Management

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 1 – Assignment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fabrice Tshiyoyi Banyingela

Your student ID number: R2308D16950940

Module Name: Theories of Management

Module code: UU-MBA-712-ZM

Date: 4 February 2023

 

 

 

Management involves several efforts to achieve the enterprise's goals, ensuring satisfaction for the employer, employees, and the public. With the change in environment and various circumstances, organizations seek ways to maintain a sustainable business. While some focus on short-term goals, many aim to create systems for large-scale businesses. Therefore, the success of a business is largely dependent on the effectiveness of its management leadership.

Often, the board of directors is required to effectively combine the features of management as a science and an art to achieve set objectives. “Management is a science that requires well-defined concepts, principles, and techniques. It's viewed as art, as managers acquire skills and experience, combining science and practice to create a comprehensive management theory” (Woods, 2017). Science and art are crucial tools for determining a manager's effectiveness in any business environment and level of responsibility to achieve the assigned goals. Therefore, to achieve their goals, the organization’s structures are established through the delegation of authority which creates managerial positions marked by authority, responsibility, functions, and roles.

Although companies often have different management levels to divide duties among departments and specialties, large organizations have three levels of management: (1) top-level, (2) middle-level, and (3) lower-level. The top-level of management consists of the board of Directors, Managing Directors, and Chief Officers. They set goals, make strategic decisions, hire middle-level managers, maintain external communication, oversee the organization, and are accountable to the stakeholders. Middle-level managers, including branch and department managers, are responsible for directing and managing an organization, implementing policies, hiring, and training low-level managers, and plans as directed by top management. Lower-level managers such as supervisors, team leaders, or section heads are first-line managers. They directly ensure product quality and quantity by distributing jobs and responsibilities to workers. These levels of management operate under the five fundamental functions.

Management consists of five general functions: planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling. Managers who understand these functions focus on activities that promote a successful management approach. Planning involves setting goals and creating a roadmap for the future. Organizing involves implementing the plan and deploying resources. Staffing is essential for organizational structure, involving workforce planning, recruitment, policy formulation, and training. Directing involves defining a vision, motivating employees, and utilizing influence, persuasion, and effective communication skills to inspire and motivate individuals. Controlling, on the other hand, monitors progress and makes necessary adjustments. According to Rory Burke, “Projects do not naturally finish on time, within budget, and to the required quality. It is therefore essential that the project manager understands the characteristics and features of project control to be able to manage the process effectively” (262). Through these functions of management, successful managers develop the ability to have flexibility in leadership styles and recognize the constant changes in times, tasks, and circumstances.

 These functions are continuous processes that managers use to achieve their goals, and they are interrelated and applicable at all management levels. Management is a goal-oriented and multi-disciplinary process involving knowledge from various disciplines and requires continuous study and modification to adapt to organizational situations. It's applicable in various settings, including business, military, governmental, educational, and religious sectors, but results may vary depending on factors.  

A good example of management concepts is found at Legacy Business Consulting, a well-organized company with an effective management system. The Managing Director oversees and manages all business operations, with the support of two separate managers in the engineering and data analysis departments. These executive managers plan, design, implement, and collaborate with functional management teams to assess program effectiveness and create strategies and budgets. With the support of lower-level managers and field agents, the company works with the government to implement programs promoting job creation for the youth and socio-economic development in South Africa. This success can only be achieved through a well-organized company and an effective management system that matches the mandatory requirements as outlined by the government.

Management is essential for an enterprise to survive, as it guides and controls activities, provides new ideas, and ensures stability by adapting resources to societal changes. As companies gain skills and expertise, management is geared to provide best-of-breed solutions and methodologies that lead to personality development, boosting efficiency and productivity. Good managers maximize output with minimal input, while effectively utilizing physical, human, and financial resources to achieve optimal results. Hence contributing to national growth and prosperity by efficiently ensuring sustainability and reducing unemployment rates.  

Management is a social process involving planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling within an organization. These processes need a hierarchy of power for success. Using the right style at the right time is crucial for success, as everyone's job level is not the same. Managers need to use management knowledge to efficiently use resources, reduce costs, and improve productivity. Therefore, good management is essential in various business situations and leads to clear strategic objectives, such as communication, motivation, teamwork, and goals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References:

 

UNICAF (2024). “Introduction to Management”. Theories of Management.

https://zm-vle-uu.unicaf.org/pluginfile.php/772876/mod_resource/content/2/Week%201%20-%20Individual%20Assignment.pdf. Accessed 3 Feb. 24

 

Woods, D. D. (2017). Essential characteristics of resilience. In Resilience engineering (pp. 21-34). CRC Press.

 

Burke R. (2013). Project Control. Project Management Techniques (pp. 262).

Rory Burke. 2^nd ed. 2013.

 

Davis B., Reilly M.(2023). “5 Principles of Great Management”. University of Arizona.

https://www.uagc.edu/blog/5-principles-of-great-management. Accessed 3 Feb. 2024

 

M Libraries (2015). “Introduction to Principles of Management”.

Principles of Management. https://open.lib.umn.edu/principlesmanagement/chapter/1-1-introduction-to-principles-of-management/. Accessed 3 Feb. 2024

 

M Libraries (2015). “Planning, Organizing, Leading, and Controlling”.

Principles of Management. https://open.lib.umn.edu/principlesmanagement/chapter/1-5-planning-organizing-leading-and-controlling-2/. Accessed 3 Feb. 2024