Introduction to Management (LC 2026) (Leaving Cert Business): Revision Notes
Introduction to Management
What is management?
Management is the process of getting results through other people. This involves leading, motivating and communicating with staff, as well as planning, organising and controlling work activities. Essentially, managers don't do all the work themselves - instead, they coordinate and guide others to achieve the organisation's goals.
Management: The process of achieving results through other people. It involves leading, motivating and communicating with people and planning, organising and controlling work.
Managers have a crucial responsibility for achieving their organisation's objectives. They must coordinate resources (money, staff, time, equipment and materials) and activities to ensure all parts of the organisation work towards common goals. For example, Jim Gavin was responsible for managing the Dublin senior footballers to achieve success in recent years.
Key skills and activities of management
Management involves two main areas:
Key skills:
- Leading
- Motivating
- Communicating
Key activities:
- Planning
- Organising
- Controlling
These skills and activities work together to help managers achieve their organisation's objectives effectively.
Mission statements
A mission statement is a document that sets out an organisation's objectives so that employees and stakeholders understand its aims and overall vision.
Mission Statement Examples:
- A school's mission statement might focus on 'promoting a caring environment where each individual is cherished'
- Southwest Airlines' mission statement emphasises 'dedication to the highest quality of customer service delivered with warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and company spirit'
Functions of the Managing Director or CEO
The highest manager in a company is known as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or Managing Director (MD). In Ireland, Google's CEO is Fionnuala Meehan and Microsoft Ireland's CEO is Cathriona Hallahan.
The main functions of the MD or CEO include:
- Strategic planning: Taking responsibility for developing or updating the business plan, overall strategy and monitoring all areas of the company
- Day-to-day management: Managing the company on behalf of shareholders and the Board of Directors
- Staff coordination: Meeting regularly with department managers and delegating responsibility to them
- Board reporting: Reporting monthly to the Board of Directors and ensuring board decisions are implemented
Board of Directors: A group of people elected to represent the shareholders of a company. The board makes decisions on major company issues.
Characteristics of a manager
Good managers typically share five key personal characteristics. Managers lacking these traits often struggle to inspire confidence in their employees and may find it difficult to achieve organisational objectives.
1. Charisma and people skills
Managers need strong people skills and must be well-liked by their subordinates to succeed. They should communicate effectively and show genuine interest in their staff, recognising achievements. For example, former US President Barack Obama is renowned for his charisma.
Charisma: A characteristic that inspires admiration and motivation, often involving qualities such as competence, personal warmth and confidence.
Subordinates: People in a more junior work position.
2. Problem solving
Managers must analyse problems quickly and break them into smaller, manageable issues. They need to use all available information, experience and resources to find the best solutions. They must identify priorities and make decisive choices about next steps.
Worked Example: Problem Solving in Action
When Chance the Rapper dropped out of Longitude 2019, festival managers quickly found Stormzy as a replacement, using their experience and resources to secure an alternative act.
3. Initiative
Managers cannot simply react to competitors' actions - they must plan and organise activities that implement overall organisational strategies. They need to take initiative when solving problems and develop new ideas to attract customers. For example, recognising the growing importance of sustainability, AIB launched the Green Bond Framework in 2019, committing £5 billion over five years to help businesses make energy-efficient changes like green buildings or wind farms.
4. Flexibility
Managers must adapt quickly when things go wrong. They need to modify their original plans to meet current needs rather than being rigid in their approach. JD Sports demonstrated this flexibility by responding to high street market challenges through driving online sales and offering more premium products.
5. Hard work
Management roles involve significant pressure, so managers must work hard and complete demanding tasks. Importantly, managers set the workplace tone by leading through example. Kevin O'Connor, MD of Ireland's Colourtrend Paints, demonstrates this principle by never asking staff to do anything he wouldn't do himself.
Management behaviours most valued by subordinates
Research shows that subordinates particularly value certain management behaviours. The most highly rated include:
- Inspires and motivates others (38% of respondents)
- Displays integrity and honesty (37%)
- Solves problems and analyses issues (37%)
- Seeks results (36%)
- Communicates powerfully (35%)
Other important behaviours include collaborating and promoting teamwork (33%), building relationships (30%), and displaying expertise (27%). Interestingly, taking initiative ranked lower at only 19%, despite being identified as a key management characteristic.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Management is about achieving results through other people, not doing everything yourself
- The key management skills are leading, motivating and communicating, while key activities are planning, organising and controlling
- CEOs and MDs have strategic responsibility for the entire organisation and report to the Board of Directors
- The five essential manager characteristics are charisma, problem-solving ability, initiative, flexibility and hard work
- Subordinates most value managers who inspire and motivate them, display honesty, and solve problems effectively