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I picked this article because it explains what KPIs are and how companies use them to measure performance. It helped me see how numbers and metrics are used to track if a business is doing well. It connects to this module because KPIs are an important tool for controlling performance and operations.

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There are many benefits associated with using KPIs, as they allow the proper resources to be allocated and channeled, ultimately improving performance. Some of the benefits include:
Real-time monitoring
Since KPIs are ongoing, managers are able to monitor team performance and progress in real time as a project unfolds. This allows adjustments to be made and necessary resources to be allocated in order to maximize productivity.
Help avoid delays
Using the KPI framework, teams can quickly view where each task stands on the timeline, allowing them to see what is on track and what might be stalled. This helps avoid delays since adjustments can be made as needed, helping to ensure completion of the objectives.
Easy to formulate
KPIs have the ability to be both simple and straightforward, making them easy to formulate. Because establishing KPIs is not a complicated process, it can be done by any type and size of business once they determine their goals.
Ensure equity and clarity
Using KPIs also means sharing objectives and providing transparency, which often leads to more invested team members. Empowering employees with the autonomy that KPIs provide means that everyone is aware of what is going on, who is responsible for what and that there is equity in success.

Bottom Line

KPIs are an important tool businesses use to evaluate achievements, analyze issues and solve problems. Performed regularly, these measurements illustrate trends and patterns that are essential to making the most informed decisions possible. When the right types and amounts of KPIs are used, these indicators provide the data that will help benefit the overall health of an organization.

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All businesses, from startup coffee roasters to billion-dollar e-commerce companies, are vested in tracking their progress, figuring out what works and fixing what doesn't. That's where Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) come in. Once you've determined what your strategic goals are, using KPIs to mea

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I chose this article because it explains what controlling means in management and shows the steps of the control process. It helped me understand how managers compare results to goals and fix problems. It fits this module because it talks directly about controlling performance in organizations.

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6.5 Controlling - Introduction to Business | OpenStax

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This free textbook is an OpenStax resource written to increase student access to high-quality, peer-reviewed learning materials.

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I picked this article because it explains motivation theories like Maslow and Herzberg in an easy way. It helped me see why employees have different needs and how this affects their motivation at work. It connects to this module because leaders use these ideas to motivate their teams.

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14.2 Content Theories of Motivation - Principles of Management | OpenStax

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This free textbook is an OpenStax resource written to increase student access to high-quality, peer-reviewed learning materials.

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I chose this video because it shows how leaders can inspire and motivate people instead of just managing them. It helped me understand the difference between a boss and a real leader. It fits this module because it connects leadership with motivation in a simple way.

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How Great Leaders Inspire Action | Simon Sinek | TED

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I picked this article because it talks about different types of communication in organizations, like oral and written communication. It helped me see how managers share information with employees. It connects to this module because good communication is an important part of managing human resources.

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Know the types of communications that occur in organizations.

In the communication model described above, three types of communication can be used by either the communicator in the initial transmission phase or the receiver in the feedback phase. These three types are discussed next.

Oral Communication

This consists of all messages or exchanges of information that are spoken, and it's the most prevalent type of communication.

Written Communication

This includes e-mail, texts, letters, reports, manuals, and annotations on sticky notes. Although managers prefer oral communication for its efficiency and immediacy, the increase in electronic communication is undeniable. As well, some managers prefer written communication for important messages, such as a change in a company policy, where precision of language and documentation of the message are important.

Managerial Leadership

Dealing with Information Overload

One of the challenges in many organizations is dealing with a deluge of emails, texts, voicemails, and other communication. Organizations have become flatter, outsourced many functions, and layered technology to speed communication with an integrated communication programs such as Slack, which allows users to manage all their communication and access shared resources in one place. This can lead to information overload, and crucial messages may be drowned out by the volume in your inbox.

