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Management. The Textbook Is Geared Toward A Diverse Approach To Teaching. Class Discussion Is
Management. The Textbook Is Geared Toward A Diverse Approach To Teaching. Class Discussion Is
Management. The Textbook Is Geared Toward A Diverse Approach To Teaching. Class Discussion Is
The purpose of this manual is to increase the teaching and learning value of Essentials of
Management. The textbook is geared toward a diverse approach to teaching. Class discussion is
facilitated by material in the body of the text and in the end-of-chapter exercises. Text materials
well suited to discussion include both the Manager in Action and Organization in Action inserts,
as well as the many case examples. End-of-chapter materials geared toward class discussion
include questions, activities, and case problems. Each chapter contains the following material:
1. A chapter outline, along with key lecture notes. The chapter outline contains notations
to the PowerPoint slide relevant to the topic under discussion, indicated by a notation
such as, [PowerPoint slide 3}..
2. Answers to end-of-chapter discussion questions and activities,
usually in the
form of a comment rather than an absolute answer. The vast
majority of end-
of -chapter discussion questions call for opinions rather than a
direct review of
information in the text. Comments are also included about self-
quizzes.
3. Comments about and answers to the cases.
4. An experiential exercise not found in the text is found in 14 of the
chapters.
5. A brief discussion of how the video mentioned in the text links to
the chapter information. We also make a suggestion for a discussion
topic not listed at the end of the video.
The computerized testing package will allow the instructor to prepare exams on an IBM PC
or compatible, using the questions provided in this manual. The instructor may also add new
questions, edit questions, and delete questions.
My major recommendation for the classroom use of this text is to use the discussion
questions and cases as topics for small-group discussions. Each group appoints a team leader
who presents the group’s opinions or findings to the other students in the class. A 10-minute
limit on group discussion seems to make optimum use of time. My small-group discussion
procedure allows the instructor to serve as a resource person to the groups before they make their
presentations. Sometimes the group may need help in interpreting a question or in determining
how much freedom they have to make certain assumptions about the case or question at hand.
I encourage any instructor who would like more information about the classroom use of
this text to telephone me at my writing and research office, (585) 442-0484. My e-mail address is
ajdubrin@frontiernet.net.
—Andrew J. DuBrin
© 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or
duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
1/The Manager’s Job
Chapter 1
THE MANAGER’S JOB [PowerPoint Slide 1]
The purpose of Chapter 1 is to provide an overview of the nature of managerial work. It could be
argued that the entire book has a similar purpose. It is therefore necessary to touch upon topics in
Chapter 1 that are covered again in later chapters. The chapter provides information on key
managerial topics such as (a) the meaning of the term manager, (b) an overview of the process of
management, (c) a discussion of managerial roles, and (d) a summary of the major developments
in the evolution of management thought.
Learning Objectives
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1. Explain what the term manager means and identify different types of manager.
2. Describe the process of management, including the functions of management.
3. Describe the various managerial roles.
4. Identify the basic managerial skills and understand how they can be developed.
5. Identify the major developments in the evolution of management thought.
Managers play a vital role in society—they pull together resources to get important things
accomplished.
A few of the recent c-level positions often found in large organizations are (a) chief
of staff, (b) chief commercial officer, and (c) chief privacy officer.
2. Middle-Level Managers. Middle-level managers are the layer between top- and
first-level managers. Much of their work involves the coordination of work, and the
dissemination of information. Middle-management jobs have declined in numbers
as many organizations have downsized but they still play a major role in operating
an organization.
B. Administrators
An administrator is a manager who works in a public or nonprofit organization
(including educational institutions) rather than in a business firm. The fact that individual
contributors in nonprofit organizations are sometimes referred to as administrators often
causes confusion.
Recent research has identified three roles, or activities, within entrepreneurial work that
arouse passion: opportunity recognition, venture creation, and venture growth.
D. Team Leaders
A team leader coordinates the work of a small group of people, while acting as a
facilitator and catalyst. Team leaders are found at many organizational levels, and are
also referred to as project managers, process managers, and task-force leaders.
All of the managerial jobs describe above vary considerably on the demands placed on
the job holder, such as some CEO jobs more demanding and stressful than others.
Managerial level influences how much time managers spend on the four managerial
functions. Executives spend more time on strategic (high-level and long-range) planning
than do middle- or first-level managers. First-level managers spend the most time in face-
to-face leadership of employees.
