Preview

Katz Theory of Management

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1703 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Katz Theory of Management
Critically evaluate the relevance of the three skills identified by Katz to the work of first-line managers.

Provide evidence, theoretical analysis and refer to academic journals to support your essay discussion.

In a constantly evolving business environment, it’s no surprise that the job of a first line manager has changed. As such this essay will be covering 3 main aspects. Firstly, it will identify the work of the first line manager followed by Katz’s 3 skills and their relevance and lastly, whether other skills are applicable to the work of the first line managers.

Managers are defined as people who coordinate and oversee the work of other people so that organisational goals can be accomplished (Robbins, Bergman, Stagg and Coulter, 2008, p.8).
There are three main levels of managers. Firstly, there are the top managers who “create organisational goals, strategies and operating policies”(Griffin,2000, p.4). For example, the CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, would have set aims for the organisation to achieve a certain amount of profit per year and have set rules and regulations that should be abided by in order to achieve its goals via efficient and effective methods. Secondly, there are the middle line managers who are primarily responsible for implementing the policies and plans created by top managers and for overseeing and managing the activities of lower-level managers. For example, they would monitor quality control, equipment failures, and coordinate the work of supervisors ensuring the organisation runs smoothly.

First line managers and Conceptual Skills
Thirdly, there are the first line managers who “supervise and coordinate the activities of operating employees” (Griffin, 2000, p.5) The first line manager’s job involves overseeing day to day operations, ensuring that production goals are carried out efficiently and effectively as they directly affect the company’s profits. Drucker (1955) states that managers must organize the employees and

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    CIS 348 ASSIGNMENT 1

    • 960 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The three levels of management required to produce each of the deliverables described are low-level management, middle-level management, and top-level management. Top-level managers are responsible for controlling and overseeing the entire organization and its operations. Middle-level managers are responsible for executing organizational plans, project management and communicating up and down the chain, and also complying with the company 's policies. These managers act at an intermediary or mediator between top-level management and low-level management. Low-level managers focus on controlling and directing production and efficiency. They serve as role models for the employees they supervise.…

    • 960 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A manager in “top” management is primarily responsible for the organization. These individuals are responsible for setting goals, utilizing and developing strategies, while making changes to the structure and design of the organization. Middle management concern themselves with the major departments and must correlate the separate departments to fit the rest of the organization. The top and middle managers must work together to achieve the desired goal of the company to obtain the abstract idea of organizational theory or one unit. An example would be the common hierarchy of management for an organization. Having the hierarchy of management top, middle and lower level management in place can have significant advantages to the organization. It provides a structure that can filter through the entire organization. Let’s look from another perspective. If management didn’t study organizational theory and how it is relevant to organizations the company, that the managers are employed with, would suffer and would not be efficient or effective. This would lead them to miss their objectives as well as their goals. I have personally experienced organizations that did not concern themselves with the overall organization structure or theory of that company. The manager departments did not work well together and they kept most of their operations separate from the top-level managers. This caused issues for employees, who didn’t fully understand their objectives or goals, but also for customers of the company. Customers became irate from the mediocre services being provided which created a loss of revenue as well as clients. I believe it is imperative for companies to fully understand organizational theory but to also create a training program for the company so managers from all levels and employees are all working in the same direction to achieve the goals of the…

    • 579 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Management deals with every aspect of the organization so it operates smoothly. Planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling are the basic functions that management handles (Reilly, et al, 2011). Management gives direction so that the organizational goals may be reached. Managers use planning to choose appropriate organizational goals and identify courses of action to best reach those goals. They determine the best way to organize and use resources. Management recruits, selects, trains, evaluates, compensates and disciplines the employees within the organization. They coordinate and motivate their employees to help them reach their individual goals as well as the organization 's. The measure, compare and evaluate the standards and goals of the organization and decide the next course of action. There are different levels of management but they all perform these functions; depending on what level of management determines how much time is spent performing the functions, however. Top level managers such as the CEO would spend more time planning, i.e., defining goals and procedures to reach those goals. Middle management for instance a general manager would spend more time organizing and reporting back to top level management. Supervisors or foremen (low level management) spend their time directing others. They assign tasks, provide direction and guidance to employees, and ensure the quality and quantity…

    • 1557 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    LDR 531 Final Exam Answers

    • 15106 Words
    • 51 Pages

    3) Robert Katz identified three essential skills that managers must have to reach their goals. What are these skills?…

    • 15106 Words
    • 51 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Ilm Level 3

