TyroCity: Business Studies XII

Importance of direction

Business Studies XII — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

1. Integrative force: direction integrates the activities of employees. It is mainly concentrated about what, when, where and who to do the work. Without integration none of the activities can be fulfilled. Effective operation can be achieved only when the efforts of all employees are integrated.

2. Initiate the action: in direction, a manager motivates the subordinates to perform the activities. When an employee receives the direction, his or her initiative will be started to do work.

3. Improves efficiency: direction consists of motivation, leadership and communication. When all these managerial tools are implemented the potentiality of employees is fully utilized from which they perform high performance.

4. Facilitates change: change always comes in an organization. Healthy change is important. Some people do not want the condition of change. But change is inevitable. Direction is an important function of management that gives the orders and motivates the personnel for change.

5. Helps in stability and growth: direction is an integrated activity of motivation, leadership and communication. These activities help in stability of the organization. When these activities are used, the capabilities are utilized which helps in flexibility and growth of the organization.

6. Helps to achieve the organizational goals: the manager gives the direction to do work and it gives knowledge, information and goals of the organization. When all people know about the goals it helps on achieving the organizational goals effectively.

7. Means of motivation: when direction is effective and meaningful, the employees are properly motivated. Direction works for motivating people to contribute maximum efforts. It brings positive feeling towards the organization.

Techniques of motivation

Business Studies XII — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

1. Financial incentives: First techniques of motivation are financial incentives as money is indicator of success. Therefore, it fulfills psychological safety and status need as people satisfy their needs by money. Wages, salary motivates employees to perform better.

2. Job enlargement: Under this technique, task assigned to do job are increased by adding simile task. So the scope of job enlargement is high for the motivation of subordinates. It is also known as horizontally leading of job.

3. Job enrichment: Under this technique jobs are made challenging and meaningful by increasing responsibility and growth opportunities. In such technique of motivation, planning and control responsibility are added to the job usually with less supervision and more self evaluation. It is also called vertical leading.

4. Job rotation: it refers to shifting an employee from one job to another. Such job rotation doesn’t mean hanging of their job but only the employees are rotated. By this it helps to develop the competency in several jobs which helps in development of employees.

5. Participation: Participation refers to involvement of employee in planning and decision-making .it helps the employees feel that they are an asset of the organization which helps in developing ideas to solve the problems.

6. Delegation of authority: Delegation of authority is concerned with the granting of authority to the subordinates which helps in developing a feeling of dedication to work in an organization because it provides the employees high morale to perform any task.

7. Quality of work life: It is the relationship between employees’ and the total working environment of organization. It integrates employee needs and well-being with improves productivity, higher job satisfaction and great employee involvement. It ensures higher level of satisfaction.

8. Management by Objectives: It is used as a motivation and technique for self-control of performance. By this technique supervisor and subordinates set individual and organizational goals. Each individual’s responsibilities are clearly defined which would help identify the skill sets one has to make the best use of the same to meet organizational mission and vision. This also helps the organization function effectively.

9. Behavior modification: The last technique of motivation is behavior modification. It develops positive motivation to the workers to do the work in desired behavior in order to modify behavior.

Principles of direction

Business Studies XII — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

1. Principle of harmony of objectives: every organization set the objectives and these objectives are to be fulfilled with the help of people working in the organization. Therefore, managers must try to bring harmony between individual and organizational goals

2. Unity of command: The individual who works in the organization get direction from his/her superior. The subordinates must get direction from only one superior to reduce conflict and confusion which is called unity of command.

3. Direct supervision: When superior direct the subordinates with face to face communication it is known as direct supervision. It helps to increase the morale of employees and it helps to develop quick feedback and necessary information

4. Appropriate leadership style: proper leadership means the skill of leading that depends upon the characteristics of leader, features of subordinates and the situation. It is the process of influencing human behavior in achieving organizational goals without dissatisfaction of any employees

5. Maximum individual contribution: The employees’ capacity should be used fully with effective direction by encouragement not irritation with proper design direction style.

6. Effective communication: without effective communication, direction is not possible. Mainly, communication may be downward or upward in an organization. Downward communication carries the order, ideas, instruction to the subordinates and upward communication carries the order, ideas, and instruction from the subordinates.

7. Effective control: without effective control organization can’t be operated. Effective control helps to coordinate and supervise the activities and other mechanism.

