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MBA-I Semester Paper Code: MBAC 1001
Management Concepts & Organisational Behaviour
Unit – I Nature of Management - Social Responsibili Ties of Business - Manager and Environment Levels in Management - Managerial Skills - Planning - Steps in Planning Process - Scope and Limitations - Short Range and Long Range Planning - Flexibility in Planning ¬Characteristics of a sound Plan - Management by Objectives (MBO) - Policies and Strategies - Scope and Formulation - Decision Making - Techniques and Processes.
Unit-II Organising - Organisation Structure and Design - Authority and Responsibility Relationships - Delegation of Authority and Decentralisation - Interdepartmental Coordination - Emerging Trends in Corporate Structure, Strategy and Culture - Impact of Technology on Organisational design - Mechanistic vs Adoptive Structures - Formal and Informal Organisation.
Unit – III Perception and Learning - Personality and Individual Differences
- Motivation and Job Performance - Values, Attitudes and Beliefs - Stress Management - Communication Types-Process - Barriers - Making Communication Effective.
Unit – IV Group Dynamics - Leadership - Styles - Approaches - Power and Politics - Organisational Structure - Organisational Climate and Culture - Organisational Change and Development.
Unit – V Comparative Management Styles and approaches - Japanese Management Practices Organisational Creativity and Innovation - Management of Innovation - Entrepreneurial Management - Benchmarking
- Best Management Practices across the world - Select cases of Domestic & International Corporations - Management of Diversity.
Introduction:
Take a close look at the society around you. You would find the existence of several organizations. To mention a few, the business organizations that produce goods or services, hospitals, religious and social institutions like charities, schools, colleges and universities. All these organizations exist to achieve pre-determined objectives. They affect our lives in many ways. Though there are vast differences in their functioning and approaches, they all strive to achieve certain objectives. It must also be noted that organizations cannot achieve the objectives effortlessly. They are achieved through systematic effort. Several activities have to be performed in a cohesive way. In the absence of systematic and cohesive performance of the activities to achieve the objectives, it is no wonder that the resources of organizations would be underutilized. As such it is the function of the management to facilitate the performance of activities such that the accomplishment of the objectives becomes possible.
Meaning of Management
Management is understood in different ways by different people. Economists regard it as a factor of production. Sociologists see it as a class or group of persons while practitioners of management treat it as a process. For our understanding, management may be viewed as what a manager does in a formal organization to achieve the objectives. In the words of Mary Parker Follet management is “the art of getting things done through people”. This definition throws light on the fact that managers achieve organizational goals by enabling others to perform rather than performing the tasks themselves. Management encompasses a wide variety of activities that no one single definition can capture all the facets of management. That is why, it is often said that there are as many definitions of management as there are authors in the field. However, the definition given by James A.F. Stoner covers all the important facets of management. According to him: “Management is the process of planning, organizing, leading and controlling the efforts of organization members and of using all other organizational resources to achieve stated organizational goals”.
The definition suggests: ӹ Management is a continuous process; ӹ Several interrelated activities have to be performed by managers irrespective of their levels to achieve the desired goals; ӹ Managers use the resources of the organization, both physical as well as human, to achieve the goals; ӹ Management aims at achieving the organisation’s goals by ensuring effective use of resources in the best interests of the society.
It is evident that the emphasis is on achieving the objectives by using material, machinery, money and the services of men. These inputs are drawn from the environment in which the organization exists. Whether an organization is engaged in business or non-business, the various inputs are judiciously used to produce the outputs. The process involving the conversion of inputs into outputs is common to all organizations and is shown in figure 1.
Figure 1.1: INPUT – OUTPUT MODEL
Depending on the nature of business or activity that a firm is engaged in, the output of the firm may be a physical product or service. Since a business organization is an economic entity, the justification for its existence lies in producing goods and services that satisfy the needs of the people. As could be seen in the figure, the organization draws several inputs from the environment, converts them into products or services and sends them back to the environment. Environment here means the larger system, i.e., the society in which the firm exists. Therefore, it goes without saying that how effectively the goods and services are produced is a matter of concern for any society, given the scarcity of resources. Effective management therefore plays a crucial role in this context.
