Management

“Management is how businesses organize and direct workflow, operations, and employees
to meet company goals. The primary goal of management is to create an environment that
empowers employees to work efficiently and productively. A solid organizational structure
guides employees and establishes the tone and focus of their work.”
 ….

Managers are involved in implementing and evaluating these structures. As a manager,

you may be responsible for doing any of the following tasks:
• Create goals and objectives
• Create schedules
• Develop strategies to increase performance, productivity, and efficiency
• Ensure compliance with company policies and industry regulations
• Mentor employees
• Monitor budgets, productivity levels, and performance
• Resolve customer problems
• Train staff
 Key Functions

Planning-The first function of a manager is to set goals. These goals may be for individual
employees, departments, or the entire organization, depending on the manager's level of
responsibility. In addition to setting goals, managers often develop action items along with
strategies and resources to complete tasks and meet goals.

Organizing-Meeting organizational goals requires putting the right people in the right
places. Managers can play an important role in choosing workers for positions and
projects. Knowing how to group people and help them build relationships often
significantly affects how well the group works together. Sometimes managers need to train
employees for specific tasks to ensure they have the knowledge and skills they need to
succeed.
 … is obtaining the best resources for the right job. A significant perspective of management is to make certain that
Staffing-
the appropriate people with the apt skills are obtainable in the proper places and times to achieve the goals of the company.
This is also called the human resource operations and it includes activities such as selection, placement, recruitment and
coaching of employees.

Directing- involves directing, leading and encouraging the employees to complete the tasks allocated to them. This entails
building an environment that inspires employees to do their best. Motivation and leadership are 2 chief elements of
direction. Directing also includes communicating efficiently as well as managing employees at the workplace. Motivating
workers means simply building an atmosphere that urges them to want to work. Leadership is inspiring others to do what
the manager wants them to do.

Controlling- is the management operation of controlling organisational achievement towards the accomplishment of
organisational intentions. The job of controlling comprises ascertaining criteria of performance, computing the current
performance, comparing this with organised rules and taking remedial action where any divergence is observed. Here
management should ascertain what activities and outputs are important to progress, how and where they can be regulated
and who should have the power to take remedial response.
 Levels of Management

• Top: Top-level management typically has an administrative role, and their decisions affect the
entire organization even though they sometimes aren’t involved in the day-to-day operations.
They may have the title of chief executive officer (CEO) or serve on the board of directors.

• Middle: You find people with executive roles at the middle management level. They work with
both top-level management and supervisors to help workers meet objectives and boost the
company's productivity. At this level, they may be called regional managers or general
managers.

• Low: The final level of management often has a supervisory role. These managers have titles
like shift supervisor, branch manager, or team leader. They work with individuals and teams to
meet goals determined by upper management. They typically have less influence over company
policy compared to the other management levels, but the most interaction with direct reports.
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“Management is a group activity, which means that every organization has a number of
individuals placed at different positions and are provided with different responsibilities
according to their skills, education, etc. For the fulfillment of the responsibilities given to the
members of an organization, they are also provided with the required authority. Based on the
amount and extent of responsibility and authority given to these members, a chain of
superior-subordinate relationships is formed. This chain of superior-subordinate relationships
is known as the Levels of Management.”
 …

“The senior most executives of the organization are found at the top level of management.
The top level of an organization’s management consists of the Board of Directors, Managing
Director, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Vice-President,
President, General Manager, and other Senior Executives. The managers at the top level of
management of an organization are responsible for its survival and welfare. These managers
perform stressful and complex work that demands long hours and commitment towards the
company.”
 Functions of the Top Level Management

• Determination of the objectives for the organisation

• Framing of plans and policies:

• Coordination and control of the performance:

• Analysis of the business environment

• Setting up an organisational framework

• Assembling of the resources

 Middle Level Management

“The next level of management is the Middle Level, which serves as a link between the Top
Level Management and the Lower Level Management. The middle level management is
superior to the lower or operational level management and subordinate to the top level
management. The middle level of an organization’s management consists of different
functional department heads, such as Departmental Managers including Production, Purchase,
Finance, Personnel, Marketing Managers, and other executive officers for different
departments such as plant superintendent, etc. The employees or members of the middle level
management are responsible to the top level management for their performance.”
 Functions of the Middle Level Management

• Interpretation of the policies framed by the Top Level Management

• Selection of suitable operative and supervisory personnel

• Assigning of duties and responsibilities to the Lower Level Management

• Motivating employees to get desired objectives

• Cooperating with the entire organization

 Lower Level Management

“The last level of management is the lower level management and is also known as
the Supervisory or Operational Level Management. The managers at the lower level of
management play a crucial role in the proper management of an organization, as they
directly interact with the actual work force and interpret the instructions of the middle level
managers to them. The responsibility and authority of the lower level managers depend
upon the plans and policies formed by the top level management. The lower level
management consists of foremen, supervisors, section officers, superintendents, and other
managers who have direct control over the operative employees of the organization.”
 Functions of the Lower Level Management

Issuing of orders and instructions: The managers at the operational level management issue
orders to the workers and supervisors and instructs them on their roles, responsibilities, and
authority. Besides, these managers also control the functioning of the workers.

