Suggestion by CR 2
Suggestion by CR 2
Efficiency
● Definition: Efficiency is the degree to which an organization uses its resources wisely and cost-
effectively.
● Focus: It's about doing things right and minimizing waste.
● Examples:
○ A factory that produces a high volume of products with minimal defects.
○ A hospital that reduces costs without compromising patient care.
○ A delivery company that optimizes routes to use less fuel.
Management processes.
Management processes involve a series of actions or functions that managers perform to achieve
organizational goals. These processes can be broadly categorized into four main functions:
1. Planning: This involves setting organizational goals, developing strategies to achieve those
goals, and outlining the necessary tasks and resources.
2. Organizing: This involves creating a structure for the organization by determining the tasks to be
done, who will do them, and how those tasks will be grouped and coordinated.
3. Leading: This involves motivating and directing employees, communicating effectively, and
resolving conflicts.
4. Controlling: This involves monitoring organizational progress toward goals and making any
necessary adjustments.
These four functions are highly interrelated and dynamic, with managers often engaging in multiple
functions simultaneously. The specific tasks and responsibilities of managers can vary depending on their
level within the organization, the area they manage, and the type of organization.
● Technical skills: The skills necessary to accomplish or understand the specific kind of work
being done in an organization.
● Interpersonal skills: The ability to communicate, understand, and motivate both individuals and
groups.
● Conceptual skills: The manager's ability to think abstractly.
● Diagnostic skills: The manager's ability to visualize the most appropriate response to a situation.
● Communication skills: The ability to effectively convey ideas and information to others and to
effectively receive ideas and information from others.
● Decision-making skills: The manager's ability to correctly recognize and define problems and
opportunities and then select an appropriate course of action to solve problems and capitalize on
opportunities.
● Time-management skills: The manager's ability to prioritize work, to work efficiently, and to
delegate appropriately.
Levels of Management
Organizations typically have a hierarchical structure with multiple levels of management. Each level
plays a distinct role in achieving the organization's objectives. The primary levels are:
● Top Managers: Senior management, comprising executives, sets goals, defines policies, and makes
critical organization-wide decisions. Examples include CEOs, presidents, and vice presidents.
● Middle Managers: Middle managers execute top management strategies and plans, linking strategic
decisions to daily operations.
Areas of Management
Within each management level, specialized areas reflect different activities and expertise needed to run an
organization.
● Financial Managers: Oversee the financial resources of the organization, including budgeting,
financial planning, investment analysis, and financial reporting.
● Operations Managers: Manage the systems and processes involved in producing goods or
delivering services, ensuring efficiency, quality, and timely delivery.
● Human Resource Managers: Responsible for attracting, developing, and retaining talent within the
organization. They handle recruitment, selection, training, performance management, and employee
relations.
● Administrative Managers: Generalists who oversee various administrative functions and may not be
associated with a specific functional area.
● Division of work: Work specialization is the best way to use the organization's human resources.
● Authority: Managers must be able to give orders, and authority gives them that right.
● Discipline: Employees must obey and respect the organization's rules.
● Unity of command: Every employee should receive orders from only one superior.
● Unity of direction: Each group of organizational activities that have the same objective should be
directed by one manager using one plan.
● Subordination of individual interests to the general interest: The interests of one employee
should not take precedence over the interests of the organization as a whole.
● Remuneration: Workers must be paid a fair wage for their services.
● Centralization: The degree to which subordinates are involved in decision-making.
● Scalar chain: The line of authority from top management to the lowest ranks.
● Order: A place for every employee and every employee in their place.
● Equity: Managers should be kind and fair to their subordinates.
● Stability of tenure of personnel: High employee turnover is inefficient.
● Initiative: Employees should be allowed to originate and carry out plans.
● Esprit de corps: Promoting team spirit will build harmony and unity within the organization.
Lecture-2 (Chapter 6 Planning and Decision Making)
Planning & environmental context
Planning's environmental context involves internal (mission, culture, resources) and external (industry,
competitors, customers, economy, politics) factors that affect the process. This context significantly
impacts planning, requiring adaptability in fast-changing industries and careful priority-setting with
limited resources.