A. Planning
The two planning roles are strategic (long-range and high-level) planner and operational
(day-by-day) planner.
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C. Leading
Eight roles are part of the leadership function: motivator and coach, figurehead,
spokesperson, negotiator, team builder, team player, technical problem solver, and
entrepreneur.
D. Controlling
The monitoring role is virtually identical to controlling. The disturbance handler role can
also be classified as a controlling role because it brings disruptions back in line.
A. Technical Skill
Technical skill involves an understanding of and proficiency in a specific activity that
involves methods, processes, procedures, or techniques. Budget preparation is an
example of a technical skill.
B. Interpersonal Skill
Interpersonal (or human relations) skill is the manager’s ability to work effectively as a
team member and to build cooperative effort in the unit. Communication skills are an
example of an important interpersonal skill. An important subset of interpersonal skills
for managers is multiculturalism, or the ability to work effectively and conduct business
with people from different cultures. Many managers at all levels ultimately fail because
their interpersonal skills are not good enough for the demands of the job.
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C. Conceptual Skill
Conceptual skill is the ability to see the organization as a total entity (the “big picture”).
Strategic planning requires conceptual skill. The need for conceptual skill continues to
grow.
D. Diagnostic Skill
Diagnostic skill involves investigating a problem and then choosing a course of action to
solve it.
E. Political Skill
Political skill is the ability to acquire the power necessary to reach objectives. Managers
high in political skill possess a keens sense of astuteness and understanding of people.
Negotiating and forming alliances are examples of political skills. Political skill should
be regarded as a supplement to job competence and other basic skills.
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cornerstones of the human resources approach are the Hawthorne studies, Theory X
and Theory Y, and Maslow’s need hierarchy.
The history of management is being written each year in the sense that the practice of
management continues to evolve. An example of a leading-edge approach to
management is evidence-based management whereby managers translate principles
based on best evidence into management practices (as described above).
1. In addition to a paid job, where else might a person develop managerial experience?
Many unpaid opportunities for managerial experience are available in such settings as
managing an athletic team. (Any Little League manager can develop experience in
managing difficult people in working with the parents!) Community activities
including religious organizations can be a source of managerial experience. Clubs,
fraternities, and sororities can also provide leadership experience.
2. In recent years, many employers seek out technically trained job candidates who have
also studied management. What advantages do you think employers see in a technical
person studying management?
Many technical jobs today also require and understanding of business, and how to work
well with people. So management knowledge is a big asset for technical people. Many
managers believe that there are relatively few technical jobs that do not require
interaction with people or understanding the business implications of the technical
work.
3. Why do larger companies want many of their employees to "think like entrepreneurs"?
4. During weather emergencies such as during a severe ice storm, some companies send
out an alert that only “essential” employees should report to work. Explain why
managers should or should not stay home on such emergency days.
Unless the manager has a group of highly competent, self-managing group members
the manager should certainly be at work on emergency days. Also, during a crisis,
workers need decisive leadership more than ever.
5. What do you think might me the advantages of making business executives adhere to a
code of ethics like physicians and lawyers?
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A major advantage of making business executives adhere to a professional code of
ethics is that they would be more likely to stop and think of the ethical implications of
what they are doing. For example, an executive who carefully studied ethical practices
might be less likely to share information with company outsiders that could be leaked
for purposes of insider trading.
Many students will be surprised to see how many managerial roles they have already sampled in
work or personal life. The general role of being a parent provides some opportunity to carry out
the managerial roles, including coaching a child. As with most self-assessments, a major
potential value is the opportunity to relate many specific behaviors to one’s own activities. For
example, in the self-assessment at hand a student might come to realize that his or her
negotiating experience will be helpful to him or her as a manager.
Most managers can relate their work to many of the seventeen roles, thus increasing the chances
that students will find this to be a successful exercise.
A caution in this exercise is that students need to focus on skills rather than functions or roles in
developing answers. Managerial skills are essential for a successful coach, so this exercise
should prove to be instructive. Going beyond the readily apparent, a news story analysis or quote
will sometimes reveal the conceptual skill of a coach, such as the coach revealing the game
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strategy he or she used to win. A basketball coach might reveal after a win that he or she decided
to shift to a man-to-man defense because the other team had a few very good outside shooters.
The content output from this assignment may be valuable. In addition, a lesson to be learned is
that searching the Internet is easier when you are tracing down a fact like the price of gold, or the
zip code for a specific town in the United States.
