Chapter 1

Question 1

Define Organisation.

Answer 1

A group of people working together in a structured and coordinated fashion to achieve a set of goals.

Question 2

Define Management.

Answer 2

A set of activities directed at an organisation’s resources, with the aim of achieving organisational goals in an efficient & effective manner.

Question 3

What is a Manager?

Answer 3

A person, whose primary responsibility is to carry out the management process.

Question 4

Describe the management process.

Answer 4

A set of activities performed by a Manager.
The basic activities include
1. Planning & Decision Making
2. Organising
3. Leading/ Directing
4. Controlling

PLANNING:
The process by which a manager anticipates the future & discovers alternative course of action open to them.
DECISION MAKING:
The process by which a course of action is consciously chosen from available alternatives for the purpose of achieving a desired result.
ORGANISING:
The process by which the structure and the allocation of jobs are determined.
LEADING / DIRECTING:
The process by which actual performance of subordinates is guided toward common goals.
CONTROLLING:
The process that measures current performance & guide it toward some pre-determined goal.

Question 5

What are Allied Activities?

Answer 5

STAFFING:
The process by which the manager select, train, promote & retire subordinates.
COMMUNICATING:
The process by which ideas are transmitted to others for the purpose of effecting a desired result.

Question 6

What are Managerial Activities?

Answer 6

PLANNING
ORGANIZING
DECISION MAKING
CONTROLLING
LEADING / DIRECTING
COMMUNICATING
STAFFING:

Question 7

What are the different kinds of managers?

Answer 7

1. Top
2. Middle
3. First Line
4. TOP MANAGERS:
   - Make relatively small group of executives.
   - Manage the whole organisation
   - Create Goals, Strategy, Policy for the organisation
   - Officially represent the organisation during business/ venture meetings
   - Work for long hours
5. MIDDLE MANAGERS:
   - Next largest group of managers.
   - Primarily responsible for implementation of plans and policies developed by top managers.
   - Supervising & Coordinating the activities of First line managers.
6. FIRST LINE MANAGERS:
   - Supervise & coordinate the activities of operating employees.
   - Oversee the day to day operations of their respective department.
   - Hire and manage operatives.
   - Spend large proportion of their time supervising the work of operatives.

Question 8

What are the basic managerial roles?

Answer 8

1. Interpersonal:
   a. Figure-Head - Attends ribbon-cutting ceremonies
   b. Leader - Encourages employees to improve productivity
   c. Liaison - Co-ordinates activities of project groups
2. Informational:
   a. Monitor - Scans industry reports to stay informed of developments.
   b. Disseminator - Sends memos outlining new industrial initiatives
   c. Spokesperson - Makes speeches to inform of the organisation’s perspective
3. Decisional:
   a. Entrepreneur
   b. Disturbance Handler
   c. Resource Allocator
   d. Negotiator

Question 9

What are the basic managerial skills?

Answer 9

Technical Skills:
To accomplish/understand the specific kind of work being done in an organisation. (Very Important for First Line Managers).

Decision Making Skills:
To correctly recognise & define problems & opportunities & select an appropriate course of action to solve problems & capitalise on opportunities.

Diagnostic Skills:
Enable to visualise the most appropriate solution to a situation.

Communication Skills:
To effectively convey ideas and effectively receive the ideas & information from others.

Inter personal Skills:
To communicate with, understand & motivate both individuals & groups.

Conceptual Skills:
The ability to think & understand the overall working of the organisation & its environment and make/take decision the serve the overall organisation.

Time Management Skills:
To prioritise work, to work efficiently & to delegate appropriately in order to meet the targets/ schedule as planned.

Question 10

Mention the areas of management in an organisation and their roles.

Answer 10

1. MARKETING MANAGERS:
   Work in the areas related to marketing function: getting consumers & clients to buy organisation’s products or services.
2. FINANCIAL MANAGERS:
   Deal with organisation’s finance: responsible for accounting, cash management & investment activities.
3. MANAGERS:
   Create & manage the systems that produce organisation’s product & services: Include production control, Inventory control, quality control, plant layout, site selection etc.
4. HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGERS:
   Hire and develop employees: Involved in Human Resource Planning, Recruiting, selecting employees, training & development, designing compensation & benefit schemes, formulating performance appraisal systems, discharging low performance & problem employees.
5. ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGERS:
   Not involved with any particular management specialty. They have some familiarity with all functional areas of management rather than specialised training in any one area.
6. PUBLIC RELATION MANAGERS:
   Deal with public & media to protect & enhance the image of the organisation.
7. RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT MANAGERS: Coordinate the activities of researchers ( Scientists & Engineers etc) working on scientific projects.
8. INTERNAL CONSULTANT MANAGERS:
   Provide specialised expert advice to Operating managers.
9. INTERNATIONAL OPERATION MANAGERS: Manage & Coordinate the activities at international level.