Business 2.3

Question 1

Management major tasks

Answer 1

Interpersonal role/routine tasks

Dealing with employee-related issues

Communicating with external stakeholders

Other set/recurring tasks – meetings, staff appraisal, etc.

Informational role/communication tasks

Decision-making role/planning tasks

Question 2

Henry fayol theory

Answer 2

5 management functions:

Planning- objectives things for the future

Commanding- giving order (when deleting tasks)

Controlling- making sure things get done according to right standard

Coordinating- making sure all functional departments work for same goal

Organizing- allocating time and resources making sure things get done

Question 3

Charles handy theory management

Answer 3

Managers as general practitioners (deal with health of business)- managers know enough to know where problem comes from (like doctor)

Managers as confronters of dilemmas (very difficult decision where you need to sacrifice something)(like different suppliers choosing)

Managers as balancers of cultural mixes (national culture or organizational culture) making sure cultural clash avoided

Question 4

Drucker’s Theory

Answer 4

Encouragement of decentralization

Managers have to:

Set organizational objectives-

Organizing tasks and people-

Communicating and motivating

Measuring performance-appraisal and identifying how well employees perform tasks

Developing people- training

Question 5

Situational leadership style advantages and disadvantages

Answer 5

advantages:

1. Flexibility to adapt to different situations
2. Focuses on individual development
3. Effective in managing crises

disadvantages:

1. Can lead to uncertainty or confusion
2. Requires leaders to have strong situational awareness and judgment
3. Can be time-consuming

Question 6

Democratic advantages and disadvantages

Answer 6

Advantages
1. Encourages participation and collaboration

2. Promotes inclusivity and diversity of thought
3. Can lead to increased motivation and satisfaction
4. The organization takes advantage of the innovative potential of its employees.

Disadvantages

1. Can be slow and inefficient
2. Can lead to indecisiveness
3. Requires strong communication and conflict resolution skills
4. It may result in disagreement and disharmony; it is not realistic to please everyone, all of the time.
5. It is ineffective when critical decisions need to be made quickly, and sometimes workers just need to do what they are told to get their jobs done.

Question 7

Laissez-faire advantages and disadvantages

Answer 7

Advantages
1. Allows for autonomy and creativity

2. Can lead to increased innovation and problem-solving
3. Can be effective with highly skilled or self-motivated teams

Disadvantages
1. Can result in lack of direction or focus

Slack (complacency) can arise due to a very minimal level of supervision involved.

2. Can lead to confusion or conflicts between team members
3. Requires highly skilled and motivated team members

Question 8

advantages and disadvantages autocratic

Answer 8

Advantages
It ensures the leader has complete control of the operations.

It speeds up the business decision-making process.

It provides workers with a clear sense of direction and clarity over their roles, as they understand exactly what is expected.

It is appropriate and effective when critical and urgent decisions need to be made.

Disadvantages
Creativity and innovation are suppressed and discouraged as employees are not involved in the decision-making process.

Similarly, it does not develop internal talents of the workforce.

It can demotivate employees as their opinions are not valued.

Ultimately, these disadvantages can result in a higher labour turnover rate, which is costly to any organization.

Question 9

What is scientific and intuitive thinking/management

Answer 9

Scientific thinking/management relies on making decisions thoroughly by gathering the necessary information and data and then analysing this before deciding what to do.

By contrast, intuitive thinking/management relies on considered instinctive feelings and emotions to make decisions.

Question 10

advantages and disadvantages of scientific thinking

Answer 10

Advantages
1. Relies on empirical evidence and data

2. Encourages objective analysis and critical thinking
3. Provides a systematic approach to problem-solving

Disadvantages
1. Can be time-consuming and resource-intensive

2. May not account for human emotions or other subjective factors
3. May not be suitable for complex or dynamic situations

Question 11

Intuitive Management/Thinking advantages and disadvantages

Answer 11

Advantages
1. Allows for quick and instinctual decision-making

2. Can be effective in situations requiring creativity and innovation
3. Can lead to increased motivation and engagement

Disadvantages
1. Can be unreliable or inconsistent

2. May not be suitable for data-driven or evidence-based decision-making
3. May overlook potential risks or negative consequences

Question 12

Factors that affect the management style that is adopted at any particular point in time include:

Answer 12

The task(s) being performed – Successful managers are able to use a laissez-faire approach when employees are faced with simple, routine tasks that carry no or very little risk. By contrast, major projects that affect the whole organization (such as a takeover or relocation) will require a more authoritarian and hands-on approach.

The subordinates – Effective managers will adjust their style based on the number of staff they are dealing with and the temperament of their staff. The skills and experiences of the employees will also be a key factor.

Organizational culture – Management teams that promote innovative thinking and collaborative teamworking, such as Google, will adopt a different management style from organizations that are more systematic and carry out monotonous tasks, such as sports shoes manufacturers in Vietnam.

The managers themselves – People adopt different management styles based on their individual preference. The preferred style is likely to be affected by factors such as: experience, emotions, habits, values, attitudes and personal motivation.

Time constraints – Highly urgent projects that have a tight deadline may well require a different management style to small-scale projects that are less imminent.

Question 13

there are some distinct differences between managers and leaders. These differences include the following points

Answer 13

Managers handle administrative tasks and focus on the organization’s present operations, while leaders concentrate on strategic direction and shaping the organizational culture.

Managers manage people to achieve goals, while leaders inspire others to pursue the mission or vision.

Managers work within the established rules and regulations, while leaders foster change and align resources for long-term goals.

Managers are concerned with administration tasks and processes, while leaders prioritize developing people.

Managers make decisions based on organizational norms and policies, while leaders emphasize innovation and risk-taking.

Question 14

paternalistic adv and dis

Answer 14

It can motivate staff as they feel guided and that their interests are protected

It can ensure harmonious relationships at work as the leader genuinely values the staff

It promotes loyalty to the leader and the organization

It can create a sense of belonging, helping to meet workers’ safety and social needs (Maslow’s hierarchy of needs)

Overall, these advantages are good for staff morale, motivation and productivity and hence beneficial to the organization (such as lower staff turnover and higher profitability).

disadvantages

Decision-making is still centralized, so workers can become dissatisfied if their views are ignored

Communication is mainly top-down, from senior management

Paternalistic leaders may not always make the best decisions, which can lead to conflict and disagreement.