Here are some of how the environmental context can affect the planning process:
● The internal environment: The organization's mission, culture, and resources can all affect the
planning process. For example, if an organization has a strong culture of innovation, it is more
likely to develop plans that are creative and forward-thinking.
● The external environment: The organization's industry, competitors, customers, and the overall
economic and political climate can all affect the planning process. For example, if an organization
is operating in a highly competitive industry, it will need to develop plans that are aggressive and
focused on achieving market share.
● Global environment: The global environment can also affect the planning process. For example,
if an organization is operating in a global market, it will need to develop plans that are sensitive
to the cultural differences of its customers and employees.
For effective plans, managers must grasp the environmental context. They should identify key factors
influencing planning and develop responsive plans. The environmental context is crucial for strategic,
tactical, and operational planning. By considering it, managers can enhance plan success.
Kinds of goals
There are different types of goals managers can set. In general, goals can be differentiated by level, area,
and time.
Level
Goals are set for and by different levels within an organization. The four basic levels of goals are the
mission and strategic, tactical, and operational goals.
● Mission is a statement of the organization’s fundamental, unique purpose that sets a business
apart from other firms.
● Strategic goals are set by and for top management. They focus on broad, general issues.
● Tactical goals are set by and for middle managers. Their focus is on how to operationalize
actions necessary to achieve the strategic goals.
● Operational goals are set by and for lower-level managers. Their concern is with short-term
issues related to tactical goals.
Area
Organizations also set goals for different areas. Common areas that are addressed by goals include
operations, marketing, finance, human resources, and product innovation.
Time Frame
Organizations also set goals across different time frames. Some goals have an explicit timeframe, others
have an open-ended time horizon. In general, we can think of goals as having long-term, intermediate-
term, and short-term time frames.
Contingency planning.
Contingency planning is a critical aspect of the planning process that involves developing alternative
courses of action to be taken if an intended plan is unexpectedly disrupted or rendered inappropriate. It is
an essential tool for organizations operating in dynamic and complex environments, where unexpected
events can significantly affect the success of a plan.
1. Develop the basic plan: Managers must first develop the primary plan of action, considering
potential disruptions and challenges.
2. Implement the plan and identify contingency events: Once the primary plan is implemented,
managers need to formally identify potential contingency events that could disrupt it.
3. Specify indicators and develop contingency plans: Managers must specify indicators or signs
that suggest a contingency event is about to occur and develop contingency plans for each
possible event.
4. Monitor indicators and implement contingency plans: Managers need to continuously monitor
the indicators and implement the appropriate contingency plan if necessary.
Contingency planning helps organizations stay adaptable and responsive to unexpected events,
minimizing disruptions and ensuring business continuity.
Crisis management
is another critical aspect of planning, which involves developing a set of procedures to be used in the
event of a disaster or other unexpected calamity. Crisis management plans may include procedures for
communication, evacuation, and recovery, and are designed to help organizations respond effectively to
unexpected events, minimizing damage and ensuring business continuity.
Planning processes.
Planning is the process of setting goals and objectives and determining how to best achieve them. It
involves making decisions about future courses of action, allocating resources, and establishing priorities.
The planning process helps organizations to:
1. Set goals and objectives: Planning provides a framework for setting specific, measurable,
achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals and objectives.
2. Allocate resources: Planning helps organizations determine how to best allocate their resources,
including financial, human, and material resources, to achieve their goals.
3. Establish priorities: Planning helps organizations set priorities and make decisions about which
activities are most important to achieving their goals.
4. Coordinate activities: Planning helps to coordinate activities across different departments and
functions within an organization, ensuring that everyone is working towards the same goals.
5. Monitor progress: Planning provides a mechanism for monitoring progress towards goals and
making adjustments as needed.
Effective planning is essential for organizational success. It helps organizations to be proactive, anticipate
future challenges and opportunities, and make informed decisions about how to achieve their goals.
