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There are four levels of management.
1)A top manager is an upper-level executive who guides and controls the overall activities of the organization. Top managers constitute a small group, which includes such positions as President, Vice-president, Managing Director or Chief Executive Officer (CEO). They have overall responsibility for the running of the business; they also determine the company’s strategy and its major policies.
2)A middle manager is a manager who implements the strategy and major policies handed down from the top level of the organization. Middle managers develop tactical plans and standard operating procedures, and they coordinate and supervise the activities of first-line managers. Titles at this level include the following positions: department head, division manager, customer service manager, plant manager and etc.
3)A first-line manager is a manager who operates and supervises the activities of operating employees. He spends time working with employees, answering their questions and solving day-to-day problems. Common titles for first-line managers include office manager and supervisor, foreman and project manager and etc.
4)Work force or operating employees are at the basic level of the management pyramid.
Ex. 2. Answer the questions about the text.
1.What is the definition of management?
2.What resources are managers concerned with?
3.What are the managerial functions? How do you understand them?
4.What manager’s skills are required for achieving organization’s objectives and goals?
5.How many levels are there in the management pyramid?
Ex. 3. Read and explain the meaning of the words in bold.
The amount of responsibility of any individual in a company depends on the position that he or she occupies in its hierarchy. Managers, for example, are responsible for leading the people directly under them, who are called subordinates. To do this successfully, they must use their authority, which is the right to take decisions and give orders. Managers often delegate authority. This means that employees at lower levels in the company hierarchy can use their initiative, that is make decisions without asking their manager.
Ex. 4. Now let’s speak about manager’s responsibilities in more details. Work in small groups. Discuss the statements. Which of them do you agree with? Explain your reasons.
A manager should:
1.know when your birthday is.
2.know where you are and what you’re doing all times during working hours.
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3.not criticize or praise.
4.not interfere in disagreements between members of staff.
5.not ask people to do things they are not prepared to do themselves.
6.be available at all times to give staff advice and support.
7.keep their distance from staff and not get involved in socializing outside work.
8.use polite language at all times.
9.work longer hours than their staff.
10.comment on the personal appearance of their staff.
Ex. 5. Work with vocabulary. Match these pairs of contrasting management styles.
1. |
autocratic |
a) |
collaborative |
2. |
centralizing |
b) |
controlling |
3. |
directive |
c) |
delegating |
4. |
empowering |
d) |
democratic |
5. |
hands on |
e) |
people-oriented |
6. |
task-oriented |
f) |
laissez-faire |
Ex. 6. Study the information about different management styles. Match the description with the name of the management style.
1.autocratic
2.bureaucratic
3.democratic
4.laissez-faire
5.employee-controlled
a)managers set objectives and employees are relatively free to do whatever it takes to accomplish those objectives;
b)involves making managerial decisions without consulting others, and implies power over others. Motivation comes from threats, punishments;
c)managers and employees working together to make decisions;
d)consists of having employees set objectives and management handling administrative matters;
e)is based on inflexible routine supported by rules, regulations and policies;
Ex. 7. Mothers and fathers often have different ways of managing their families. How would you describe the management styles of your parents? What style would you prefer with your own children? Use definitions and adjectives from the exercises above.
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Ex.8. The characteristics of management often vary according to national culture, which can determine how managers are trained, how they lead people and how they approach their job. Read the portraits of managers in five different countries and decide which country each one correspond to.
a)Germany
b)Poland
c)Sweden
d)The United Kingdom
e)The United States
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Managers from this country
consider professional and technical skills to be very important.
have a strong sense of authority.
respect the different positions in the hierarchy of their company.
clearly define how jobs should be done. are very loyal to their companies and expect their subordinates to obey them. are often older than in other countries.
2
Managers from this country receive the general education. delegate authority.
take a practical approach to management. have relatively formal relationships at work.
encourage their employees to work individually.
believe it is important to continue education and training at work.