Add the practice of "reply to all," which can add to the volume of communication, that many coworkers use, and that means that you may get five or six versions of an initial e-mail and need to understand all of the responses as well as the initial communication before responding or deciding that the issue is resolved and no response is needed. Here are suggestions to dealing with e-mail overload upward, horizontally, and downward within your organization and externally to stakeholders and customers.

One way to reduce the volume and the time you spend on e-mail is to turn off the spigot of incoming messages. There are obvious practices that help, such as unsubscribing to e-newsletters or turning off notifications from social media accounts such as Facebook and Twitter. Also consider whether your colleagues or direct reports are copying you on too many emails as an FYI. If yes, explain that you only need to be updated at certain times or when a final decision is made.

You will also want to set up a system that will organize your inbox into "folders" that will allow you to manage the flow of messages into groups that will allow you to address them appropriately. Your system might look something like this:

1. Inbox: Treat this as a holding pen. E-mails shouldn't stay here any longer than it takes for you to file them into another folder. The exception is when you respond immediately and are waiting for an immediate response.

2. Today: This is for items that need a response today.

3. This week: This is for messages that require a response before the end of the week.

4. This month/quarter: This is for everything that needs a longer-term response. Depending on your role, you may need a monthly or quarterly folder.

5. FYI: This is for any items that are for information only and that you may want to refer back to in the future.

This system prioritizes e-mails based on timescales rather than the e-mails' senders, enabling you to better schedule work and set deadlines.

Another thing to consider is your outgoing e-mail. If your outgoing messages are not specific, too long, unclear, or are copied too widely, your colleagues are likely to follow the same practice when communicating with you. Keep your communication clear and to the point, and managing your outbox will help make your inbound e-mails manageable.

Critical Thinking Questions

1. How are you managing your e-mails now? Are you mixing personal and school and work-related e-mails in the same account?

2. How would you communicate to a colleague that is sending too many FYI e-mails, sending too may unclear e-mails, or copying too many people on her messages?

Sources: Amy Gallo, Stop Email Overload, Harvard Business Review, February 21, 2012, https://hbr.org/2012/02/stop-email-overload-1; Barry Chingel, "How to beat email Overload in 2018", CIPHER, January 16, 2018, https://www.ciphr.com/advice/email-overload/; Monica Seely, "At the Mercy of Your Inbox? How to Cope With Email Overload", The Guardian, November 6, 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/2017/nov/06/at-the-mercy-of-your-inbox-how-to-cope-with-email-overload.

Nonverbal Communication

There is also the transformation of information without speaking or writing. Some examples of this are things such as traffic lights and sirens as well as things such as office size and placement, which connote something or someone of importance. As well, things such as body language and facial expression can convey either conscious or unconscious messages to others.

Major Influences on Interpersonal Communication

Regardless of the type of communication involved, the nature, direction, and quality of interpersonal communication processes can be influenced by several factors.³

Social Influences

Communication is a social process, as it takes at least two people to have a communication episode. There is a variety of social influences that can affect the accuracy of the intended message. For examples, status barriers between employees at different levels of the organization can influence things such as addressing a colleague as at a director level as "Ms. Jones" or a coworker at the same level as "Mike." Prevailing norms and roles can dictate who speaks to whom and how someone responds. Exhibit 16.4 illustrates a variety of communications that illustrate social influences in the workplace.

Perception

In addition, the communication process is heavily influenced by perceptual processes. The extent to which an employee accurately receives job instructions from a manager may be influenced by her perception of the manager, especially if the job instructions conflict with her interest in the job or if they are controversial. If an employee has stereotyped the manager as incompetent, chances are that little that the manager says will be taken seriously. If the boss is well regarded or seen as influential in the company, everything that they say may be interpreted as important.

Interaction Involvement

Communication effectiveness can be influenced by the extent to which one or both parties are involved in conversation. This attentiveness is called interaction attentiveness or interaction involvement.⁴ If the intended receiver of the message is preoccupied with other issues, the effectiveness of the message may be diminished. Interaction involvement consists of three interrelated dimensions: responsiveness, perceptiveness, and attentiveness.

