B. Managing people performance Flashcards
what is the difference between leadership and management?
leadership:
- providing direction, creating vision then influencing others to share them towards the achievement of organisational goals
- get people to do things WILLINGLY
- dynamic process
management:
- process of getting things done through the efforts of others
- focus on procedures and results
- react to specific problems, short-term issues solved
- ‘manager’ seen as position
what 5 common features of management did Fayol identify in 1916?
Planning Organising Co-ordinating Commanding Controlling
what 3 groups and 10 roles did Mintzberg say managers fulfil in their job?
Interpersonal:
- figurehead
- leader
- liaison
Informational
-monitor
-disseminator
spokesperson
Decisional
- entrepreneur
- disturbance handler
- resource allocator
- negotiator
What are the roles within the interpersonal group of Mintzberg’s theory?
Figurehead: symbolic, obliged to carry out duty
Leader: relationship with subordinated in allocating, hiring, training etc
Liaison:must develop network of contacts outside the chain of command through which information and favours can be traded for mutual benefit
What are the roles within the informational group of Mintzberg’s theory?
Monitor:collect and sort info for decision making
Disseminator:responsible for information distribution
Spokesperson:responsible for transmitting information to various external groups
What are the roles within the decisional group of Mintzberg’s theory?
Entrepreneur: continually look for problems and opportunities
Disturbance handler:respond to pressures over which dept has no control
Resource allocator:must choose from competing demands
Negotiator:take charge when org engages in negotiations i.e. act as figurehead, spokesperson and resource allocator
what is power?
the capacity to exert influence, to make someone act according to your own preferences
what are the 5 different types of power according to French and Raven?
REWARD: incentives
COERCIVE:give punishments e.g. dismiss, suspend
REFERENT:good personality, want to imitate or impress
EXPERT:listen as they are expert i.e. experience or qualification
LEGITIMATE:job title, hierarchy, agreement or commonly-held values
which management power is seen as the most extensive?
referent as it can be exercised when the holder is not present or has no intention of exercising influence
what is authority?
the right to exercise power
i.e. the right to do or act
what does Weber suggest as the 3 bases of authority?
Charismatic authority:based on personality
Traditional authority: based on custom/practice
Rational-legal authority:position in hierarchy, expertise
how can you link authority and power bases?
Traditional:coercive and legitimate
Charismatic:reward and referent
Ratinonal-legal:expert
what is reponsibility?
obligation of an individual who occupies a particular position in the organisation to perform certain duties, tasks or make certain decisions
-use authority to see duties performed
how are responsibility and authority related?
scope of responsibility must correspond to the scope of the authority given
- responsibility without authority: manager powerless to achieve levels of performance
- authority without clear responsibility:HR hires but not responsible for quality, no clear targets or not using authority wisely
what is accountability?
need for individuals to explain and justify any failure to fulfil their responsibility to their superiors in the hierarchy
what is empowerment?
where employees are given autonomy and responsibility to undertake tasks without being directed at each step by management
-management must have trust in their skills and willing to allow them to make decisions within set limits
How can managers promote empowerment?
- set clear boundaries and ensure employees know what is expected from them
- actively encourage employee development
- communicate openly with employees and adopt and open-door policy
- allow employees to contribute and listen to their views
- offer regular feedback
- lead by example
what is delegation?
process whereby a manager assigns part of his authority to a subordinate to fulfil his duties
-one of the main functions of effective management
when can responsibility be delegated?
NEVER
-superior is always responsible for the actions of his subordinates and cannot evade this responsibility by delegation
what are the benefits of delegation?
- senior relieved of less important activities
- greater flexibility
- allows career development and planning
- brings together skills and ideas
- greater motivation:more interesting for subordinates
- better decision making:closer to problem
what are the issues with delegation?
- over-supervision can waste time and is de-motivating
- passing the buck
- manager only delegates boring work or impossible tasks
- manager reluctant to delegate
- inadequate training
Koontz and O’Donnell state that to delegate effectively a manager must:
- define the limits of authority delegated to the subordinate
- satisfy themselves that the subordinate is competent to exercise that authority
- discipline themselves to permit the subordinate the full use of that authority without constant check and interference
In planning delegation, what must a manager ensure?
