MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP

Management and Leadership

Management and Leadership

Introduction

Much more is expected from managers now than 10 years ago. Being an effective manager requires a deeper level of sophistication and a broader more versatile set of skills. In most industries the pace of change that organisations and their people must cope with is relentless. To be competitive, corporations have had to restructure, downsize, de-layer, and increase spans of control. Additional challenges include managing an increasing diverse work force the changing role of women in business, and the impact of technology on the nature of work pose human resources issues that simply did not exist to the same extent in the last decade.

Managers

Management is not homogeneous and is undertaken at all levels of the organisation, as it is an integrating activity. Managers have to manage in order to achieve the overall objectives and strategy of the firm. All firms are seeking effective managers, and the quality of management is a key element of business success. In this assignment, the responsibility of management is going to be addressed. (Friel 2004 Pp.67-68). Stogdill (1974 pp.23-29)introduced four managerial roles and these were planning, organising, commanding. Coordinating and controlling.

Organizing being responsible four jobs and tasks being carried out by individuals. Commanding- giving orders and instructions and expecting them to be carried out. Coordinating all activities are arranged and adjusted in time and situation to ensure smooth running. Controlling- involves directing, inspecting and regulating work. Planning determines in advance, what should be accomplished and how it should be accomplished(Bateman 2003 pp.112-119)

Dessler (2001 pp.45-49)identifies four main elements of management and these being planning, control, co-ordination and motivation. Today motivation is an important management activity. I.e. "getting the members of the teams to pull their weight effectively." (Dessler 2001 pp 49) Whether of not workers carry out tasks effectively will depend on the degree to which the manager motivates them. The role of management is primarily dependent on the management style adopted and the culture of the organisation as well as its aims and objectives. All firms are seeking good management, as it would effect the success of the business. The effectiveness of management can be measured against level of staff turnover and absenteeism.

Leadership

Leadership is having the ability to give guidance to those that will follow. It involves both sides of human experience. It includes actions and influences based on reason and logic as well those based on inspiration and passion. Leadership is a social process shared among all members of a group. Leadership development comes through experience. We all learn from our different experiences. Whether positive or negative, they are our tools for growth and development. Defining leadership as a process means that it is not a trait or characteristic that resides in the leader but a transactional event that occurs between the leader and his or her followers(Boaden 2006 pp.5-27. Leadership involves influence; it is concerned with how the leader affects followers. Boaden (2006 pp.5-27) believes that influence is the sine qua non of ...