Artefacts and Reflection
In simple words management entirely means managing an activity. This is to suggest that when we talk managing an activity means to make an activity to succeed (Anderson et al, 2018 p.75). For example, let’s consider a new organization wanting to start a business. The aim will how will the business be controlled? What is the exact number of employees we need to have? What capital do we need to start? All these questions are involved in management .Therefore, it means that coming up with solution for these question is what we define as management.
Generally management we can say that it is purely needed by all organization. Either the organization is commercial, social or political it needs management concepts so as to achieve the goals planned for. This suggests that management is needed whenever people work together and strive so as to achieve a common goal (Alvesson & Willmott, 2012. p.32). Managers are seniors and more experienced and they control other workers in the organization.
In my discussion about what I have learned in the entire course have tried to identify three artefacts from the models which fully describes what have learned as a manager. Each module gave an artefact which provided adequate information to answer the three questions that is; what is management? What is involved in management of the organization? And what are key functions managers need to address in order to be effective?
The first artefact is based on function of manager by Fayol as discussed in lecture 2. Management has been identified as the social process that entails responsibility for the economical and effective regulation and planning operations that helps the organization to fulfil its purpose in the market. Management originated from different approaches and it always faced by drawbacks which manager work hard to control. Some of these functions in the workplace includes planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating and controlling.
The second artefact is based on ethical and responsible management practices in the organization (Crane & Matten, 2016 p.20).For an organization to achieve its goals effectively then managers have to follow all the ethics needed within the organization. This means that the manager’s behaviour and values form the core part of the organization. Good behaviour and values from managers in the organization lead to better performance within the organization. In this artefact, I as a learner have been able to understand those ethics, values and behaviour are apt for the manager.
The last artefact is the issue of emotional intelligence in workplace and how managers can control emotions and motivate workers. Emotions in the organization affects the performance. Every worker goes to work with different emotion and feelings every day. This means that unless managers find apt measures to control emotions then the performance of the organization will fluctuate that is decreasing. Generally, a manager in an organization must find ways or mechanism that target to motivate, control emotion of employees and also boost the emotional intelligence. This is to suggest that motivation depends on the leadership skills and how managers work to control employee’s emotions within the workplace.
Function of Manager by Fayol
In this section have identified various concepts which will help me as a manager. The idea in the discussion is based on familiarizing with the key concept used in management. This means understanding and manipulating the artefacts identified in the entire course. These artefacts in my reflection are based on ethical and responsible management practices, describing function of manager by Fayol as discussed in lecture 2 and applying issue of emotional intelligence in workplace and how managers can control emotions and motivate workers.
(a).Artefact on function of manager by Fayol as discussed in lecture 2 in module 1.
This section gives a clear description on function of a manager in the organization as it has originated in management. Therefore, managers plays the following roles.
It involves checking out the future effects or actions and then trying to come up with strategies needed to handles future course anticipated in the organization (Becker et al, 2013 p.67).Therefore planning in real sense bridges the gap between where the organization is for now to where it wants to be in future. This suggests that is purely a future course of actions in the organization.
Refers to the process of bringing together all entities such as financial, physical and human resources in order to develop a strategy for achieving the desired goals of the organization. According to Henry Fayol , business organization entails bringing together all useful materials such as raw material, human labour, tools, and capital .Therefore organizing as a process in the organization involves;
Identifying the activities to be carried out by the organization and grouping activities and assigning them to specific individuals.
Managers give orders and clear working instructions to the employees in the workplace (Dumas et al, 2013 p.123). These instructions shows clearly what to be done by the workers .Returns from the employees are optimized by managers to check whether all employees adhered to the instructions given. Managers communicates clearly and base their decisions on the daily audits in organization. They motivate workers and encourages them to take initiative.
Managers coordinates all activities in the organization. The degree at which all activities harmonize in workplace determines the effectiveness of the organization. This is to suggest that positive influence to the workers by managers is very important (Dumas et al, 2013 p.173).Therefore, coordinating targets on increasing motivation level and stimulating disciplinary action to the organization. For this to happen then managers have to possess appropriate skills such as good communication skills and leadership skills. Intended objectives in the organization will be realized through use of positive employee management behaviour.
This function requires managers to check whether everything in the organization is going according to the plan designed (Kerzner & Kerzner, 2017 p.86). This suggests both manager and the entire organization knows whether a certain activity is in conformity with the plan or not. The function takes four steps that is; designing performance standards , identifying actual performance, comparing both performance and organizational standards and lastly coming up with corrective and preventive measures to be used by organization.
Ethical and Responsible Management Practices
Sometimes functions of a manager may not perform as required. This means that manager will have to look back apt measures to be followed (Dumas et al, 2013 p.303).Some of these factors are;
Identifying new strategies of motivating workers in the organization, encouraging auditing practices in the organization so as to identify problems within the organization, forming strategic planning procedures that will summarize the entire corporate strategy of the organization and carrying out SWOT and issue analysis procedures in the organization to identify weaknesses and strengths as well as emerging issues in the organization.
