Management

Entrusted with a leadership role, a manager is responsible for overseeing a department or group of
employees within a specific organisation or company.

Working as a manager is an accomplishment because it reveals a professional’s ability to successfully

lead, oversee multiple business operations, manage stress, and effectively communicate with co-
workers.

Across every sector, managers contribute to businesses in significant ways, which are reflected in
company profits, organisation, and overall workplace morale.

Functions of Management

1. Planning

Planning is future-oriented and determines an organization’s direction to achieve particular goals.

The manager will have to decide what steps to take and develop into a plan that the manager will
follow to be successful.

2. Organizing

After a plan has been established, managers need to structure their departments into a functioning
unit to achieve the company’s objectives.

Organizing involves the determination of activities that need to be done in order to reach the
company goals, assigning these activities to the proper personnel, and delegating the necessary
authority to carry out these activities in an efficient manner.

“To organize a business is to provide it with everything useful to achieve set goals i.e., raw material,
tools, capital and personnel’s”.

3. Motivating

It is a manager's job to motivate employees to do their jobs well. The process involves encourage
employees to be productive and effective, to give their best effort to achieve their plans and the
organisation plans.

4. Directing

The directing function is concerned with leadership, communication, motivation, and supervision
(giving guidance) so that the employees perform their activities in the most efficient manner
possible, in order to achieve the desired goals.

5. Controlling

The function of control consists of those activities that are undertaken to ensure that the events do
not deviate from the pre-arranged plans. The activities consist of establishing standards for work
performance, measuring performance and comparing it to these set standards and taking corrective
actions when needed, to correct any deviations.

6.Co-ordinating

An effective manager will ensure that all their personnel and departments are working together to
achieve the overall aim of the organisation. Scheduled meetings throughout the operations of the
organisation assist in keeping everyone on track.

7.Delegating

This refers to giving a subordinate the authority to oversee a task assigned to them by the manager.
This can relieve managers of some elements of their roles, however, the final responsibility remains
with the manager.

Management Responsibilities

Responsibilities to the owners and shareholders

Managers are responsible to the owners and shareholders to ensure that the goods and services the
business provide are good quality, produced economically on time and achieving profit to provide
investors with a return.

Responsibilities to the employees

Managers are responsible for ensuring their team are provided with a safe and proper working
conditions. Management should ensure they are given respect and encouragement and are
receiving fair payment and recognition for their work.

Responsibilities to the society / community

Management has the responsibility to ensure their operations does not negatively affect the
environment. Organizations can achieve sustainability by paying careful attention to their impact on
society and the environment. Behaving in a transparent, ethical manner ensures an approach that
helps protect the long-term success of society and the environment.

Management also has the responsibility to society to try to give back some of the profits to the
community. Charities, donations, building parks and other community developments.
Responsibilities to the Customers

An organisation only exists because of the desire for its goods and services by its customers.
Management has the responsibility to ensure that the goods and services offered to the public are
made from safe and high-quality raw materials, at a fair and economic price.

Responsibilities to the government

The management of a company has the responsibility to the government to ensure the business is
adhering to legislation(laws) and behaving ethically in it practices. The management must also
ensure they are paying appropriate taxes to the government.

Conflict within an Organisation

Conflict resolution is a way for two or more parties in the workplace to find a peaceful solution to a
disagreement. When a dispute arises, often the best course of action is negotiation to resolve the
disagreement.

Source of conflict

Underperformance

Poor communication
Unfair Treatment

Limited Tools /Resources

Working Conditions

Trade Union

an organized association of workers in a trade, group of trades, or profession, formed to protect and
further their rights and interests.

Work To Rule

follow official working rules and hours exactly in order to reduce output and efficiency, especially as
a form of industrial action.

Go -Slow

a form of industrial action in which work or progress is deliberately delayed or slowed down.

Striking

Refusal to work, create goods or services, usually accompanied be PICKETING (a public activity to
gather attention.
Strategies for resolution of conflict

Mediation is a procedure in which the parties discuss their disputes with the assistance of a trained
impartial third person(s) who assists them in reaching a settlement

Arbitration is a procedure in which a dispute is submitted, by agreement of the parties, to one or

more arbitrators who make a binding decision on the dispute.

Teamwork is generally understood as the willingness of a group of people to work together to

achieve a common aim/ goal in an organisation.

Advantages

A common sense of purpose and belonging by the employees

Combination of many talented workers, which increase efficiency in the department

Disadvantages

Some team members are lazy and leave all the work to their colleagues

Group decisions take longer.