INPUTS TRANSFORMATION OUTPUTS
PROCESS
EXTERNAL
ENVIRONMENT
as an academic discipline immensely contributing to the quality of human life, it is disheartening to know that the concept is still clouded by certain misconceptions. No doubt, management as an academic body of knowledge has come a long way in the last few decades. It has grown in stature and gained acceptance all over the world. Yet, it is a paradox that the term ‘Management’ continues to be the most misunderstood and misused. Certain questions like whether management is a science or art or profession are yet to be answered in a satisfactory way.
Management as Science
To gain a correct perspective as to what management is, let us examine the exact nature of management – whether it is a science or an art? An understanding, therefore, of the exact nature of science as well as art may help in understanding the discipline in a better. Any branch of knowledge to be considered a science, (like the ones we have – physics, chemistry, engineering, etc.) should fulfill the following conditions:
ӹ the existence of a systematic body of knowledge encompassing a wide array of principles; ӹ principles have to be evolved on the basis of constant enquiry and examination; ӹ principles must explain a phenomenon by establishing cause- effect relationship; ӹ the principles should be amenable for verification in order to ensure accuracy and universal applicability.
Looked at from this angle, management as a discipline fulfils the above criterion. Over the years, thanks to the contributions of many thinkers and practitioners, management has emerged as a systematic body of knowledge with its own principles and concepts. Principles help any practicing manager to achieve the desired goals. However, while applying the principles, one should not lose sight of the variables in the situation, since situations differ from one to another. Thus, the importance of personal judgment cannot be undermined in the application of principles. Further, management is a dynamic subject in that, it has drawn heavily from economics, psychology, sociology, engineering and mathematics, to mention a few. It is multi-disciplinary in nature, but a word of caution. Though management considering its subject matter and the practical
utility may be considered as ‘science’, for reason discussed below, it cannot be viewed as an ‘exact science’. In other words, it is a science, but an ‘inexact science’ because:
ӹ Firstly, management by definition involves getting the things done through people. Compared to the other inputs, ‘people’, who constitute the human resource of any organization are unique in respect of their aspirations, attitudes, perceptions and the like. Dissimilarities in the behavior pattern are so obvious that standard research may not be obtained in otherwise similar conditions. ӹ Secondly, the behavior of the human beings cannot be accurately predicted. Hence, readymade and standard solutions cannot be prescribed. ӹ Thirdly, management is more concerned with future which is complex and unpredictable. As the saying goes, ‘many a slip between the cup and the lip’, changes in the environment may affect the plans and render even the most well drawn plans ineffective. ӹ Lastly, since a business organization exists in an environment, it has a two way interaction with the environment. The organization influences the environment by its several decisions and in turn is influenced by the various elements of the environment. Important among these are technological, economic, socio- cultural and political factors. The whole thing is so complex that however effective the plans are, one is prone to be taken over by the unexpected changes in the environment.
Unlike the pure or exact sciences where the results are accurate in the case of management, the various factors discussed above may force even the excellent plans and the strategies go haywire. Too many complexities and uncertainties render management an ‘inexact science’
Management as an Art
Art refers to the ‘know-how’ – the ways of doing things to accomplish a desired result. The focus is on the skill with which the activities are performed. As the saying goes ‘practice makes a man perfect’, constant practice of the theoretical concepts (knowledge) contributes for the formation and sharpening of the skills. Therefore, what is required is the right blend of the theory and practice. In a way, the attributes of science
of Personnel Management] provides only guidelines and does not have any controlling power over the erring members. Managers also differ widely in respect of their concern for the ethics and values of the society in which they function. Many a time, in their obsession with profit, the societal interests are either neglected or compromised. However, as in the case of other professions, it is implied that managers are expected to set an example in doing good to the society. While making decisions, they should be conscious of the impact of their decisions on the society. The larger interests of the society must be given top priority rather than short-term temptations. After all, given the enormous resources they have at their command, the expectation that managers should address themselves to the problems of society is not unnatural.
It must, however, be remembered that unlike professions like engineering, medicine, law, accountancy, etc., the entry to management profession is not restricted to individuals with a special degree. In other words, one need not necessarily possess M.B.A or any other management degree or diploma to practice management. To quote Peter Drucker, “no greater damage could be done to an economy or to any society than to attempt to professionalize management by licensing managers or by limiting access to management to people with a special academic degree”.
