Managers often take a limited view of their responsibilities in that they consider their subordinates and the tasks to be performed by their department as isolated from both the company as a whole or the larger business environment. By adopting a systems perspective, managers are able to create an environment in which their subordinates are able to maximize their contributions to the organization, and in which the managers themselves are able to understand better how their group fits into the larger organization.
The systems approach can be integrated into the major functions performed by managers, including: goal-setting, planning, organizing, delegating, establishing interpersonal relationships, performance appraisals, motivation and facilitating employee development.
Management is a broad term that encompasses many different aspects of a business. There is financial management, personnel management, marketing management, strategic management, production management, operations management and management of information. The common thread in each of these areas, as with the many other areas of management, is the need to control and understand the information associated with each area. As companies strive to become more competitive, there is increasing pressure on managers to understand not only their particular sphere, but also the interaction that their department or group has with other areas of the company. For example, it is no longer sufficient for a marketing manager to be proficient only in marketing goods; the manager must also understand how his forecasts and activities affect other areas of the organization.
This research examines the role of management in general, and considers the increasingly critical function of the manager as supervisor, including ways in which supervisors can work so that their effectiveness, and the effectiveness of their organization, is maximized. Using a systems approach to management...