Renzo Rufin Polino

CEE 446 – Assignment 2

1. How do managers differ from non-managerial employees?

Ans: The managers set the goals of an organization and are responsible for the success and failure
of goals and objectives, if they succeed in achieving these goals then they take credit for their
achievements and if fail they alone suffer the consequences for the failure.
Whereas, the non-managerial employees can be skilled or UN-skilled workers which are
made to work in order to achieve the goals. They are usually responsible for their own work; they
report to the Manager and may not interact directly with the people outside the company.

2. Is your course instructor a manager? Discuss in terms of managerial functions, managerial roles,
and skills.

Ans: For me, yes, she is. It can be easily observed by the way she handles our class. She also has
the confidence in giving us advice.

3. “The manager’s most basic responsibility is to focus people toward per formance of work
activities to achieve desired outcomes.” What’s your interpretation of this statement? Do you
agree with it? Why or why not?

Ans: “The manager’s most basic responsibility is to focus people toward per formance of work
activities to achieve desired outcomes.” What’s your interpretation of this statement? Do you
agree with it? Why or why not?

4. Explain the universality of management concept. Does is still hold true in today’s world? Why or
why not?

Ans: universality of management refers to its principles, techniques, functions and skills from
one time, place or job to another. All these management practices are equally and applicable
everywhere in the world. These techniques and functions can be practiced in every organized
effort, whether it is a business, shop, or industry, govt, social or educational. A successful
manager of a company or afield can be equally successful in the other.

5. Is business management a profession? Why or why not? Do some external research in answering
this question.

Ans: Business management is a profession, even though it is not technically an occupational

name, it is more like a category, or a general name. for example, bank examiner is the same as a
business management.
6. Is there one best “style” of management? Why or why not?

Ans: No, there’s probably not one single “best” style of management. Organizational situations
vary and what works best in one organization may not necessarily work best in another. Point out
to students that they will find a variety of managerial “styles” illustrated throughout the textbook
in different boxes, examples, and cases. Each individual tends to develop his or her own preferred
“style” of managing.

7. Does the way that contemporary organization are structured appeal to you? Why or why not?

Ans: Yes, because a strict hierarchical organization as represented in the traditional organizations
puts a barrier in responding to the rapidly changing environments. Contemporary organizational
structures consist of the matrix, lattice, virtual and networked organizations.

8. In today’s environment, which is more important to organizations-effeciency or effectiveness?

Explain your choice.

Ans: Both are needed. We need balance in both aspects because we need to achieve a goal with
less expense or casualties.

9. Researchers at Harvard Business School found that the most important managerial behaviors
involve two fundamental things: enabling people to move forward in their work and treating them
decently as human beings. What do you think of these two managerial behaviors? What are the
implications for someone, like yourself, who is studying mangement.

Ans: I think those are brilliant ideas because you should nurture your staff in order to have a
balance of effectiveness and effeciency in the organization.

10. “Management is undoubtedly on humankind’s most important inventions.” Do you agree with
this statement? Why or why not?

Ans: I disagree in the sense that management is not an invention as such. Since evolution humans
have managed every aspect of their existence in order to survive. Natural leaders always emerge
and certain styles and theories of management are in vogue for a time. But the essence of
management hasn't changed. It is the business of getting things done through people.