8. Effective motivation: Motivation is the act of inspiring and encouraging the people to do work. Employees must be motivated to achieve the goals. Without motivation , direction cannot be complete

9. Flow of information: information is most important asset in any organization. When information is blocked, then there can be failure. On the other hand, information is useful to issue the order, ideas, and instruction.

10. Follow- up: direction is a continuous managerial process. It involves constant and continuous supervision, counseling, advice, instructions etc in the employees’ activities. Merely issuing orders is not sufficient but management should find out whether the subordinate is working or not.

Leadership Qualities

Business Studies XII — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

Qualities of leadership

Personal qualities

1. Self-confidence: a good leader must have self-confidence, must have sufficient enthusiasm and must be cheerful enough to enjoy the trust of his subordinates.

2. Dynamic personality: a leader should be dynamic, cheerful and charming, must have sound health, cool temperament, conversational ability and decent behavior with tremendous stamina and vigor for hard work

3. Intellectual capacity: a leader should have the ability to think logically, analyze accurately and interpret the problems clearly.

4. Take lead and initiative: a leader should have the ability to take lead and initiative in times of risk, uncertainties and complexities for prompt decision

5. Emotional stability: a leader should have balanced temperament to overcome moodiness, disappointment and inconsistency.

6. Flexibility: A leader should be flexible enough to accommodate other’s viewpoint and alter his decisions. Rigidity is only required in autocracy, change in decisions must be made with change in macro and micro environment.

7. Responsibility feeling: A leader must feel or should bear responsibilities of all his decisions himself.

8. Communication skill: The leader must be able to communicate with subordinates. The leader must communicate the information from his level to the down level. Communication must be two way. Sop that both leader and subordinates will exchange Ideas freely

9. Far sightedness: A leader should develop organizational planning and policies. When the leader is not far-sighted all efforts may be worthless.

Managerial qualities

1. Technical knowledge: A leader must have technical knowledge to provide the guidelines about the work of the subordinates which helps the leader to take right decisions at right time.

2. Organizing abilities: all the resources, employees, people, business environment, methods, capital, manpower should be arranged properly by a leader to achieve organizational goals in a proper way.

3. Power of judgment: a leader should have the power of judgment which comes from self-confidence and self-control. Even if there are several followers and several decisions the leader must judge and decide the case.

4. Enthusiasm: the leader must be devoted towards the organization. A devoted leader can conduct the activities successfully.

5. Ability to guide and teach: it is the task of leader to get the best from others. A leader must know how to guide and teach the followers to make them convinced.

6. Human relations: leadership is related to inspire and encourage the people when there is good relation between leader and follower. The followers are easily influenced. So, a leader must be able to win the confidence and loyalty of people.

Meaning of Leadership

Business Studies XII — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

Leadership is defined as personal quality of an individual that influence the behavior of followers. It is an important function of management. Leadership is an act of influencing people so that the followers follow the path of leader. The successful leader must lead to stimulate and inspire the followers to achieve organizational goals. In an organization the manager is a leader and other subordinates are followers. A manager cannot manage effectively unless he can lead his subordinates effectively. Hence, a leader may or may not be a manager but a successful manager must be a leader.

Leadership is defined as influence, that is, the art or process of influencing people so that they will strive willingly and enthusiastically towards the achievement of group work.

Steps in decision making process

Business Studies XII — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

Steps in decision-making

1. Identification of problems: the first step of decision-making is identification of problems. First of all, managers must identify the problem. The problem has to be found and defined. Symptoms are identified and problems should be judged, symptoms are not problems. They are warning signs of problems. So, managers should search for symptoms for identification of problems. Such symptoms can be falling of sales, profit etc. It is said that problem identified is half solved is identification of problem should be effective.

2. Analysis of problem: after identification of problems, the problem should be analyzed by the decision maker. It is the assembly of fact and clarifying it. Relevant information must be collected and analyzed according to the complexity and nature of problems.

3. Developing the alternative solution: after identification and analysis of problems different probable solutions have to be developed which is known as developing the alternative solutions. There may be many alternative past experience, expert opinion, discussions etc. which may be helpful to develop the alternative.

4. Evaluation of the best alternative: after developing the alternative solution evaluation of the best alternative is done. It is determined that which alternative has how much advantage and disadvantages. in other words, alternatives are evaluated in so many factors like cost factors, risk , benefits, facilities etc. therefore it is very important.

