Unit 2 Flashcards
Traditional Levels of Management in Business
Senior Management
Middle Management
Junior Management
Senior Management
• E.g. Board of Directors
• Set corporate objectives & strategic direction
• Board is responsible to shareholders; led by the CEO
Middle Management
• Accountable to senior management
• Run business functions and departments
Junior Management
• Supervisory role, accountable to middle management
• Monitor & control day-to-day tasks, and manage teams of workers
The role of managers should include:
- Setting objectives
- analysing
- leading
- making decisions
- reviewing
Role of managers examples
Role of managers examples
Tannenbaum and Schmidt Continuum
• 1958: “Contingency theorists” Robert Tannenbaum and Warren Schmidt
• Suggested a “continuum” of leadership behaviour
• Continuum represents a range of action related to the:
- Degree of authority used by the manager
- Area of freedom available to non-managers
What is the Tannenbaum
Schmidt continuum?
The continuum puts leadership styles on a scale from autocratic management through increasing levels of participation in decision-making by the workforce
What are the 4 main types of management style that are in the Tannenbaum Schmidt continuum?
- Tells
- sells
- consults
- joins
What type of management style is similar to a tells style?
Autocratic or authoritarian
What type of management style is similar to a sell style?
Paternalistic
What type of management style is similar to a consults style?
Democratic
What type of management style is similar to a joins style?
Laissez-faire
What is an autocratic leadership style?
Autocratic managers are authoritarian; they make decisions without reference to anyone else. They tend to use one way, top-down communication. They give orders to employees and do not want feedback.
What is a democratic leadership style?
Democratic managers encourage decision-making from different perspectives. They tend to listen to the employees ideas and ensure people contribute to the discussion;
communication is the way. Bosses put the idea forward and listen to feedback. This helps motivation of employees.
What is a laissez-faire leadership style?
This occurs when leaders are too busy or just lazy, that they let everyone take responsibility for decisions. This can make decision-making time-consuming and can lack direction of what the business needs to do. However, it is useful for when creative ideas are needed and can be very motivational for employees.
What is a paternalistic leadership style?
Paternalistic leader thinks and acts like a father. They try to do what is best for their staff. Employees are consulted when decisions are made. They are closely supervised to supply direction. Paternalists are interested in the security and social needs of staff
Tells
Leader identifies problems, makes decision and announces to subordinates; expects implementation
Sells
Leader still makes decision, but attempts to overcome resistance through discussion & persuasion
Consults
Leader identifies problem and presents it to the group. Listens to advice and suggestions before making a decision
Joins
Leader defines the problem and passes on the solving & decision-making to the group (which manager is part of)
Tannenbaum and Schmidt Continuum of Leadership
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Tannenbaum and Schmidt Continuum of Leadership
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Two Approaches to Decision-Making in Business
-INTUITION (HUNCH)
-SCIENTIFIC
INTUITION (HUNCH)
Based on intuition, gut feel and experience
SCIENTIFIC
Based on data and analysis
Scientific Decision-Making
Scientific decision-making involves making decisions based on evidence and adopting a systematic approach, rather than intuition, hunch or ‘gut reaction’
Examples of Scientific Decision-Making
-Decision Trees
-Investment Appraisal
-Dynamic Pricing
Benefits of scientific decision making
Data driven = evidence-
based
Removes some (but not all) subjective judgement from decisions