There are several different types of planning, including strategic planning, tactical planning, and
operational planning.
1. Strategic planning is the process of setting long-term goals and objectives and determining how
to best achieve them. It involves making decisions about the overall direction of the organization
and how to best allocate resources to achieve its goals.
2. Tactical planning is the process of developing specific plans to implement the strategic goals
and objectives. It involves making decisions about how to best allocate resources within specific
departments or functions.
3. Operational planning is the process of developing specific plans to implement the tactical plans.
It involves making decisions about how to best allocate resources within specific work units or
teams.
Effective planning requires a deep understanding of the organization's internal and external environments,
and the ability to make informed decisions about future courses of action. It also requires the ability to
adapt to changing circumstances and adjust plans as needed.
Barrier of goal setting (Overcome how)
Goal setting is a powerful tool for motivating and coordinating employees. However, several factors can
hinder successful goal setting. Understanding these barriers is the first step in overcoming them.
1. Inappropriate Goals: Goals that are too difficult or too easy can be demotivating. Goals that are
not aligned with the organization's overall strategy can lead to confusion and wasted effort.
2. Improper Reward System: Employees may be reluctant to set ambitious goals if they fear they
will not be rewarded for their efforts. Conversely, employees may be tempted to set easy goals if
they know they will be rewarded even if they do not achieve them.
3. Dynamic and Complex Environment: In a rapidly changing environment, it can be difficult to
set long-term goals that will remain relevant. This is especially true in industries that are subject
to rapid technological change or regulatory upheaval.
4. Reluctance to Establish Goals: Some managers may resist setting goals because they fear
failure or lack confidence in their ability to achieve them.
5. Resistance to Change: Goals often require change, and people are often resistant to change. This
can be due to various factors, such as fear of the unknown, loss of control, or concern about the
impact of change on their jobs.
6. Constraints: Constraints such as a lack of resources, government regulations, or strong
competition can make it difficult to achieve goals.
1. Understand the purposes of goals and planning: Managers need to have a clear understanding
of why they are setting goals and how goals fit into the overall planning process. This will help
them to set appropriate goals and to develop plans that are aligned with the organization's
strategy.
2. Communication and participation: Goals and plans should be communicated clearly to all
employees, and employees should be involved in the goal-setting process whenever possible.
This will help ensure that everyone understands the goals and is committed to achieving them.
3. Consistency, revision, and updating: Goals and plans should be consistent with one another and
should be revised and updated regularly to reflect changes in the organization's environment.
4. Effective reward system: The reward system should be designed to motivate employees to set
and achieve challenging goals. This can be done by providing rewards that are meaningful to
employees and by ensuring that the reward system is fair and equitable.
Job specialization is the process of breaking down a large task into smaller, more manageable tasks. A
different individual or group of individuals performs each task. This approach to job design is often used
in manufacturing settings, where tasks are broken down into small, repetitive steps.
● Product or service departmentalization: This involves grouping jobs based on the products or
services the organization produces.
● Geographical departmentalization: This involves grouping jobs based on geographic location, such
as regions or countries.
● Process departmentalization: This involves grouping jobs based on product or customer flow.
● Customer departmentalization: This involves grouping jobs based on the specific customer or
customer groups the organization serves.
The choice of departmentalization method depends on the specific needs and goals of the organization.
Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, and the most appropriate method may vary depending
on the industry, size, and complexity of the organization.
● Competence of Supervisor and Subordinates: More competent individuals can handle wider
spans.
● Physical Dispersion of Subordinates: Widely dispersed teams require narrower spans.
● Extent of Nonsupervisory Work: Managers with more non-supervisory duties need narrower
spans.
● Degree of Required Interaction: More interaction necessitates narrower spans.
● Extent of Standardized Procedures: More standardized procedures allow for wider spans.
● Similarity of Tasks: Similar tasks allow for wider spans.
● Frequency of New Problems: Frequent new problems require narrower spans.
● Preferences of Supervisors and Subordinates: Personal preferences can influence the span.
