Question

CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE LEVELS OF MANAGEMENT AND EVALUATE THE THREE DIFFERENT KINDS OF SKILLS REQUIRED TO ENFORCE THEIR ROLES

Answer 1

Managers are the employees who are responsible for the work performance of other organization members. They have to use the organization's resources to achieve the defined goals and objectives. In an organization, three are three levels of management: top-level managers, middle-level managers, and first-level managers.

Top-level managers or senior management in the organization are responsible for making the strategies and directing the company. They are designated as CEO, COO or Head of divisions. They make decisions, which affect the entire organization. Top management is not involved in the day-to-day activities but set the goals for the organization and directs the team members to achieve them. They are responsible for the overall performance of the organization. The top managers have a varied experience and skill set. They may be brought in from another company to head the company or maybe an employee with hard-core experience in the organization and who has been groomed to take over the role. Most top managers have good conceptual skills and experience in management clubbed with a degree from a top management institute.

Mid-level managers report to the top-level managers and are just below the top management. They are designated as a plant head, general manager, regional manager, etc. They are responsible to achieve the goals of the organization. They will set the goals for the subunits and other business units. Their job is to motivate the first-level managers to achieve their objectives. The middle manager gives suggestions and feedback to top-level managers and contributes to strategic decision making. Jobs and salaries in mid-level management vary from company to company. The job profile of a mid-level manager also varies according to the size of the organization. In a small organization, mid-level managers may be in charge of a small business unit and a bigger organization, the mid-level manager heads the business unit. Most mid-level managers are either brought in from other organizations or have grown from the first-level managers. Some mid-level managers aspire to become part of the top management by improving tier experience, skillset and taking on additional educational qualifications.

The first level managers are supervisors and first-line managers. They have titles like the supervisor, office manager, store manager, etc. First-line managers are responsible to conduct daily operations along with the workers. They do not set the organizational goals and objectives but they share inputs to define future goals and help to fine-tune the goals of the organization. The first-line managers are responsible to motivate the workers and employees they are constantly directing and guiding them on a day-to-day basis. Earlier first-level managers were those with limited education but had grown from the position of a worker. Nowadays first-level managers are young graduates from college with a year or two of experience. They want the hands-on experience to grow to middle and senior level in the hierarchy.

The skills required by different levels of management vary but regardless of the organization all managers must have three critical skills namely Technical skills, conceptual skill, and interpersonal skills.

Technical skills are those which give the managers the ability and knowledge to use a variety of techniques to achieve their goals. The technical skills required are the ability to use the software, operate machines, use equipment, etc. It also includes skills and ability to boost sales, the capability to improve efficiency and productivity levels, the ability to design new products and services, and also market the products and services. The technical skill required varies at different levels of management.

The first level manager may engage in actual operations of the management. They would need to have hands-on experience in operating machinery, using software or have the ability to design new products and services. It is critical to have the requisite skill set to direct the employees and to evaluate and motivate them to give their best. First-level managers also need skills to schedule workers, make budgets. Middle managers need more skills in planning and organizing the resources to achieve the goals and objectives of the organization. The top management needs skills to address strategic issues and to analyze the business from a larger perspective. They need skills to analyze financial planning and to address complex budgeting issues.

Interpersonal skills involve managers' ability to effectively communicate with other members of the organization. Communication is critical for the success of the organization it should be fluid, flexible and ensure efficient flow across the organization. Inefficient communication can prevent the career progression of managers. This is a skill that is required at all levels of management. The first line managers should be able to communicate effectively with his team of workers and also share feedback and inputs with his senior manager. Similarly, a middle-level manager should effectively share feedback with top-level management and also direct the first-level managers. The communication channels should be effective and efficient. The top management level communicates with the middle-level managers and his communication defines the culture of the organization. The top-level manager is also responsible to communicate with the shareholders. The interpersonal skill is critical across all levels of managers.

Conceptual skills are the manager's ability to look at the organization as one entity. It involves understanding how the different teams and units work together and how the organization fits into the competitive industry environment. Conceptual skills are most important for top-level managers. They must see the big picture and their ability to foresee and understand the big picture can directly impact the growth and success of the organization. The conceptual level skill helps managers to look outside their own departments' goals. The conceptual skill is important for middle-level managers so see how all different units work together cohesively. The first line manager uses conceptual skills to manage his goals and to understand how they impact the other units of the organization. They require minimal conceptual skills.

To conclude the first-line managers need maximum technical skills, good interpersonal skills, and limited conceptual skills. The middle-level manager needs average technical skills, good interpersonal skills and a fair amount of conceptual skills. The top-level manager needs minimum technical skills and maximum conceptual skills. Effective interpersonal skills are critical for all levels of management.