Introduction to Management
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Question 1: Define management?
Management is the process of coordinating work activities so that they are completed efficiently and effectively with and through other people. It also aims at achieving organisational goals through efficient and effective means. In simple terms management is a method of getting the most outputs from the least inputs.
Question 2: What relationships do you see between the functional approach to management and Mintzberg’s management roles?
Throughout the history management has been practised in every organisational work. Every great fort that has ever been built in the history of mankind, the Great wall of China, Egyptian Pyramids and many more; have been driven by management. As a study, it has been noted that there are basic functions that are repeated over and over again despite the type of organisation one is in.
These basic functions can be categorised into 4, which are namely; planning, organising, leading and controlling. These are described as the basic functions that are involved in management. However, Henry Mintzberg proposed what are called management roles that are taken in management in every organisation. In his descriptions, he pointed out that managers mainly perform ten primary roles that can be used to categorise them. These are being a figurehead, leader, liaison, monitor, disseminator, spokesperson, entrepreneur, disturbance handler, resource allocator and a negotiator. Minztberg management roles can be related with the functional approach to management as the writer is going to explain below.
The function of planning involves the process of defining goals, establishing strategies for achieving those goals, and developing plans to integrate and coordinate activities. This can be a general term used to curb some of Mintzberg ‘s management roles. Being a disseminator, manager highlights factual or value based external views into the organization and to...