Many modern organizations are moving towards flatter structures with wider spans of management. This
shift is driven by the desire for increased flexibility, faster decision-making, and greater employee
empowerment. However, it's crucial to strike a balance, as excessively wide spans can lead to
overburdened managers and a lack of necessary supervision.
● Recognize how the span of management impacts your work, communication, and decision-
making processes.
● Strive for a span that allows for effective supervision, clear communication, and an optimal level
of employee autonomy.
1. Assign Responsibility: The first step is assigning responsibility to the subordinate. This means
giving them a job or task.
2. Grant Authority: The second step is to grant the subordinate the authority to complete the task.
This means giving them the power to make decisions and take actions necessary to complete the
task.
3. Create Accountability: The third step is to create accountability. This means making the
subordinate responsible for the outcome of the task. The subordinates must understand that they
will be held accountable for their work.
Delegation is a powerful tool that can help managers get more work done, develop their subordinates, and
improve the overall efficiency of the organization. However, it is important to remember that delegation
is not a one-time event. It is an ongoing process that requires clear communication and mutual trust
between the manager and the subordinate.
● Definition: The concentration of decision-making authority and power at the top levels of an
organization.
● Characteristics:
○ Top managers make most decisions with little input from lower levels.
○ Information flows primarily from the top down.
○ Employees have limited autonomy and decision-making power.
Decentralization
Employee Can be lower due to lack of autonomy Can be higher due to empowerment
morale
Cost Can be less expensive due to less need Can be more expensive due to training
for management and development
Factors to Consider
Many modern organizations are moving towards decentralization to increase flexibility, empower
employees, and respond more quickly to environmental changes. However, it's crucial to strike a balance,
as excessive decentralization can lead to a lack of control and coordination.
Administrative intensity.
Administrative intensity is the ratio of staff (or administrative) positions to line positions in an
organization. Staff positions support line positions and are not directly involved in producing or
delivering goods or services. Line positions are directly involved in the production and delivery of goods
or services. Organizations try to maintain a low administrative intensity because staff positions do not
directly contribute to the bottom line.
Lecture-4 (Leading)
Diff. Between (leader & manager
While the terms "leader" and "manager" are often used interchangeably, there are distinct differences
between the two. Here's a breakdown:
Focus Inspires and motivates Plans, organizes, and Vision vs. Execution
people toward a controls resources to
common vision. achieve specific goals.
Power May or may not have Has formal authority Change vs. Stability
formal authority. within the
Influence comes from organizational
vision, relationships, hierarchy.
and trust.
While the trait approach provides valuable insights into the characteristics often associated with effective
leadership, it has certain limitations:
● No Universal Trait List: There is no single, definitive list of traits that guarantee leadership
success across all situations.
● Situational Factors: The effectiveness of specific traits can vary depending on the context, such
as the type of organization, the nature of the task, and the characteristics of the followers.
● Subjectivity: The identification and measurement of traits can be subjective, leading to potential
biases and inconsistencies.
● Development and Learning: The trait approach may overlook the fact that leadership skills can
be developed and improved through learning and experience.
Conclusion
The leadership trait approach provides a valuable framework for understanding the role of personality
characteristics in leadership effectiveness. While it's essential to acknowledge its limitations, the trait
approach remains relevant to contemporary management by informing selection processes, leadership
development programs, and self-awareness among managers. By combining the insights of the trait
approach with other leadership theories, organizations can develop a more comprehensive understanding
of what contributes to effective leadership in diverse contexts.
Leader Behaviors
1. Directive: The leader lets subordinates know what is expected of them, gives them specific
guidance and direction, and schedules and coordinates their work.
2. Supportive: The leader is friendly and approachable, shows concern for subordinates' welfare,
and treats them as equals.
3. Participative: The leader consults with subordinates, solicits their suggestions, and allows them
to participate in decision making.
4. Achievement-oriented: The leader sets challenging goals, expects subordinates to perform at
high levels, encourages them, and shows confidence in their abilities.
Situational Factors
Path-goal theory suggests that the appropriate leader style depends on two situational factors:
The path-goal framework shows how different leader behaviors affect subordinates' motivation to
perform. Personal and environmental characteristics are seen as defining which behaviors lead to which
outcomes.