- too much is not delegated to totally overload a sub
- sub has reasonable skill and experience in area
- appropriate authority is delegated
- monitoring and control are possible
- not a feeling of ‘passing the buck’ or ‘opting out’
- all concerned know that the task has been delegated
- time is set aside for coaching and guiding
what are the different methods of delegation?
ABDICATION:no formal delegation, crude and ineffective
CUSTOM AND PRACTICE: old-age system, most junior members open mail, get coffee etc
EXPLANATION:managers brief subordinates on how and what to do
CONSULTATION:prior consultation is considered important and very effective. sometimes good ideas come from subs as they are closer to action
what is the classical theory of management?
emphasis the technical and economic aspects of organisations, assumes that behaviour in organisations is rational and logical
- developed during mass production
- EoD seen as central to business success
- Scientific Management (Taylor)
- Bureaucracy (Weber)
what are some common interests all the different management theories focus on?
- purpose and structure of organisations and planning of work
- the technical requirement of each job
- principles of management
What is the Scientific Management theory?
objective of management is to secure the maximum prosperity for both employer and employee:
- one best approach to the job, using work study methods and break down jobs
- once employees were trained in the best approach then payment should be based on piece-rate (believed money to be a motivator)
- well-trained employees delivered high productivity
- win:win for both employee and organisation
how is the Scientific Management method relevant today?
provided basis for time and motion studies and work study that seek to define the ‘best’ way of performing a task
- but many firms now recognise that for some tasks there may not be a single best way and that a more flexible approach is needed
- now we see money as just one factor in a more complex understanding of motivation
Who developed the Bureaucratic Management?
Max Weber developed this model of the ‘ideal type’ of bureaucracy, in which he explored the characteristics of a rational form of organisation
-believed this to be the most efficient form of organisation
What is the bureaucracy model based on?
based on formalisation and standardisation:
- based on hierarchy of authority
- strict rules and regulations govern decision making
- specialisation in duties, segregated ‘offices’ and levels
NOT suitable for dynamic changing environment
how is Bureaucracy management relevant today?
most large organisations have some form of bureaucracy, particularly with repetitive admin tasks.
usually has negative connotations as:
-slow response to change
-lack of speedy communication
-little need for involving staff in decision-making
-rules stifle initiative and innovative ideas, preventing development
-no recognition of important informal relationships
what are the main characteristics of bureaucracy?
- specialisation
- hierarchy
- rules
- impersonality; objective, rational decisions
- appointed officials
- career officials
- full-time officials
- public/private division:limited liability to encourage risk taking
how did the Human Relations School start?
1930s, started studying behaviour of people in groups
-move from focus on employees as assets to effects of social interaction on productivity and motivation
What did Hertzberg’s hygiene and motivation theory? i.e. 2 need system
only motivational factors satisfy a need for personal growth and encourage action, hygiene factors, based on a need to avoid unpleasantness don’t.
Poor hygiene will lead to demotivation.
‘you can’t motivate dissatisfied people’
What are hygiene factors to avoid dissatisfaction?
- policies and procedures for staff treatment
- suitable level and quality of supervision
- pleasant physical and working conditions
- appropriate level of salary and status
- team working
what are motivational factors?
- sense of accomplishment through targets
- recognition of good work
- responsibility
- career advancement
- attraction of the job
what is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?
each individual has a set of needs which can be arranged in a hierarchy
- lowest needs must be satisfied first then move up
- can be used as motivational tool
what is a systems theory?
approach to organisational work design which takes account of social aspects and technical aspects. Looks at the interaction between people and technology within the organisation
what is a contingency theory?
suggests that the effectiveness of various managerial practices, styles and techniques will vary according to the particular circumstances of the situation
-contradicts classical theories which only had one way
what is Burns and Stalker contingency theory?
mechanistic vs organic organisations
- opposite ends of a continuum, with various combinations in between
- studied the way in which high-tech industries were being introduced into Scotland
what are the features of a mechanistic organisation? what environment is it most suitable for?
- high degree of task specialisation
- responsibilities and authority clearly defined
- coordination and communication
- selectivity in the release of top-level info to subs
- great emphasis of the of hierarchy’s ability to develop loyalty and obedience
- employees locally recruited
most suitable for FAIRLY STABLE conditions
-relationship with Weber’s bureaucracy
what are the features of an organic organisation?
