mgt 210 chapter 2 Spring 2022-2023 (3)

    • Sagesse University

      • Faculty of Economics & Business Administration

      • Undergraduate Program MGT 210 – Management Principles

      • Spring Semester 2022-2023

      • Dr. Ziad F. Haddad

      Chapter Two: The Management Environment

      The Manager: Omnipotent or Symbolic

      • Omnipotent View of Management

        • Managers are directly responsible for an organization’s success or failure.

        • Organization's quality is determined by its managers' quality.

        • Accountability: While managers are held accountable, attributing performance directly to their actions is complex.

      • Symbolic View of Management

        • Success or failure is largely due to external forces beyond managers' control.

        • Influences include economy, customers, governmental policies, competitors, industry conditions, technology, and prior management actions.

        • Managers symbolize control and influence through actions.

The Business Environment

  • Types of Business Environments:

    • External Environment:

      • General Environment: Encompasses all external factors affecting an organization (economic, legal, political, socio-cultural, international, technical).

      • Task Environment: Comprises specific groups affecting the firm (competitors, customers, suppliers, regulators, strategic partners).

    • Internal Environment:

      • Involves conditions within the organization (departments, employees).

Organizational Culture

  • Dimensions of Organizational Culture:

    • Seven dimensions determine the culture within an organization.

    • Culture is shaped by various sources and continually evolves.

    • Transmission of Culture: Culture is communicated to employees through various means.

Stakeholder Relationships

  • Identifying Stakeholders:

    • Recognize external stakeholders and their diverse interests.

    • Assess how critical each stakeholder is to the organization.

    • Manage relationships strategically to enhance organizational performance.

The External Environment: Components

  • General Environment:

    • Comprises broad dimensions shaping the context (economic, technological, sociocultural, political-legal, international).

  • Task Environment:

    • Influenced by specific groups (competitors, customers, suppliers, regulators, strategic partners).

The Internal Environment: Components

  • Key Components:

    • Owners: Legal property rights to the business.

    • Board of Directors: Oversee management to serve stockholders’ interests.

    • Employees: Vital for the organization's continuity.

    • Physical Environment: The actual working conditions.

Environmental Change, Complexity, and Uncertainty

  • Change and Complexity:

    • Environmental change happens through varying degrees of change and complexity (simple to complex environments).

    • Uncertainty influences organizational decisions and strategic planning.

Cultural Impact on Organizations

  • Organizational culture shapes internal dynamics and influences overall performance.

  • Strong cultures impact employee behavior and enhance commitment.

Creating a Positive Organizational Culture

  • Key Elements:

    • Foster an ethical culture focused on risk tolerance and outcomes.

    • Encourage innovation through involvement, trust, and freedom.

    • Build a customer-responsive culture by empowering employees and reducing procedural barriers.


Next: Chapter Four Foundations of Decision Making