BCom Notes Part II Management Different levels of Management

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Different levels of Management

What are the different levels of management? Also describe the functions of managers at different levels. Levels of Management

A level of management means the positions of managers in the organizational hierarchy. The number of level is question, which is related to several important elements, such as costs, status, working styles, etc. It depends on such factors as organization’s size, technology and degree of diversity in its work activities.

Three levels have been generally recognized in organizational hierarchy as follows:

1. Top Management

It includes the top managers or management committees, such as board of directors, management council, chairman, general managers etc.

2. Middle Management

It includes departmental heads and sectional heads, which are below top managers, out above lower managers.

3. Supervisory Management

It is also known as lower management and includes managers, such as foreman, salesman, assistants, head clerk and supervisors.

Functions of Managers at Different Levels

At different levels in the management hierarchy, the managers perform different functions as follows.

1. Top Management

Top managers functions relate mainly to designing of plans, policies and organization structure. They deal with environmental process and provide leadership to the organization.

2. Middle Management

In many cases the job of the middle manager is that of intermediary between top management and supervisory or operating management. They coordinate inputs production and outputs. They are responsible for executing the plans and policies framed by the top managers.

3. Supervisory Management

At this level, managers get down to the most specific and detailed aspects of the organizational task. They are responsible for getting the technical guidance, help and solve the obstacles, doubts and inconveniences of the workers and remove their dissatisfaction. They make recommendations for providing proper working conditions etc.

Managerial Skills and Levels of Management

These are four types of managerial skills, which are required in different degrees of importance at various managerial levels as follows:

1. Technical Skill

It is the ability to use tools, procedures or techniques of a specialized field. It is relatively more important and required at supervisory level then its importance goes on reducing at middle and top levels. For example, a supervisor must have full knowledge as to how the plastic molding machine works. However, the President of a company does not need to know much of the technical details of drilling for oil or how to refine the oil.

2. Human Skill

It is the ability to work with understand and motivate other people. This skill is essential at every level of management because all managers whether at high or at low level have to deal with their subordinates.

3. Conceptual Unit

It is the mental ability to coordinate the organization’s interests and activities and to see the organization in its enlarged form as one whole system. This type of skill is primarily required at the top level and then at the middle and lower levels, its importance keeps on diminishing.

4. Design of Problem Solving Skill

It is the ability to see a problem and then also to workout a solution to it. This skill is required at all levels because every manager without reference to this level makes decision strategic, or routine ones. However, its significance lies more at higher levels.