5. Selection of the best alternative: after evaluating alternative, the best alternative is to be selected from various alternative. After developing alternative, the managers should taste each of them by imagining things that he has already put in effect. He should try to foresee the desirable consequences of adopting each alternative. It is done for best selection. Therefore, it is very important.

6. Implementation of the best alternative: after selection of the finest alternative, it must be used in the organization effectively. Effectiveness of decisions in achieving the desired goals depends upon its implementation. It they are not implemented effectively then best results can’t be obtained. Therefore, proper implementation of the best alternative is necessary.

7. Review of implementation: it is the last step of decision-making process. When the implementation of the best alternative is reviewed, the process of decision-making is finished. The result of implementation should be monitored and evaluated through which effectiveness can be measured.

Meaning and Importance of Decision Making

Business Studies XII — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

Meaning of decision-making
Decision-making is a process of selecting the best among the different alternatives. It is the act of making a choice. There are so many alternatives found in the organization and departments. Decision-making is defined as the selection of choice of one best alternative. Before making decisions all alternatives should be evaluated from which advantages and disadvantages are known. It helps to make the best decisions. It is also one of the important functions of management. Without other management functions such as planning, Organizing, directing, controlling, staffing can’t be conducted because in this managerial function decision is very important. According to Stephen P. Robbins, “decision-making is defines as the selection of a preferred course of action from two or more alternatives.”

Importance of decision-making
1. Implementation of managerial function: Without decision-making different managerial function such as planning, organizing, directing, controlling, staffing can’t be conducted. In other words, when an employee does, s/he does the work through decision-making function. Therefore, we can say that decision is important element to implement the managerial function.

2. Pervasiveness of decision-making: the decision is made in all managerial activities and in all functions of the organization. It must be taken by all staff. Without decision-making any kinds of function is not possible. So it is pervasive.

3. Evaluation of managerial performance: Decisions can evaluate managerial performance. When decision is correct it is understood that the manager is qualified, able and efficient. When the decision is wrong, it is understood that the manager is disqualified. So decision-making evaluate the managerial performance.

4. Helpful in planning and policies: Any policy or plan is established through decision making. Without decision making, no plans and policies are performed. In the process of making plans, appropriate decisions must be made from so many alternatives. Therefore, decision making is an important process which is helpful in planning.

5. Selecting the best alternatives: Decision making is the process of selecting the best alternatives. It is necessary in every organization because there are many alternatives. So decision makers evaluate various advantages and disadvantages of every alternative and select the best alternative.

6. Successful; operation of business: Every individual, departments and organization make the decisions. In this competitive world; organization can exist when the correct and appropriate decisions are made. Therefore, correct decisions help in successful operation of business.

Process of motivation

Business Studies XII — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

1. Unsatisfied needs and motives: it is the first process of motivation. This stage involves unsatisfied needs and motives. Such unsatisfied needs can be activated by internal stimulus such as hunger and thirst. They can also be activated by external stimulus such as advertisement and window display

2. Tension: this stage involves tension. Unsatisfied needs create tension in the individual. Such tension can be physical, psychological, and sociological. In this situation, people try to develop objects that will satisfy their needs.

3. Action to satisfy needs and motives: this stage involves action of people to satisfy needs and motives. Such tension creates strong internal stimulus that calls for action. Individual engages in action to satisfy needs and motives for tension reduction. For this purpose, alternatives are searches and choice is made, the action can be hard work for earning more money

4. Goal accomplishment: this stage involves goal accomplishment. Action to satisfy needs and motives accomplishes goals. It can be achieved through reward and punishment. When actions are carried out as per the tensions, then people are rewarded others are punished. Ultimately goals are accomplished.

5. Feedback: this is the last stage for motivation. Feedback provides information for revision or improvement or modification of needs as needed. Depending on how well the goal is accomplished their needs and motives are modified. Drastic changes in environment necessitate the revision and modification of needs

Difference between Delegation and Decentralization of Authority

Business Studies XII — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

Difference between delegation and decentralization of authority

Bases	Delegation of authority	Decentralization of authority
Nature	Process of transferring authority and creation of responsibility between superior and subordinates is called delegation. It can take place without decentralization	Decentralization is delegation of and dispersion of authority. It is not possible without delegation of authority
Purpose	It minimizes the burden of managers of unit, departments or plant	It prepares the organizational participants of the organization
Relationship	Relationship is between superior and immediate subordinates are indicated	Relationship is between top level, management, departments and units
Techniques	It is technique of management used to get the things done through others	It is both philosophy and technique of management
Parties	It is confined to manager and subordinates	It involves all managers at all level and relates relationship between departments, sections and units.
Responsibilities	Authority is only delegated, not responsibilities	Superior is relieved from responsibilities too
Necessity	Very important to management process	It is optional and situational as per the need
Control	Control remains in hand of superior who supervise the activities of subordinates	Control is delegated and decentralized to the departmental managers
Withdrawal of authority	It can be withdrawn by delegator at any time	Withdrawal of authority is not simple.