- skills, experience and specialist knowledge is valuable
- integration of efforts via lateral, vertical and diagonal communication channels
- leadership based on consultation and involvement in problem-solving
- commitment to task achievement, survival and growth more important than loyalty and obedience
- employees are recruited from a variety of sources
- organic system seen to be more responsive to change and is therefore recommended for organisations moving into periods of rapid changed in tech, market orientation or tasks
why is it important to view organisations in different ways?
to search for effectiveness:
- viewing as machine can help us design efficiently e.g. early classical theories
- viewing as machine doesn’t allow adaption to change, needed bureaucracy, dehumanising
- could also view as orgs as organisms and as cultures
how does leadership come about?
- elected
- emerge by popular choice
- manager appointed
what are the different types of leaders?
charismatic-influence from personality
traditional-from social order e.g. director
situational-only effective by being in right place at right time
appointed-influence from the position held
functional-doing things well
what are the benefits of leadership?
- reduce employee dissatisfaction
- encouraging effective delegation
- creating team spirit
- helping to develop skills and confidence in the group
- helping to enlist support and co-operation from people outside the group or organisation
what skills do leaders require?
ability to:
- use power effectively and in a responsible manner
- comprehend that humans have different motivation forces at different times and situation
- to inspire
- act in a manner that will develop a climate conducive to responding to and arousing motivations
what are the differences in attitudes between managers and leaders?
- managers tend to adopt impersonal and passive attitudes towards goals, leaders more persona and active
- in other relationships, managers maintain a low level of emotional involvement, leaders have empathy and give attention to what actions mean
- managers perceive themselves as regulators, leader’s sense of identity doesn’t depend work roles and search for opps of change
- managers seen more in terms of planning, organising, directing activities of subs but leaders concerned more with attention to communicating with, motivating, encouraging and involving people
- managers react, leadership transforms and makes a difference
what is the personality, trait or qualities theory of leadership?
compiled list of leadership qualities such as physical, personality or social traits
some writers selected qualities of leaders who are ‘born and not made’ e.g. above-average intelligence, initiative, motivation, self-assurance and self confidence, helicopter factor i.e rise above situation and other essential qualitied
what is the issue with personality or trait theories?
there is always a counter example that can be given
-shows good leadership is more than simply possessing particular physical or psychological attributes
what are the 3 styles of leadership?
AUTOCRATIC: do this now
DEMOCRATIC:let’s work together and solve this
FREE REIGN/delegate: you go and solve problem
which styles of leadership are more likely to create resentment or lead to innovation?
autocratic: creates resentment but can be necessary
democratic: innovation and motivation
what theories deal with style approached to leadership?
McGregor- Theory X and Theory Y
Lewin
Blake and Mouton-managerial grid
What is the McGregor theory X/Y?
Theory X:
- people are lazy, dislike work and responsibility and will try to avoid both
- autocratic approach:incentives and punishment
Theory Y:
- employees enjoy work, are self motivated and willing to work hard to meet goals
- have real potential
- democratic approach:participative
where do firms usually fall between theory X and Y?
in between 2 extremes, don’t give it conscious thought but set upon assumptions that are largely implicit
What did Lewin say about different leadership styles?
DEMOCRATIC:most productive and satisfying
LAISSEZ FAIRE:2nd most productive but not in satisfaction
AUTOCRATIC-least productive of all with much frustration
how is Lewin’s leadership model relevant today?
- could be viewed as simplistic but shows how critical leadership is and that it can be taught, learned and adapted
- terminology and ideas still useful
e.g. Warren Buffet has hands-off L-F management style as he hired capable people, Steve Jobs had authoritarian approach but Apple still successful
what are the 2 extremes on the managerial grid?
task centred: main concern is getting job done, achieving goals, staff seen as machines
group centred: main concern is maintaining group, stressing factors such as trust, friendship, support
what is the best style of leadership theory?
- they all ignore the influence of context
- no best style that is equally effective in all circumstances
best leadership style is the one that fulfils the needs of the group the most, while at the same time satisfying the need of the organisation
what is situational leadership?
more advanced version of simple trait theories
-leaders are products of particular situations
e.g. bring in new, more experienced CEO to deal with financial difficulties
what are the 2 theories dealing with contingency or situational approaches to leadership?
