Management Activities Flashcards
What are three main management activities?
Planning
Organising
Controlling
Explain planning with an example
This is where a manager:
Sets goals (objectives) for the business to achieve in the future and then:
Comes up with strategies on how the business can achieve those goals
Ex: Objective – increase business sales by 10% in the next year.
Strategy – increase advertising and reduce price of product.
What are the steps involved in planning?
Develop a SWOT Analysis
Set Objectives
Devise Strategies
Implement the Plan
What are strength in a SWOT analysis with examples
(Internal)- Something the business owns or does well that gives it a competitive advantage
Ex: Excellent employees, Assets
Explain Weaknesses in a SWOT analysis with an example
(Internal)- Something that the business does badly or is lacking altogether that puts it at a competitive disadvantage
Ex: Lack of money
Explain threats in a SWOT analysis with an example
(External)- Something in the outside world that can prevent the business from succeeding
Ex: Competition from outside companies
Explain opportunities in a SWOT analysis with an example
(External)- Something in the outside world that the business can avail of to make money or benefit from
Ex: New countries joining the EU (market expansion)
What does SWOT stand for
Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
What are objectives with example
The business should use the SWOT analysis to set objectives for the company.
Objectives are the goals the business wants to achieve.
Ex: Aer Lingus had ryanair as major threat so they set the objective to become low fares airline
What does devising strategies mean with an example?
The business must come up with strategies to achieve these goals.
Strategies are plans of action to achieve a goal.
Ex: Aer Lingus had a strategy of making 2000 employees redundant to cut costs
Name three types of strategy
Low cost leadership
Differentiation strategy
Niche strategy
Explain a niche strategy with an example
This strategy spots a group of individuals with specific needs in the market and makes a product to satisfy those needs.
Example: Ferrari Cars
Explain a low cost leadership strategy with an example
The aim is to keep costs low and sell the products as cheaply as possible.
Example: Ryanair
Explain a differentiation strategy with an example
The aim is to make products different from competitors and make them stand out.
Example: Abercrombie & Fitch
Explain implementing the plan with an example
The plan put into action
The manager must break the jobs down into manageable jobs and assign roles to employees.
The manager communicates the plan to employees and ensures they understand what they must do.
Ex: Aer Lingus asked employees to volunteer for redundancy
Name four types of plans
Mission statement
Strategic plan
Tactical plan
Contingency plan
Explain the mission statement with an example
The mission statement outlines the direction of the business and their overall objectives.
Example: ‘We provide our customers with the best value for money through a convenient shopping experience.’
What is a strategic plan?
A long term plan of action for the business as a whole
It takes the business’ mission statement and breaks it up into major plans of action for the business to work on
What is a tactical plan?
A short-term plan for the business
Usually applies to a particular department of the business
Breaks up the strategic plan into smaller plans of action
Time Span: 1 Year
What is a contingency plan? with an example
A back up plan to help the business cope with an emergency or an unforeseen event
The aim is to limit damage and prevent disruptions to the business ex: Business have contingency plans to deal with the break up of the eurozone
What are the advantages to planning?
Guides the business to success Helps avoid future problem Eliminates the business’s weakness Helps secure capital (investment/money) Motivates employees and managers
What are the characteristics of a good and effective plan?
Specific Measurable Agreed Realistic Timed
What is organising and how is it done?
This is the structuring of the business in the best way possible to allow the business achieves its goals.
Resources of the business are arranged in the most suitable way
Work is split into jobs and these jobs are assigned to specific departments (organisational structures)
Name four types of organisational structures
Functional Organisational Structure
Product Organisational Structure
Geographical Organisational Structures
Matrix Organisational Structure