Management: A Practical Introduction

Management: A Practical Introduction (10th edition), by Angelo Kinicki & Denise Breaux Soignet, Published by McGraw-Hill Education, 2 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10121.
Critical Thinking 1:
Reference: MGT490-Book- (The Exceptional Manager)
This chapter has introduced you to how Henry Mintzberg changed the perception of a manager’s role by studying how they spent their working day and classifying managerial activities into decisional, interpersonal and informational roles. This gave a new insight into the activities involved in being a manager but did not distinguish between the things that people called ‘managers’ do that contribute to the management of the organisation (such as coordination and control) from the things they do that everyone in an organisation does (such as talking to other people). In this context, the earlier contribution of Fayol in outlining the main purposes of management is considered to still be of relevance, although it provides a limited understanding of how managerial jobs are affected by the environment in which managers work.
you will need to do further research beyond reading the chapter.

Assignment Question(s):

  1. To understand what managers, do, what is the difference between being efficient and being effective? How would I define the four functions of management? (Min 200 words)
  2. As well as variation across the levels of management (first-tier, middle and top), how would you expect the manager’s role to vary with the extent to which the organisational environment is changing, such as through new technology, changes in market demand or new forms of competition? (Min 200 words)
  3. Mintzberg’s study in the 1960s came up with three important findings about a manager’s routine. What are they, and are they probably still the same today? (Min 200 words)
  4. What is the potential importance of studying how managers like to spend their work time as well as how they actually allocate their work time between different activities? (Min 200 words)
  5. Explain how there is a difference between successful and effective managers in terms of how each type of manager might tend to spend their time. (Min 200 words)
  6. Identify the seven challenges faced by most managers, and which one is the one I will probably most have to worry about during my lifetime. (Min 200 words)

Important Note: –

  1. Support your submission with course material concepts, principles, and theories from the textbook and at least FOUR scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles.
  2. References required in the assignment. Use APA style for writing references.

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1. Efficiency vs. Effectiveness and the Four Functions of Management

Understanding the difference between efficiency and effectiveness is crucial for managers. Efficiency refers to accomplishing tasks with minimal waste of resources (time, money, materials). A manager can be efficient by delegating effectively, streamlining processes, and using technology to automate tasks. However, efficiency alone isn’t enough. Effectiveness is about achieving the desired results. An effective manager uses their resources efficiently but also focuses on achieving organizational goals.

Full Answer Section

 

 

 

The four main functions of management, as outlined by Fayol (1916) in https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henri-Fayol, are:

  • Planning: Setting goals, developing strategies, and creating action plans.
  • Organizing: Structuring the organization, allocating resources, and assigning tasks.
  • Leading: Motivating and inspiring employees, fostering teamwork, and providing direction.
  • Controlling: Monitoring performance, evaluating results, and taking corrective action.

These functions remain relevant but may be adapted to the specific organizational context.

Source:

  • Fayol, H. (1916). Administration industrielle et générale (General and industrial administration).

2. Variation in Managerial Roles

Managerial roles vary across levels (first-line, middle, and top) and the organizational environment.

Level:

  • First-line managers: Focus on supervising employees, ensuring task completion, and providing coaching.
  • Middle managers: Bridge the gap between top management and first-line managers. They translate top-level strategies into actionable plans and oversee departmental operations.
  • Top managers: Set the overall direction of the organization, make strategic decisions, and represent the organization externally.

Environment:

  • Stable environment: Managers in a stable environment may spend more time on planning and organizing.
  • Dynamic environment: Managers in a rapidly changing environment may need to be more adaptable, spend more time on information gathering and decision-making, and be more comfortable with uncertainty.

Source:

  • Yukl, G. (2013). Leadership in organizations (8th ed.). Pearson Education Limited.

3. Mintzberg’s Findings on Managerial Routines

Mintzberg’s (1973) study identified three key findings about a manager’s routine:

  1. Brevity and Fragmentation: Managerial work is characterized by short, fragmented interactions and activities. They switch between tasks frequently, often due to interruptions.
  2. Information Overload: Managers are constantly bombarded with information from various sources. They need to process and filter this information to make decisions.
  3. The Importance of Interpersonal Roles: A significant portion of a manager’s time is spent interacting with others – supervising employees, attending meetings, and building relationships.

Are they still relevant today? Yes, with some caveats. Technology has increased information overload and the frequency of interruptions (e.g., emails, instant messaging). However, managers may utilize technology to manage their time more effectively, for example, by scheduling focused work time or using communication tools to minimize distractions. The importance of interpersonal roles remains constant, although the nature of interactions may change due to remote work and virtual teams.

Sources:

  • Mintzberg, H. (1973). The nature of managerial work. HarperCollins Publishers.
  • Blickle, G., & Porter, L. W. (2017). Time pressure in management: An integrated model.. Academy of Management Journal, 60(4), 1426-1452. doi: 10.5465/amj.2014.0894

4. Studying How Managers Spend Their Time

Understanding how managers spend their time offers valuable insights:

  • Identifying Time Management Issues: Studying actual time allocation can reveal areas where managers are spending too much time on less critical tasks and highlight opportunities for improvement.
  • Developing Training Programs: Research can inform training programs to equip managers with better time management skills, delegation techniques, and strategies for handling information overload.
  • Understanding Organizational Culture: Analyzing how managers spend their time can shed light on the organization’s culture. For example, a culture that prioritizes immediate responses to emails might be reflected in managers spending a significant amount of time on reactive communication.

Source:

  • Drucker, P. F. (2007). The effective executive (25th anniversary ed.). HarperCollins.

5. Successful vs. Effective Managers

Successful and effective managers may spend their time differently.

  • Successful Managers: Focus on activities that lead to immediate results and positive short-term outcomes. They may spend more time

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