    • 433 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Develop an introductory knowledge and understanding of solving problems and making decisions as required by a practising or potential first line manager.…

    • 433 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    A line manager directs the work of employees and makes sure decisions without consulting anyone. On the other hand, Senior Managers give the managers the authority to advise other managers or employees. They create staff authority functions to support, assist, advice, and to reduce some of the informational burdens that the line managers have. Line managers in many organizations also carry out activities that have traditionally fallen within the remit of HR such as providing coaching and guidance, undertaking performance appraisals and dealing with discipline and grievances. They also often carry out tasks such as recruitment and selection or pastoral care in conjunction with HR. Staff managers assist and advice line managers in accomplishing their basic goals. They do, however, need to work in partnership with each other to be successful. Line Managers have a huge part to play within the organization, ensuring that their department conforms to the overall objectives of the organization. Therefore, Line Managers could be looked at as the individuals within the organization who are required to be in agreement with the details of the job summary forms completed by its staff, which is discussed between the line managers, human resource managers and the staff. Also, use one 's detailed understanding of the jobs to check that they are portrayed reasonably and correctly, check that all staff have included all the pertinent requirements of their job, monitor absenteeism and time keeping. They also handle any conflicts within the department which may arise so that the source of the problem is dealt with immediately…

    • 1140 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Mk 201

    • 2161 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Managers: persons who directly supervise, support, and help activate work efforts and achieve the performance goals of individuals, teams, or even an organization…

    • 2161 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Belbin Teamwork Essay

    • 540 Words
    • 3 Pages

    As a manager, you work alongside a variety of colleagues, ranging from different levels in the workplace hierarchy. You will have a line manager whom you yourself report to (often this is the business owner or else someone in management who liaises with managers across all branches if it is a setting with more than one establishment); as well as colleagues who report to you and for whom you are the line manager. You will also of…

    • 540 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Mgt 300 Exam 1 Study Guide

    • 8218 Words
    • 33 Pages

    Middle manager – responsible for finding the best way to organize human and other resources to achieve organizational goals. To increase efficiency, middle managers find ways to help first-line managers and nonmanagerial employees better utilize resources to reduce manufacturing costs or improve customer service. To increase effectiveness, middle managers evaluate whether the goals that the organization is pursuing are appropriate and suggest to top managers ways in which goals should be changed. A major part of the middle manager’s job is developing and fine-tuning skills and know-how, such as manufacturing or marketing expertise, that allow the organization to be efficient and effective. Middle managers do less planning and controlling than top managers, but more than first-line managers. They spend roughly the same amount of time organizing as the other levels, but spend more time leading than top managers do.…

    • 8218 Words
    • 33 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Telstra Power

    • 2760 Words
    • 12 Pages

    As the ‘Top-level manager’, David Thodey makes decisions affecting the entire company. He does not direct the day-to-day activities of the company; instead he sets goals for the organization and directs the company to achieve them. An example is the announcement of a strategy of market differentiation and a renewed focus on customer service and satisfaction (Telstra Website, 2009). Top managers are ultimately responsible for the performance of the organization (Simmering, 2007). Following the top-level management group is the middle-level managers, who set goals for their departments and other business units. Middle managers are charged with motivating and assisting first-line managers to achieve the company’s objectives. They also play an important role by communicating and offering suggestions to the top managers, as they are more involved in the day-to-day workings of the company.…

    • 2760 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Managers are the people that make the future happen. They form the expectations of people into agendas and action plans for example.…

    • 2066 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Casa 4

    • 489 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Managers are responsible for and support the work of others. They are people who are within an organisation who actively plan, organise, control and lead a group to enforce work efforts and performance achievements. (Schermerhorn, Jr, Chau, Davidson & Poole, 2010, p.15, 20).…

    • 489 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Organizational Structure

    • 577 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Having managers in front line and middle level that are in charge of marketing, finance, and human resources make it possible for the daily operations to run smooth. This makes it possible for the upper level managers to make decisions that are most effective for the success of the company. Each…

    • 577 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Management and Leadership

    • 2549 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Managers have formal authority and status as per the level of hierarchy and have to perform many different roles.…

    • 2549 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Front office managers use a number of skills to successfully perform their duties. Two of these skills are a thorough knowledge of the company and an understanding of its products. Another crucial skill is an awareness of the roles of other office employees. This knowledge of the products, company structure and employee duties allows the office manager to effectively assign job responsibilities and allocate company resources while maintaining an efficient working environment.…

    • 475 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays

Related Topics