What is Management?

Management is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and
objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively.
OR
Management is defined as all the activities and tasks undertaken for achieving goals by
continuous activities like; planning, organizing, leading and controlling.
OR
Management is a process of planning, decision making, organizing, leading, motivation
and controlling the human resources, financial, physical, and information resources of
an organization to reach its goals efficiently and effectively.
OR
Management is the process of setting and reaching goals effectively and efficiently.
Management acts as a guide to a group of people working in the
organization and coordinating their efforts, towards the attainment of
the common objective.
In other words, it is concerned with optimally using 5M’s, i.e. men,
machine, material, money and methods and, this is possible only
when there is proper direction, coordination and integration of the
processes and activities, to achieve the desired results.
Characteristics of Management
Universal: All the organizations, whether it is profit-making or
not, they require management, for managing their activities.
Hence it is universal in nature.
Goal-Oriented: Every organization is set up with a
predetermined objective and management helps in
reaching those goals timely, and smoothly.
Continuous Process: It is an ongoing process which tends to
persist as long as the organization exists. It is required in every
sphere of the organization whether it is production, human
resource, finance or marketing.
Multi-dimensional: Management is not confined to the
administration of people only, but it also manages work,
processes and operations, which makes it a multi-
disciplinary activity.
Group activity: An organization consists of various members
who have different needs, expectations and beliefs. Every
person joins the organization with a different motive, but
after becoming a part of the organization they work for
achieving the same goal. It requires supervision, teamwork
and coordination, and in this way, management comes
into the picture.
Dynamic function: An organization exists in a business
environment that has various factors like social, political,
legal, technological and economic. A slight change in any
of these factors will affect the organization’s growth and
performance. So, to overcome these changes
management formulates strategies and implements them.
Intangible force: Management can neither be seen nor
touched but one can feel its existence, in the way the
organization functions.
 Different types of Management Styles
 There are different types of management styles, and the
management process has changed over recent years. The
addition of work teams and servant leadership has changed what
is expected from managers, and what managers expect from their
employees.
 There are three types of management styles.
Traditional Management
Team Management
Servant Management
 1. Traditional Management

There is a hierarchy of employees, low level management,

mid-level management, and senior management.
In traditional management systems, the manager sets out
expectations for the employees who need to meet goals,
but the manager receives the reward of meeting those
goals.
 2. Team Management

In a team management arrangement the manager is a

guiding hand to help the members of the team work
together to solve problems but doesn’t dictate policy
and the entire team receives the reward of meeting
those goals.
 3. Servant Management

With this approach, the manager helps supply resources

the employees need to meet company goals.
In servant leadership, the organization recognizes
employees as experts in their field and work to help them
work efficiently.
Note: No matter which type of management style is used by an
organization, the main objective of managers is to help
employees reach company goals and maintain company
standards and policies.
Levels of Management
 1. Top-Level Management:
 This is the highest level in the organizational hierarchy, which
includes Board of Directors, president, vice-president and Chief
Executives.
 These managers are responsible for controlling and overseeing
the entire organization. They develop goals, strategic plans,
company policies, and make decisions on the direction of the
business.
 In addition, top-level managers play a significant role in the
mobilization of outside resources.
 Top-level managers are accountable to the shareholders and
general public.
 2. Middle-Level Management
 It is the second and most important level in the corporate ladder, as
it creates a link between the top and lower-level management.
 General managers, branch managers, and department managers
are all examples of middle-level managers. They are accountable
to the top management for their department’s function.
 Middle-level managers devote more time to organizational and
directional functions than top-level managers. Their roles can be
emphasized as:
 Executing organizational plans in conformance with the company’s policies and
the objectives of the top management;
 Defining and discussing information and policies from top management to lower
management; and most importantly
 Inspiring and providing guidance to low-level managers towards better
performance.
 2. Middle-Level Management (Cont..)
Some of functions of the Middle-Level Managers are as follows:

 Designing and implementing effective group and intergroup work

and information systems;
 Defining and monitoring group-level performance indicators;
 Diagnosing and resolving problems within and among work groups;
 Designing and implementing reward systems supporting
cooperative behavior.
 3. Lower Level Management:
Supervisors, section leads, and foremen are examples of low-level
management titles. These managers focus on controlling and
directing.
Low-level managers usually have the responsibility of:
 Assigning employees tasks;
 Guiding and supervising employees on day-to-day activities;
 Ensuring the quality and quantity of production;
 Making recommendations and suggestions; and
 Up channeling employee problems.
 3. Lower Level Management (Cont.…)

Also referred to as first-level managers, low-level

managers are role models for employees. These
managers provide:
 Basic supervision;
 Motivation;
 Career planning;
 Performance feedback; and
 Staff supervision.
 Functions of Management

Planning:

 It is the first and foremost function of management,

i.e. to decide beforehand what is to be done in
future.
 It encompasses formulating policies, establishing
targets, scheduling actions and so forth.
 Functions of Management

Organizing:

 Once the plans are formulated, the next step is to

organize the activities and resources, as in
identifying the tasks, classifying them, assigning
duties to subordinates and allocating the
resources.
 Functions of Management

Staffing:

 It involves hiring personnel for carrying out various

activities of the organization. It is to ensure that
the right person is appointed to the right job.
 Functions of Management

Directing:

 It is the task of the manager to guide, supervise,

lead and motivate the subordinates, to ensure
that they work in the right direction, so far as the
objectives of the organization are concerned.
 Functions of Management

Controlling:

 The controlling function of management involves

a number of steps to be taken to make sure that
the performance of the employees is as per the
plans.
 It involves establishing performance standards
and comparing them with the actual
performance.
 In case of any variations, necessary steps are to
be taken for its correction.