3
Managers from this country consider social qualities to be as important as education.
encourage their employees to take an interest in their work.
pay close attention to the quality of working life.
do not use as much authority as in other countries.
appreciate low-level decision-making. are often women.
4
Managers from this country generally attend business schools. communicate easily and informally at work.
admire the qualities of a leader.
expect everyone to work hard. Individual performance is measured and initiative is rewarded.
have competitive and aggressive attitude to work.
often accept innovation and change.
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Managers from this country
have either gained their experience in state-owned enterprises or are competitive self-starters.
older managers hold technical degrees rather than business qualifications.
work very long hours and expect their subordinates to do so.
are extremely innovative, optimistic and determined.
are quick to invest in development of new products, market techniques and methods of production and distribution.
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Ex. 9. In groups, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each approach to management, and say which one you would find the most attractive. Do any of those profiles correspond to management practices in your country?
Ex.10. There is a list of some qualities a manager should or shouldn’t have.
Complete column 2 of the table with opposite meanings. Use the prefixes in-, ir-, un-, il- or dis-. Then complete column 3 with the noun forms.
1. Adjective |
2. Opposite adjective |
3. Noun form |
considerate |
Inconsiderate |
consideration |
creative |
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decisive |
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diplomatic |
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efficient |
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flexible |
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inspiring |
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interested |
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logical |
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organized |
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rational |
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responsible |
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Ex. 11. Work in small groups. Discuss and choose the five best qualities of a manager from the list above and rank them in order of importance. Then choose the five worst qualities and rank them (1 = the worst). Use the model: A manager should /shouldn’t be …
Ex. 12. Listen to the interview with Stuart Crainer, who has written many books on business and management. (Market Leader, recording 12.1)
A. Fill in the blanks to complete the statements of Stuart Crainer.
1.Is there such a person as an (1)____ ______, and if so what (2)____ _____ should they have?
2.First of all they’ve got to be able to (3) ____ ___ ____ successfully.
3.Secondly, they need to be able to (4)_____ ___ _____.
4.Thirdly, they have to be able to deal with (5) _________.
5.Uncertainty of not knowing what will (6) _______ _ ______.
6.The fourth aspect of management is being able to (7)____ __ _____.
7.Added to that are other ingredients such as (8) _________. Managers have to be able to change their styles to (9)____ _______.
8.They have to behave in (10)_____ ___. They have to change their styles to (11)____ ____.
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B. Answer the questions.
1.What four qualities for an ideal manager does he talk about?
2.What additional quality does he mention?
3.Is there such a person as an ideal manager in the real world?
Ex. 13. Is it of any importance to work for a male or female boss? Discuss these questions.
1.Which would you prefer to work for?
a)a male boss
b)a female boss
c)either – you don’t have a preference
2.Do you think your response to question 1 is a typical one?
Ex.14. A. Read the article and find as many characteristics as possible that are attributed to female and male managers. Fill in the table, when reading the article:
boss |
weak points |
strong points |
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male |
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female |
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Who would you rather work for? |
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How do you like your boss? Sympathetic, empowering and not too busy, probably. They will be aware of the pressures of your job, but delegate responsibility where appropriate. They will be interested in your career development. Oh, and, preferably, they will be male.
In survey for Royal Mail special delivery, a quarter of secretaries polled expressed a preference for a male boss. Only 7% said they would prefer a woman.
Business psychologist John Nicholson is surprised by the survey’s findings, asserting that ‘the qualities valued today in a successful boss are feminine, not masculine’. He is emphatic that women make better bosses. They are more efficient and trustworthy, have a better understanding of their workforce and are more generous with their praise. In short, they make the best managers, and if men are to keep up they will have to start learning from their female counterparts.
The survey of 1,000 male and female middle and senior managers from across the UK is an indictment of the ability of men to function as leaders in the modern workplace.
A majority of those questioned believed women had a more modern outlook on their profession and were more open minded and considerate. By the way of contrast, a similar number believe male managers are egocentric and more likely to steal credit for work done by others.