“To manage is to forecast and plan, to organize, to command, to co-ordinate and to control.” Mc Ilwee.T and Roberts I, (1991): p.g117

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.

Henri Fayol (1961) 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. (Bounds G, Yorks L, Adams M, Ranney G,

However Fayol has been criticised by Mintzberg as it provides only vague managerial objectives. As an alternative Mintzberg proposes ten roles. Three interpersonal roles-figurehead (social activities), liaison (communicating internally and externally),and leadership. Three informational roles- monitor, disseminator (passing information to subordinates), spokesman (passing information externally) and four decisional roles-entrepreneur (risk taker), disturbance, handler, resource allocator and negotiator. The ten roles mentioned are not easily isolated in practice but form an integrated whole. (Betts.P, 1989)

Good communication is vital in organizations and lies at the heart of effective management.

They have a prime responsibility for seeking that others do work. At the authors par time job ‘Boots the Chemist’ the supervisor constructs a rota, which entails what each employee will be doing for the rest of the day at different times. For e.g. 9-10 chemist counter 10-11 cash and wrap 11-12 break etc.

To function efficiently they must delegate. Management is about getting work done through other people, this entails delegation. Delegation is one of the most powerful management skills. It is the process by which authority to make specific decisions are given to lower level management. Is involves subordinates making decisions. At ‘Boots the Chemist’ some subordinates are given the authority to do exchanges and refunds. Some are also given the authority to open the counter cache this is where all the notes in excess of the working float are placed. However at times the counter cache does get blocked and we can inform those subordinates who are authorised to open the counter cache. It is very useful as most of the time the supervisor is not on the shop floor and therefore can get the subordinates who are authorised to do the refunds of exchanges. This would not only maintain good customer service but would also allow the supervisor to be doing other things. It is important that the manager chooses the right subordinates to whom to delegate authority and responsibility and therefore should be able to allocate important aspects of their jobs to subordinates. The limitation with delegation is the delegator might be unwilling to delegate tasks to subordinates.

Likert (1961) identifies a four- fold model of management systems. Explotitive-very little teamwork or communication and responsibility centred at the top of the hierarchy. Benevolent- limited teamwork or communication, responsibility at management level but not lower down. Consultative- fair degree of teamwork and communication

Some topics in this essay:
Lewis Trevitt, Mc Gregory’s, Surridge Wall, Mc Gregors, Adams Ranney, Henri Fayol, IlweeT Roberts, , communication responsibility, tasks carried, teamwork communication responsibility, teamwork communication, ‘boots chemist’, counter cache, management style, Explotitive Benevolent, supervisor’s responsibility tasks, gregors theory, firms seeking, job ‘boots chemist’, related mc, passing information, responsibility tasks carried, related mc gregors,