This section discusses the core values and ethics which managers ought to observe in the organization. Management explains how employees in the organization have to understand the importance of business ethics in workplace (Carroll & Buchholtz, 2014 p.87). This suggests that management in organization stresses on the ethical practices which are to be adhered to. Concentrating on ethics leads to increased responsibility in the company or any firm. Therefore managers should stress on the programs that will increase ethics and responsibility so as to build the image of the firm in the market. Some of the ethics and responsibilities management need to check on includes;
Managers have to ensure that company complies with the laws and recognised regulations. There laws made by each country whereby they tend to regulate the working of the firm in the market place. Observing these laws then it means compliance to business ethics. Managers have to communicate to the employees on the importance of giving appropriate results regarding the business (Crane & Matten, 2016 p.100).For instance, employees should not enter inaccurate data when preparing financial records. The records should comply with the laws.
All customers expect the company to do business in ethical manner. This is to say that business should observe all legal and ethical practices so as to ensure there is customer satisfaction (Weiss, 2014 p.66).Managers ensures that no issue of overcharging and customers are treated fairly. Managers also checks on the products purchased from the manufactures to ensure ethic is observed.
Through this artefact as identified from the modules then as a manager have learned that ethics and responsibility are important aspects needed by the organization.
I have realized that meeting the customer needs in the organization is based on ethics and responsibility.
Have also realized that commitment to the organizational goals and purpose is important for the manager. Employees want a direction and planning strategies that will help them to follow ethical procedures when serving customers.
(c).Artefact on applying issue of emotional intelligence in workplace and how managers can control emotions and motivate workers.
This part describes how managers develops emotional intelligence to workers, how emotion can be controlled and how managers can motivate workers.
The first step is based on the preparation whereby managers assesses the needs of the organization in respect with the needs of the employees (Hong et al, 2011 p.45).After assessing then manager tries to motivate employees, encouraging participation and maximizing the choices from the workers.
Second process is about training. This forms a foster whereby there is positive relationship between the workers and trainers on the emotional intelligence in workplace. Managers in this part sets clear goals, giving insights and providing utmost support needed by the employees in workplace.
Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
Thirdly is based on transfer whereby managers provides the appropriate organizational culture that aid in supporting learning and motivating workers to use new skills when working.
The last process is evaluation. Managers here checks the results and then come up with data that target on efficiency of emotional competence from training programs in the organization (Hong et al, 2011 p.345). This forms the integral part of the entire process in workplace.
Giving employees adequate time. This suggests that managers should be willing to visit employees in their respective departments. Through this managers will be able to listen to views from the employees and then identify what employees want.
Providing feedback after performance (Ryback, 2012 p.62).Giving results after workers have done a certain task in the organization forms a basis for motivation.
Encouraging workers in the organization to have a sense of ownership.
What I have learned from the artefact.
I have learnt that;
It’s important to measure the emotion intelligence of employees so as to come up with apt direction on how to control workers.
I have also understood what specifically motivates workers in the organization. As a manager, I have to understand what motivates each employee in the organization.
Have also realised methods of controlling employee’s emotion in workplace.
How managers can control emotions.
Employee emotion and moods affects the productivity in the company. The impact can be on decision making, creativity and labour turnover. Managers identifies appropriate procedures to control the feelings and emotion of workers (Ryback, 2012 p.231).They control emotions of workers in different ways. Some of these ways are;
Educating employees on the importance of emotional intelligence. Managers give books, allow talks on emotional intelligence and encourage workers in the organization to test their IQ in designing electronic portfolio. Also, creating awareness on issue of emotion in workplace. Communicating to employees how to control emotion when working.
Motivating workers on daily basis .This controls employee’s emotion and at the end workers feel recognised thus working hard enough to attain the goals of the company. Encouraging social skills whereby managers interacts with workers in order to find the apt way to control emotion of workers in workplace.
Conclusion.
In conclusion, I have realized that management is the major part of the organization. From the identified artefacts it’s now clear that management is made up of the function of manager, the concept of ethical and responsible management practices and emotional intelligence whereby managers need to come up with apt measures to control emotion and motivation of workers (Zhang et al, 2015 p.71). Organization uses planning activities so as to prepare for the future meaning that managers here are required to design apt strategies that will align with what is expected in the organization. On the issue of motivation, managers have to consider those motivating factors that will enable an employee to work appropriately and check on their emotions. Motivating workers not only entails rewards or incentives but also ensuring there is direct conduct between managers and employees in the organization. Directing will summarise what is to be done after effective planning, organizing and staffing approaches in the organization. Therefore, as a manager, I will be in the position to use the discussed artefacts in the organization and thus increasing the production level hence enabling the organization to enjoy profits. Therefore, as a learner I have understood that manager is the role model in the organization (Côté & Hideg, 2011 p.111). In general, the organization has to understand the entire process and function carried out by the management body. Management should check on legal ethics and motivate workers so as to control their emotion.
References.
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