Organizational Design

The communication process can also be influenced by the design of the organization. It has often been argued to decentralize an organization because that will lead to a more participative structure and lead to improved communication in the organization. When messages must travel through multiple levels of an organization, the possibility of distortion can also occur, which would be diminished with more face-to-face communication.

Concept Check

1. What are the three major types of communication?

2. How can you manage the inflow of electronic communication?

3. What are the major influences on organizational communication, and how can organizational design affect communication?

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16.2 Types of Communications in Organizations - Principles of Management | OpenStax

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This consists of all messages or exchanges of information that are spoken, and it's the most prevalent type of communication....

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I chose this article because it explains what human resource management is and how it has changed over time. It helped me understand what HR does, like hiring, training, and managing employees. It fits this module because it focuses on managing people in an organization.

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11.1 An Introduction to Human Resource Management - Principles of Management | OpenStax

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This free textbook is an OpenStax resource written to increase student access to high-quality, peer-reviewed learning materials.

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I picked this article because it shows different ways a company can organize its teams, like functional, matrix, or flat structures. It gave me real examples of how structure changes the way people work together. It connects to this module because it focuses on how organizations and processes are set up in real businesses.

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Team Structure: 10 Ways to Organize Your Team [2025] • Asana

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A team structure defines how internal activities and leadership roles are directed toward the achievement of organizational goals. Read more.

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I chose this article because it explains what organizational structure is and gives different types of structures. It helped me understand how companies decide who reports to who and how work is divided. It fits this module because it talks directly about organizational design and structure.

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10.1 Organizational Structures and Design - Principles of Management | OpenStax

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This free textbook is an OpenStax resource written to increase student access to high-quality, peer-reviewed learning materials.

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I picked this article because it explains what the decision-making process is and the steps involved. It helped me see how managers choose the best option in a business situation. It connects to this module because planning and decision making go together.

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A decision-making process is a series of steps taken by an individual to determine the best option or course of action to meet their needs. In a business context, it is a set of steps taken by managers in an enterprise to determine the planned path for business initiatives and to set specific actions in motion. Ideally, business decisions are based on an analysis of objective facts, aided by the use of business intelligence ( BI) and analytics tools.

In any business situation there are multiple directions in which to take a strategy or an initiative. The variety of alternatives to weigh -- and the volume of decisions that must be made on an ongoing basis, especially in large organizations -- makes the implementation of an effective decision-making process a crucial element of managing successful business operations.

There are many different decision-making methodologies, but most share at least five steps in common:

1. Identify a business problem.

2. Seek information about different possible decisions and their likely effect.

3. Evaluate the alternatives and choose one of them.

4. Implement the decision in business operations.

5. Monitor the situation, gather data about the decision's impact and make changes if necessary.

Data-driven decision making

Traditionally, decisions were made by business managers or corporate executives using their intuitive understanding of the situation at hand. However, intuitive decision-making has several drawbacks. For example, a gut-feel approach makes it hard to justify decisions after the fact and bases enterprise decision-making on the experience and accumulated knowledge of individuals, who can be vulnerable to cognitive biases that lead them to make bad decisions. That's why businesses today typically take more systematic and data-driven approaches to the decision-making process. This allows managers and executives to use techniques such as cost-benefit analysis and predictive modeling to justify their decisions. It also enables lines of business to build process automation protocols that can be applied to new situations as they arise, removing the need for each one to be handled as a unique decision-making event.

If designed properly, a systematic decision-making process reduces the possibility that the biases and blind spots of individuals will result in sub-optimal decisions. On the other hand, data isn't infallible, which makes observing the business impact of decisions a crucial step in case things go in the wrong direction. The potential for humans to choose the wrong data also highlights the need for monitoring the analytics and decision-making stages, as opposed to blindly going where the data is pointing.

Challenges in the decision-making process

Balancing data-driven and intuitive approaches to decision-making is a difficult proposition. Managers and executives may be skeptical about relying on data that goes against their intuition in making decisions or feel that their experience and knowledge is being discounted or ignored completely. As a result, they may push back against the findings of BI and analytics tools during the decision-making process.

