Tutorial 2
1. What is an organization and why are managers important to an organization?
- Keyword = GPS ( goals, people, structure)
- An organization is a deliberately arrangement of people brought together to accomplish a specific purpose/goal.
- Keyword = TMF
- Managers are classified as top, middle or first line. Each of them is performing management at different levels.
- Managers are important because they are needed for:
Ø Decision making about organization direction (T)
Ø Establishing policies & philosophies (T)
Ø Managing activities of other managers (M)
Ø Translate goals set by top managers into specific details and make sure lower managers get things done (M)
Ø Directing non-managerial employees (F)
2. Not all effective organizations are also efficient. An organization (let say a power tool factory) that is doing the right things (achieved company goals) might suffer from inefficient issues at their production line.
If possible, I will choose to be effective rather than being efficient. Effectiveness refers to the ability of helping an organization to reach its goals; while efficiency refers to the ability to achieve a certain goal with same quality by using the least resources (example lesser cost or short time for producing a same quality car radio).
The reason for choosing effectiveness over efficiency is due to an organization’s profit planning. If Factory A’s production line does not do the right thing (not following customer specifications), the finished goods could be rejected and returned by customers. Factory A will have to bear all the costs in this issue.
We consider Factory B now where the production line is producing the exact part as required by customers; yet the time needed for assembly is longer than company A. In this case, the cost per part will increase (due to the lower efficiency) but the company is still profitable.
Factory B is definitely a better one as compared to factory A in the scenario described above.
Yet in real life, we shall look into effectiveness and efficiency in parallel.
3. Answer given.
4. Yes, business management is a profession because not everyone can simply perform a good management in an organization.
Tasks like setting goals of organizations, motivating employees. Monitoring activities and also assigning responsibilities would require a manager with a great profession in business management in order to make things done perfectly.
Every aspect must be considered and planned well.
We look into a scenario where a person without good business management skill/background is assigned to perform the management tasks. He/she might be good in motivating non-managerial employees, but not in every management functions of management. He/she might be able to catch up all the necessary tasks as time goes by; and at the time, he/she is so called having a good profession in business management.
5. Question changes to “Skills needed for manager?”
- Keyword = TCIP (As described by Robert Katz)
- Conceptual Skills
Ø Analyze and diagnose complex situations
- Interpersonal skills
Ø Communicate, motivate, mentor and delegate (代表)
- Technical skills
Ø Specialized knowledge
- Political skills
Ø Build a power base and establish connections
