Q1. Describe the major functions of management.

A1. The major functions of the management are planning, staffing, organizing, directing, and controlling. Planning requires setting organization’s objectives as well as strategies to achieve them. Staffing requires hiring the workforce with the desirable skills to carry out the required tasks in the organization. Organizing requires the structuring of resources and activities to accomplish organization’s objectives in an effective and efficient manner. Directing requires motivating and leading employees towards organization’s objectives and controlling requires the ongoing evaluation of activities to ensure that they are consistent with the organization’s objectives.

Q2. What are some of the skills needed by managers?

A2. Some of the skills needed by the managers are leadership skills, technical expertise, conceptual skills, analytical skills, and human relations skills.

Q3. What is management?

A3. A management is a process of an effective allocation of the limited resources of the organization in a dynamic environment to achieve the organization’s objectives.

Q4. How do top managers differ from first-line managers?

A4. Top managers have the overall responsibility for setting the objectives and goals for the organization as well as formulating strategies to achieve them. First-line managers supervise workers in their day-to-day tasks to ensure that their actions are consistent with the organization’s objectives.  

Q5. What is the systematic six-step approach that leads to more effective decision making?

A5. The systematic six-step approach that leads to more effective decision making is as follows: 1) The first step requires identifying and defining the problem that exists 2) The second step is to  develop potential options that may address the problem. 3) The third step calls for analysis of each option for its practicality and appropriateness to the given problem at hand. 4) The fourth step requires selecting the best action in the light of problem and other related facts. 5) The fifth step is implementing the solution chosen during the fourth step. 6) The sixth and last step is to monitor the implementation to evaluate whether the right solution has been selected and address any problems that may emerge during the implementation process.

Assignment 2: Human relation is the most important skill. Whether one is a top manager or a first-line manager, he/she depends upon the followers to achieve the organization’s objectives. Plans are only as good as their actual implementation. The job I am thinking about is first line manager and eventually aim to progress to the top management but in both positions, I will need effective human relation skills to motivate and lead my sub ordinates. Other skills such as technical and conceptual skills can be taught and honed through training but human relation skills take longer to develop and even then very few people are able to develop effective human relation skills. Subordinates who enjoy good working relationship with their leaders are more likely to be committed to the goals set by their leaders.