Adair-action centred leadership
Fielder-contingency model
What is Adair’s action-centred leadership?
- takes grid ideas one step further by adding individual needs
- stressed that effective leadership lies in what the leaders does to meet the needs of task, group and individuals
- 3 needs can conflict so need a good balance
how are Adair’s ideas relevant today?
- still form key element of many management and leadership training programmed
- not isolated, must be part of an integrated approach to managing and leading
What is Fiedler’s contingency model?
-best example of integrating individual characteristics with the structural and task properties of the situation
Psychologically distant managers(PDMs)
-formal, withdrawn, impersonal, task oriented
Psychologically close managers (PCMs)
-informal, person oriented, close to subs
how does Fiedler suggest that the most effective style of leadership is determined?
- leader/member relations: nature of relationship
- task structure: extent to which task is structured
- leader position power: degree of formal authority/responsibility allocated to the position
what leadership style does Fiedler suggest?
- can only be high on one aspect at a time
- suggest PDM works best in favourable and unfavourable situations
- suggest PCM when situation is only moderately favourable for the leader
What are the two types of leaders according to Bennis?
Transactional leaders:relationship based on trade, rewards, more passive
Transformational leaders: inspire, motivate, lead more proactive, better for dynamic environment
implement based on business environment
what skills are relevant to transformational leaders according to Boyd?
anticipatory-provide foresight
visioning skills-induce to act
value-congruence skills-in touch with needs
empowerment skills-share power effectively
self-understanding-understand own and followers’ needs
what is distributed leadership?
more modern perspective
-shared leadership i.e. multiple leaders
what is a virtual team?
team working separately physically and must interact electronically
what are some challenges for virtual teams?
- communication
- performance management
- cultural sensitivities
- hard to inspire without meeting
what is business ethics?
set of moral rules that govern how businesses operate, how business decisions are made and how people are treated
what are examples of poor business ethics?
Nestle found link with infant-formula and mortality rates of babies
ASDA not respecting working conditions in supplier factories, discrimination accusations etc
how does an organisation ensure that it is developing its business leaders to become ethical activists?
- create and maintain strong ethical culture
- role of managers to embed ethics throughout
- quality and style of leadership
- tone from middle i.e. line managers
- tone from top i.e. leadership
what did (Goleman) suggest are the 6 key types of leadership styled that leaders move across in Leadership in context?
visionary coaching affiliative democratic pacesetting commanding
when is a visionary leadership style useful? (Goleman)
- good communication skills, big picture, forward looking
- when in need of new direction
e.g. Steve Jobs Apple
what is coaching leadership style and when is it suitable? (Goleman)
- aim:develop people for the future, 1-on-1 teaching
- when you have employee with strong initiative who want to develop personally
what is affiliative leadership style and when is it suitable? (Goleman)
- designed to create strong bonds between people, gives positive feedback and promotes team building
- when there is a need to build trust and morale
what is democratic leadership style and when is it suitable? (Goleman)
- builds consensus by encouraging participation (like Lewin)
- most effective when direction is weak and org can benefit from tapping into skills and opinions of staff
- can’t use in crisis
what is pacesetting leadership style and when is it suitable? (Goleman)
- lead by example and set high standards
- help motivate staff and achieve strict deadlines and tight schedules
- should use sparingly as can poison culture
what is commanding leadership style and when is it suitable? (Goleman)
- military style where the leader demands compliance
- should be used only in crises requiring rapid redirection and change
what is the definition of control?
primary task and is the process of ensuring the operations proceed according to plan
what is management control?
usually includes control as a key function
ensure objectives of the organisation are met
in CIMA’s framework of control, the control system consists of what?
the control environment:includes management philosophy operating style and management policies
control procedures:includes control mechanisms such as segregation of duties, authorisation, reconciliation and so on
what is poor delegation?
job is done twice, usually by a more expensive resource
what is management by objectives?
delegation by setting a more global sense of direction while leaving it up to staff to sort out the minutiae of how they actually do the work
‘setting a clear direction and aims without necessarily predetermining how that will be achieves and delegating much of the responsibility for making the ‘how’ decision’
-linked with empowerment
what is health and safety?
a legal requirement which management must adhere to
- manage risks in workplace
- identify risks within org
- how to control them
what are the benefits of H&S control?
