BMGT 364 Week 1 discussion

With these ideas in mind, compare and contrast the role of management, as reflected by management theory, in the 20th century organization with the role of management in the 21st   Include in your discussion the theoretical schools of thought(s) that speak to the manager’s role in the business environment as well as definition of the environment itself.  

20th Century

The role of management in the 20th century was, information flowed from the top down and that mainly workers were hired hands that were there to do what they were told by the management (McCrimmon 2010).

21st Century

The role of management in the 21st century is more of a collaboration. Meaning that the manager may not be the smartest person for a particular project and may be learning from his/her subordinates.

How has the change in business purpose (i.e. manufacturing vs. service) and the business environment, worker attitudes, and behaviors affected the role of the manager in an organization and how has the theory evolved to cope? Discuss in detail. Be sure to use information from the organizational theory timeline in your answer.

Managers are not necessarily the smartest person in the office. Younger employees that have a better technical knowledge are put into positions where they are working for people that don’t have the technical background that is needed in most industries. Although these people can work more independently a manager needs to just get them started on the path to the company’s objective for a particular project.

Technology has been the biggest increase to business, by giving companies the ability to create new ideas, market them to consumers and broadcast it out to the world of customers quickly to increase profits (Henderson).

As stated by McCrimmon (2010), “managers need to behave like investors, customers, sports coaches, and partners,” in the new age of managing. As an investor they need to know how to use their resources, this goes to knowing the abilities and limitations of employees. Knowing this will allow a manager to put the right people working on the correct task to complete the project in the most efficient way. As a customer the manager needs to be open to communication from employees, because the employee may notice something that the manager may have overlooked or missed. As a coach the manager is there to help the employee to grow and move up within the company. As a partner the manager looks at employees as equals that help the company complete its mission effectively.

Reference

Henderson, K. Characteristics of 21st Century Organizations. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/characteristics-21st-century-organizations-813.html.

McCrimmon, M., 2010. A New Role for Management in Today’s Post-Industrial Organization. Retrieved from http://iveybusinessjournal.com/publication/a-new-role-for-management-in-todays-post-industrial-organization/.

From this week’s material identify and discuss 5 skills that are unique to the successful manager of the 21st century. Consider in your answer workplace dynamics of new organizations such as the change in organizational structure (flat, horizontal, virtual etc.) and employee expectations for the workplace environment.

1. Sets Objectives. A good manager will take the information that was received from a customer and set goal for completion that employees can reach in a certain amount of time.

2. Organizes. A manager will divide the work to people within the group that can accomplish the task assigned to meet the goals.

3. Motivates and communicates. A manager knows the right things to say to their employees that will make them work harder and faster.

4. Measures. A manager knows how to determine the targets that need to be met and analyzes the results of the employees to determine where more attention needs to be focused.

5. Develops people. A manager knows how to educated employees on more effective ways to improve productivity.

Reference:

Murray, A. The Wall Street Journal Guide to Management. Retrieved from UMUC course material for BMGT 364.