The definitions of management discussed before outlined five basic components of management. In-fact, these components and a few other related elements comprise the basic characteristics of management. We will now explain some of the important characteristics of management.
Achieving the objectives:
An organization comes into existence to attain certain objectives. Management deals with the achieving of these objectives. A manager’s success is measured by the extent to which these objectives are achieved. Hence, goal setting and goal attainment are the strategic parts of a manager’s job. Objectives provide the standard against which the performance can be evaluated. A manager’s efficiency and tact can be measured by his/her capability of setting goals and achieving them.
Working With others:
Organizational goals are achieved with the joint effort of people. Therefore, the managerial challenge lies in working with people and managing people and managing group efforts. Management can provide effectiveness to human efforts only when team or group activities are managed properly. The emphasis on team work is very important. It involves a working environment in which team members interact with each other. Managers would fail in their work if they are poor in inter-personal relations, communication, co-ordination and adjustments. The basic elements in team-work are motivation and empowerment. These quality and skills of managers are, therefore, the hallmarks of effective team-work and organizational effectiveness.
Attaining Efficiency and Effectiveness:
Efficiency is defined as “getting things right”. Efficiency is the managerial ability to minimize and optimize the use of organizational resources in attaining the objectives. Organizations are efficient when managers minimize the amount of input resources and the time to produce a given output of goods or services. Cost- Benefit ratios measure such efficiency of management. Effectiveness, on the other hand, is defined as “doing the right things”. This means the ability of management to achieve the objectives. Organizations are effective when managers choose appropriate goals and then achieve them.
Efficiency and Effectiveness are twin pillars of managerial success. These are also the bases of competitive advantage of organizations. Therefore the managers should work to make intensive use of a variety of individual – level and organizational – level resources to accomplish the expected outcomes.
Adopting situational approach:
The most effective and appropriate way of managing an organization depends upon the particular circumstances of each case. The implication here is that each case will be different. Therefore, the solution to look for will also be different. Organizations generally have systems and rules for structures, leadership styles, planning functions, and other management practices. However, the roles and functions of management can be performed in a better way if situational factors are considered. The contingency approach to management suggests that there will never be a generic solution to any particular problem. Hence, the management decision – making depends upon the different circumstances faced on each occasion. Coping with the environment:
The effectiveness of management also lies in its ability to cope with the changing environment. There are several internal and external courses influencing organizations. External environment is the most powerful influence on organizations. The changes taking place in the socio – cultural, legal, political, technological, and economic environment affect organizations in various ways. The globalization movement is developing very fast. The globe has been shrinking every day. Consumerism, environmentalism, and human rights movement have been awaking the consumers for their rights. These forces, today, surround managers. These developments taking place in the environment have been reshaping management practices.
Also with this, let's keep our mother Earth Clean Green and Happy!
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