Path-goal theory is a dynamic and incomplete model. However, research suggests that it is a reasonably
good description of the leadership process. It has helped managers understand the importance of
situational factors in leadership and develop leadership styles that are appropriate for different situations.
Here are some examples of how path-goal theory can be used in practice:
● A manager of a sales team may use a directive leadership style when working with new
salespeople who are unfamiliar with the company's products and sales process.
● A manager of a research and development team may use a participative leadership style when
working on a complex project that requires creativity and innovation.
● A manager of a customer service team may use a supportive leadership style when working with
employees who are dealing with difficult customers.
By understanding the principles of path-goal theory, managers can develop leadership styles that are more
likely to motivate employees and lead to high performance.
The leader-member exchange (LMX) theory, also known as the vertical dyad linkage (VDL) theory,
focuses on the two-way relationship between supervisors and subordinates. It suggests that leaders
develop different types of relationships with different subordinates, which can lead to varying levels of
performance and satisfaction among team members.
The LMX theory has evolved and has been refined through various studies and research. It highlights the
importance of communication and interaction between leaders and subordinates in shaping their work
relationships and emphasizes the impact of these relationships on organizational outcomes.
In essence, successful managers prioritize their success, while effective managers prioritize the success of
the organization
● Setting standards
● Measuring performance
● Comparing performance to standards
● Taking corrective action
Process of control
The process of control can be summarized in these four steps:
1. Establish standards: Create standards that will be used to measure performance. These standards
should be measurable, consistent with the organization's goals, and should have clear
performance indicators.
2. Measure performance: Measure current performance in ways that are valid and that allow for
comparison to the standards.
3. Compare performance against standards: Determine whether performance matches the
standards. If it does not, determine the acceptable range of variation.
4. Determine the need for corrective action: Based on comparing performance to standards, act as
needed to correct any variation from the standards.
● Operations control: Focuses on the processes the organization uses to transform resources into
products or services.
● Financial control: Concerned with the organization's financial resources.
● Structural control: Concerned with how the elements of the organization's structure are serving
their intended purpose.
● Strategic control: Focuses on how effectively the organization's strategies are succeeding in
helping the organization meet its goals.
Bureaucratic control is a type of structural control that is characterized by formal and mechanistic
structural arrangements. It is typically used in stable environments where there is little need for flexibility.
Bureaucratic control relies on strict rules and regulations, a rigid hierarchy, and a tall organizational
structure. Rewards are typically based on individual performance, and employee participation is limited.
Decentralized control is a type of structural control that is characterized by informal and organic
structural arrangements. It is typically used in unstable environments where there is a need for flexibility.
Decentralized control relies on group norms and a strong corporate culture, and it gives employees the
responsibility for controlling themselves. Employees are encouraged to perform beyond minimally
acceptable levels. Organizations using this approach are usually relatively flat, and they direct rewards on
group performance and favor widespread employee participation.
Most organizations use a form of organizational control that is somewhere in between these two
extremes. The specific approach that is used will depend on several factors, including the organization's
environment, its size, and its culture.
Political behavior refers to activities individuals engage in to acquire, develop, and use power and other
resources to obtain their preferred outcomes. It can be seen as a way for individuals or groups to resist or
influence the control mechanisms imposed by the organization.
● Inducement: Offering favors or rewards to gain support and potentially bypass formal control
mechanisms.
● Persuasion: Using logical and emotional appeals to influence others and sway decisions in their
favor, potentially undermining established control processes.
● Creation of an Obligation: Doing favors for others with the expectation of future reciprocation,
which can create informal power structures that circumvent formal control systems.
● Coercion: Using force or threats to get one's way, directly challenging or resisting control measures.
● Impression Management: Controlling how others perceive one to gain influence and potentially
avoid scrutiny or control.
How to Overcome Resistance to Control
The PowerPoint presentation offers some strategies for managing political behavior, which can be
adapted to address resistance to control:
● Awareness: Managers should be aware that even their well-intentioned actions might be perceived as
political by others.