Getting everyone on board with business decisions can also be a challenge, particularly if the decision-making process isn't transparent and decisions aren't explained well to affected parties in an organization. That calls for the development of a plan for communicating about decisions internally, plus a change management strategy to deal with the effects of decisions on business operations.

Decision-making models can also be used to avoid these various challenges by creating a structured, transparent process.

What is a decision-making model?

A decision-making model is a system or process which individuals can follow or imitate to ensure they make the best choice among various options. A model makes the decision-making process easier by providing guidelines to help businesses reach a beneficial conclusion.

Decision models also make the decision-making process visible and easily communicable for everyone involved, including all managers, stakeholders and employees. They can be used for a wide variety of purposes across departments, businesses and industries, but they are especially useful when selecting software vendors or new tools, choosing new courses of action or when implementing changes that effect large amounts of people.

Types of decision-making models

Common types of decision-making models include:

Rational models. Rational decision-making is the most popular type of model. It is logical and sequential and focuses on listing as many alternative courses of action as possible. Once all options have been laid out, they can be evaluated to determine which is best. These models often include pros and cons for each choice, with the options listed in the order of their importance.

A rational decision-making model typically includes the following steps:

1. Identify the problem or opportunity.

2. Establish and weigh decision criteria.

3. Collect and organize all related information.

4. Analyze the situation.

5. Develop a variety of options.

6. Assess all options and assign a value to each one.

7. Decide which option is best.

8. Implement the decision.

9. Evaluate the decision.

Intuitive models. These decision-making models focus on there being no real logic or reason to the decision-making process. Instead, the process is dictated by an inner knowledge -- or intuition -- about what the right option is. However, intuitive models are not solely based on gut feelings. They also look at pattern recognition, similarity recognition and the importance or prominence of the option.

Recognition primed models. These models are a combination of rational and intuitive decision-making. Its defining element is that the decision maker only considers one option instead of weighing all of them.

The recognition primed decision-making process involves:

1. Identifying the problem, including all its characteristics, problem cues, expectations and business goals.

2. Thinking through the plan and performing a mental simulation to see if it works and what modifications might be needed.

3. If the plan seems satisfactory, then the final decision is made, and the plan is implemented.

In recognition primed models, alternative courses of action are only considered if the original plan does not produce the intended results. The success rate of this model correlates to an individual's experience and expertise.

Creative models. In this decision-making model, users collect information and insights about the problem and create some initial ideas for solutions. Then, the decision maker enters an incubation period where they do not actively think about the options. Instead, they allow their unconscious to take over the process and eventually lead them to a realization and answer which they can then test and finalize.

When to use decision-making models

Even when rules and procedures are set up to make business decision-making more systematic, there can still be room for intuition on the part of decision-makers. For example, after gathering data about different alternatives, more than one might seem similarly advantageous, or management might find itself lacking certain information needed to make a decision with full confidence. This is a good use case for incorporating an intuitive decision-making model into the process.

On the other hand, decisions that happen frequently and have clear optimal outcomes benefit from a structured, rational decision-making models. This approach to business problem-solving uses clearly prescribed steps and, usually, data analytics software to evaluate the available options and arrive at a decision.

Sometimes involving more people in the decision-making process can pay off. This is known as participatory decision-making; in the business world, it involves managers seeking input and feedback on decisions from the workers they oversee. The participatory approach has the potential advantage of generating many ideas for solving a business problem; it also helps to engage employees.

Decision management

Decision management -- also known as enterprise decision management (EDM) or business decision management (BDM) -- is a process or set of processes that aims to improve the decision-making process by using all available information to increase the precision, consistency and agility of decisions. The processes also focuses on making good choices by taking known risks and time constraints into consideration.

Decision models and Decision support systems (DSS) are key elements of decision management. Decision management processes also use business rules, business intelligence (BI), continuous improvement, artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive analytics to access the capabilities of big data and meet the needs of modern day user expectations and operational requirements.

