Managing in a Global Environment

Managers in Organizations Managers are people in charge of organizations and their resources. - They assume responsibility for the administration of an organization. - They work with and oversee employees to meet organizational goals. - They try to use the available resources for maximum gain.

Think-Pair-Share Activity Think of your own manager at work or a manager-like figure in your life. Come up with a list of characteristics this manager has to have in order to be successful. Share your ideas with a partner. We will then discuss these ideas as a class.

Managerial Characteristics 1) leadership - ability to get others to follow 2) communicate effectively - strong writing, reading, listening, speaking, and presenting skills 3) plan and organize - use resources to achieve goals 4) problem solver - gather, analyze, and acquire information to handle problems

Managerial Characteristics 5) decision maker - take reasoned positions based on relevant information and to live with the consequences of the decisions 6) determine when to be in charge and when to delegate to others 7) objective 8) adapt to change

Three Styles of Managers Autocratic Management Style - these types of managers maximize their personal power or authority to control others. - These are managers who centralize power to tell employees what to do. - They are authoritarian and rule with a heavy hand. The autocrat takes full authority and assumes full responsibility. - If an autocratic manager uses power negatively, then the employees feel uninformed, insecure, and afraid. - If an autocratic manager uses power positively, then rewards are distributed to those who comply.

Three Styles of Managers 2) Participative Management Style - these managers balance their personal power or authority to control others against the power people assume for themselves. - These managers decentralize power and share it with employees. The manager and employees work together to achieve goals. - Participative managers keep employees informed and encourage them to share ideas and suggestions. - The participative manger uses group forces rather than power or authority to keep the unit operating effectively. - For most managerial situations, the participative model is recommended.

Three Styles of Managers 3) Free-Rein Management Style - these managers minimize their personal power or authority to control others; they avoid the use of power. - They let employees establish their own goals and monitor their own progress. - Employees learn on their own and supply their own motivation. - Managers exist primarily as contact persons for outsiders. - This situation only works if employees are disciplined and self-motivated to achieve.

Manager Activity Read the following scenarios and recommend which management style should be adopted. In each case states reasons for your choice and discuss the potential impact on the workforce.