User:Satarupa/Temp/Features of
Management.doc
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Understanding Management – Concepts, Nature, Features, Functions
Contents
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1 Concepts of Management
2 Nature of management
3 Features of Management
4 Functions of Management
o 4.1 Planning
o 4.2 Organizing
o 4.3 Directing
o 4.4 Staffing
o 4.5 Controlling
Concepts of Management
There are basically two concepts of Management
Traditional Concept - According to traditional concept Management refers to getting things done
through others.
Modern Concept - Traditional concept has gone a sea change & today in modern world the
concept of Management is creating an internal environment at work place where employees
would work hand in hand in groups & perform effectively & efficiently towards the achievement
of group goals.
Nature of management
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Purposive activity -Management is always aimed at achieving certain Specified
objectives. It is a tool which helps efficient use of human & physical resources to
accomplish predetermined goals.
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Pervasive in nature -It’s primary in nature that means whenever more than one person is
involved or engaged in the working for a common goal, Management is required.
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Continuous process- No day can come when an organization can claim that they don’t
require Management
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Universal activity- It is neither confined to any geographical nor to any organization.
Features of Management
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Goal Oriented – The purpose of management is to achieve certain goals. If an objective
of a company is to earn profit, its activities should be managed in such a way that it
reduces cost of production etc.
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Group activity – Management is considered as group activity. Every objective or goal is a
common goal & efforts are made by all to achieve it.
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Creation of conducive work environment – It is creation of an internal environment
where people gets motivation & encouragement to perform their best.
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Establishment of relationship among resources – Management activities constitutes
establishment of relationships among the resources which includes Money, Material,
Machine & Men.
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Establishment of industrial peace – With the help of efficient management industrial
peace can be established & good will can be created. It will be possible for the
management to inspire & motivate the workers by adopting various measures, viz.
employment through scientific method, provision for promotion through proper training,
providing jobs on the basis of capacity & quality, payment of wages etc. All these leads
to industrial peace.
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Overall development – Proper utilization of natural resources, providing satisfaction to
the consumers through supply of goods of proper quality, creation of environment
conducive to development of workers efficiency’ & skill, improved method of production
& distribution etc. are the indices of welfare to the society & country at a large.
Discussion
Importance of studying Management
In our modern society management occupies a very important role. Whatever may be the size of
business undertakings, whatever may be its type, the indispensability of management is beyond
questionable. Modern management ensures to create competitive advantage through people :
1. Top performing companies recognize the importance of the way they treat their work
forces.
2. These companies use ideas such as employee satisfaction, selective recruiting,
performance based wages, reduction of status differences, sharing information, self
managed teams, training & skill development etc.
3. Investing in people will create long – lasting competitive advantages that are difficult for
other companies to duplicate.
4. Sound management practices can produce substantial advantages in sales, revenues, &
customer satisfaction.
5. Poorly performing companies that adopted management techniques as simple as setting
expectations, coaching, & rewarding were able to substantially improve return on
investment.
6. Good management can increase customer satisfaction because employees tend to treat
customers the same way that their managers treat them.
Functions of Management
According to Koontz O'Donnell, Functions of Management are as follows -
Planning
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Determining goals
Finding alternative course of action
Comparison of both
Selecting the most suitable course for the organization.
Organizing
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Division of work
Grouping of identical jobs
Granting of authority
Establishing responsibility
Creating accountability
Directing
Guiding the subordinates towards the achievement of organizational goals
Staffing
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Managers assess the staff requirements to achieve the objectives & arrange to recruit &
train the staff.
Controlling
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Setting standards
Measuring actual performance
Comparing actual performance with standard
Finding deviation
Locating the cause/s for the same
Taking remedial actions if required
Luther Gullick has used the word PODSCORB to denote the functions of management, where
P- Planning, O- Organizing, D- Directing, S- Staffing, CO- Coordinating, R- Reporting & BBudgeting
Functions of Management can also be classified under various levels of Management viz. Top
level, Middle level, and Lower level.
Functions of Top level Management
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Lays down objectives of the enterprise
Prepares strategic plans & policies for the enterprise
Co-ordinates the activities of various departments
Builds & maintains relations with outside public
Function of Middle level Management
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Puts the top level management’s plan into practice
Co- ordinates functions of various division.
Gives guidance & direction to low level management
Prepares reports about progress of divisions
Functions of Low level Management
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To co-operate in smooth functioning of the organization
To provide necessary material to workers
To solve problems of workers
To supervise workers
To communicate their problems to higher authorities
To meet the many demands of performing their functions, managers assume multiples roles.
Henry Mintzberg has identified 10 roles common to the work of all managers.
The following table summarizes Mintzberg’s Managerial Roles in nutshell
Mintzberg’s
Managerial
Roles
Interpersonal
Informational
Decisional
Role
Description
Symbolic head: obliged to
perform a number of routine
Figurehead
duties of a legal or social
nature
Responsible for the
motivation of subordinates:
Leader
responsible for staffing
training, & associated duties.
Maintains self developed
network of outside contacts
Liaison
& informers who provides
favor & information
Seeks & receives wide
variety of internal & external
Monitor
information to develop
through understanding of
organization & environment
Transmits information
received from outsiders or
Disseminator
from subordinates to
members of organization
Transmits information to
outsiders on organization’s
Spokesperson
plans, policies, actions &
result
Searches organizations & it’s
environment for
Entrepreneur opportunities & initiates
“improvement projects” to
bring about changes
Responsible for corrective
Disturbance action when organization
handler
faces important, unexpected
disturbances
Resource
allocator
Responsible for the
allocation of organizational
resources of all kinds –
making or approving all
Example of identifiable Activities
Greeting visitors ;Signing legal
documents
Performing virtually all activities
that involve subordinates
Acknowledging mails
Reading periodicals &
reports;maintaining personal
contacts
Holding information meetings ;
making phone calls to relay
information
Organizing strategy & review
sessions that involves
disturbances & crisis.
Organizing strategy & review
sessions to develop new
programs
Organizing strategy & review
session that involve disturbances
& crises
Scheduling; requesting
authorization; performing any
activity that involves budgeting
and the programming of
subordinate’s work
Negotiator
significant organizational
decisions
Responsible for representing
Participating in union contract
the organization at major
negotiations
negotiations
In order to perform the functions of management & to assume multiple roles, managers must be
skilled. Robert Katz identified 3 managerial skills that are essential to successful management:
Technical – Involves process or technique, knowledge & proficiency. Managers use the process,
techniques & tools of a specific area. This is the job of supervisors.
Human – Ability to interact effectively with people. Managers interact & cooperate with
employees. This is the job of middle management.
Conceptual – Formulation of ideas. Managers understand abstract relationships, develop ideas &
solve problems creatively. This job is done primarily by top management.
|
Work in progress, expect frequent changes. Help and feedback is
welcome. See discussion page.
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This page was last modified on 30 August 2010, at 19:33.
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