Managerial Skills in the 21st Century
Managers in the 21st Century
Managers nowadays do not actually do what a manager really should do back in the eighties. Changes that occurred in the new economy, the increasing use of technology in business, and the effects of globalisation towards business world have led management into a whole new dimension. New managers are expected to be able to manage on an international scale, act strategically, utilize technology, establish values, and of course, act responsibly as well. (Crainer, 1998) Henry Mintzberg once asked, "What do managers do?" After conducting his research based on a study of five CEOs, he concluded that managerial work involves interpersonal role, decisional role and informational role. And the fact is that, managers get things done through other people. Therefore, managers are required to possess certain skills and competencies which allow them to play these roles effectively and efficiently throughout the four functions of management. (Mintzberg, 1998)
Technical Skills
First and foremost, effective managers are of course, required to have the basic management skills in order to be able to manage an organisation. Any managers has to possess certain technical skills which allow them to perform specialised task, particularly those first-line managers as they spend more time helping employees to solve work-related problems and they are mostly involved in supervising individual performance and instructing subordinates, for instance, ensuring that the products and services are being delivered to customers on a daily basis. (Robbins and Coulter, 2005) In other words, managers are required to possess "the ability to utilise tools, techniques, and procedures that are specific to a particular field." (Lewis, Goodman, and Fandt, 2004:12) In fact, managers are the first to look up for whenever employees encounter problems. (Griffin & Ebert, 2004)
Geoff Castledine, for instance, who holds the post of manufacturing plant manager at the Uncle Ben's plant
Managers nowadays do not actually do what a manager really should do back in the eighties. Changes that occurred in the new economy, the increasing use of technology in business, and the effects of globalisation towards business world have led management into a whole new dimension. New managers are expected to be able to manage on an international scale, act strategically, utilize technology, establish values, and of course, act responsibly as well. (Crainer, 1998) Henry Mintzberg once asked, "What do managers do?" After conducting his research based on a study of five CEOs, he concluded that managerial work involves interpersonal role, decisional role and informational role. And the fact is that, managers get things done through other people. Therefore, managers are required to possess certain skills and competencies which allow them to play these roles effectively and efficiently throughout the four functions of management. (Mintzberg, 1998)
Technical Skills
First and foremost, effective managers are of course, required to have the basic management skills in order to be able to manage an organisation. Any managers has to possess certain technical skills which allow them to perform specialised task, particularly those first-line managers as they spend more time helping employees to solve work-related problems and they are mostly involved in supervising individual performance and instructing subordinates, for instance, ensuring that the products and services are being delivered to customers on a daily basis. (Robbins and Coulter, 2005) In other words, managers are required to possess "the ability to utilise tools, techniques, and procedures that are specific to a particular field." (Lewis, Goodman, and Fandt, 2004:12) In fact, managers are the first to look up for whenever employees encounter problems. (Griffin & Ebert, 2004)
Geoff Castledine, for instance, who holds the post of manufacturing plant manager at the Uncle Ben's plant
References: Articles Referenced 1. Daniel Goleman(2001) "What Makes a Leader?", Harvard Business Review on What Makes a Leader , pp1-26. Harvard Business School Publishing, Boston, MA 02163. 2. Bronwyn Fryer (2001) "Leading through Rough Times: An Interview with Novell 's Eric Schmidt", Harvard Business Review on What Makes a Leader, pp176-196. Harvard Business School Publishing, Boston, MA 02163. 3. Robert Goffee and Gareth Jones (2001) "Why Should Anyone Be Led by You?" Harvard Business Review on What Makes a Leader, pp153-176. Harvard Business School Publishing, Boston, MA 02163. 4. Henry Mintzberg (1998) "The Manager 's Job: Folklore and Fact", Harvard Business Review on Leadership, pp 1-36. Harvard Business School Publishing, Boston, MA 02163. 5. Nitin Nohria and James D. Berkeley (1998) "Whatever Happened to the Take-Charge Manager?" Harvard Business Review on Leadership, pp 199-222. Harvard Business School Publishing, Boston, MA 02163.