Text 4. Major functions of Managers.

There are five major functions of managers: planning, organizing, leading and coordinating and controlling.

1) Planning includes identifying goals, objectives, methods, resources needed to carry out methods, responsibilities and dates for completion of tasks. Before planning its future top management of a company must decide which markets to enter and which to pull out off; how expansion is to be financed; whether new products will be developed within the organization or acquired by buying from other companies. Examples of planning are strategic planning, business planning, project planning, work force planning, promotions planning etc.

2) Organizing is the process of putting the plan into action. It involves allocating resources, especially human in order to achieve the goals in an optimal fashion. Staffing, choosing the right person for the job, may also be determined as an important function of managers. Examples are organizing new departments, human resources, office and file systems, re-organizing business, etc.

3) Leading (directing) includes setting direction for the organization, groups and individuals and influencing people to follow this direction. In directing, managers guide, teach and motivate employees so that they reach their potential abilities and at the same time achieve the company goals that were established in the planning process.

4) Coordinating the organization’s systems, processes and structures to reach effectively and efficiently goals and objectives.

5) In the last management function, controlling, managers evaluate how well company objectives are being met. It includes constant monitoring and adjustment of systems, processes and structures accordingly. If major problems exist and goals are not achieved, then changes need to be made in the company’s organizational structure Examples include use of financial control, monitoring of management processes, measures to avoid risks etc.

Vocabulary to Text 4

1. put off v избавиться, отделаться

Syn: get rid of

2. expansion n расширение

3. acquire v приобретать, получать

Syn: get

4. allocate v размещать, распределять

5. adjustment n приспособление, регулировка

6. evaluate v оценивать, составлять мнение

Syn: reckon up

7. guide v вести, направлять, управлять

8. avoid v избегать, остерегаться

Exercises to Text 4

Answer the questions to Text 4:

1. What does function of planning involve?

2. What does top management need to decide before starting to plan the activity of its company?

3. What types of planning do you know?

4. What does the organizing function mean and what does it involve?

5. Give the examples of organizing function.

6. Explain the meaning of leading (directing) function?

7. What is coordinating function?

8. What does controlling function involve?

Exercise 2. Arrange the words in suitable pairs:

1.motivate a) business

2. allocate b) risks

3. develop c) direction

4. choose d)expansion

5. identify e) resources

6. complete f) person

7. enter g) employees

8. finance h) goal

9. re-organize j) task

10. follow i) market

11. avoid k) products

Exercise 3. Give Russian equivalents to the following words and collocations:

1) carry out responsibilities; 2) pull put; 3) to acquire new products; 4) promotion planning; 5) allocate resources; 6) in order to achieve goals; 7) to determine functions; 8) to set direction for the organization; 9) to establish goals; 10) constant monitoring;

Exercise 4. Give English equivalents to the following words and collocations:

1) высшее руководство; 2) вступать на рынок; 3) расширение; 4) планирование рабочей силы; 5) приводить план в действие; 6) в оптимальном виде; 7) выбрать правильного человека; 8) влиять на людей; 9)потенциальные способности; 10) выполнять задачи, цели; 11) регулирование, корректировка систем; 12) существовать; существование; 13) принимать меры, чтобы избежать рисков.

Exercise 5. Fill in prepositions where necessary:

1. Our new products are usually developed ______ the organization, but sometimes they are acquired ____ buying ____ other companies.

2. Managers interact not only ____ superiors and subordinates, they work ____ peer managers ___ other departments.

3.We are going to put our plan ____ action ____ the nearest future ___ order to achieve the goals ____ optimal fashion.

Exercise 6. Translate into English:

1. Высшее руководство компании обычно решает, на какие рынки вступить и от каких отказаться.

2. Если цели не достигнуты и существует какие-то серьезные проблемы, тогда необходимо произвести изменения в организационной структуре компании.

3. Выбор правильного человека на должность также является важной функцией менеджера.

4. Будучи лидером своей компании, вы должны учить и мотивировать своих работников, с тем, чтобы они могли реализовать свои потенциальные способности.

Text 5. Other roles of a manager in company’s activity

Sometimes a manager has to «wear different hats” in interaction with various members of organization

1.Figurehead role. As a head of a unit, the manager must perform certain ceremonial duties. He may be required to entertain visitors, attend a subordinate’s wedding or jubilee celebrations, or participate in a group luncheon.

2.Leadership role. Manager plays this role by working to improve employees’ performance, reducing conflicts, providing feedback on performance, and encouraging growth.

3.Liaison role. Managers interact with others besides superiors and subordinates; they work with peer level managers in other departments, staff specialists, other department employees and outside contacts.

4.Monitor role. The manager is constantly monitoring the environment to determine what is going on. He collects information both directly, by asking questions, and indirectly, through unsolicited information.

5.Spokesperson or Representative Role. The manager speaks for his/her work unit to people outside the work unit. One part of this role is to keep superiors well informed and a second aspect is to communicate outside the organization.

6. Disturbance Handler Role. If some parts of the work environment, such as schedules, equipment, contracts, etc. get out of control, the manager must handle these crises as they develop.

7. Resource Allocator role. The manager is responsible for determining who in the work unit gets the resources, and how much each person gets. These resources include money, facilities, equipment, and access to the manager’s time.

8. Negotiator Role. Managers are required to spend a good portion of their time in this role. Negotiating may be required on contracts with suppliers or on reallocating resources inside the organization, and so on.