Q1 “Management is art as well as Science” – Explain
Art
implies application of knowledge & skill to trying about desired results.
An art may be defined as personalized application of general theoretical
principles for achieving best possible results. Art has the following
characters -
1.
Practical
Knowledge: Every art
requires practical knowledge therefore learning of theory is not sufficient.
It is very important to know practical application of theoretical principles.
E.g. to become a good painter, the person may not only be knowing different
colour and brushes but different designs, dimensions, situations etc to use
them appropriately. A manager can never be successful just by obtaining
degree or diploma in management; he must have also know how to apply various
principles in real situations by functioning in capacity of manager.
2.
Personal
Skill: Although theoretical base may be
same for every artist, but each one has his own style and approach towards
his job. That is why the level of success and quality of performance differs
from one person to another. E.g. there are several qualified painters but
M.F. Hussain is recognized for his style. Similarly management as an art is
also personalized. Every manager has his own way of managing things based on
his knowledge, experience and personality, that is why some managers are
known as good managers (like Aditya Birla, Rahul Bajaj) whereas others as
bad.
|
3.
Creativity: Every artist has an element of creativity in line. That is
why he aims at producing something that has never existed before which requires
combination of intelligence & imagination. Management is also creative in
nature like any other art. It combines human and non-human resources in useful
way so as to achieve desired results. It tries to produce sweet music by
combining chords in an efficient manner.
4.
Perfection
through practice:
Practice makes a man perfect. Every artist becomes more and more proficient
through constant practice. Similarly managers learn through an art of trial and
error initially but application of management principles over the years makes
them perfect in the job of managing.
5.
Goal-Oriented: Every art is result oriented as it seeks to achieve
concrete results. In the same manner, management is also directed towards
accomplishment of pre-determined goals. Managers use various resources like
men, money, material, machinery & methods to promote growth of an
organization.
Thus,
we can say that management is an art therefore it requires application of
certain principles rather it is an art of highest order because it deals with
moulding the attitude and behavior of people at work towards desired goals.
Management
as both Science and Art
Management
is both an art and a science. The above mentioned points clearly reveals that
management combines features of both science as well as art. It is considered
as a science because it has an organized body of knowledge which contains certain
universal truth. It is called an art because managing requires certain skills
which are personal possessions of managers. Science provides the knowledge
& art deals with the application of knowledge and skills.
A
manager to be successful in his profession must acquire the knowledge of
science & the art of applying it. Therefore management is a judicious blend
of science as well as an art because it proves the principles and the way these
principles are applied is a matter of art. Science teaches to ’know’ and art
teaches to ’do’. E.g. a person cannot become a good singer unless he has
knowledge about various ragas & he also applies his personal skill in the
art of singing. Same way it is not sufficient for manager to first know the
principles but he must also apply them in solving various managerial problems
that is why, science and art are not mutually exclusive but they are
complementary to each other (like tea and biscuit, bread and butter etc.).
The
old saying that “Manager are Born” has been rejected in favor of “Managers are
Made”. It has been aptly remarked that management is the oldest of art and
youngest of science. To conclude, we can say that science is the root and art
is the fruit.
Q2.Mintzberg’s 10 Marginal Role
Management
expert Professor Henry Mintzberg has argued that a manager’s work can be boiled
down to ten common roles. According to Mintzberg, these roles, or expectations
for a manager’s behavior, fall into three categories: informational (managing
by information), interpersonal (managing through people), and decisional
(managing through action).
This
chart summarizes a manager’s ten roles:
Mintzberg’s Managerial Roles |
|||
Category |
Role |
Activity |
Examples |
Informational |
Monitor |
Seek and acquire work-related information |
Scan/read trade press, periodicals, reports; attend seminars and training; maintain personal contacts |
Disseminator |
Communicate/ disseminate information to others within the organization |
Send memos and reports; inform staffers and subordinates of decisions |
|
Spokesperson |
Communicate/transmit information to outsiders |
Pass on memos, reports and informational materials; participate in conferences/meetings and report progress |
|
Interpersonal |
Figurehead |
Perform social and legal duties, act as symbolic leader |
Greet visitors, sign legal documents, attend ribbon cutting ceremonies, host receptions, etc. |
Leader |
Direct and motivate subordinates, select and train employees |
Includes almost all interactions with subordinates |
|
Liaison |
Establish and maintain contacts within and outside the organization |
Business correspondence, participation in meetings with representatives of other divisions or organizations. |
|
Decisional |
Entrepreneur |
Identify new ideas and initiate improvement projects |
Implement innovations; Plan for the future |
Disturbance Handler |
Deals with disputes or problems and takes corrective action |
Settle conflicts between subordinates; Choose strategic alternatives; Overcome crisis situations |
|
Resource Allocator |
Decide where to apply resources |
Draft and approve of plans, schedules, budgets; Set priorities |
|
Negotiator |
Defends business interests |
Participates in and directs negotiations within team, department, and organization |
|
In the
real world, these roles overlap and a manager must learn to balance them in
order to manage effectively. While a manager’s work can be analyzed by these
individual roles, in practice they are intermixed and interdependent. According
to Mintzberg: “The manager who only communicates or only conceives never gets
anything done, while the manager who only ‘does’ ends up doing it all alone.”
Q3 Guide Line for Manager.
Manager's Guide to Performance Management
UNDERSTAND
Most employees want to be successful
contributors to an organization. They want to know what is expected of them and
how they can most effectively achieve those expectations. Performance
management is the systematic process that a manager applies to involve
employees in accomplishing a unit’s mission and goals, improving overall unit
effectiveness, and helping employees understand the importance of their
contributions. Effective performance management requires that the manager:
- Identify the job duties that each employee is expected to accomplish.
- Communicate the competencies (job knowledge and job skills) necessary to be successful in a position.
- Ensure that employees have the required competencies, or that there is a process and plan by which they can acquire them.
- Provide timely feedback on how effectively employees are applying job knowledge and skills to achieve the goals established for their position.
- Reward effective performance.
In the event that performance does not meet
established requirements, the manager must understand the corrective processes
and methods that can help improve employee performance.
At the UW, a manager may supervise professional
staff, classified staff covered by one or more collective bargaining agreements,
classified staff covered by civil service rules, and temporary employees. While
performance management principles are the same for all employees, the manager
needs to be familiar with the performance requirements that apply to the
employment programs.
ACT
Ensure each employee has an up-to-date job
description. Employees should have an opportunity to review their job
description and obtain clarification on any elements they may not understand.
Develop a list of competencies for each
position. If you find that some employees do not possess all of the
competencies their positions require, develop training goals so that the
desired level of competency can be achieved.
Decide how you can most effectively assess and
provide feedback about performance. Be sure your employees understand the
measures and/or methods you use to determine how well they are achieving the
goals established for them.
Provide Feedback
It is important that feedback be timely.
Acknowledge really good work just as readily as you would address work that
needs improvement. It can be easy to take good performance for granted and only
point out problems. Employees appreciate balance, honesty, and fairness.
At least annually, comprehensively review your
employees’ performance. An annual review is an opportunity to accomplish the
following:
1.
Sum up an overall assessment of how work has
gone over the previous year.
2.
Identify goals that have been met and those
where additional effort may be required.
3.
Determine whether the employee’s job description
and competencies accurately reflect the reality of the position, and make
updates as necessary.
4.
Identify performance, achievement and/or
development goals for the upcoming year.
5.
Make sure that the employee has an opportunity
to provide input before the review is finalized.
The annual review should be finalized, then
reviewed and signed by the employee. The format of the review and its level of
detail depend on the nature of the employee’s position and the employment
program.
The following table summarizes and provides
links to information about performance management requirements for UW staff.
Unsatisfactory Performance
If an employee’s job performance is not
satisfactory and normal coaching, counseling and training have not brought
performance to an acceptable level, corrective action may be
necessary. Classified non-union staff, contract classified staff, and
professional staff employment programs each have their own processes and
requirements, with which you should be familiar before initiating corrective
action.
Assistance
The Human Resources
Consultant who serves your unit can advise you in your
implementation of performance management practices. Contact your Human
Resources Consultant if you believe that some form of corrective action may be
appropriate.
EXPLORE
Learn more about performance management from Professional
& Organizational Development (POD):
- POD’s Supervisory Certificate includes courses on Managing Employee Performance and more.
- The University Consulting Alliance offers a variety of services, including leadership coaching, to help you with challenges regarding employee performance.
- If you have completed the UW Strategic Leadership Program, revisit your course materials on employee performance. If you have not attended SLP and are supervising employees, contact POD at 206-543-1957 or pod@u.washington.edu.
The employee assistance program, UW CareLink, offers
support for employees having personal concerns that may be affecting job
performance.
Q4. Five
Functions of Management.
Effective management and leadership involve
creative problem solving, motivating employees and making sure the organization
accomplishes objectives and goals. There are five functions of management and
leadership: planning, organizing, staffing, coordinating and controlling. These
functions separate the management process from other business functions such as
marketing, accounting and finance.
Planning
The planning function of management controls all
the planning that allows the organization to run smoothly. Planning involves
defining a goal and determining the most effective course of action needed to
reach that goal. Typically, planning involves flexibility, as the planner must
coordinate with all levels of management and leadership in the organization.
Planning also involves knowledge of the company’s resources and the future
objectives of the business.
Organizing
The organizing function of leadership controls
the overall structure of the company. The organizational structure is the
foundation of a company; without this structure, the day-to-day operation of
the business becomes difficult and unsuccessful. Organizing involves
designating tasks and responsibilities to employees with the specific skill
sets needed to complete the tasks. Organizing also involves developing the
organizational structure and chain of command within the company.
Staffing
The staffing function of management controls all
recruitment and personnel needs of the organization. The main purpose of
staffing is to hire the right people for the right jobs to achieve the
objectives of the organization. Staffing involves more than just recruitment;
staffing also encompasses training and development, performance appraisals,
promotions and transfers. Without the staffing function, the business would
fail because the business would not be properly staffed to meet its goals.
Leading / Coordinating
The coordinating function of leadership controls
all the organizing, planning and staffing activities of the company and ensures
all activities function together for the good of the organization. Coordinating
typically takes place in meetings and other planning sessions with the
department heads of the company to ensure all departments are on the same page
in terms of objectives and goals. Coordinating involves communication,
supervision and direction by management.
Controlling
The controlling function of management is useful
for ensuring all other functions of the organization are in place and are
operating successfully. Controlling involves establishing performance standards
and monitoring the output of employees to ensure each employee’s performance
meets those standards. The controlling process often leads to the
identification of situations and problems that need to be addressed by creating
new performance standards. The level of performance affects the success of all
aspects of the organization.
Q5. Levels of
Management.
Many managers work in an organisation. However,
these managers do not work at the same level. They work and operate at
different positions. Hierarchy of these managerial positions is called Levels
of Management.
Three Levels of Management
Generally, there are Three Levels of Management,
viz.,
1.
Administrative or Top Level of
Management.
2.
Executive or Middle Level of
Management.
3.
Supervisory or Lower Level of
Management.
At each level, individual manager has to carry out different
roles and functions.
Diagram of Levels of Mangement
Top Level of Management: The Top Level Management consists of the Board of Directors (BOD) and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The Chief Executive Officer is also called General Manager (GM) or Managing Director (MD) or President. The Board of Directors are the representatives of the Shareholders, i.e. they are selected by the Shareholders of the company. Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer is selected by the Board of Directors of an organisation.
The main role of the top level management is
summarized as follows :-
1.
The top level management determines the
objectives, policies and plans of the organisation.
2.
They mobilises (assemble and bring together)
available resources.
3.
The top level management does mostly the work of
thinking, planning and deciding. Therefore, they are also called as the
Administrators and the Brain of the organisation.
4.
They spend more time in planning and organising.
5.
They prepare long-term plans of the organisation
which are generally made for 5 to 20 years.
6.
The top level management has maximum authority
and responsibility. They are the top or final authority in the organisation.
They are directly responsible to the Shareholders, Government and the General
Public. The success or failure of the organisation largely depends on their
efficiency and decision making.
7.
They require more conceptual skills and less
technical Skills.
Middle Level of Management: The Middle Level Management consists of the Departmental Heads (HOD), Branch Managers, and the Junior Executives. The Departmental heads are Finance Managers, Purchase Managers, etc. The Branch Managers are the head of a branch or local unit. The Junior Executives are Assistant Finance Managers, Assistant Purchase Managers, etc. The Middle level Management is selected by the Top Level Management.
The middle level management emphasize more on
following tasks :-
1.
Middle level management gives recommendations
(advice) to the top level management.
2.
It executes (implements) the policies and plans
which are made by the top level management.
3.
It co-ordinate the activities of all the
departments.
4.
They also have to communicate with the top level
Management and the lower level management.
5.
They spend more time in co-ordinating and
communicating.
6.
They prepare short-term plans of their
departments which are generally made for 1 to 5 years.
7.
The middle Level Management has limited
authority and responsibility. They are intermediary between top and lower
management. They are directly responsible to the chief executive officer and
board of directors.
8.
Require more managerial and technical skills and
less conceptual skills.
Lower Level of Management: The lower level management consists of the Foremen and the Supervisors. They are selected by the middle level management. It is also called Operative / Supervisory level or First Line of Management.
The lower level management performs following
activities :-
1.
Lower level management directs the workers /
employees.
2.
They develops morale in the workers.
3.
It maintains a link between workers and the
middle level management.
4.
The lower level management informs the workers
about the decisions which are taken by the management. They also inform the
management about the performance, difficulties, feelings, demands, etc., of the
workers.
5.
They spend more time in directing and
controlling.
6.
The lower level managers make daily, weekly and
monthly plans.
7.
They have limited authority but important
responsibility of getting the work done from the workers. They regularly report
and are directly responsible to the middle level management.
8.
Along with the experience and basic management
skills, they also require more technical and communication skills.
What is Management? Definitions Meaning and Features
Definitions
ü According to Harold Koontz,
"Management is the art of
getting things done through and with people in formally organised groups."
Harold
Koontz gave this definition of management in his book "The Management
Theory Jungle".
ü According to Henri Fayol,
"To manage is to forecast and
to plan, to organise, to command, to co-ordinate and to control."
Henri Fayol
gave this definition of management in his book "Industrial and General
Administration".
ü
According to Peter Drucker,
"Management
is a multi-purpose organ that manages business and manages managers and manages
workers and work."
This definition of management was given by Peter
Drucker in his book "The Principles of Management".
ü
According to Mary Parker Follet,
"Management
is the art of getting things done through people."
Meaning of Management
According to Theo Heimann, management has three different
meanings, viz.,
1. Management as a Noun : refers to
a Group of Managers.
2.Management as a Process : refers to
the Functions of Management i.e. Planning, Organising, Directing, Controlling,
etc.
3.Management as a Discipline : refers to
the Subject of Management.
Management is an individual or a group of
individuals that accept responsibilities to run an organisation. They Plan,
Organise, Direct and Control all the essential activities of the organisation.
Management does not do the work themselves. They motivate others to do the work
and co-ordinate (i.e. bring together) all the work for achieving the objectives
of the organisation.
Management brings together all Six Ms i.e. Men and
Women, Money, Machines, Materials, Methods and Markets. They use these
resources for achieving the objectives of the organisation such as high sales,
maximum profits, business expansion,
etc.
Now let's briefly discuss each
feature of management.
1. Continuous and never ending process:- Management is a Process. It includes four main functions,
viz., Planning,
Organising, Directing and Controlling. The manager has to Plan and Organise all
the activities. He had to give proper Directions to his subordinates. He also
has to Control all the activities. The manager has to perform these functions
continuously. Therefore, management is a continuous and never ending process.
2. Getting things done through people:- The
managers do not do the work themselves. They get the work done through the
workers. The workers should not be treated like slaves. They should not be
tricked, threatened or forced to do the work. A favourable work environment
should be created and maintained.
3. Result oriented science and art:- Management
is result oriented because it gives a lot of importance to "Results".
Examples of Results like, increase in market share, increase in profits, etc.
Management always wants to get the best results at all times.
4. Multidisciplinary in nature:- Management
has to get the work done through people. It has to manage people. This is a
very difficult job because different people have different emotions, feelings,
aspirations, etc. Similarly, the same person may have different emotions at
different times. So, management is a very complex job. Therefore, management
uses knowledge from many different subjects such as Economics, Information
Technology, Psychology, Sociology, etc. Therefore, it is multidisciplinary in
nature.
5. A group and not an individual activity:- Management is not an individual activity. It is a group
activity. It uses group (employees) efforts to achieve group (owners)
objectives. It tries to satisfy the needs and wants of a group (consumers).
Nowadays, importance is given to the team (group) and not to individuals.
6. Follows established principles or rules:- Management
follows established principles, such as division of work, discipline, unity of
command, etc. These principles help to prevent and solve the problems in the
organisation.
7. Aided but not replaced by computers:-Now-a-days,
all managers use computers. Computers help the managers to take accurate
decisions. However, computers can only help management. Computers cannot
replace management. This is because management takes the final responsibility.
Thus Management is aided (helped) but not replaced by computers.
8. Situational in nature:-Management
makes plans, policies and decisions according to the situation. It changes its
style according to the situation. It uses different plans, policies, decisions
and styles for different situations.
The
manager first studies the full present situation. Then he draws conclusions
about the situation. Then he makes plans, decisions, etc., which are best for
the present situation. This is called Situational Management.
9. Need not be an ownership:- In
small organisations, management and ownership are one and the same. However, in
large organisations, management is separate from ownership. The managers are
highly qualified professionals who are hired from outside. The owners are the
shareholders of the company.
10. Both an art and science:-Management is result-oriented. Therefore, it is an Art.
Management conducts continuous research. Thus, it is also a Science.
11. Management is all pervasive:- Management
is necessary for running a business. It is also essential for running business,
educational, charitable and religious institutions. Management is a must for
all activities, and therefore, it is all pervasive.
12. Management is intangible:- Management
is intangible, i.e. it cannot be seen and touched, but it can be felt and
realised by its results. The success or failure of management can be judged
only by its results. If there is good discipline, good productivity, good
profits, etc., then the management is successful and vice-versa.
13. Uses a professional approach in work:- Managers
use a professional approach for getting the work done from their subordinates.
They delegate (i.e. give) authority to their subordinates. They ask their
subordinates to give suggestions for improving their work. They also encourage
subordinates to take the initiative. Initiative means to do the right thing at
the right time without being guided or helped by the superior.
14. Dynamic in nature:- Management
is dynamic in nature. That is, management is creative and innovative. An organisation will survive and succeed
only if it is dynamic. It must continuously bring in new and creative ideas,
new products, new product features, new ads, new marketing techniques, etc.
Introduction
Management is a
challenging job. It requires certain skills to accomplish such a challenge.
Thus, essential skills which every manager needs for doing a better management
are called as Managerial Skills.
1.
Conceptual Skills,
2.
Human Relations Skills, and
3.
Technical Skills.
According to Prof. Robert Katz, all managers
require above three managerial skills. However, the degree (amount) of these
skills required varies (changes) from levels of management and from an
organisation to organisation..
The above picture or diagram shows the
managerial skills which are required by managers working at different levels of
management. The top-level managers require more conceptual skills and less
technical skills. The lower-level managers require more technical skills and
fewer conceptual skills. Human relations skills are required equally by all
three levels of management.
1. Conceptual Skills:- Conceptual
skill is the ability to visualise (see) the organisation as a whole. It
includes Analytical, Creative and Initiative skills. It helps the manager to
identify the causes of the problems and not the symptoms. It helps him to solve
the problems for the benefit of the entire organisation. It helps the manager
to fix goals for the whole organisation and to plan for every situation.
According to Prof. Robert Katz, conceptual skills are mostly required by the
top-level management because they spend more time in planning,
organising and problem solving.
2. Human Relations Skills: Human
relations skills are also called Interpersonal skills. It is an ability
to work with people. It helps the managers to understand, communicate and work
with others. It also helps the managers to lead, motivate and develop team
spirit. Human relations skills are required by all managers at all levels of
management. This is so, since all managers have to interact and work with
people.
3. Technical Skills: A
technical skill is the ability to perform the given job. Technical skills help
the managers to use different machines and tools. It also helps them to use
various procedures and techniques. The low-level managers require more
technical skills. This is because they are incharge of the actual operations.
Apart
from Prof. Robert Katz's three managerial skills, a manager also needs (requires)
following additional managerial skills.
4. Communication Skills: Communication
skills are required equally at all three levels of management. A manager must
be able to communicate the plans and policies to the workers. Similarly, he
must listen and solve the problems of the workers. He must encourage a
free-flow of communication in the organisation.
5. Administrative Skills: Administrative
skills are required at the top-level management. The top-level managers should
know how to make plans and policies. They should also know how to get the work
done. They should be able to co-ordinate different activities of the
organisation. They should also be able to control the full organisation.
6. Leadership Skills: Leadership skill is the ability to influence human behaviour. A
manager requires leadership skills to motivate the workers. These skills help
the Manager to get the work done through the workers.
7. Problem Solving Skills: Problem solving skills are also called as Design skills. A manager
should know how to identify a problem. He should also possess an ability to
find a best solution for solving any specific problem. This requires
intelligence, experience and up-to-date knowledge of the latest developments.
8. Decision Making Skills: Decision-making skills are required at all levels of management. However,
it is required more at the top-level of management. A manager must be able to
take quick and correct decisions. He must also be able to implement his
decision wisely. The success or failure of a manager depends upon the
correctness of his decisions.
Difference between Management and Administration
Key difference: Administration frames the objectives and policies of an organization. Management implements these policies and objectives.
Management
and administration are at times used interchangeably; however, they are two
different levels of the organization. The administration is the top level of
the organization with the decisive functions. They are responsible for
determining the policies and objectives of the organization or the firm.
Management, on the other hand is the middle level executive function. They implement
the policies and objectives as decided by the administration.
The administration includes the people who are
either owners or partners of the firm. They usually contribute to the firm’s
capital and earn profits or returns on their investment. The main
administrative function is handling the business aspects of the firm, such as
finance. Other administrative functions usually include planning, organizing,
staffing, directing, controlling and budgeting. Administration must integrate
leadership and vision, to organize the people and resources, in order to
achieve common goals and objectives for the organization.
Management usually incorporates the employees of
the firm who use their skills for the firm in return for remuneration.
Management is responsible for carrying out the strategies of the
administration. Motivation is the key factor of a management. Management must
motivate and handle the employees. It can be said that management is directly
under the control of administration.
Further comparison between management and
administration:
Management
|
Administration
|
|
Definition
|
Art of getting things done through
others by directing their efforts towards achievement of pre-determined
goals.
|
Formulation of broad objectives,
plans & policies.
|
Nature
|
executing function, doing function
|
decision-making function, thinking
function
|
Scope
|
Decisions within the framework set
by the administration.
|
Major decisions of an enterprise
as a whole.
|
Level of authority
|
Middle level activity
|
Top level activity
|
Status
|
Group of managerial personnel who
use their specialized knowledge to fulfill the objectives of an enterprise.
|
Consists of owners who invest
capital in and receive profits from an enterprise.
|
Usage
|
Used in business enterprises.
|
Popular with government, military,
educational, and religious organizations.
|
Influence
|
Decisions are influenced by the
values, opinions, beliefs and decisions of the managers.
|
Influenced by public opinion,
government policies, customs etc.
|
Main functions
|
Motivating and controlling
|
Planning and organizing
|
Abilities
|
Handles the employees.
|
Handles the business aspects such
as finance.
|
Principles of Scientific Management
Introduction
: An early 20th century school of management thought concerned primarily with the physical efficiency of an individual worker.
Scientific
management is based on the work
of the US engineer
Frederick Winslow Taylor (1856-1915) who in his 1911 book The Principles Of Scientific Management laid down the fundamental principles of large-scale manufacturing through assembly-line factories. It emphasizes rationalization and standardization of work through division of labor, time and motion studies, work measurement, and piece-rate wages.
See also Taylorism.
Frederick Taylor and Scientific Management
In 1911, Frederick Winslow Taylor published his
work, The Principles of Scientific Management, in which he described how
the application of the scientific method to the management of workers greatly
could improve productivity. Scientific management methods called for optimizing
the way that tasks were performed and simplifying the jobs enough so that
workers could be trained to perform their specialized sequence of motions in
the one "best" way.
Prior to scientific management, work was
performed by skilled craftsmen who had learned their jobs in lengthy
apprenticeships. They made their own decisions about how their job was to be
performed. Scientific management took away much of this autonomy and converted
skilled crafts into a series of simplified jobs that could be performed by unskilled
workers who easily could be trained for the tasks.
Taylor became interested in improving worker
productivity early in his career when he observed gross inefficiencies during
his contact with steel workers.
Soldiering Working in the steel industry, Taylor had observed the phenomenon of workers' purposely operating well below their capacity, that is, soldiering. He attributed soldiering to three causes:
1. The almost universally held belief among workers
that if they became more productive, fewer of them would be needed and jobs
would be eliminated.
2. Non-incentive wage systems encourage low
productivity if the employee will receive the same pay regardless of how much
is produced, assuming the employee can convince the employer that the slow pace
really is a good pace for the job. Employees take great care never to work at a
good pace for fear that this faster pace would become the new standard. If
employees are paid by the quantity they produce, they fear that management will
decrease their per-unit pay if the quantity increases.
3. Workers waste much of their effort by relying on
rule-of-thumb methods rather than on optimal work methods that can be
determined by scientific study of the task.
To counter soldiering and to improve efficiency,
Taylor began to conduct experiments to determine the best level of performance
for certain jobs, and what was necessary to achieve this performance.
Time Studies Taylor argued that even the most basic, mindless tasks could be planned in a way that dramatically would increase productivity, and that scientific management of the work was more effective than the "initiative and incentive" method of motivating workers. The initiative and incentive method offered an incentive to increase productivity but placed the responsibility on the worker to figure out how to do it.
To scientifically determine the optimal way to
perform a job, Taylor performed experiments that he called time studies,
(also known as time and motion studies). These studies were
characterized by the use of a stopwatch to time a worker's sequence of motions,
with the goal of determining the one best way to perform a job.
The following are examples of some of the
time-and-motion studies that were performed by Taylor and others in the era of
scientific management.
Pig Iron :If workers were moving
12 1/2 tons of pig iron per day and they could be incentivized to try to move
47 1/2 tons per day, left to their own wits they probably would become
exhausted after a few hours and fail to reach their goal. However, by first
conducting experiments to determine the amount of resting that was necessary,
the worker's manager could determine the optimal timing of lifting and resting
so that the worker could move the 47 1/2 tons per day without tiring.
Not all workers were physically capable of
moving 47 1/2 tons per day; perhaps only 1/8 of the pig iron handlers were
capable of doing so. While these 1/8 were not extraordinary people who were
highly prized by society, their physical capabilities were well-suited to
moving pig iron. This example suggests that workers should be selected
according to how well they are suited for a particular job.
The Science of Shoveling:- In another study of the "science of
shoveling", Taylor ran time studies to determine that the optimal weight
that a worker should lift in a shovel was 21 pounds. Since there is a wide
range of densities of materials, the shovel should be sized so that it would
hold 21 pounds of the substance being shoveled. The firm provided the workers
with optimal shovels. The result was a three to four fold increase in
productivity and workers were rewarded with pay increases. Prior to scientific
management, workers used their own shovels and rarely had the optimal one for
the job.
Bricklaying: Others
performed experiments that focused on specific motions, such as Gilbreth's
bricklaying experiments that resulted in a dramatic decrease in the number of
motions required to lay bricks. The husband and wife Gilbreth team used motion
picture technology to study the motions of the workers in some of their
experiments.
Taylor's 4 Principles of Scientific Management:- After years of various experiments to determine optimal work methods, Taylor proposed the following four principles of scientific management:
1. Replace
rule-of-thumb work methods with methods based on a scientific study of
the tasks.
2.Scientifically select,
train, and develop each worker rather than passively leaving them to train
themselves.
3.Cooperate with the
workers to ensure that the scientifically developed methods are being followed.
4.Divide work nearly
equally between managers and workers, so that the managers apply scientific
management principles to planning the work and the workers actually perform the
tasks.
These principles were implemented in many
factories, often increasing productivity by a factor of three or more. Henry
Ford applied Taylor's principles in his automobile factories, and families even
began to perform their household tasks based on the results of time and motion
studies.
Drawbacks of Scientific Management
While scientific management principles improved
productivity and had a substantial impact on industry, they also increased the
monotony of work. The core job dimensions of skill variety, task identity, task
significance, autonomy, and feedback all were missing from the picture of
scientific management.
While in many cases the new ways of working were
accepted by the workers, in some cases they were not. The use of stopwatches
often was a protested issue and led to a strike at one factory where
"Taylorism" was being tested. Complaints that Taylorism was
dehumanizing led to an investigation by the United States Congress. Despite its
controversy, scientific management changed the way that work was done, and
forms of it continue to be used today.
Henry Fayol Administrative Theory
Principles of management
1.Division of
labor
- Fayol presented work specialization as the best way to use the human
resources of the organization.
2.Authority - Managers
must be able to give orders. Authority gives them this right. Note that
responsibility arises wherever authority is exercised.
3.Discipline - Employees
must obey and respect the rules that govern the organization. Good discipline
is the result of effective leadership.
4.Unity of
command
- Every employee should receive orders from only one superior.
5.Unity of
direction
- Each group of organizational activities that have the same objective should
be directed by one manager using one plan for achievement of one common goal.
6.Subordination - The
interests of any one employee or group of employees should not take precedence
over the interests of the organization as a whole.
7. Remuneration - Workers
must be paid a fair wage for their services.
8.Centralization -
Centralization refers to the degree to which subordinates are involved in
decision making.
9.Scalar chain - The line
of authority from top management to the lowest ranks represents the scalar
chain. Communications should follow this chain.
10.Order - this principle
is concerned with systematic arrangement of men, machine, material etc. there
should be a specific place for every employee in an organization
11
Equity - Managers
should be kind and fair to their subordinates.
12.Stability of
tenure of personnel - High employee turnover is inefficient.
Management should provide orderly personnel planning and ensure that
replacements are available to fill vacancies.
13.Initiative - Employees
who are allowed to originate and carry out plans will exert high levels of
effort.
14.Esprit de
corps
- Promoting team spirit will build harmony and unity within the organization.
Elasticity
What is Average Cost?
What is Marginal Cost?
What is Opportunity Cost?
Unit-1 Theory of Demand
and Supply
Definition:- In microeconomics, supply and demand is an economic model of price determination in a market.
Economic forces fundamental to the price mechanism in a free market system. They determine the price of a good or service offered, and are in turn determined by the price obtainable. It is a largely self-regulatory mechanism generally resulting in market equilibrium where products demanded at a price are equaled by products supplied at that price
Meaning of Demand & Supply
The Concept of Demand:- Used in the vernacular to mean
almost any kind of wish or desire or need. But to an economist, demand refers
to both willingness and ability to pay.
Quantity demanded is the total
amount of a good that buyers would choose to Purchase under given conditions.
The given conditions include:
•price of the good
•income and wealth
•prices of substitutes and
complements
•population
•preferences (tastes)
•expectations of future prices
We refer to all of these things
except the price of the good as determinants of demand. We could talk about the
relationship between quantity demanded and any one of these things. But when we
talk about a demand curve, we are focusing on the relationship between
quantities demanded and price (while holding all the others fixed).
The Concept of Supply:- Used in the vernacular to mean a
fixed amount, such as the total amount of petroleum in the world. Again,
economists think of it differently. Supply is not just the amount of something
there, but the willingness and abilityof potential sellers to produce and
sell it Quantity supplied(Qs) is the total amount of a good that sellers would
choose to produce and sell under given conditions.
The given conditions include:
•price of the good
•prices of factors of production
(labor, capital)
•prices of alternative products the
firm could produce
•technology productive capacity
•expectations of future prices
We refer to all of these, with the
exception of the price of the good, as determinants of supply. When we talk
about Supply, we’re talking about the relationship between quantity supplied
and the price of the good, while holding everything else constant.
Determinants of Demand
- Income.
- Tastes & preferences.
- Prices of related goods and services.
- Consumers' expectations about future prices and incomes that can be checked.
- Number of potential consumers.
Determinants
of Supply:- Supply
is the amount of a good or service that a supplier is willing to provide to the
market. Innumerable factors and circumstances could affect a seller's
willingness or ability to produce and sell a good. Some of the more common
factors are:
- Good's own price: An increase in price will induce an increase in the quantity supplied.
- Prices of related goods: For purposes of supply analysis, related goods refer to goods from which inputs are derived to be used in the production of the primary good.
- Conditions of production: The most significant factor here is the state of technology. If there is a technological advancement related to the production of the good, the supply increases.
- Expectations: Sellers' expectations concerning future market conditions can directly affect supply.
- Price of inputs: If the price of inputs increases the supply curve will shift left as sellers are less willing or able to sell goods at any given price. Inputs include land, labor, energy and raw materials.
- Number of suppliers: As more firms enter the industry the market supply curve will shift out driving down prices. The market supply curve is the horizontal summation of the individual supply curves.
- Government policies and regulations: Government intervention can take many forms including environmental and health regulations, hour and wage laws, taxes, electrical and natural gas rates and zoning and land use regulations and can have a significant impact on supply decisions.
Evaluating
these externalities as well as others not
listed, in light of the profit incentive of suppliers, provides
insight into the movement of the supply of a good or service to the market.
Suppliers
will shift production for non-price changes related to the determinants of
supply and will slide production levels across the supply curve for price
related movements .
The Law of Supply and
Demand:- For a
market economy to function, producers must
supply the goods that consumers want.
This is known as the law of supply and demand. “Supply” refers to the amount of
goods a market can produce, while “demand” refers to the amount of goods
consumers are willing to buy. Together, these two powerful market forces form
the main principle that underlies all economic theory.
The law
of supply and demand explains how prices are set for the sale of goods. The
process starts with consumers demanding goods. When demand is high, producers
can charge high prices for goods. The promise of earning large profits from
high prices inspires producers to manufacture goods to meet the demand.
However, the law of demand states that if prices are too high, only a few
consumers will purchase the goods and demand will go unmet. To fully meet
demand, producers must charge a price that will result in the required amount
of sales while still generating profits for themselves.
For
example, assume that a cell phone manufacturing company perceives demand for new cell phones.
The company invests in market research to produce the exact cell phone that
consumers want. The company then produces 5,000 units and puts them up for sale
at $300 each. Consumers who find the phone to be valuable pay the full $300,
and half of the units are soon sold.
Because
of the high price, however, sales gradually begin to drop off. Many consumers
still want the phone, but are unwilling or unable to pay $300 for one. Because
the cell phone company loses money on unsold products, it reduces the phone’s
price to $250 in hopes of increasing sales. Consumers begin buying again. The
process continues until a price is reached that will both meet demand and
maximize the company’s profits. That price is known as the “market-clearing
price.”
When
supply becomes balanced with demand, the market is said to have reached
equilibrium. At equilibrium, resources are used at their maximum efficiency.
The study of economics is largely a study in
how market economies can best achieve equilibrium, which is why economists
spend a great deal of time analyzing the relationship between supply and
demand.
The
law of supply and demand explains why people behave in certain ways within a
market economy, and can even be used to predict behavior and, thereby, economic
outcomes. Manufacturers who want the highest price possible for their products,
utilize inventory management protocols and invest in
advertising to encourage consumers to buy. Consumers who value a low price over
the quality or popularity of a product shop at outlets and discount stores,
while those who favor popularity over price purchase goods from retail stores
at the height of the market.
The
law of supply and demand is not just limited to the sale of products, however.
It can be used to explain almost any economic phenomenon, such as a rise or
drop in employment, increased or decreased enrollment in colleges, the
expansion or shrinking of government programs, and increases or reductions in
available resources. Therefore, the law of supply and demand is not only vital
to economic theory, it is the foundation of economics itself.
Equilibrium between
Demand & Supply
Definition of Equilibrium:- A state of serenity and balance in economic
conditions due to the
lack of outside forces
causing disruption. It
occurs at the point where quantity
demanded and quantity
supplied are equal.
See
PPT……
Elasticity
What is Elasticity?
Elasticity
refers to the degree of responsiveness
in supply or demand in relation to changes
in price. If a curve is more elastic,
then small changes in price will
cause large changes in quantity
consumed. If a curve is less elastic,
then it will take large changes in
price to effect a change in quantity consumed. Graphically, elasticity can be
represented by the appearance of the supply or demand curve. A more elastic curve will be horizontal,
and a less elastic curve will tilt more
vertically. When talking about elasticity, the term "flat" refers
to curves that are horizontal; a "flatter" elastic curve is closer to
perfectly horizontal.
Definition Elasticity of Demand:- The degree to which demand for a good or service varies with its price. Normally, sales increase with drop in prices and decrease with rise in prices. As a general rule, appliances, cars, confectionary and other non-essentials show elasticity of demand whereas most necessities (food, medicine, basic clothing) show inelasticity of demand (do not sell significantly more or less with changes in price). Also called price demand elasticity.
Definition Elasticity of Demand:- The degree to which demand for a good or service varies with its price. Normally, sales increase with drop in prices and decrease with rise in prices. As a general rule, appliances, cars, confectionary and other non-essentials show elasticity of demand whereas most necessities (food, medicine, basic clothing) show inelasticity of demand (do not sell significantly more or less with changes in price). Also called price demand elasticity.
Price Elasticity meaning:- Price elasticity of demand is a measure used in economics to show the
responsiveness, or elasticity, of the quantity demanded of a good or
service to a change in its price, ceteris paribus.
How it works/Example: Price
elasticity of
demand, also known simply as "price elasticity," is more specific to
price changes than the general term known as
"elasticity of demand."
The
formula for price elasticity is:
Price
Elasticity = (% Change in Quantity) / (% Change in Price)
Let's
look at an example. Assume that when gas prices increase by 50%, gas purchases
fall by 25%. Using the formula above, we can calculate that the price
elasticity of gasoline is:
Price
Elasticity = (-25%) / (50%) = -0.50
Thus,
we can say that for every percentage point that gas prices increase, the
quantity of gas purchased decreases by half a percentage point.
Price
elasticity is usually negative, as shown in the above example. That means that
it follows the law of demand; as price increases quantity demanded decreases.
As gas price goes up, the quantity of gas demanded will go down.
Price
elasticity that is positive is uncommon. An example of a good with positive
price elasticity is caviar. The buyers of caviar are generally wealthy individuals who
believe that the more expensive the caviar, the better it must be. Thus, as the
price of caviar goes up, the quantity of caviar demanded by wealthy people goes
up as well.
Income
Elasticity:- In economics, income elasticity of demand
measures the responsiveness of the demand for a good to a change in the income
of the people demanding the good, ceteris paribus. It is calculated as the
ratio of the percentage change in demand to the percentage change in income.
How it works/Example: :- The
formula for income elasticity is:
An
example of a product with positive income elasticity could
be Ferraris. Let's say the economy is booming and
everyone's income rises by 400%. Because people have extra money, the quantity of
Ferraris demanded increases by 15%.
We can
use the formula to figure out the income elasticity for this Italian
sports car:
Income
Elasticity = 15% / 400% = 0.0375
An
example of a good with negative income elasticity could be cheap shoes. Let's
again assume the economy is doing well and everyone's income rises by 30%.
Because people have extra money and can afford nicer shoes, the quantity of
cheap shoes demanded decreases by 10%.
The
income elasticity of cheap shoes is:
Income
Elasticity = -10% / 30% = -0.33
Cross
Elasticity:- In economics, the cross elasticity
of demand or cross-price elasticity of demand measures the
responsiveness of the demand for a good to a change in the price of another
good. It is measured as the percentage change in demand for the first good that
occurs in response to a percentage change in price of the second good.
Formula
Cross Elasticity of Demand EA, B =
|
% increase in quantity demanded of A
|
% increase in price of product B
|
Percentage
changes in the above formula are calculated using the mid-point formula which
divides actual change by average of initial and final values.The
formula to calculate cross elasticity thus becomes:
EA, B =
|
Qf − Qi
|
÷
|
Pf − Pi
|
(Qf + Qi) ÷
2
|
(Pf + Pi) ÷
2
|
Where,
Qf and Qi are the final and initial quantities demanded of product A, respectively; and
Pf and Pi are the final and initial prices of product B.
Qf and Qi are the final and initial quantities demanded of product A, respectively; and
Pf and Pi are the final and initial prices of product B.
Example
1: The quantity demanded or product A
has increased by 12% in response to a 15% increase in price of product B.
Calculate the cross elasticity of demand and tell whether the product pair is
(a) apples and oranges, or (b) cars and gas.
Cross
elasticity of demand = % change in quantity demanded of A ÷ % change in price
of B = 12%/15% = 0.67.
Since
the cross elasticity of demand is positive, product A and B are substitute
goods. They are most likely apples and oranges.
Unit-2 Theory of
Production
Definition
of Production:- Production is a process of combining various material inputs and immaterial inputs (plans, know-how) in order to make something for consumption (the output). It is the act of creating output, a good or service which has value and contributes to the utility of individuals.[1]
- the action of making or manufacturing from components or raw materials, or the process of being so manufactured.
Function of Production/
Definitions
In general, economic output is not a
(mathematical) function of input, because any given set of inputs can be
used to produce a range of outputs. To satisfy the mathematical
definition of a function, a production function is customarily
assumed to specify the maximum output obtainable from a given set of inputs.
1.
production and planning department :- will set standards and
targets for each section of the production process. The quantity and quality of
products coming off a production line will be closely monitored. In businesses
focusing on lean production, quality will be monitored by all employees at
every stage of production, rather than at the end as is the case for businesses
using a quality control approach.
2.
purchasing department will be responsible for
providing the materials, components and equipment required to keep the
production process running smoothly. A vital aspect of this role is ensuring
stocks arrive on time and to the right quality.
3. stores
department:- will be responsible for stocking all the necessary tools, spares,
raw materials and equipment required to service the manufacturing process.
Where sourcing is unreliable, buffer stocks will need to be kept and the use of
computerised stock control systems helps keep stcoks at a minimal but necessary
level for production to continue unhindered.
4.design
and technical support department will be responsible for researching new
products or modifications to existing ones, estimating costs for producing in
different quantities and by using different methods. It will also be
responsible for the design and testing of new product processes and product
types, together with the development of prototypes through to the final
product. The technical support department may also be responsible for work
study and suggestions as to how working practices can be improved.
5. works
department will be concerned with the manufacture of products. This will
include the maintenance of the production line and other necessary repairs. The
works department may also have responsibility for quality control and
inspection.
A key
aspect of modern production is ensuring quality. The term quality means fitness
for purpose i.e. a product, process or service should do exactly what is
expected of it.
Factors of Production / Definition
Factors of production are the resources used by a company to produce
goods and services. The universally recognized factors of production include
land, labor, and capital. Some scholars include enterprise - entrepreneurship -
as a fourth factor, while many argue that it should fall under labor.
Importance of Production
As
the Greek philosopher Parmesans said, 'Nothing comes from nothing.' Factors of
production are the resources that allow us to create finished products and
perform services. You cannot create a product out of nothing. You can't even
perform a service without labor, which is also a factor of production. A modern
economy, along with our modern society, cannot exist without factors of
production, which makes them pretty darn important.
Factors of production: :- Resources required for generation of goods or services, generally classified into four major groups:
These
factors are classified also as management, machines, materials, and money (this, the 4 Ms), or
other such nomenclature. More recently, knowledge has come to be
recognized as distinct from labor, and as a factor of production in its own right.
Law of Variable Proportions:
"in
a given state of technology, when the units of variable factor of
production (L) are increased within the units of other fixed factors, the
marginal productivity increases at increasing rate up to a point, after this
point. it will become less and less"
Assumptions:
The
assumptions of the law of variable proportion are given as below:
1.
It is assumed that the technique of
production should remain constant during production.
2.
It operates in the short-run because
in the long run, fixed inputs become variable.
3.
Some inputs must be kept constant.
4.
The various factors are not to be
used in rigidly fixed proportions but the law is based upon the possibility of
varying proportions. It is also called the law of proportionality.
5.
It is assumed that all the units of
variable factors of production are homogeneous in amount and quality.
6.
It is assumed that labor is a single
variable factor.
Law of returns Scale/ Definition
Long run relationship between inputs and output
of a firm is explained by the Laws of returns to scale. The term returns
to scale arises in the context of a firm's Production Function.In the long
run production function, all factors are variable.
Definition
The law of returns to scale describes the relationship
between outputs and the scale of inputs in the long-run when all the inputs
are increased in the same proportion.
According to the Roger Miller, the law of returns
to scale refers “to the relationship between the changes in output and
proportionate change in all factors of production”. The firm increases its
scale of production by using more space, more machines and labourers (as a
input) in the factory, to meet a long-run change in demand. |
Assumptions
|
1.
All factors (inputs) are variable but enterprise is
fixed.
2.
A worker works with given tools and implements.
3.
Technological changes are absent.
4.
There is perfect competition.
5.
The product is measured in quantities.
COST
In
business, cost is usually a monetary valuation of (1) effort, (2) material, (3) resources, (4) time and utilities consumed, (5) risks incurred, and (6) opportunity forgone in production and delivery of a good or service. All expenses are costs, but not all costs
(such as those incurred in acquisition of an income-generating
asset) are expenses.
Short-Run Cost Definition
- Period during which only some factors or variables can be changed because there is not enough time to change the others.
- In economics, it is the concept that within a certain period of time, in the future, at least one input is fixed while others are variable. The short run is not a definite period of time, but rather varies based on the length of the firm's contracts.
Long-Run
Cost Definition
- a long period of time after the beginning of something
- Invest for the long run [=the long term], not to see what you can earn in a few months.
- Your solution may cause more problems over the long run.
- usually used in the phrase in the long run
- It may be our best option in the long run. [=when a greater amount of time has passed]
- This deal will cost you more in the long run. [=in the long term]
- long-run benefits [=benefits that will exist or continue over a long period of time]
What is Fixed Cost?
A periodic cost that remains more or less unchanged irrespective of the output level or sales revenue, such as depreciation, insurance, interest, rent, salaries, and wages.
While
in practice, all costs vary over time and no cost is a purely
fixed cost, the concept of fixed costs is
necessary in short term cost accounting. Organizations with high fixed costs are
significantly different from those with high variable costs. This difference
affects the financial structure of the organization as
well as its pricing and profits. The breakeven point in such organizations
(in comparison with high variable cost organizations) is typically at a much
higher level of output, and their marginal profit (rate of contribution) is also much higher.
What is Variable Cost?
Variable
costs include raw material, energy usage, labor, distribution costs, etc. Companies with high variable costs are
significantly different from those with high fixed costs. This difference
affects the financial structure of the company as well
as its pricing and profits. The breakeven point in such companies (in
comparison with high fixed cost companies) is typically at a much lower level
of output, but their marginal profit (rate of contribution) is also much lower.
What is Total Cost?
The addition of all
costs-direct and indirect, or (2) how much an investor paid
to acquire an investment. The cost
includes commissions and trading fees.
What is Average Cost?
Production cost per
unit of output,
computed by dividing the total of fixed
costs and variable
costs by the number of total units produced (total
output). Lower average costs are a potent competitive
advantage. Also called unit
cost.
Formula:
(Fixed costs + Variable costs) ÷ Total output.
What is Marginal Cost?
The
increase or decrease in the total cost of a production run for making one additional unit of an item. It is
computed in situations where the breakeven point has been reached: the fixed costs have already been
absorbed by the already produced items and only the direct
(variable) costs have to be accounted for.
Marginal
costs are variable costs consisting of labor and material costs, plus an estimated portion of fixed costs
(such as administration overheads and selling expenses). In companies where average costs are fairly constant,
marginal cost is usually equal to
average cost. However, in industries that require heavy capital investment (automobile plants, airlines, mines) and
have high average costs, it is
comparatively very low. The concept of marginal cost is
critically important in resource allocation because, for optimum results, management must concentrate its resources where the excess of marginal revenue over the marginal cost
is maximum. Also called choice cost, differential cost, or incremental cost.
What is Opportunity Cost?
A benefit, profit, or value of something that
must be given up to acquire or achieve something else.
Since every resource (land, money, time, etc.) can
be put to alternative uses, every action, choice, or decision has an associated
opportunity cost.
Opportunity
costs are fundamental costs
in economics, and
are used in computing cost benefit analysis of a project. Such costs,
however, are not recorded in the account books but
are recognized in decision making by
computing the cash outlays and their
resulting profit or loss.
BREAK-EVEN ANALYSIS
Definition
Study of the
mathematical relationship
between costs and sales
revenue, under a given set of assumptions regarding the
firm's fixed
costs and variable
costs. In this financial
analysis, the objective is to
determine (in manufacturing)
number of products that
must be sold at a given price to cover the
costs, or (in project
financing) number of months or
years required by the
forecasted total net
cash flow to equal estimated total project cost. An
integral part of financial
planning, it is performed either by using a breakeven-formula or by drawing a breakeven
graph.
See PPT....
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