be
fixed.
13. Initiative:- Workers should be encouraged to take initiative in the work assigned
to them. It means eagerness to initiate actions without being asked to do so.
14. Espirit de Corps:- It refers to team spirit i.e. harmony in the work groups and
mutual understanding among the members. Espirit De’ Corps inspires workers to
work harder.
II.Neo-Classical Theories
1.The Hawthorne experiment consists of four phases. These parts are briefly
described below:-
Phase-I---Illumination Experiment--When the intensity of light was increased, the
output also increased. The output showed an upward trend even when the illumination
was gradually brought down to the normal level.--other factors like length of the
working day, rest hours, and other physical conditions
Phase-II------Relay Assembly Test Room Experiment.
A small homogeneous work-group of six girls was constituted. These girls were
friendly to each other and were asked to work in a very informal atmosphere under
the supervision of a researcher. Productivity and morale increased considerably
during the period of the experiment. Productivity went on increasing and stabilized at
a high level even when all the improvements were taken away and the pre-test
conditions were reintroduced.
Phase-III--Interviewing Programme.-Initially, a direct approach was used whereby
interviews asked questions considered important by managers and researchers. The
researchers observed that the replies of the workmen were guarded. Therefore, this
approach was replaced by an indirect technique, where the interviewer simply listened
to what the workmen had to say. The findings confirmed the importance of social
factors at work in the total work environment.
Phase- IV--Bank Wiring Test Room Experiment.--The experiment was conducted
to study a group of workers under conditions which were as close as possible to
normal. This group comprised of 14 workers. After the experiment, the production
records of this group were compared with their earlier production records. It was
observed that the group evolved its own production norms for each individual worker,
which was made lower than those set by the management. Because of this, workers
would produce only that much, thereby defeating the incentive system. Those workers
who tried to produce more than the group norms were isolated, harassed or punished
by the group.
The findings of the study are:-
Each individual was restricting output.
The group had its own “unofficial” standards of performance.
Individual output remained fairly constant over a period of time.
Informal groups play an important role in the working of an organization.
3. Behavioural approach
Role of Managers
The Mintzberg managerial roles are categorized under three sections—interpersonal,
informational, and decisional.
These three categories comprise 10 roles of a manager. To be a good leader, you have
to manage your teams by leveraging strengths, resolving conflicts, and prioritizing
tasks.
He divided them into three categories:
• Interpersonal Roles -Relating To A Manager’s Authority In An Organization
• Informational Roles -Involving Communicating Important Information and
Data
• Decisional Roles- Concerning Decision-Making, Negotiations and
Implementation.
Interpersonal Roles:
1. Figurehead
As the Figurehead, a manager is responsible for official and social duties that reflect
their status and authority in the organization. It’s about building a strong
relationship with peers and subordinates. You can become a good role model by
being empathetic and compassionate.
2. Leader
The Leader inspires, encourages, and builds morale. Managers build lasting
relationships with team members by monitoring their performance and coaching
them when needed. Emotional intelligence can help you develop a trust-based
relationship with your team.
3. Liaison
A manager has to exchange information with various departments and teams as well
as with external stakeholders. Liaising with other organizations, competitors, and
government representatives is equally important for professional development.
Informational Roles:
1. Monitor
The Monitor is responsible for gathering intel for sustained competitive advantage.
To do that, a manager has to assess the market for changes and collect relevant data
that could impact the organization. These are stages in the process of strategic
management that helps an organization to survive the competition.
2. Disseminator
The Disseminator communicates useful and relevant information to team members
and subordinates. It’s important to invite feedback, ideas, and views from each
employee to keep an open channel of communication.
3. Spokesperson
Convey important information about the organization to external stakeholders. This
could be for PR purposes, addressing government policies, or dealing with suppliers.
You must have a clear idea of your company’s brand image to become a successful
spokesperson.
Decisional Roles:
1. Entrepreneur
Be prepared to take initiative as part of your managerial duties. Initiate projects and
address concerns with effective problem-solving skills. Icebreakers and team-
building activities will help you connect with your team.
2. Disturbance Handler
The Disturbance Handler ensures that everything runs smoothly. Key
responsibilities include resolving conflicts with mentoring sessions, identifying
areas for improvement, and addressing gaps in teamwork.
3. Resource Allocator
The Resource Allocator is concerned with fund allocation, cutting costs, and
distributing resources across the organization. You have to apportion available
resources such as funding, human resources, and materials where needed.
4. Negotiator
A successful negotiation leads to a win-win outcome. A manager has to participate
in negotiations with team members and other stakeholders to reach a favorable
outcome for both parties. This role distinguishes you from other managers because
you have to consider your team’s best interests.
Henry Mintzberg’s managerial roles are useful to assess your strengths and
weaknesses as a manager. You can improve your managerial duties with practice and
experience.
Managerial Skills
⚫ Human/Interpersonal Skill The human or the interpersonal skills are the
skills that present the managers’ ability to interact, work or relate effectively with
people
⚫ Technical Skills Technical skills involve skills that give the managers the ability
and the knowledge to use a variety of techniques to achieve their objectives.
⚫ Decision Making skills Effective decision-making requires thoughtful
consideration without overthinking or becoming sidetracked by minor details.
⚫ Communication Skills A manager's ability to relate and communicate
effectively can unify and motivate a team.
⚫ Conceptual Skills The manager is able to see an entire concept, analyze and
diagnose a problem, and find creative solutions.
Assignment-1
Explain the recent challenges faced by managers in organisations.