Decision management systems treat decisions as reusable assets and introduce technology at decision points to automate the decision-making process. Decisions may be fully automated, or they may be presented as possible choices for a human to select.

Increasingly, organizations who deal with financial services, banking and insurance are integrating decision-making software into their business process systems as well as their customer-facing applications. This approach is especially useful for high-volume decision-making because automating such decisions can enable more efficient, information-based and consistent responses to events.

Continue Reading About decision-making process

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Learn what a decision-making process is and the challenges it includes. Discover different types of decision-making models, why they're important and how they benefit the process. Also understand what decision management is and how it relates to the decision-making process.

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This article explains what decision making means in a business, and shows how managers decide between different choices. It helped me understand why planning matters before acting. It connects well with the module because planning and decisions go together.

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I picked this video because it shows how countries and businesses are linked together. It made the topic easier to understand with visuals. I like it because it shows why global organizations need strong management.

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Globalization II - Good or Bad?: Crash Course World History #42

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I chose this article because it explains globalization in a simple way. It helped me understand how companies operate in different countries. I think it connects to the module because global management requires dealing with different cultures and markets.

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What Is Globalization?

Globalization refers to the spread of the flow of financial products, goods, technology, information, and jobs across national borders and cultures. In economic terms, it describes an interdependence of nations around the globe fostered through free trade.

Key Takeaways

Understanding Globalization

Corporations gain a competitive advantage on multiple fronts through globalization. They can reduce operating costs by manufacturing abroad, buy raw materials more cheaply because of the reduction or removal of tariffs, and most of all, they gain access to millions of new consumers.

Globalization is a social, cultural, political, and legal phenomenon.

Socially, it leads to greater interaction among various populations.

Culturally, globalization represents the exchange of ideas, values, and artistic expression among cultures.

Globalization also represents a trend toward the development of a single world culture.

Politically, globalization has shifted attention to intergovernmental organizations like the United Nations (UN) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Legally, globalization has altered how international law is created and enforced.

On one hand, globalization has created new jobs and economic growth through the cross-border flow of goods, capital, and labor. On the other hand, this growth and job creation are not distributed evenly across industries or countries.

Specific industries in certain countries, such as textile manufacturing in the U.S. or corn farming in Mexico, have suffered severe disruption or outright collapse as a result of increased international competition.

Globalization's motives are idealistic, as well as opportunistic, but the development of a global free market has benefited large corporations based in the Western world. Its impact remains mixed for workers, cultures, and small businesses around the globe, in both developed and emerging nations.

The History of Globalization

Globalization is not a new concept. Traders traveled vast distances in ancient times to buy commodities that were rare and expensive for sale in their homelands. The Industrial Revolution brought advances in transportation and communication in the 19th century that eased trade across borders.

The think tank, Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE), states globalization stalled after World War I, and nations' moved toward protectionism as they launched import taxes to more closely guard their industries in the aftermath of the conflict. This trend continued through the Great Depression and World War II until the U.S. took on an instrumental role in reviving international trade.

One of the critical steps in the path to globalization came with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), signed in 1993. One of NAFTA's many effects was to give American auto manufacturers the incentive to relocate a portion of their manufacturing to Mexico where they could save on the costs of labor. NAFTA was replaced in 2020 by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMC).

Governments worldwide have integrated a free market economic system through fiscal policies and trade agreements over the last 20 years. The core of most trade agreements is the removal or reduction of tariffs.

This evolution of economic systems has increased industrialization and financial opportunities in many nations. Governments now focus on removing barriers to trade and promoting international commerce.

Pros and Cons of Globalization

Proponents of globalization believe it allows developing countries to catch up to industrialized nations through increased manufacturing, diversification, economic expansion, and improvements in standards of living.

Outsourcing by companies brings jobs and technology to developing countries, which helps them to grow their economies. Trade initiatives increase cross-border trading by removing supply-side and trade-related constraints.

