Session 8 Flashcards
What is the myth of the manager’s role?
Managers plan, organize, coordinate and control
What are the realities of the manager’s role?
Interpersonal roles: figurehead, leader, liaison
Informal roles: monitor, disseminator, spokesperson
Decisional roles: entrepreneur, disturbance handler, resource allocator, negotiator
What is a disseminator?
A person who spreads information and support the spokesperson (spreads information on behalf of the company)
What is a liaison?
A way of negotiating with outsiders and come to a consensus on the terms and conditions of the acts each party wishes to perform (has to be done with mutual trust because, if both parties cannot trust each other to do what they discussed, then the liaison does not work and fails)
What is a spokesperson?
Represents the company and preaches the ideals and demands of the company. There is no win-win
Negotiator: Main goal is to garner a win-win situation, achieve benefits for both parties
Why is it folklore that the manager is a reflective systematic planner?
It is folklore because managers work at an unrelenting pace. Their activities are characterized by brevity, variety and discontinuity. They are strongly oriented to action and dislike reflective activities.
Why is it folklore that the effective manager has no regular duties to perform?
It is folklore because managerial work involves performing a number of regular duties, including ritual and ceremony, negotiations, and processing of soft information that links the organization with its environment.
Why is it folklore that the senior manager needs aggregated information, which a formal management information system best provides?
Managers strongly favor verbal media, telephone calls and meetings, over documents.
Why is it folklore that management is, or at least is quickly becoming a science and a profession?
The managers’ programs which are locked deeply inside their brains: to schedule time; process information; make decisions; etc
Science is a tool that facilitates management, not replaces it
What are some of the roles of managers?
Figurehead
Leader
Liaison
Monitor
Disseminator
Spokesperson
Entrepreneur
Disturbance-handler
Resource-allocator
Negotiator
Why is it folklore that managers wield significant authority and freedom to make things happen?
Managers are enmeshed in a web of relationships
with people who make relentless and conflicting demands on you
Why is it important for managers to build relationships with people outside of their group and that their team depends on it to do its work?
Building these relationships will facilitate the work of the manager because they will be able to better understand how to work with these people in order to achieve their goals
Why is it folklore that managers’ power derives from their formal position in the company?
The manager’s power comes from their ability to establish credibility with employees, peers, and superiors.
What should a manager do to establish credibility with their employees, peers, and superiors?
Demonstrate character, managerial competence and influence.
In order to establish credibility you have to become someone who not only demonstrates was is described in the “What to do”, you must also be able to keep promises and do what you say. Know your position, your abilities, you connections, etc and understand the things you can do and the things that you cannot. If you cannot understand this, then you cannot do what is said in the “What to do” section and will not be able to establish credibility
Why is it folklore that managers must control their direct reports?
Because control doesn’t equal commitment.
Build commitment by empowering employees to achieve team’s goals.
