Managerial Roles

Table of Contents

Concept and Definition

The role of a manager is a set of behaviors that are associated with the task of managing. Using these roles, managers accomplish the basic functions of management just discussed: planning and strategizing, organizing, controlling, and leading and developing employees.

Mintzberg was one of the first and most enduring writers to describe the role of the manager. He observed what managers did during the day by shadowing them.

He grouped the roles into three categories: interpersonal roles, informational roles, and decisional roles. Since managing is an integrated activity, Mintzberg emphasized that these roles are seldom distinct. In most cases, visiting clients involves two or more roles at once.

Managers make decisions in every role they play, function they perform, and skill set they rely on. Making a decision means choosing between alternatives. The decision-making process begins with the identification of a problem or an opportunity.

Typically, managers make two types of decisions: programmed and nonprogrammed. Throughout an organization, routine situations that occur frequently trigger programmed decisions.

Many organizations, for example, need to hire new personnel from time to time. Consequently, most companies have established and follow standard recruitment and selection procedures.

A) Interpersonal Roles

→ Under this category are behaviors and responsibilities related to employee and stakeholder interactions. The manager can accomplish organizational goals through these interactions.

→ Both within and outside of their organizations, people spend a lot of time in interacting with each other. They include peers, subordinates, superiors, suppliers, customers, government officials, and community leaders.

→ Understanding interpersonal relationships is an important aspect of all these interactions. According to studies, managers spend over 80 percent of their time interacting with people. Among these interactions are three key interpersonal roles:

a) Figurehead: Managers are responsible for performing tasks related to social, symbolic, or legal matters. As a representative of the organization, you do not make decisions. Figureheads are also responsible for motivating their teams to accomplish goals and tasks.

b) Leader: Every manager’s job involves motivating and encouraging their employees. Additionally, he must endeavor to reconcile their individual needs with the organization’s goals. Leadership is ensuring the performance and responsibilities of your team, your department, or even your entire organization.

c) Liaison: The role of a manager as a liaison entails cultivating contacts outside his vertical chain of command to gather information that will benefit his organization.

Managers must maintain a network of outside contacts in addition to maintaining continuous contact with their subordinates, peers, and superiors in order to evaluate the external environment of competition, social changes, or changes in governmental rules, regulations, and laws. A manager in this role creates their own external information system. Read More…………

B) Informational Roles

→ To accomplish objectives, managers use this category for generating, receiving, or sharing knowledge with employees and colleagues at higher levels.

→ Managers become sources of information concerning a variety of organizational issues due to their interpersonal contacts. As a manager, you perform the following three roles in information processing:

a) Monitor : Managers constantly monitor and scan the environment, both internal and external, collecting and studying information about their organization and the outside environment that affects it.

Several methods can be used to do this, including reading reports and periodicals, contacting liaison contacts, and hearing gossip, hearsay, and speculation.

b) Disseminator: Managers who disseminate information pass some of their privileged information to subordinates who otherwise would not have access to it.

Here you can communicate potentially useful information to your colleagues and your team.

c) Spokesman : Managers are responsible for providing information and satisfying a variety of groups and individuals within the organization.

He advises shareholders on financial results, reassures consumers about the company’s social responsibilities, and assures the government that the organization is following the law. Read More…………

C) Decisional Roles

→ Managers in this category are responsible for using the information they gain to make strategic business decisions.

→ A manager must make decisions and solve organizational problems based on the information they receive about the environment.

→ Managers have four fundamental responsibilities.Following are the decisional roles performed by the managers.

a) Entrepreneur: As entrepreneurs, managers face dynamic technological challenges and are continuously improving their units.

The company is always on the lookout for new ways to improve and expand its products. A feasibility study is initiated, capital for new products is secured as needed, and employees are consulted for suggestions on how to improve the organization.

Through suggestion boxes and meetings with R & D personnel and project managers, this can be achieved.

b) Disturbance Handler: In this role, a manager must work like a firefighter. There will be unanticipated problems – a strike could occur, a major customer could go bankrupt, a supplier might renege on a contract, etc.

A manager must take charge when an organization or team encounters unexpected obstacles. Mediating disputes within the organization is also important.

c) Resource Allocator: In this role, the manager must divide work and delegate authority to subordinates. A manager must determine which subordinates will be responsible for which duties.

The best way to allocate organizational resources will also need to be determined. Allocating financial resources and assigning staff and other organizational resources are all part of this process.

d) Negotiator: Managers spend a great deal of time negotiating. It may be possible for the company chairman to negotiate a new strike issue with the union leaders, and the foreman to speak to the workers about grievances, etc.

As a member of your team, department, or organization, you may be required to participate in and direct important negotiations. Read More…………

Management Notes

Managerial Roles – 3 Types of Managerial Roles | Principles of Management (POM)