2.1 The nature and purpose of management

Question 1

State the effects of poorly managed businesses? [4]

Answer 1

Poorly managed businesses tend to be

• disorganised
• have poor employee motivation.
• the use of resources is likely to be inefficient.
• Unlikely to have long term goals or objectives with the lack of direction and purpose.

Question 2

Define management.

Answer 2

Management is the pursuit of organisational goals efficiently and effectively by integrating the work of people through planning, organising, leading and controlling the organisation’s resources.

Question 3

Why is effective management important?

Answer 3

Achieve organisational outcomes.

Question 4

What is a manager responsible for? [3]

Answer 4

A manager is responsible for

• setting objectives
• organising resources
• motivating subordinates so that the objectives of the business are met.

Question 5

What are the 4 functions of management? [4]

Answer 5

1. Planning
2. Organising
3. Leading
4. Controlling

Question 6

Define planning.

Answer 6

Planning means looking ahead and chalking out future courses of action to be followed.

Question 7

What are some key considerations the manager needs to consider in regard to start planning? [2]

Answer 7

Planning starts with

• setting of goals and objectives to be achieved taking into consideration available
• prospective human and physical resources of the organisation.

Question 8

What is the focus of planning?

Answer 8

The focus of planning is about achieving the objectives and having in mind the organisation’s objectives and vision.

Question 9

What will be the process of planning in terms of management?

Answer 9

Senior management of the business will first establish the strategic objectives of the business, and these will be translated into tactical objectives for the department managers.

Question 10

How does planning help to navigate changes? [2]

Answer 10

• Planning includes establishing the assumptions about the events in future so that challenges facing the business is identified.
• Plans should be reevaluated and adjusted should conditions change.

Question 11

State the process of planning? [4]

Answer 11

• Establish objectives
• Identify the task (required to achieve desired goals)
• Outlining the tasks
• Identifying when and by whom they must be performed.

Question 12

What is the purpose of planning?

Answer 12

Planning provides the organisation a better sense of what it wants to achieve and how it can achieve this.

Question 13

State the benefits of planning? [2]

Answer 13

• Planning ensures the proper utiilisation of the available resources and the ability to understand how these should be used to achieve the goal.
  
  • Reduce risk > looking at the situation ahead and detailing the possible pitfalls ahead and thus able to make necessary changes or taking appropriate actions to ensure objectives are met.

Question 14

Define organising.

Answer 14

Organising is about using the plan to bring together the physical, financial and other available resources and use them to achieve the organisational goals.

Question 15

What is the process of organising? [2]

Answer 15

• Organising involves arranging tasks, people and other resources to accomplish the work.
  
  • Identify the different tasks to be accomplished > classify > assigning them to groups or individuals. > ensure that activities planned would be carried out effectively and efficiently.

Question 16

What is the role or organising? [3]

Answer 16

• Management would create clear duties and responsibilities, recruit the correct employees and delegate relevant authority.
  
  • Management > determine effective allocation of resources of the business to achieve the objective. [physical, human and financial resources]
  • Organisation > ensures structure in the organisation

Question 17

Define leading.

Answer 17

Leading is about ensuring employees are able to perform the tasks, ensuring productivity is going up.

Question 18

What is the process of leading? [2]

Answer 18

• Leading involves motivating, directing and influencing people to work hard to achieve the oraganisational’s goals.
• Leading requires managers to use authority to influence employees and ability to communicate effectively.

Question 19

What is the role of the managers in the lead? [4]

Answer 19

• Managers meet and connect with employees to find out.
  
  • how the tasks are going.
  • get feedback on the tasks.
  • spend time inspiring them with new ideas.
  • influencing the subordinates to view situations from their perspectives.

Question 20

What is the role of leading? [4]

Answer 20

• Leading helps strengthen the operational capability of the organisation.
• ensuring different parts of the organisations are working better.
• Leading is a bridge between the operational needs and the human requirements of its employees.
• Management links achievement of objectives to the need of keeping employees motivated and interested > feel valued and provide quality services.

Question 21

Define controlling and state the 3 steps of controlling.

Answer 21

• Controlling ensures the other functions are followed correctly and the flow of work is moving the organisation towards the objectives set.
  
  • Monitoring performance
  • Comparing to goals
  • Taking corrective actions as needed

Question 22

What is the process of controlling? [2]

Answer 22

• Managers are required to identify the reasons why objectives were not met and provide a corrective course of action.
• Managers first establish objectives and goals > set the standards > measure achievement > identify anything that is keeping the business from achieving the standards / objectives and provide means of correction if necessary > provide positive feedback to employees when things are going well.

Question 23

What is the role of controlling? [2]

Answer 23

• Controlling ensures tangible, financial, intangible goals (employee loyalty; customer satisfaction) and objectives are met.
• Risk-reduction ability.
  
  • Managers is involved in monitoring the performance and comparing it against the objectives set > react to problems faster > take corrective actions before it is too late.