Factors affecting decentralization

Business Studies XII — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

Factors affecting decentralization of authority

1. Size – size of the organization, terms of sales number, plans, number of employees affects the decentralization of authority. It is observes that the speed and adequacy of decision making, flexibility and efficiency are enhanced through decentralization of authority in case of very large multi product, diverse and complex organization. Therefore in larger size of organization, there will be more dispersion of authority

2. History and age– the size of organization, the degree of decentralization depends upon history and ages of organization. If it is organized by an individual then in such kind of organization, there will be centralization of authority. But in case of business activities when there is merging being done there is decentralization of authority. In any organization, relatively high degree of centralized authority may be needed when new values and viewpoint are establishes by the executives

3. Philosophy of top management– decentralization of authority depends upon philosophy of top management. it is seen that in the owners managed enterprise there is delegation of authority but in professionally managed enterprise decentralization of authority is seen.

4. Competent personnel– competent personnel affect decentralization of authority. more personnel at lower level more policy of decentralization of authority,

5. Strategy and organization environment– strategy and organization environment influences market, technological environment, competition. It is the basis of determining decentralization of authority and centralization of authority.

6. Nature and management function– the degree of decentralization of authority is influenced by nature and management functions. Generally functions like production and sales are more decentralized and finance, personnel, research and development are highly centralized.

7. Control techniques– decentralization of authority is more when control technique is good. When control system is reliable, there is better and higher decentralization of authority to the lower level.

8. Dispersion of organizational plans– decentralization of authority also depends upon dispersion of organizational plans of the organization. Organization has officer of different types located at different places. That’s why decentralization of authority becomes necessary.

Types of Managerial Decisions

Business Studies XII — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

Types of decision-making
1. Programmed and non programmed decisions: Programmed decisions are those which are normally repetitive in nature and are taken as a routine job and responsibilities. These types of decisions are made by middle level management in accordance with some policies, rules and procedures. They have short term impact. For example: – granting a leave to an employee, purchasing office materials etc. non programmed decisions are non repetitively taken by top executives. They need to collect data and analyze them and forecast the strategic plans.

2. Major and minor decisions: among different decisions some decisions are considerably more important than others and are prioritized. They are called major decisions. For example, replacement of man by machine, diversification of product etc. contrary to that, some remaining decisions are considerably less important than others and are not so prioritized. They are minor decisions. For example, store of raw materials etc.

3. Routine and strategic decisions: Routine decisions are those decisions which are considered as tactical decisions. They are taken frequently to achieve high degree of efficiency in the organizational activities. For example, parking facilities, lighting and canteen etc. strategic decisions are those which are related to lowering the prices of products, changing the product etc. they take more fund and degree of partials.

4. Organizational and personal decision: Organizational decision is taken by top executives. For official purpose. They affect the organizational activities directly. Authority is also delegated. Personal decisions are concerned to an employee. The executives whenever takes the decisions personally that is known as personal decisions.

5. Individual and group decisions: When a single employee is involved in decision-making it is called individual decision. They are taken by ole proprietor when the problem is of routine nature. On the other hand when the decision is taken in a large organization where important and strategic decisions are taken, it is a group decision.

6. Policy and operating decisions: Policy decisions are taken by top-level management to change the rules, procedures, organizational structure etc, and they have a long tern effect. Operational decisions are taken by low level management which have short term effect and which affect the day-to-day operation of the organization.

Concept of direction

Business Studies XII — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

Concept of direction
Direction is an important function of management which is related to inspiring, instructing and guiding human factors in the organization to achieve organizational activities and objectives. A superior direct and control the subordinates and instruct the manpower which yields better performance. Direction is the guideline inspiration which is provided from higher position to lower position. It is also an important function of management. It is useful to coordinate the activities. Therefore, it is defined as the skill of influencing employees.