In spite of the growing number of management institutes and the large number of people trained in the management, it is an irony that we still hear the debate - “whether managers are born or made”. The successes achieved by a few visionaries and great entrepreneurs are often sighted in support of the argument. It is true that many founding fathers of the industry in India and elsewhere too did not study management in the formal way. The native wisdom coupled with their vision in understanding the market and organizing the enterprises helped them earn name and fame. Huge industrial empires were built with sheer business acumen and commonsense. The Marwaris and Parsees in the north and Chettiars, and Naidus in the south India, the Jews in the west and the Samurai community in Japan, for instance, offer a classic example of such success stories. The successes achieved by the pioneers in these cases amply demonstrate that success in business requires much more than academic degrees.
At the same time, it may be realized that the achievements of the pioneers of the industrial development need not shadow the importance
of management as a profession. In arguing for and against, we must not ignore the context of the business. There has been a sea change in the environment of the business. The modern business has become more complex due to the uncertainties arising mainly from:
ӹ Ever increasing competition for the markets not only domestic but international as well; ӹ Rapid technological changes affecting all facets of human life; ӹ Increased sophistication and rapid obsolescence of technology; ӹ Expansion in the size of organizations and consequently the market, and ӹ The unexpected changes in the socio-cultural and political factors influencing the business.
All these variables which have a significant bearing on the functioning of a business point to the need for formal training and acquisition of skills by pursuing management education. More so, at a time when people are talking about “borderless management” in the context of globalization of business.
Professionalisation of Management in India
In the last few years, management as a profession has gained a firm footing in India. The awareness about the contributions of professional managers has been increasing. Consequently, there has been a manifold increase in the number of institutes offering MBA and related diploma courses resulting in a phenomenal increase in the number of students seeking admission into the management programs. Interestingly, the awareness of the society of the importance of professional education for the management of various sectors also is growing. Forexample, the specialized programs to cater to the specific needs of the sectors like Hotel and Tourism Industry, Transport, Health care, Foreign trade, etc. The following factors are, among others, seem to be responsible for the growing demand for professional managers:
ӹ The liberalization of the Indian economy opened up new vistas for the Indian organizations.As a consequence, competition has increased in all the sectors of the economy, forcing the firms to be efficient;
Planning
Planning in simple is looking ahead. It is preparing for the future. It involves outlining a future course of action. Planning makes the things to happen. Therefore, it is needless to say that in the absence of planning, things are left to chance. Planning is unique in that it precedes all the other managerial functions. It involves deciding the objectives and formulating the policies and procedures to achieve them. Effective planning provides answers to questions like – what to do? How to do? Who is to do? and when to do? Planning is a function performed by managers at all levels. Though every manager plans, the plans developed by different managers may vary in respect of scope and importance. For example, plans made by top managers have a wider scope with a focus on the organization as a whole and normally cover a longer period. On the other hand, plans developed by middle and lower level managers relate to the divisions or departments and usually cover a short period. Systematic planning helps in facing the uncertainties of future with less embarrassment. It helps in making things happen in the expected way.
Organizing
Organizations achieve objectives by using physical and human resources. When people work in groups, everyone in the group should know what he/she is expected to achieve and with what resources. In other words, organizing involves establishing authority - responsibility relationships among people working in groups and creating a structural framework. Thus, the manager’s task in organizing aims at creating a structure that facilitates the achievement of goals. Organizing therefore involves:
ӹ determination of activities required to achieve goals; ӹ grouping of these activities into departments; ӹ assignment of such groups of activities to a manager; ӹ delegation of authority to carry them out; and ӹ provision for coordination horizontally and vertically in the organization.
The managerial function of organizing involves designing the structure and establishing functional and operational relationships. The resulting structure varies with the task. A large organization with huge market needs a different structure compared to a small organization. Similarly, structure of an organization operating in a stable environment may be different from the one operating in a dynamic environment.
Staffing
Organising process results in the creation of a structure with various positions. Staffing involves manning the various positions of the organisation. It includes manpower planning, recruitment and selection of the right people, training and developing them, deciding financial compensation, appraising their performance periodically. There is a debate whether staffing function is to be performed by all managers in the organisation or handled by human resources department alone. However, some processes of staffing are performed by personnel department only. For example recruitment and selection, training, fixation of salary, etc. Performance appraisal, on the other hand, may be done by all managers.
