MANAGEMENT

MANAGEMENT: AN ART OR A SCIENCE?

 What is management? Is it an art or a science?
An instinct or a set of skills and techniques that
can be taught?

 What do you think makes a good manager?

Which four of the following qualities do you think
are the most important?
MANAGEMENT: AN ART OR A SCIENCE?
 Being decisive: able to make quick decisions
 Being efficient: doing things quickly, not leaving tasks
unfinished, having a tidy desk, and so on
 Being friendly and sociable
 Being able to communicate with people
 Being logical, rational and analytical
 Being able to motivate and inspire and lead people
 Being authoritative: able to give orders
 Being competent: knowing one’s job perfectly, as well as the
work of one’s subordinates
 Being persuasive: able to convince people to do things
 Having good ideas
 Being highly educated and knowing a lot about the world
 Being prepared to work 50 to 60 hours a week
 Wanting to make a lot of money
MANAGEMENT: AN ART OR A SCIENCE?
 Are there any qualities that you think should be
added to this list?

 Which of these qualities can be acquired? Which

must you be born with?
MANAGEMENT: AN ART OR A SCIENCE?
 Reading 1: This text summarizes some of Peter
Drucker’s views on management. As you read
about his description of the work of a manger,
decide whether the five different functions he
mentions require the four qualities you selected
in your discussion, or others you did not choose.
MANAGEMENT: AN ART OR A SCIENCE?
MANAGEMENT: AN ART OR A SCIENCE?
TYPES OF MANAGERS
 We have been using the term manager to mean
anyone who is responsible for subordinates and
other organizational resources.
 There are many different types of managers, with
diverse tasks and responsibilities.
 Managers can be classified in two ways:
 by their level in the organization – so-called first-line,
middle, and top managers
 and by the range of organizational activities for
which they are responsible – so-called functional and
general managers.
FIRST-LINE MANAGERS
 Lowest level in an organization at which
individuals are responsible for the work of others

 Direct operating employees only

 Examples
MIDDLE MANAGERS
 Direct the activities of lower-level managers and
sometimes also those of operating employees
TOP MANAGERS
 Small group of executives

 Responsible for the overall management of the

organization.
FUNCTIONAL MANAGERS
 Responsible for only one organizational activity
GENERAL MANAGERS
 Oversees a complex unit
THE MANAGEMENT PROCESS
 Reading 2