Text 3. The managers’ job.
Our society is made up of all kinds of organizations, such as companies, government departments, unions, hospitals, school and the like. In all these organizations there are people carrying out the work of a manager although they do not always have that title. They have responsibility to use the resources of their organizations effectively and economically to achieve objectives.
Are there certain activities common to all managers? Can we define the task of a manager? There is a classic definition of the manager’s role. It says: “To manage means to forecast and plan, to organize, to command, to coordinate and to control.” This definition is still accepted by many people today, though some writers on management have somewhat modified this description. Instead of talking about command, they say a manager must motivate or direct and lead other workers.
But despite different approaches to the nature of managerial tasks, the key tasks of managers can be organized into five functions of planning, organizing, staffing, leading(directing) and controlling which constitute the framework of managerial activity.
However, in most companies, the activities of a manager depend on the level at which he/she is working.
Top managers such as the chairman and directors are more involved in long range planning, policy making and the relations of the company with the outside world. They make decisions on the future of the company, the sort of product lines it should develop, how it should face up to the competition and so on.
Top managers: president, vice-president, chief executive officer (CEO) and members of the Board.
Middle management and supervisors are generally making the day-to-day decisions which help an organization to run efficiently and smoothly. They must respond to the pressures of the job which may mean dealing with an unhappy customer, chasing up suppliers, meeting an urgent order or sorting out a technical problem. Managers at this level spend a great deal of time communicating, coordinating and making decisions affecting the daily operation of their organizations.
Middle management includes: division manager, department head, plant manager and operation manager.
What qualities should managers have to fulfill their work? First of all they need to be good at observing- to understand the behaviour, the strengths and weaknesses of their staff. Then they need to be goof at listening – so they can learn more about their staff’s problems. The next thing is to be good at asking questions – so they can find all the information they need to make the right decisions. It is also important to plan ahead, set clear objectives, enjoy working with people, and judge their abilities, to be patient and persuasive.
Vocabulary to Text 3
1. title n титул, звание, ранг
Syn: rank, status, position
2. definition n определение, формулировка
Syn: explanation
3. forecast (forecast, forecasted) v предсказывать, предвидеть, предвосхищать
Syn: predict
4. command v командовать, управлять
Syn: lead, direct, govern
5. description n описание, характеристика
6. lead (led, led) v возглавлять, руководить, управлять, командовать
Syn: direct, manage, control
7. framework n а) рамки, пределы; б) структура, строение
Syn: limits, structure
8. face up to быть готовым встретить что-либо
9. to be faced with smth сталкиваться лицом к лицу с ч.л.
10. supervisor n контролер, надсмотрщик, начальник (среднего уровня)
11. chase up (здесь) выяснять, наводить справки, удостоверяться
12. sort out а) улаживать (проблемы) , б) выяснять (вопрос)
Syn: a) to settle; b) to inquire into, to make clear
13. fulfill v выполнять, осуществлять, совершать
Syn: perform, carry out, effect, accomplish
14. observe v наблюдать, замечать, обращать внимание ( on)
Syn: notice, perceive
15. strength n достоинство, сильная сторона
16. weakness n слабое место, недостаток
17. be good at быть способным к чему-либо
Answer the questions to Text 3:
1. What are managers responsible for?
2. What is a classic definition of managers’ role?
3. What are five main functions of managers?
4. What are top managers involved in? Name the positions of top management.
5. What are the tasks of middle management?
6. What positions form middle management?
7. What are the qualities of a good manager?
Exercises to Text 3
Exercise 1. Match the words in left and right columns:
1. judge a) information
2. run b) decision
3. spend c) weaknesses
4. find d) order
5. meet e) resources
6. understand f) time
7. make g) ahead
8. set h) effectively
9. plan i) abilities
10. use j) work
11. fulfill k) objectives
Exercise 2. Give Russian equivalents to the following words and collocations:
1) to carry out work; 2) supervision;3) to affect daily operations; 4) to observe; 5) respond to the pressures; 6)chairman(person); 7) responsibility; 8)forecast; 9) meet an urgent order; 10) face up to the competition; 11) persuasive; 12) smoothly; 13)chief executive officer; 14) pressure of job; 15) set clear objectives; 16) operational manager;17) be involved in; 18) division manager; 19) framework;20) different approaches. 21)chase up suppliers.
Exercise 3. Give English equivalents to the following words and collocations:
1)внешний мир; 2) звание; 3) много времени; 4)планировать заранее; 5) быть терпеливым; 6) быть способным к чему-либо; 7)составлять , включать в себя; 8) достигать целей; 9) зависеть от; 11) состоять из; 12) члены Совета директоров; 13) поведение; 13)повседневные решения; 14) характер управленческих задач; 15)правительственные ведомства;16) улаживать проблемы.
Exercise 4. Find in the text synonyms to the following words:
1) rank ; 2) goal; 3) performance; 4) aptitude; 5) to apprise; 6 characteristic;
7) settle; 8) manage; 9) involve, contain; 10) stress; 11) be capable at; 12) department, branch; 13) to form, to compose; 14) direct; 15) structure; 16) make sure.
Exercise 5. Insert prepositions:
1. We must respond____ the pressure ____- our competitors.
2. Who makes decisions on the future _____ your company?
3. Top managers are more involved ____ long-range planning and policy making.
4. These types of activities are common _____ all managers.
5. Do you know who carries _____ the work of the manager ____ production department?
6. Our company has to face ____ ____ the competition of Chinese companies dealing _____ similar products.
7. You need to be good _____ listening – so you can learn more _____ your staff’s problems.
8. The activities of a manager depend ____ the level ______ which he is working.
9. There are different approaches _____ the nature ___ managerial tasks.
10. Dealing _____ unhappy customers, meeting ____ an urgent orders, sorting _____ various problems – those are some of the challenges which a manager has to face ____.