● Empowerment: Providing employees with autonomy, responsibility, and feedback can reduce the
likelihood of them resorting to political behavior to achieve their goals.
● Transparency: Avoiding covert activities and being transparent about decision-making processes
can reduce suspicion and promote trust.
OB-Lecture-6
Managerial Activities
Managers engage in four managerial activities:
Effective managers spend the most time communicating and the least time networking. Successful
managers spend the most time networking and the least time in HR management activities.
Key Skills
Effective managers have strong people skills, or the ability to motivate and support others. Successful
managers have strong networking skills, or the ability to socialize and interact with outsiders.
A basic OB model
A basic OB model is a simplified representation of the complex factors that influence behavior within
organizations. It typically includes three key elements:
Relationships between inputs, processes, and outcomes in organizations are complex. A basic OB model
helps understand and predict behavior within organizations and design interventions for improved
effectiveness.
Lecture-7 (Managing Employee Motivating and
Performance)
Definition of motivation
Motivation is the force that drives individuals to behave in certain ways. It can be defined as the processes
that account for an individual’s direction, intensity, and persistence of effort toward attaining a goal.
Two-factor theory
The Two-Factor Theory, also known as Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene Theory, proposes that there are
two distinct sets of factors that influence employee satisfaction and dissatisfaction in the workplace:
● Motivation Factors (Motivators): Job factors contribute to satisfaction and increased motivation.
Their absence creates a neutral state. Examples of motivators include:
○ Achievement
○ Recognition
○ Responsibility
● Hygiene Factors (Hygiene): Hygiene factors are external job factors that prevent dissatisfaction but
don't necessarily lead to satisfaction. Examples include work environment factors.
○ Supervision
○ Working conditions
○ Interpersonal relationships
The Two-Factor Theory suggests that organizations should focus on addressing hygiene factors to prevent
dissatisfaction and providing motivators to enhance satisfaction and encourage high employee
performance. While influential in shaping management practices, it has faced criticism for its
methodology and limited generalizability.
Expectancy theory
Expectancy theory, or VIE theory, is a process theory of motivation that suggests that individuals are
more likely to be motivated and exert effort when they believe their effort will lead to good performance,
that good performance will lead to desired rewards, and that the rewards will fulfill their personal goals.
The theory is named after the three components of the motivational process:
1. Valence refers to the value individuals place on the rewards they are offered. Rewards can be
extrinsic (e.g., pay, benefits, promotion) or intrinsic (e.g., a sense of accomplishment, or
increased responsibility).
2. Instrumentality refers to an individual's belief that their performance will lead to desired
rewards.
3. Expectancy refers to an individual's belief that their effort will lead to the desired level of
performance.
The content of "Organizational Behavior (2023, Pearson).pdf" and "Management 2016.pdf" reference and
support these statements in the multiple sections on motivation, rewards, and compensation.
Equity theory
developed by John Stacy Adams, proposes that individuals strive for fair treatment in their relationships.
Individuals make social comparisons between their rewards and contributions. When they perceive an
imbalance, they experience inequity. This inequity motivates them to act to restore fairness.
● Merit-based pay plan: A merit-based pay plan pays for individual performance based on
performance appraisal ratings. If designed correctly, merit-based plans let individuals perceive a
strong relationship between their performance and their rewards.
● Bonus: A bonus is a one-time reward, not an increase in base salary. It is a pay plan that rewards
employees for recent performance rather than historical performance.
● Profit-sharing plan: A profit-sharing plan distributes compensation based on some established
formula designed around a company's profitability. Compensation can be direct cash outlays or
allocations of stock options.
●
● Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP): An ESOP is a company-established benefit plan in
which employees acquire stock, often at below-market prices, as part of their benefits. Employees
can sell the stock once they leave the company.
● Employee recognition program: An employee recognition program is a plan to encourage
specific behaviors by formally appreciating specific employee contributions. They can be a
powerful motivator for employees and are also relatively inexpensive.