Management

1. INTRODUCTION

In this Field Study Report I have discussed the concept and importance of the Leadership in management, and how it can be used objectively in an organization. For this purpose I have studied and analyzed the techniques being used by ABM Data Systems (Private) Limited, and finally, I have made some recommendations for improvement in the organization.

1.1 THE MANAGEMENT PROCESS

The process of management consists of the functions of planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling. At the planning stage the management defines goals and objectives to be achieved. Organizing, staffing, and leading are functions to implement those plans. The controlling function is used to determine whether the established objectives have been achieved. The functions of management are explained briefly below:

1.1.1 PLANNING

At this stage, broad organizational goals and objectives are first defined. Then, the broad goals are broken down into smaller and narrowed objectives. To achieve those narrowed objectives, various alternative courses of action are determined. After studying and analyzing all alternative courses, and applying the techniques of decision making, the most effective and feasible course of action is chosen. The chosen course of action is also called the plan of action.

1.1.2 ORGANIZING

The first step in implementation of a plan is organizing. Organizing means to break up the plan of action into smaller activities so that it can be accomplished by a group of people. The organizing function thus not only determines the persons needed to do a job, but also defines the job of each position in the organizational hierarchy.

1.1.3 STAFFING

The staffing function involves the recruitment of appropriate staff to the positions defined at the organizing phase.

1.1.4 LEADING

To get the work done through people requires the people to be properly led. The leading function, therefore, involves motivation of the employees, and effective communication with the employees, and their participation in the organizational goals.

1.1.5 CONTROLLING

The controlling function ensures that the managerial plans are being implemented properly, and through comparison of results with the targets, it is determined whether the organizational goals and objectives are being met. Various control techniques, which would be discussed shortly, are used to implement such controls.

2 LEADERSHIP

Leadership in the management scope refers to the art of inducing subordinates to accomplish their assignments with zeal, devotion and confidence. Manager, as a leader, influences his subordinates to work together willingly on related tasks to attain, and makes them to put their best efforts. Managerial leadership is one of the most effective tool of handling people to work effectively towards accomplishing the prescribed objectives.

2.1 DEFINITION AND MEANINGS

* Leadership is the art or process of influencing people so that they will strive willingly and enthusiastically toward the achievement of group goal.

* Leadership is the ability to influence and to motivate others to achieve organizational goals.

* Leadership is the relationship in which one person (the leader) influences others to work together willingly on related tasks to attain goals desired by the leader and/or group.

* Leadership is direction setting, aligning people, motivating and inspiring.

* Leadership is quality of behaviour of individuals whereby they guide people of their activities in organized effort.

2.2 IMPORTANCE OF LEADERSHIP

Now-a-days leadership has become an important task of management due to:

* rapid advancement in technology,

* specialization in the field of commerce and industry,

* enhancement of size of industry,

* increase of social demands, etc.

Successful implementation of various programmes, plans and projects depend upon the way in which these are guided. It depends on the successful person of good leadership.

2.3 FUNCTIONS OF LEADERSHIP

The leader, as a manager, creates the love for work devotion to duty, but also induces subordinates to work with greater sincerity, zeal and interest with maximum efficiency and with better understanding. The leader as a manager performs the following four distinct functions:

2.3.1 DIRECTING

The first function of leadership is to initiate the subordinate to work and give the desired result.

2.3.2. RESPONDING

Psychologically handle the subordinates for favourably responds to the call/direction of manager.

2.3.3 REPRESENTING

Represent his own personality in a clear and understandable way, and at the same time he should represent the subordinates to his own side as they appear and as they really are.

2.3.4 CONVINCING

Create confidence among his subordinates with regard to his thinking, approach, and character.

2.4 POWER AND LEADERSHIP

Leaders apply power within organization to influence individuals or groups of employees, peers and managers. However, they do not always have to exercise their power in order to influence others. There are different forms of power which are explained as under:

2.4.1 LEGITIMATE POWER

Legitimate power derived from a specific position in the organization structure and the formal authority vested in it.