Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Four Functions of Management

Four Functions of Management by Robert Smith

The functions of management centre on the application of human resource management and technology in HP organizational functions of the management are geared towards enabling the achievement of the company core objectives. The management functions in the company may change in response towards changes in market environment and technology, or due to organizational growth. The human resource aspect is very important for any company. In HP the company management has emphasized the value of better organization of human resource and technology to achieve its goals. The company has achieved this through; four functions of management that are important in creating and maintaining an efficient and effective organizational culture namely; planning, organizing, leading and controlling

This is the process of developing the company’s mission and defining specific methods of accomplishing it. It can be on a broader or narrow perspective depending on the scope of the goal. Planning comes in a number of ways since all sectors in HP company or rather any other business require some form of planning in order to stick to what has been planned. First, there is financial planning which entails the budgeting allocations for all the programs being undertaken within the company. Provision of benefits, compensations and salaries are also taken care of at this stage. Human resource planning is crucial to achieving the best from employees. The goal of planning in relation to human resource is to assist HP to meet its strategic objectives, planning also ensure that the employees are effectively managed and well maintained. The company ensures better work force planning by proper selection and recruitment, offering orientation and induction to the new recruits, organizing trainings to develop and equip them with new skills. This together with better employment benefits goes a long way in making the employees achieve their targets. In addition the company is able to equip its employees with the latest technological tools which the employees use to achieve efficiency. This improves the technology of the company as more innovations are created.

Organizing is how the internal structure of the company is set. It generally focuses on the division, coordination of activities and how tasks are controlled within the company.
General company procedure demand good organization from the leaders and managers. At HP for the management is responsible for organizing all activities of the employees. This includes meetings that bring together all the employees on board. They also organize daily and monthly meetings within the specific affiliate factories when an issue arises. Proper organization of a meeting or how a project will be conducted results in a successful of the company. Through, these meeting employees are able to exchange views and ideas on how best to improve their work. It is at this meeting that new ideas on technological improvement come up. HP is sorely based on technology, and the managed has insured better organization by providing what is required in terms of tools, materials and skilled manpower. Without proper organization no company can be successful as they will be conflicts in the company. In HP this has been avoided.

Leadership is also described as directing people to do specific duties by influencing their personal behavior through incentives and motivation, teamwork, individual dynamics and discipline. The core purpose of leadership is to channel all the employees’ behavior towards attaining the company’s objectives. Leadership is thus essential in creating and maintaining a healthy organizational culture within HP. Leading does not necessarily come from that in power but from any individual who provides information and suggestions on the way forward. Decision making within HP rests on the shoulders of the managers and leaders in the company who usually take risks whenever an issue that requires to be addressed arises. In improving its technology aspects hp have managed to created good team leaders. Teams are usually very inventive and team leaders are used to guide and oversee that the employees are able to achieve new products and improve on product technology.



Robert II Smith has spent more than 20 years working as a professor at University of California. Now he spends his time with his family and shares his experience with students about cheap research paper on any topic. Robert II Smith is a right person to ask about business papers.

Article Source: http://articles.directorygold.com

For more articles on Management visit the DirectoryGold Article Directory

For links to sites on Management visit the DirectoryGold Web Directory

Labels:

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Managers Must Do What they Say to Get Employees to Trust Managment

Managers Must Do What they Say to Get Employees to Trust Managment by Christine Casey Cooper

Do you think your employees trust company leadership? Surveys suggest that only 40% of employees trust communication from management. Employees also don't trust management to communicate honestly on issues such as company vision and objectives. While employees may feel pride in the company, they don't have complete trust in the management running the company. Scandals of the immediate past have fed the cynicism and lack of trust of management.

The communications tools now available have made it easier to transmit top-down information and directives. However, employees still have an unclear image of where the ship is sailing. The result will be a less committed and less engaged workforce. The military learned a long time ago that the troops need to be informed by the man on top regarding objectives and rationale of future actions. It is then that they will feel equipped and motivated to face changes and challenges, regardless of the seriousness. The principle generally also applies to life in the factories and offices.

Most of the people running corporate America have the right intentions. They are working to boost profits, maintain jobs, and deliver quality products under trying circumstances. In senior management, there may be so many simulataneous initiatives that they forget about their previous promises. They are not intentionally dishonest; they are trying to do the right thing, but they get busy, forget to communicate, neglect follow through, and trust declines as a result. Left unattended, low trust in management can cost financially; companies with high management trust levels earn proportionately three times more than companies with low management trust levels.

The CEO and other senior leaders are the true stewards of organizational and management trust and integrity. Companies with high levels of management trust communicate both good and bad news to employees and they do it often. Trust is also supported by how well companies manage changes such as mergers, downsizing, and restructuring. Regardless of the change, what matters is how it is handled. High trust companies generally do a better job of it.

Degeneration of trust in management is a problem for both employees and management. How can management motivate the workforce when they simply don't believe the information management tells them?

Characteristics of distrust

- It is self perpetuating; employees don't trust management, and management becomes less trusting of employees;

- Management distrust is like a virus; it gains strength as it spreads. New employees learn from more seasoned employees that management cannot be trusted.

- Management distrust is resistant to change. Some managers conclude that to stop the distrust, they must move the operations to another part of the country and hire a new work force.

Building Trust

- Start trusting employees. Management needs to show trust of employees. Employees will eventually learn to reciprocate. This can take time and patience. It's like trying to reach a battlefield trucewhile the snipers continue to fire.

- Don't withhold information. Often, corporate leaders operate on a need to know basis. However, employees feel that information has been sanitized when it is delayed.

- Be honest at all times. If employees feel that they are being misled, trust in management will be lost, perhaps permanently.

- Conduct more face to face communications. Sometimes employees need to hear straight from the boss in forum. Management by walking around is important in building trust also.

- Listen to your people and let them know that they've been heard. Employees become distrustful when they sense that their views are not being heard. Management needs to acknowledge employee suggestions by acting on them and letting all know that they did so.

- Communicate the things you know for sure and then make you see those plans through. This will create improved communication and trust of leadership in future activities.




Christine Casey-Cooper is a leadership coach an author of the satirical book The Crass Captain's Quick Guide to Management Dysfunction. Visit http://www.CrassCaptain.com for leadership and management advice, and some bad boss advice from the Crass Captain.


Article Source: http://articles.directorygold.com

For more articles on Management visit the DirectoryGold Article Directory

For links to sites on Management visit the DirectoryGold Web Directory

Labels: