The Manager: Omnipotent or Symbolic
CHAPTER SUMMARY – CHAPTER 3
The Manager: Omnipotent or Symbolic ✓ Contrast the actions of managers according to the omnipotent and symbolic views. ✓ Explain the parameters of managerial discretion.
According to the omnipotent view, managers are directly responsible for an organization’s success or failure. However, the symbolic view argues that much of an organization’s success or failure is due to external forces outside managers’ control. The parameters of managerial discretion (see Exhibit 3-1) include the organization’s culture and the environment in which the organization exists. However, these parameters don’t totally constrain a manager; managers can and do influence their culture and environment.
The Organization’s Culture ✓ Describe the seven dimensions of organizational culture. ✓ Discuss the impact of a strong culture on organizations and managers. ✓ Explain the source of an organization’s culture. ✓ Describe how culture is transmitted to employees. ✓ Describe how culture affects managers.
The seven dimensions (see Exhibit 3-2) are as follows: (1) attention to detail (degree to which employees are expected to exhibit precision, analysis, and attention to detail); (2) outcome orientation (degree to which managers focus on results or outcomes rather than on how those outcomes are achieved); (3) people orientation (degree to which management decisions take into account the effects on people in the organization); (4) team orientation (degree to which work is organized around teams rather than individuals); (5) aggressiveness (degree to which employees are aggressive and competitive rather than cooperative); (6) stability (degree to which organizational decisions and actions emphasize maintaining the status quo); and (7) innovation and risk taking (degree to which employees are encouraged to be innovative and to take risks). Research results are suggesting that in organizations with strong cultures:
The Manager: Omnipotent or Symbolic ✓ Contrast the actions of managers according to the omnipotent and symbolic views. ✓ Explain the parameters of managerial discretion.
According to the omnipotent view, managers are directly responsible for an organization’s success or failure. However, the symbolic view argues that much of an organization’s success or failure is due to external forces outside managers’ control. The parameters of managerial discretion (see Exhibit 3-1) include the organization’s culture and the environment in which the organization exists. However, these parameters don’t totally constrain a manager; managers can and do influence their culture and environment.
The Organization’s Culture ✓ Describe the seven dimensions of organizational culture. ✓ Discuss the impact of a strong culture on organizations and managers. ✓ Explain the source of an organization’s culture. ✓ Describe how culture is transmitted to employees. ✓ Describe how culture affects managers.
The seven dimensions (see Exhibit 3-2) are as follows: (1) attention to detail (degree to which employees are expected to exhibit precision, analysis, and attention to detail); (2) outcome orientation (degree to which managers focus on results or outcomes rather than on how those outcomes are achieved); (3) people orientation (degree to which management decisions take into account the effects on people in the organization); (4) team orientation (degree to which work is organized around teams rather than individuals); (5) aggressiveness (degree to which employees are aggressive and competitive rather than cooperative); (6) stability (degree to which organizational decisions and actions emphasize maintaining the status quo); and (7) innovation and risk taking (degree to which employees are encouraged to be innovative and to take risks). Research results are suggesting that in organizations with strong cultures: