Task 4. Defining management. Here are some definitions of management and the role of managers. Complete the sentences with words from the box.
Assembling, controlling, financial (x2), goals, human (x2), information, innovation (x2), leadership, leading, marketing, material (x2), organization (x2), organizing , planning (x2), process (x2), resources (x2).
1. Managers are responsible for the process of p_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ , o_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, l_ _ _ _ _ _ and c_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the efforts of o_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ members and of using all organizational r_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to achieve stated organizational g_ _ _ _.
2. Management is the process of optimizing h_ _ _ _, m_ _ _ _ _ _ _ and f_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ contributions for the achievement of organizational goals.
3. A modern view of management, expressed by Sir Roland Smith, is that ‘Management should be based on i_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ , m_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and risk.
4. All managers may be involved with the operational aspects of management but as they are promoted and develop, their role becomes increasingly one of p_ _ _ _ _ _ _, i_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and l_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
5. Management is ‘the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and using r_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ – h_ _ _ _, f_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and m_ _ _ _ _ _ _ and i_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ – in a goal-directed manner to accomplish tasks in an o_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ‘.
| Text 5. Theory X and Theory Y |
Task 1. What do managers think of their staff? McGregor (1960) said there were two opposing views, Theory X and Theory Y.
A. Read the text below, then answer the True/False questions.
Theory X managers believe that people dislike work. Work is necessary because if you do not work you cannot live. People are naturally lazy. They prefer to be directed. So managers have to tell their subordinates what to do. Managers have to organize the workers and pressure them to do things. The manager’s job is to think about the goals of the organization then make workers realize the goals. Subordinates want security. They want managers to organize and control everything. So Theory X managers are authoritarian. Managers are the bosses. They decide the goals and give orders. They direct everything, from the top down.
Theory Y is more or less opposite to Theory X. Theory Y managers believe that people like work. Work is necessary because people want to work to feel happy. People are naturally industrious. They prefer to participate in decision-making. Managers discuss with their subordinates what to do. Managers organize communication channels with the workers and listen to their opinions. The manager’s job is to establish the goals of the organization with the workers, so that together they can realize the goals. Subordinates want managers to involve them, to delegate decision-making, to allow them autonomy. Theory Y managers are team-oriented. They trust their subordinates. The organization is less hierarchical and more creative.
1. Theory X and Theory Y are theories of leadership.
True/False
2. Theory X is a more traditional description of management/worker relations. True/False
3. Theory Y is typical in hierarchical top-down organizations.
True/False
4. Theory Y managers tell workers what they want.
True/False
Workers do it.
5. Theory X managers are authoritarian
True/False
6. Theory Y workers are lazy and don’t want to work.
True/False
7. For Theory X workers, work is natural.
True/False
8. Theory Y working relationships are open, communicative and creative. True/False