This first case in the book illustrates how actively involved some managers are in running their
enterprise.
1. What managerial roles is Clarence Otis emphasizing in the case just presented?
Otis takes a broad view of his formidable restaurant business, indicating an emphasis on the
strategic planner role. Because he is concerned about the chain’s approach to attracting
customers, he is also emphasizing the entrepreneur role.
A real challenge is to keep enough people streaming into the restaurants. Even with low-
priced menu items, during down economic times many people choose to eat at home or in
fast-food restaurants. Beyond the data found in the media, during the Great Recession, it
was notable how some restaurants suffered from not having enough customers. However,
places like the Olive Garden and Outback (not a Darden restaurant) seemed to stay busy.
3. If you have visited a Darden restaurant lately, what suggestions can you offer top-level
management for attracting even more customers?
Answering this question will require careful analysis because the Darden chain is so well
managed. Otis has ruled out gimmicky discounts, so other methods of attracting customers
have to be relied on. Perhaps the Darden restaurants could offer a few early-bird specials
for seniors as well as people with very young children. (We recognize an early-bird special
is a form of discounting.) Many parents of young children prefer to dine when other parents
of young children are present. One of Darden’s assets is an emphasis on a pleasant wait
staff, so the restaurants should continue to emphasize hiring high-quality servers.
4. Based on media reports, how successful do you think Clarence Otis has been in helping the
Darden chain become a continuing success?
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The most current media reports must be consulted. We would be surprised if the Darden
chain falters because several of their brands—particularly the Olive Garden and Red
Lobster—have become entrenched into our culture.
5. What financial management practices of the Darden chain might be useful to you in
managing your personal finances?
Otis’s emphasis on spending conservatively and keeping debt low even when times are
good is a solid approach to personal financial management. Spending beyond one’s means
along with heavy borrowing leads to the financial downfall of many people.
A theme hinted at in this case is that some job responsibilities that might appear quite basic can
nevertheless constitute good experience for developing into an effective manager.
1. Advise Sara on whether she is really learning some valuable lessons as a potential
manager.
The diverse experiences Sara reports do provide valuable lessons as a potential
manager, particularly with respect to managing people, and specifically dealing with
employee emotions such as being too sad to come to work.
3. Which managerial roles has Sara been carrying out as indicated by her activity log?
September 2: Sara is faced with the disturbance handler role in order to deal with the
emergency of an employee who will not report to work despite the dining room being
short-handed.
September 6: Sara must again jump into the disturbance handler role as one of the best
servers on the staff wants to take a week off from work to deal with a personal problem.
Sara may also need to get into the motivator and coach role to encourage the server to
return to work earlier.
September 25: Sara is again thrust into the disturbance handler role. She might also get
into the negotiator role to work the problem out with the customer. Sara certainly does
not want to let the problem of the spilled coffee escalate into a legal battle against her
employer.
October 5: Poor Sara is again thrust into the disturbance handler role in dealing with
the possible threat of E.coli bacteria in the spinach. She needs to dig for facts to find out
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if the problem really exists, thereby thrusting her into the role of technical problem
solver.
Experiential Exercise
______________________________________________________________________________
Motives for Becoming or Not Becoming a Manager
Motives for becoming a manager are quite varied. Ask class members to spend several minutes
thinking through why they want to become a manager, or perhaps whey they do not want to
become a manager. We assume that the vast majority of students taking the course do want to
become managers. After the self-analysis is completed, about 10 volunteers might be asked to
make a three-minute presentation of their reasons for wanting to become, or not become, a
manager. Or, the entire class might be asked to participate. After the presentations are completed,
several discussion questions are asked:
1. What are the two major reasons class members want to become managers?
3. What are the two major reasons class members do not want to become managers
(assuming any students express this sentiment).
The video for this chapter is “Preserve by Recycline; Environment & Corporate Culture.” The
same video could also be a good fit for Chapter 3, Ethics and Social Responsibility. “Preserve by
Recycline” fits Chapter 1 in the sense that it illustrates intelligent managers and professionals in
action who are gearing their efforts toward making money and performing a social good at the
same time.
The entrepreneurial role of management is clearly illustrated, but so is the importance of building
teamwork and thinking creatively. The managers featured in this video need to have multiple
skills such as technical skill and conceptual skill. Students might also discuss whether the people
featured in the video are doing a type of managerial work that appears to be positive and
enjoyable.
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