Preparation of plan for activities: The lower level managers plan the day-to-day activities of
the organization. Besides, these managers also assign work to the subordinates, guide them for
the same, and take corrective measures wherever and whenever necessary.

Assigning and assisting in work: The job or responsibility of the lower level managers
includes assigning work to the subordinates and assisting them with the work. They do so by
explaining the work procedure to the employees and solving their problems for better
performance.
 …
• Representing workers’ grievances: As the managers at the lower level management are in direct contact with
the managers at the middle level management, they listen to the grievances of the workers and report those
issues to the middle level managers.

• Ensuring a safe and proper work environment: The lower level managers are responsible for providing the
work force with a safe and proper work environment. They also have to maintain proper discipline and a good
atmosphere within the organization, as it motivates the employees to work towards the accomplishment of the
organizational goals.

• Helping the middle level management: The managers at the operational level management helps the middle
level managers in selecting, training, placing, and promoting the workers of an organization as they can give a
direct insight as to what is required for the achievement of the organizational goals and about the performance
of the workers.

• Encourage initiative of employees: The best way to motivate employees and make them feel an important
part of the organization is by encouraging them to take initiative. The lower level managers do so by
Characteristics of Management
 …

• Continuous Process: Management is a continuous process. It means that the process of

business management goes on until the company exists, as it helps in achieving the
organizational goals. Every manager of an organization has to perform the different
functions of management in a series (planning, organising, staffing, directing, and
controlling).

• Goal-oriented: Every organisation has a set of predetermined goals or objectives that it

aims to accomplish during its existence. Every organisation has different goals. Hence,
management helps these organizations in fulfilling their goals by utilising the given limited
resources in the best optimum manner. For example, If the objective of Airtel is to add a
billion Airtel Xtreme customers in a year, then all of its managerial activities will be
directed toward the achievement of this objective.
 …

All Pervasive: The process of business management is universal in nature. Every

organisation, whether small scale, large scale, economic, social, etc., uses the process of
management at every level or stage. Besides, the activities involved in the management of
an organisation are common for all whether it is a social, political, or economic enterprise.

Multidimensional: Management is a multidimensional process as it does not involve only

one activity. The three main activities involved in management are Management of Work,
Management of People, and Management of Operations.

I. Management of Work: Every organisation is set up to perform some work or goal, and the management
aims at achieving these goals or tasks. The work of an organisation depends upon the nature of Business; for
example, work to be fulfilled in a hospital is treating patients, in a university is educating students, etc.
 ..

II. Management of People: People are the most essential assets of an organisation and
refer to human resources. It is the duty of the management to get the work completed
through human resources/people by making their strengths effective and weaknesses
irrelevant. Managing people has two dimensions, viz., Taking care of a group of people and
Taking care of employees’ individual needs.

III. Management of Operations: Operations are the activities of an organisation’s

production cycle, like purchasing inputs, converting them into semi-finished goods, and
finished goods. Simply put, Management of operations consists of a mix of Management
of Work and Management of People, and decides what work has to be done, how it has to
be done, and who will do it.
 ..

Dynamic Function: There are different internal and external factors that affect the working of an
organisation. An organisation has to change and adapt itself on the basis of a changing environment
to accomplish the organisational goals and objectives. Hence, management is a dynamic function.

Management is a Group Activity: Management involves a group of people performing managerial

activities. The functions of management can be executed only when every individual performs
his/her role their respective status and department. And as the result of management affects every
individual and every department of an organisation, it always refers to a group effort.

Management is an Intangible Force: Management is a function that cannot be physically seen but
its presence can be felt by watching the orderliness and coordination in work environment and happy
faces of the employees when the task is completed.
 Fayol's 14 Principles of Management
1.Division of Work

• Henri believed that segregating work in the workforce amongst the workers will enhance
the quality of the product. Similarly, he also concluded that the division of work improves
the productivity, efficiency, accuracy and speed of the workers. This principle is
appropriate for both the managerial as well as a technical work level.
2. Authority and Responsibility

• These are the two key aspects of management. Authority facilitates the management to
work efficiently, and responsibility makes them responsible for the work done under their
guidance or leadership.
 ….
3. Discipline
• Without discipline, nothing can be accomplished. It is the core value for any project or any
management. Good performance and sensible interrelation make the management job easy and
comprehensive. Employees’ good behaviour also helps them smoothly build and progress in their
professional careers.

4. Unity of Command

• This means an employee should have only one boss and follow his command. If an employee has to
follow more than one boss, there begins a conflict of interest and can create confusion.

5. Unity of Direction

• Whoever is engaged in the same activity should have a unified goal. This means all the people working
in a company should have one goal and motive which will make the work easier and achieve the set
goal easily.
 ….
6. Subordination of Individual Interest

• This indicates a company should work unitedly towards the interest of the company rather than
personal interest. Be subordinate to the purposes of an organisation. This refers to the whole chain
of command in a company.
7. Remuneration

• This plays an important role in motivating the workers of a company. Remuneration can be
monetary or non-monetary. Ideally, it should be according to an individual’s efforts they have put
forth.
8. Centralization

• In any company, the management or any authority responsible for the decision-making process
should be neutral. However, this depends on the size of an organisation. Henri Fayol stressed on
the point that there should be a balance between the hierarchy and division of power.