A Summary of Largely Accepted Concepts of Management

BOYETT, J. H. AND BOYETT, J. T. (1998) The Guru Guide: The Best Ideas of the Top Management Thinkers, New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Ivancevich, J. M., & Duening, T. M. (2006). Management: skills, application, practice, and development. Cincinnati, OH: Atomic Dog Publishing.

Samson, D. and Daft, R.L. (2012) Fundamentals of management. 4th edn. Australia: Cengage Learning Australia.

Eleanor Roosevelt once stated that “One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes…and the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility”. Roosevelt’s statement accurately reflects how others view the personal management philosophies adopted by leaders and management personnel. What is remembered is not what individuals say, but what they do. Ideas and philosophical outlooks on life and management can have significant impacts on the lives of others. Each decision a manager makes effects not only those employees in their area of responsibility, but also the network of suppliers and vendors that interact with their organization. Due to the potentially large impact management personnel can have not only on their own organization, but also interconnected companies, it is key that all management personnel and those in leadership positions, take the time to reflect and develop a set of management philosophies that inform their outlook on the management process and their decision making process.

Management has experienced remarkable shifts in the way that organizations conduct business particularly in the last century, due to the evolving workplace as well as tremendous changes in the roles of leaders in organizations. Early managers often relied on authoritative tactics to get the job done, which we have learned from history does not work very well for many modern organizations. In this paper, I will be analyzing the management approach my organization takes and whether this is the best approach to meet organizational goals and whether or not my organization may benefit from adopting a different approach or combining multiple approaches.

What may seem as a simple read turns out to be a book packed with a powerful but simple plan for effective and practical management. The book covers the quest of a young man seeking to find the perfect effective manager and is written in a story form of a journey of this young man. After many years of searching, he runs into a gentleman who teaches him about self-management and team management. The book is based on three basic principles which I have found myself already trying to figure out how to incorporate them into my leadership and management style.

It is my aim within this essay to introduce, define, and theoretically explain the management principle that is organising. Paramount to explaining organising it is important to understand the characteristics that are often used to describe management such as: goal orientation, decision-maker, activity integration, and connective processes. Each characteristic represents an important managerial concept; take for example goal orientation, which is the primary task of utilising resources, knowledge, and time to achieve expected results. Synonymous to achieving results management requires a decision-maker, in addition to activity integration. A decision-maker will oversee various departments, like marketing, production, finance, and human resources (HR), whilst activity integration will connect these departments to work cohesively together. This integration completes connective processes resembling five steps: planning, organising, staffing, directing and controlling (Chaganti and Sambharya, 1987). From an abstract perspective the management process will always start with planning and end with controlling, however to cohesively develop management, organising becomes a fundamental tool (Hawes and Thanopoulos, 1989).

Different companies follow different approaches of their management and leadership. It depends on different variables like different structures and types of organizations etc. This different approach of management and leadership allows us to know where improvements are needed and what particular style might be the most beneficial for the company. This report is about the topic stated above using the two renowned companies – our John Lewis and H&M.

Huhn, (2005) wrote an article titled International Journal of Management Concepts and…. He elaborates on Management issues that are fundamental to any organization. How do we plan to get things done, organize the company to be efficient and effective, lead and motivate employees, and put in place controls to make sure our plans are followed and our goals are met? And it will also explain what Good Management is all about.

Develop a list of about five to eight key principles that management should follow to achieve what the author calls supply chain nirvana. In essence, serve as a supply chain consultant to top management of a firm which has definitely NOT achieved supply chain nirvana. Briefly explain the logic underlying each principle and, if relevant for a given principle, explain why many firms tend to violate that principle or fail to implement it successfully. Perhaps you are familiar with a particular firm. If so then select those five to eight principles that you, as a consultant would recommend the firm focus most intensely on, why, and what they should do initially.

It provides a complete course in management in a thin book spanning less than 200 pages. This book is a concise source of concrete ideas that can be immediately put into practice. For those joining management from the technical world, this book is especially helpful.

The main focus behind the development of management theory is the quest for good ways to make use of managerial means. Management theory evolves constantly with the continuous stream of new ideas that come from the attempts to transform theory into practice, and vice versa (Aguinaldo & Powell, 2002). Progression in management theory normal happen as key personnel discover great methods to accomplish the most important management responsibilities: planning, organiz-ing, leading, and controlling human and other managerial means. This paper will show how man-agement theory having to do with suitable management processes has emerge in modern times, and view the main aspects that have led to its prosperity.

The definition of ‘management’ is controversial and subject to much debate. There have been many contradictory views on what the term ‘management’ means and accordingly how one should correctly manage an organisation. These theories have been put forward by several highly regarded management scholars over time. By taking into account past knowledge and contemporary views on management, we are able to ‘’explore how thinking has changed through time’’. (Brooks, 2006). Moreover, businesses have, and can continue to be able to adapt these theories and put them into practice. Successfully applying correct management practices is especially vital in a global business environment which is becoming very competitive. ‘’Most management theories, even those that do not resonate comfortably with the prevailing mood, have attractive and valid elements to them.’’ (Robinson, 2005). For example, some of these theories can be seen flourishing in fast food chains like McDonalds.

1. Developing employee skills is a challenge in almost any environment. What type of skills needs to be mostly developed for EMAL trainees?

In today’s competitive landscape, organizations must utilize every resource to its fullest in order to achieve profitability. Peter F. Drucker, who is known as “the founding father of the discipline of management”, informs us that employees are assets, which should be treated as a company’s most valuable resource. The key players involved in utilizing this valuable resource are the managers of a company. Managers have a vital role in a company and the effort they put forth into their tasks and responsibilities will directly affect the success of a company. In Drucker’s book Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices (Revised Edition), he explains the role of a company’s management team and the secrets to becoming a great manager.