Introduction to General Management Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the definitions, levels, functions, tasks, skills, and roles of general management as presented in the lecture notes.

Management

A process of ensuring that an organisation's goals and objectives are met, defined by Shinde (2018) as controlling people to reach goals using limited resources.

Manager

As defined by Lussier (2021), the individual responsible for achieving organisational objectives through efficient and effective utilisation of resources.

Traditional management style

A style involving planning, organising, leading, and controlling, which assumes the organisation can respond appropriately to any changes.

Modern management style

An evolving style with a focus on human resources, service management, innovation, flexibility, and empowering workers.

Top management

The management level consisting of the board of directors, chairman, and chief executives who focus on strategic planning and business policies.

Middle management

The level that links top management and staff, tasking managers with implementing plans and training lower-level managers.

Low-level management

The management level that works closely with workers, guiding daily tasks, providing materials, and ensuring quality standards are met.

Planning

The first function of management which involves defining measurable goals, developing strategies, and evaluating alternative actions.

Organising

The management function where human, physical, and financial resources are combined to implement plans through a designed organisational system and job design.

Leading

The function of communicating objectives, motivating staff, and providing direction to workers to inspire performance and align with the vision.

Controlling

The process of auditing budgets or performance to check for deviations from standards and determining how well the organisation is meeting set goals.

Technical skills

The ability to use procedures, techniques, and knowledge of a specialised field, most valued by low-level managers.

Conceptual skills

The ability of a manager for abstract thinking, involving a vision of how departments depend on each other and fit into the external environment.

Interpersonal skills

The skills used when persons interact, of growing importance for providing social support, emotional support, and maintaining stakeholder relationships.

Total quality management

A 21st-century skill focusing on continuous improvement in products, services, or processes in conjunction with everyone in the organisation.

Figurehead

An interpersonal role where the manager represents the organisation at social, legal, or ceremonial events.

Liaison

An interpersonal role where the manager builds networks with internal and external stakeholders.

Entrepreneur

A decisional role where the manager implements ideas, is creative, and solves problems.

Disturbance handler

A decisional role where the manager avoids and manages issues and conflicts as they arise.

Resource allocator

A decisional role responsible for the distribution of financial, technological, and human resources.

Monitor

An informational role where the manager obtains information from the industry and organisation to improve worker productivity.

Disseminator

An informational role involving the provision of important information to employees and the delegation of tasks.

Spokesperson

An informational role where the manager represents the organisation's brand and provides information to external stakeholders.