Ch 10 Management and leadership Flashcards
What are the functions of management?
- Setting objectives and planning: strategic -> tactical -> operational
- Organising resources to meet objectives: clear division of tasks
- Directing and motivating staff
- Coordinating activities: goals of each branch, division and region
- Controlling and measuring performance against target: take actions if under performance occur, on target -> positive feedback
What are the 3 managerial roles according to Mintzberg?
- Interpersonal roles: dealing with and motivating staff at all levels of the organisation
- Informational roles: acting as a source, receiver, transmitter of info
- Decisional roles: taking decisions and allocating resources to meet objectives
Define leadership
The art of motivating a group of people towards achieving a common objective
Why is leadership important?
- Clear vision: understanding of the organisational direction and allows staff to clearly understand their roles and responsibilities
- Motivation
- Effective planning
Qualities of a good leader
- Desire to succeed and self confidence
- Able to think beyond the obvious - to be creative and encourage others to do the same
- Multi talented so they can understand discussions about a wide range of issues affecting their business
- Incisive mind that enables the heart of the issue to be identified rather than the unnecessary details
What do directors do?
- Delegate within the department
- Assisting in the recruitment of senior staff
- Make strategic decisions that are based on what the shareholders want
- Coordinate all departments
What do managers do?
Direct, motivate and discipline staff within their department and make tactical decisions based on what the directors want
What do supervisors do?
- Appointed by managers/directors to help staff achieve objectives in a cooperative spirit
- Responsible for leading a team of people working towards pre-set goals
What do workers’ representatives do?
Elected by workers or as trade union officials in order to discuss areas of common concerns with managers
What are the 4 leadership styles?
- Autocratic: keeps all decision making at the centre of the organisation
- Democratic: promotes the active participation of workers in taking decisions
- Paternalistic: based on the approach that managers are in better positions to know what’s best for the organisation
- Laissez faire: leaves much of the decision making to the workforce
Main features of autocratic leadership style
- Leader takes all decisions
- Gives little info to staff
- Supervises workers closely
- Only one way communication
Drawbacks of autocratic leadership style
- Demotivates staff who want to contribute
- Decisions do not benefit from staff input
Possible applications of autocratic leadership style
- Defense force and police where quick decisions are needed
- Emergency situations
Main features of democratic leadership style
- Participation encouraged
- 2 way communication, allows feedback from staff
- Workers given info about business to allow full staff involvement
Drawbacks of democratic leadership style
- Consultation with staff can be time consuming
- Disagreements between staff/manager
Possible applications of democratic leadership style
- An experienced and flexible workforce
- In situations that demand a new way of thinking/ideas
Main features of paternalistic leadership style
- Managers do what they think is best for the workers
- Some consultation might take place but final decisions are taken by managers
- Managers want workers to be happy in their jobs
Drawbacks of paternalistic leadership style
Some workers are dissatisfied with the attempt to consult while not having any real power or influence
Possible applications of paternalistic leadership style
When workers are young and inexperienced => genuine concern for their interests but feel that managers know best
Main features of laissez-faire leadership style
Managers establish very broad criteria or limits for the staff to work within
Drawbacks of laissez-faire leadership style
- Workers may not appreciate the lack of structure and direction in their work
- Lack of feedback as managers will not be closely monitoring progress
=> demotivating
Possible applications of laissez-faire leadership style
Where workers are experts and therefore arrive at solutions when not constrained by narrow rules or management control
What are the 2 components of McGregor’s theory of management?
- Theory X: authoritarian management style
- Theory Y: participative management style
What does the Theory X say?
- The average person dislikes work and will avoid it when they can
- Most people must be forced with the threat of punishment to work towards to objectives
- Average person prefers to be directed, avoid responsibility and is relatively unambitious, wants security above all
=> tight control, no development, produces limited and depressed culture