Globalization has advanced social justice on an international scale as well, and advocates report that it has focused attention on human rights worldwide that might have otherwise been ignored on a large scale.

One clear result of globalization is that an economic downturn in one country can create a domino effect through its trade partners. For example, the 2008 financial crisis had a severe impact on Portugal, Ireland, Greece, and Spain. All these countries were members of the European Union, which had to step in to bail out debt-laden nations, which were thereafter known by the acronym PIIGS.

Globalization detractors argue that it has created a concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a small corporate elite that can gobble up smaller competitors around the globe.

Globalization has become a polarizing issue in the U.S. with the disappearance of entire industries to new locations abroad. It's seen as a major factor in the economic squeeze on the middle class.

For better and worse, globalization has also increased homogenization. Starbucks, Nike, and Gap dominate commercial space in many nations. The sheer size and reach of the U.S. have made the cultural exchange among nations largely a one-sided affair.

What Is Globalization and Why Is it Important?

In essence, globalization is about the world becoming increasingly interconnected. Countries today are more connected than ever before, due to factors such as air travel, containerized sea shipping, international trade agreements and legal treaties, and the Internet. In the world of business, globalization is associated with trends such as outsourcing, free trade, and international supply chains. Globalization is important as it increases the size of the global market, and allows more and different goods to be produced and sold for cheaper prices.

Globalization is also important because it is one of the most powerful forces affecting the modern world, so much so that it can be difficult to make sense of the world without understanding globalization. For example, many of the largest and most successful corporations in the world are in effect truly multinational organizations, with offices and supply chains stretched right across the world. These companies would not be able to exist if not for the complex network of trade routes, international legal agreements, and telecommunications infrastructure that were made possible through globalization. Important political developments, such as the ongoing trade conflict between the United States and China, are also directly related to globalization.

Is Globalization Good or Bad?

It depends. Proponents of globalization will point to the dramatic decline in poverty that has taken place throughout the world over the past several decades, which many economists attribute in part to increased trade and investment between nations. Similarly, they will argue that globalization has allowed products and services such as cellphones, airplanes, and information technology to be spread far more widely throughout the world. On the other hand, critics of globalization will point to the negative impact it has had on specific nations' industries, which might face increased competition from international firms. Globalization can also have negative environmental impacts due to economic development, industrialization, and international travel.

How Does Globalization Impact Society?

Globalization has had a large impact on societies around the world, leading to massive migrations from rural to industrial or urban areas, leading to the rapid growth of cities and trade hubs. While this has led to an overall increase in incomes and a higher standard of living in general, it has also led to problems of urbanization including crime, domestic violence, homelessness, and poverty. Concepts of national identity, culture, and consumption patterns also change as goods from around the world become increasingly available and at low prices. The competitiveness of global capitalism may also lead to more individualistic ideals that contradict the cultural orientations of certain, more collectivist societies.

What Is an Example of Globalization?

A simple example of globalization would be a car manufactured in the U.S. that sources parts from China, Japan, S. Korea, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. The car is then exported to Europe, where it is sold to a driver who fills the car's gas tank with gasoline refined from Saudi oil.

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Globalization in Business With History and Pros and Cons

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Globalization is the spread of products, investment, and technology across national borders and cultures.

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I picked this video because it explains why companies should act responsibly and think about people, not just profit. It made the idea of corporate social responsibility easier to understand. I like how it uses simple examples to explain ethical behavior.

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What Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Has Become | Simon Sinek

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I chose this article because it shows how a real company practices social responsibility. It helped me understand how businesses can care about the environment while still making money. I think it connects well with the topic of ethics in business.

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86% of the products in our line are made in a Fair Trade Certified™ factory.

75,000+ workers benefit from Patagonia's participation in the Fair Trade program.

2,000+ farmers are part of our Regenerative Organic Certified® cotton program.