- employers’ legal obligations for health and safety are being met
- cost savings-accidents/illness cost the employer money in legal and operating costs
- company image-doesn’t want to be associated with poor conditions
- to preserve the well-being of employees and others, improves employee morale, trust and motivation
Do all companies in the UK abide by HASAWA 1974?
Health and safety at Work Act
only companies of 5+workers must prepare and regularly revise policy statement of:
- their policy for health and safety
- the organisation to enforce it
- the arrangements to implement and monitor it
what are the key areas of HASAWA?
- provision and maintenance of risk-free plant and systems of work
- ensuring the safety in use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances
- provision of information, training, instruction and supervision
- maintenance of a safe workplace
- provision of a safe working environment
- adequate facilities
who is responsible for implementing HASAWA?
a senior member of the organisation
- employees have basic responsibilities
- most have a safety committee and representatives with some experience
what is the HSE?
Health and Safety Executive
-independent regulator
- make adequate provision for HASAWA enforcement
- provide workplace inspections to ensure compliance
- provide advisory service to employers and unions
how should establish a safety committee?
- larger employers
- method of communicating and evaluating safety and health issues brought up by firm
- smaller firms have choice to establish or hold meetings
what is the difference between a safety committee and safety meeting?
safety committee: org struct where members represent a group, gives everyone a voice but keeps meeting size to effective number, better for larger org
safety meeting:all employees and a management person to ensure issues addressed, better for smaller employer
HASAWA imposes duty on employers to provide training on H&S. What does this entail?
- problems or training needs identified by inspection, by accident reports and through discussion at the H&S committee
- planning, execution and evaluation of training takes place
- as training has short-term effects on behaviour, refresher courses organised
- top management support is key ingredient in the availability and success of health and safety courses
- INDUCTION for new staff
what is discipline?
discipline means learning
what is the main purpose of taking disciplinary action?
to achieve a change in behaviour of employees so that future action is unnecessary
what are several situation where work norms might not be adhered to if there were no remedial action?
-leaving work early, lateness, absenteeism
-defective and/or inadequate work performance
-breaking safety or other rules, regulations and procedures
-refusing to carry out a legitimate work assignment
poor attitudes which influence the work of others or which reflect on the public image of the firm, such as improper personal appearance
-rules cover these issues and should be clear and understood
what is the process of handling disciplinary procedures?
- the informal talk
- the oral warning
- the written or official warning - first and second
- suspension
- demotion
- dismissal
standards must be set for the right to appeal against these
good policies avoid tribunal claims
what us the statutory procedure?
thought orgs can be flexible with procedures, there needs to be a statutory procedure followed as a minimum if they are contemplating dismissal or or penalties such as suspension without pay or demotion
- without this, employment tribunals will automatically find dismissals unfair
- minimum standard
what are the 3 steps of the statutory procedure?
- a statement in writing of what it is the employee is alleged to have done
- a meeting to discuss the situation
- the right of appeal
what is the ACAS cost of practice?
- set of advisory booklets about various employment practices published by the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS)
- used as benchmark around which internal procedures are judges to be fair or reasonable
what does the ACAS disciplinary code of practice state?
that procedures should be:
- in writing
- specific to whom they apply
- provide for matters to be dealt with quickly
- indicate the disciplinary actions which may be taken
- specify management who have authority to take disciplinary action
- provide opportunity to reply to complaints
- give right to be accompanied by trade union rep or fellow employee
- ensure that, except for gross misconduct, no employees are dismissed
- ensure that disciplinary action is not taken until the case has been investigated
- ensure that individuals are given an explanation for any penalty imposed
- provide a right of appeal and specify the procedure to be followed
how to handle discipline?
- encourage improvement
- act promptly
- gather the facts:stay objective, keep open mind
- stay calm:take thought and care when conducting
- be consistent
- consider each case on merits
- follow the disciplinary procedure:don’t exceed authority
- suspension without pay?
what is self-discipline?
based on socialisation, producing norms which follow reasonable standards of acceptable behaviour
- want to do the right thing
- becomes part of collective attitude and group norm i.e. responsible autonomy