The Role of Management | Business Studies for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Roles, Responsibilities and Organisational Relationships

• The structure of a company plays a crucial role in defining the roles, responsibilities, and relationships within an organization. Those occupying higher positions in the hierarchy typically wield more authority.
  • Individuals in middle management positions are tasked with fostering relationships with senior managers, fellow middle managers, and their subordinates.
  • These hierarchical structures establish the formal channels through which communication predominantly flows within a company.

Possible Business Roles

Numerous larger companies are structured into functional divisions like Finance and Marketing, each overseen by directors who bear ultimate responsibility for the department's operations.

Managers

• Managers play a crucial role in ensuring daily business operations run smoothly.
• There are various types of managers, including directors, line managers, and supervisors.

Roles and Responsibilities of Managers in an Organisation

Role and Functions of Management

• The roles of managers are consistent across different types of organizations.
• In educational institutions:
  • Headteachers: They are responsible for organizing the school's overall curriculum and staffing.
  • Heads of Department: These individuals manage teaching staff and oversee subject course planning.
  • Pastoral Managers: Their focus lies on managing pupil behavior and implementing reward systems.
  • Site Managers: These professionals oversee the safety and maintenance of school buildings and equipment.

Manager Roles

Planning

• Setting Targets or Aims: Managers establish goals for the organization or department to provide direction and purpose.
• Planning and Budgeting: They also plan and allocate resources necessary to achieve targets, including personnel and financial resources.

Organising

• After setting objectives, effective management involves arranging resources efficiently.
• This process includes assigning tasks, delegating responsibilities, and implementing changes to boost productivity.
• Managers play a key role in organizing resources to achieve desired outcomes.

Commanding

• Managers are responsible for guiding and supervising employees to ensure tasks are completed successfully.
• They must oversee that deadlines are met, targets are achieved, and provide necessary feedback to enhance performance.

Controlling

• Evaluate the performance of both employees and teams regularly.
• Investigate the reasons behind missed targets and make necessary changes.
• Manage budgets effectively and provide reports to senior leaders.
• Ensure smooth coordination between different departments to accomplish the organization's goals.

Delegation

• Delegation entails managers assigning specific tasks to subordinates, typically involving the transfer of authority.
  • For instance, in a large corporation, the Human Resources Director delegates recruitment and training responsibilities to the Recruitment and Training Manager.
  • Certain managers hesitate to delegate tasks due to the loss of decision-making control.
• Managers may require assistance in finding the right balance between trust and control to effectively delegate tasks.
  • Autocratic leaders might resist delegating authority to others.
  • Some managers may feel uneasy about highly skilled subordinates who are seeking advancement opportunities.

Advantages of Delegation