Why

Apparel workers are among the lowest-paid employees in the world. Much of the clothing industry has lax social standards that can lead to unsafe working conditions, long hours, low pay, and job discrimination for the workers who are predominantly women. The continual demand for fast fashion exacerbates this problem every day.

But this is not the case across the board. Over the years, Patagonia has built a robust social-responsibility program that analyzes and manages the impacts our business has on the workers and communities in our supply chain. Our goal is to not only minimize harm, but also create a positive benefit for the lives that we touch through our business.

Where We Are

Like most clothing companies, we don't make our own products or own any of the factories that do. We partner with other companies across the globe and work closely with them to mitigate the harm we collectively create through the manufacturing of clothes. We hold our suppliers (and ourselves) to the highest environmental and social standards in the industry. We lean on industry tools and standards to manage this process, and when rigorous enough standards don't exist, we create them.

Over the years, we have developed several programs to investigate our impact across our business, from our farms to our stores.

How We Work with Factories, Farms and Mills

Responsible Purchasing Practices

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Corporate Social Responsibility - Patagonia

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Beyond minimizing harm, the goal of our social responsibility program is to create a positive benefit for the lives that we touch through our business.

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I picked this article because it gives an easy explanation of what management is and how it works in a business. It helped me learn about different management styles and why they matter. It was simple to read and useful for understanding the topic better.

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Workplaces depend on the strength of those in management positions. In addition to directing employees, managers must communicate with more senior professionals in their company to ensure the team meets goals and furthers the company's mission. Although the duties of managers differ based on their industry and workplace, most fulfill the same basic responsibilities. In this article, we discuss what management is, the operations of management and how you can become a good manager.

Related video: Top 8 Leadership Styles: Definitions and Examples
In this video, Jenn, an Indeed career coach, explains the top leadership styles in management and how to identify the one that's right for you and your team.

What is management?

Management is the coordination and administration of tasks to achieve a goal. Such administration activities include setting the organization's strategy and coordinating the efforts of staff to accomplish these objectives through the application of available resources. Management can also refer to the seniority structure of staff members within an organization.

To be an effective manager, you'll need to develop a set of skills, including planning, communication, organization and leadership. You will also need extensive knowledge of the company's goals and how to direct employees, sales and other operations to accomplish them.

Five basic operations of a manager

In general, there are five basic functions of a manager:

1. Setting objectives

Setting and achieving objectives is the primary way a manager accomplishes and maintains success. They must also be able to convey them to their staff or employees in a compelling manner. For instance, a restaurant manager could state they want to improve service times and remind employees that faster service increases revenue and tips.

2. Organizing

Managers evaluate the type of work, divide it into achievable tasks and effectively delegate it to staff. Organization consists of a series of relationships among individual staff as well as departments or entities inside the organization. It is the manager's responsibility to ensure that these individuals and entities work together in harmony, which includes motivating staff members and departments to stay on task. A good manager is skilled at building interpersonal relationships among their team members and can troubleshoot when members confuse their encounter challenges.

Organization also requires a manager to establish relationships of authority among their team members. Maximizing organizational arrangements can help businesses enhance the company's efficiency in the market, reduce the costs of business and improve productivity.

3. Motivating the team

In addition to the tasks of organization and delegation, motivation includes having the skills to handle different types of personalities in a team. An effective manager must know how to form and lead successful teams and know how to galvanize team members around a cause.

4. Devising systems of measurement

Managers need to set targets or key performance indicators that the team aims for and then generate ways to measure whether their team is on track to meet those goals. Because it can be challenging to come up with measurable ways of understanding performance, managers must often be creative and thoughtful. However, like the other functions of management, measurement is critical to improving business performance.

5. Developing people

In addition to leading their team toward a goal and measuring their progress along the way, good managers invest in their staff's development. Managers can, for example, work with their team to help them set goals to move up in their careers.

Managers must have leadership skills to use these five operations successfully. They are responsible for coaching their team members by helping them recognize their strengths and weaknesses and improve their performance. Different managers may have different styles of leadership. Regardless of their style, managers should develop their leadership skills to be an effective supervisor.

