Management Skills Chapter 6

Question 1

Give the three main management skills

Answer 1

leading, motivating, communication

Question 2

Define leadership and give the three main types of leadership

Answer 2

Ability to direct people and positively influence them so they follow and obey you.

1. autocratic leadership
2. democratic leadership
3. Laissez faire leadership

Question 3

Explain autocratic leadership

Answer 3

Manger makes all the decision and does not ask the employees opinions. They give orders to be obeyed without question. They may use fear or threats to get their way and also their position of authority. Is not effective way of leading people except perhaps in emergency or stressful situations

Question 4

Explain democratic leadership

Answer 4

Manger involves employees and listens to their views letting them devise possible solutions before making a final decision. The manager delegates work and trusts employees. They get employees on their side through explanations and reasoning. This style of leadership is effective as employees feel valued.

Question 5

Explain Laissez - faire leadership

Answer 5

Manger does not interfere with how employees do their work. Give employees time limits to complete their goals but let the employee decide how to achieve this goal. They delegate work and trust their employees.

Question 6

Explain delegation with an example

Answer 6

When a manager assigns authority to an employee to carry out task or project for them. Employee is given the responsibility for the job and will be held accountable for the job. Ex: HR manager gives HR assistant CVs to go through after which they have to pick five people to interview

Question 7

Give five advantages of delegation

Answer 7

Manager has more time to spend on most important issues of the business- efficient use of managers skills
Work completed faster- saves time and money
Good way to train employees on the job- learn how to manage with managerial tasks. Ensures steady supply of managers for future
Improves manager-employee relationship. - trust
Motivates employees- has faith in them, feel valued. Employees are happier as are involved in business

Question 8

Give four points of importance of effective leadership

Answer 8

Improved efficiency
Improved coordination
Employee retention
Helps deal with change

Question 9

Evaluate Autocratic leadership

Answer 9

Style does not produce good results for manager. Worked resent being treated in this way. Some will resign and so business may lose excellent workers. Those who stay are unhappy and uncooperative.

Question 10

Evaluate Democratic leadership

Answer 10

Effective because employees like to be involved in the business.Employees will be happier as a result and work harder for their manager. They are more likely to show intrapreneurship. Appropriate when employees are knowledgeable and when manager wants to encourage team building. Employees do find decisions take longer to make with this method. Not to be used in in rush.

Question 11

Evaluate Laissez Faire leadership

Answer 11

Only appropriate when manager has highly trustworthy employees. Some employees may find it difficult to work with little instruction. Work may not be done on time or mistakes may be made. Is effective in businesses relying on employee creativity.

Question 12

Explain improved efficiency in terms of the importance of effective leadership

Answer 12

Clear instructions to employees
Employees understand tasks
Do exactly what is expected of them and no time is wasted with mistakes

Question 13

Explain improved coordination in terms of the importance of effective leadership

Answer 13

Inspires employees to share his vision for the future.
Employees believe in vision - on the same page
Work as one to succeed

Question 14

Explain employee retention in terms of the importance of effective leadership

Answer 14

Delegation of tasks to employees
Employee likes being trusted
more likely to continue working for business
helps attract best employees

Question 15

Explain Change in terms of the importance of effective leadership

Answer 15

Leader should help a business change for the better
acts as role model for employees- put in effort to make change happen
Encourages employees to accept change too

Question 16

Explain what is meant by motivating

Answer 16

Involves manager Energising employees
Providing them with appealing incentives to cooperate and work hard for business
ex: Microsoft motivate employees offering bonuses based on performance, Better their work the bigger the bonus

Question 17

Name the two main theories on how to motivate employees

Answer 17

Theory X and Theory Y - Douglas McGregor

Hierarchy of Needs- Abraham Maslow

Question 18

Explain a theory X manager

Answer 18

Believe employees are lazy, have no ambition and dislike work.
Believe they only work for money
Use a hard approach - Keeps close eye on employees
May use threat or punishment
McGregor believes employees hate being treated this way and it demotivates them so they do as little work possible

Question 19

Explain a theory Y manager

Answer 19

Believes employees enjoy working, are ambitious and want more responsibility
Motivate employees- offer promotions, give praise and delegate
Results in happy, co-operative, hard-working employees

Question 20

What is the belief of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Answer 20

Believes Employees needs drive them to do something. managers can offer things that satisfy these needs in order to motivate

Question 21

What are the five levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Answer 21

Physiological needs, safety needs, social needs, esteem needs, self-actualisation needs.

Question 22

Explain Physiological needs,

Answer 22

Most essential human needs
needed for survival- water, food, air
ex: manager can have a staff canteen so employees do not get hungry or thirsty on the job

Question 23

Explain safety needs

Answer 23

Need to feel safe and secure. Includes financial security, safety from accidents
ex: Can offer employee a long-term contract for job security.

Question 24

Explain social needs

Answer 24

Need for friendship, belonging, acceptance and love
ex: Put employees working together in teams
Hold staff parties to get to know one another outside of work

Question 25

Explain esteem needs

Answer 25

Need to feel good about yourself.
Gain the respect of others - people need to feel valued
ex: Manger can praise workers and recognise hard work with awards and promotions

Question 26

Expalin self-actualisation needs.

Answer 26

Need for personal growth and fulfillment.
Achieve all you are capable of- best you can be
ex: Manger can offer employee more challenging work
Can offer shares in business so they become part owner

Question 27

Evaluate Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs

Answer 27

Provides good insight into what influences employees to work hard.
It tells managers what level employees are at and informs them of suitable incentives to motivate them
Shows money is not only thing that motivates

Question 28

Explain improved productivity in terms of importance of motivation

Answer 28

Influences employees to work as hard as they can
Drives them to make best quality products or give best service
Helps business increase sales/profits

Question 29

Explain greater intrapreneurship in terms of importance of motivation

Answer 29

Highly motivated employees may offer manager useful suggestion to help business save money or make more money.
Will go out of their way to solve businesses problems
Ex: Microsoft and Xbox

Question 30

Explain Employee recruitment and retention in terms of importance of motivation

Answer 30

Will find it easy to attract very best staff as they know they will be happy and get what they want and need
Helps business hold onto excellent workers for a long time

Question 31

Explain improved industrial relations in terms of importance of motivation

Answer 31

Motivated employees have a good relationship with their manager
More likely to talk out problems in spirit of cooperation and conciliation.
Less strike action