Directing
Once plans are made and the organisation is created, the focus shifts to the achievement of objectives. This function is called by various names: directing, leading, motivating, actuating and so on. It basically involves directing or leading the activities of the people. The manager directs the activities of his subordinates by explaining what they have to do and by helping them perform it to the best of their ability. In leading the people, the manager performs the following three distinct tasks:
Communication : the process of information flow from one person to another and across the organization;
Leadership : the process by which a manager guides and Influences the work of his subordinates; and
- Identify 5 organizations / industry groups which moved from family based to professional management and describe the process drawing from all accessible sources – public domain [web pages, for instance], your interviews with personnel from such organizations,….]
Lesson – 2 : Levels In Management
Objectives
After reading this lesson, you should be able to:
ӹ Describe The Levels In Management; ӹ Understand The Skills Required At Each Level Of Management; And ӹ Appreciate The Roles Played By Managers.
Lesson outline
ӹ Levels Of Management ӹ Top Level Of Management ӹ Middle Management ӹ Front Line Management ӹ Managerial Skills ӹ Technical Skills ӹ Human Skills ӹ Conceptual Skills ӹ Managerial Roles ӹ Review Questions
In any organization all those who are responsible for the work of others are known as managers. Though their primary task remains the same – getting the things done by other people, wide variances exist with regard to the authority and responsibility of managers. These differences are largely due to the differences in the levels of management. Based on the scope of authority and responsibility, management job requires many skills and talents. As a matter of custom and convenience, we normally visualize a company’s management as a pyramid as shown in figure 2.1.
Top level Management
Top management constitutes the highest level in the management hierarchy. This is the policy making level in any organization. This level consists of a small group of executives. Board of Directors, Chairman, Managing Director and the top functional heads such as COO, CIO, and such other C-suite managers, and divisional managers comprise this level. Top managers are responsible for the overall management of the organization. They decide the enterprise objectives, policies and strategies to be pursued to achieve the objectives. They provide direction to the organization by guiding its interactions with the environment.
Managerial Skills
Management job is different from other jobs. It requires elements of stewardship and commitment to the purpose. It involves the obligation to make prudent use of human and material resources. It requires sound judgment to handle complex situations. Further, the nature of the job becomes increasingly complex at each higher level because of the increase in the scope of authority and responsibility. Therefore, each higher level requires increased knowledge, broader perspective and greater skills. For the purpose of analysis, skills required of a manager are classified under three heads – technical, human (employee relations skill) and conceptual skills as shown in Figure 2.2. The exhibit helps in understanding the levels of management responsibility, the principal skill requirements, and the extent to which each kind of skill is required at each level. Top Management Middle Management Supervisory (Lower Level) Management Technical Skills Human Conceptual Skills
Figure 2.2: Management Levels and Skills
Technical Skills
Technical skills refer to the ability to use the tools, equipment, procedures, techniques and knowledge of a specialized field. It is primarily concerned with the ways of doing the things. It implies proficiency in a specific field of activity. Technical skills are most important for the lower level managers, because by nature their job involves supervision of the workers. Effective supervision and coordination of the work of the subordinates, therefore, depends on the technical skill possessed by the lower level manager. Any supervisor without a sound knowledge of the job cannot make an effective supervisor. Such supervisors are not respected by the subordinates at the shop floor. The relative importance of the technical skills as compared to the other skills diminishes as one move up to higher levels of management.
Human Skills
Human skills are primarily concerned with “persons” in contrast to “things”. When a manager is highly skilled in employee relations, he is aware of their attitudes, assumptions, and beliefs and recognizes their limitations as well as their usefulness. He accepts as an important fact of life, the existence of viewpoints and feelings, different from his own. Thus, human skills refer to the ability of the manager to work effectively as a group member and to build cooperative effort in the team he leads. It is the ability to work with, understand and motivate people. He understands why people behave as they do and is able to make his own behaviour understandable to them. He can foresee their reactions to possible courses of action. His skill in working with others is natural and continuous. He does not apply it in random or in inconsistent fashion. It is a natural ingredient of his every action. The flair for understanding, empathizing and working with people are central to the human skills.
Conceptual Skills
Conceptual skills also called design and problem-solving skills involve the ability to:
ӹ see the organization and the various components of it as a whole; ӹ understand how its various parts and functions are related in a