Management concepts

A manager needs to understand a few simple ideas to employ the five basic operations. These concepts are essential to ensure their team comes together to reach the business' goals:

Staffing: Staffing is an underappreciated but crucial function of management. Managers need to ensure that they have the right people for the job, but they also need to pay attention to issues like organizing workplace policies. The company needs to retain the best talent by providing incentives such as benefits, paid time off and a thorough training program.

Management styles

Analysts who study management have identified several effective leadership styles. There is no one best style of management, and some people will feel more personally suited to one type or another. You can also select elements of different styles of management to create the best archetype for you and your company.

Here, we briefly review three positive management styles that can help make any manager a more effective leader.

Persuasive management style

A compelling leader spends a lot of time with their team members. Being engaged with employees allows the persuasive manager to lead by example, and to gain buy-in and compliance from the team by persuading rather than instructing or demanding. Influential managers are aware of the work that their team members are doing on a day-to-day basis and are involved in their work lives.

Democratic management style

A democratic manager invites the team to be directly involved in decision-making. Open lines of communication between democratic managers and employees allow these types of managers to understand the skills and advantages that each employee brings to the table. Open participation and exchange of ideas among different levels of employees allow everyone to contribute to the outcome of a decision or a project.

This style of management is more successful when managers develop organized and streamlined decision-making processes. Otherwise, accepting input from everyone can make the process sluggish and disorganized.

Laissez-faire management

The laissez-faire manager functions almost more like a mentor than a manager. They empower their employees to step up and make decisions. This allows the team to feel like they own a part of each project. The manager takes a backseat role, stepping in to offer advice or get things back on track when something goes wrong. Otherwise, they stand aside, allowing their employees to flourish creatively and exercise their own leadership.

Three layers of management

Large businesses and corporations often have three primary levels of management organized in a hierarchical structure. You may have heard terms that refer to these different layers of management, such as "middle management" or "senior management."

Low-level management

Low-level managers include roles like front-line team leaders, foremen, section leads and supervisors. This level of management, the lowest in the three layers, is responsible for overseeing the everyday work of individual employees or staff members and providing them with direction on their work.

Low-level management's responsibilities often include ensuring the quality of employees' work, guiding staff in everyday activities and routing employee problems through the appropriate channels. They also are responsible for the day-to-day supervision and career planning for their team, as well as providing feedback on their employees' performance.

Middle management

Middle managers, the next layer in the management hierarchy, are overseen by senior management. Middle management includes those working in the roles of a department manager, regional manager and branch manager. Middle management is responsible for communicating the strategic goals developed by senior management down the line to front-line managers.

In contrast with senior management, middle managers spend more of their time on directional and organizational functions. This includes defining and discussing important policies for lower management, providing guidance to lower-level management to achieve better performance and executing organizational plans at the direction of senior management.

Senior management

Senior management, including the chief executive officer, president, vice president and board members, is at the top layer of this management hierarchy. Senior management needs to set the overall goals and direction of an organization. Senior management develops strategic plans and company-wide policy and makes decisions about the direction of the organization at the highest level. They also usually play an essential role in mobilizing outside resources and are held accountable to the company's shareholders as well as the general public for the performance of the company.

Tips for being a good manager

There are several ways to advance your management skills, including:

Practice. Perhaps the best way to acquire new skills is to practice them in a real-life management setting. Gaining on-the-job experience in these skills will help you on the promotion ladder. Do your best for your team, serve as a leader and treat your team fairly.

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What Is Management? Definitions and Functions

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Workplaces depend on the strength of those in management positions. In addition to directing employees, managers must communicate with more senior professionals in their company to ensure the team meets goals and furthers the company's mission. Although the duties of managers differ based on their industry and workplace, most fulfill the same basic responsibilities.

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I chose this video because it explains the basic ideas of management in a very clear way. It helped me understand what managers do and the main functions of management. I like that it used simple examples that made the topic easier to understand.