3.

11203: PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT

Tutorial 2 Activities

Topics 3: PLANNING

1. Define Planning in your own words

- is the process of deciding in advance what is to be done in future of an organisation in achieving its set
goals and objectives.

2. Explain the key reasons for Planning. Differentiate between Planning and Forecasting.

- Planning provides direction for the organisation, it promotes innovative ideas, reduce risk of
uncertainties, etc…

- the difference between planning and forecasting is, planning is deciding in advance what is to be done
in future whereas forecasting is a planning technique and aid to the planning process

3. Explain the key steps in the Planning Process

- the key steps in the planning process are; setting goals, develop the plans and implement the plans

Setting goals- the first step in planning where the business has to formulate goals based on the business
mission.

Develop the plans- is about considering the organisational context by using the SWOT analysis

Then implement the plans- is about executing the plans throughout the rest of the management
process

4. Define the following terms in your own words;

Vision- is about picturing what the business will become in the near future

Mission- is simply a short written statement of the aim of the business organisation

Values- values are principles or guidelines or standards that are in place to give direction for the
smooth running of the business

Goals- are the outcome/results of good planning process by the business organisation

Objectives and Strategies- it is either short or long term target of how to achieve something with
specific techniques

5. Explain the relationship between Planning and the hierarchy of management.

- the relationship between planning and the hierarchy of planning is, there both complements or speaks
the main idea of a smooth flow of the business in order to achieve its objectives

6. What is a strategic management process? What are the key steps in the strategic process?
- strategic management process is about identification, SWOT Analysis, formulate strategies,
implementing strategies, and evaluating the strategies.

- the main steps are as follows: identification, SWOT Analysis, formulate strategy, implement strategy
and evaluate strategy

7. State the characteristics of effective objectives. State some reasons for changing objectives.

- Following are the characteristics of effective objectives; SMART

S- SPECIFIC

M- MEASURABLE

A- ACHIEVABLE

R- REALISTIC

T-TIME BOUND

Following are the reasons for changing objectives

- Change in goal orientation (manager’s aspiration changes)

- Crisis Situation –e.g. Shift in government policies
- Change in the demands from coalition groups
- Changes in the normal life cycle of the enterprise

8. What is Management by objective? Explain how you understand it.

- MBO is about setting goals and then breaking these down into more specific objectives
or key results

9. Discuss the meaning and importance of decision-making.

- the process of choosing a course of action from two alternatives

- All management activities and functions are performed through decision-making. - -Decisions must
be made at the right time.
- Most managers failed to make decisions at the right time and allow competitors or
rivals to grab market opportunities.

10. Explain decision making process in detail

- following are the six steps in the decision making process

1. Problem Awareness - Signal of a problem e.g. Customer’s reaction to price or

quality or low profitability
2. Problem Diagnosis -Identify the problem from its signs & symptoms, hence
identification of the problem
3. Development of Alternative Solution - Proposed possible solutions
(alternatives) to the problems
4. Evaluation of Alternative Solution - Evaluate each of the alternatives
5. Selection of the Best Solution - Select the best alternative
6. Implementation of the Decision - Implement the alternative as a solution to
address the problem

Tutorial 3 Activities

Topics 4: ORGANIZING

1. Define Organizing in your own words.

- organizing is about getting things together or bringing/combining all the resources together to achieve
the organisational goals

2. Why is performing the organizing function important in any organization?

- it is important for the following reasons

o Execute new developed strategy
o Respond to changing market conditions or
o Respond to new technology that requires changing
o Increase efficiencies

3. State the organizing process.

Following are the six main steps in the organizing process

1. Gathering information
2. Identification and Detailing all the work
3. Classifying work (Classifying and dividing)
4. Allocating staff
5. Assigning Authority & Responsibility
6. Monitoring effectiveness

4. Explain coordination and how coordination is practiced in organizations.

- coordination is Putting together the different parts of the business to achieve the
outcomes in the most efficient way.
Better Coordination outcome requires:
• The chain of command -line of authority that flows from the top
of the organisation down to any employees.
• Unity of command -each employee should answer to only one
immediate superior
• Span of Control - number of direct subordinates

5. What is an authority? How does authority differ from power?

- authority is the right to make decisions, issue orders and use resources
-

6. Distinguish line and staff authority.

- the difference is,

Line authority is direct authority that a manager has over an employee while

Staff authority is to do with giving advise

7. In your own words explain the relationship between delegation and authority, responsibility and

authority.

- Delegation is a process which brings into perspective the ideas of authority, responsibility and
accountability into perspective
8. Why do supervisors hesitate to delegate?

- because if the manager hesitates to delegate, the Accountability still remains with him or her.

9. Explain centralization and decentralization.

- centralization refers to the degree to which decision-making powers is

concentrated at a single point in the organisation while decentralisation allows lower-management in
the decision-making process.

10. Explain the recent developments in job design and why are they relevant.

- The recent developments in job designed are:

Job rotation – involves systematically moving employees
from one job to another
Job Enlargement – giving employees more tasks to perform
Job enrichment – increasing both the number of tasks the
worker does and the control the worker has over the job.

11. Differentiate flat structure from a tall structure of management and state the characteristics

associated with each.

- Tall Structure
A management structure characterized by narrow span of management & large
number of hierarchical levels.
Facilitates Centralization
Flat structure
A management structure characterized wide span of control and few
hierarchical levels
Facilitate Decentralization

12. List the different types of organizational structures and explain their relevance and suitability.

- following are the types of organisational structures

1) Entrepreneurial Structure- it consist of the owner, and the employees

2) Functional Organization Structure- Widely used structure for small or medium size single
business
3) Product Organization Structure- Suitable for companies who produces/sells more than one product
4) Geographical Organization Structure- Geographical regions of the world or country
Each geographical unit includes all functions required
to produce and market the products in a particular
geographical area.
5) Decentralized Business Unit Structure- For diversified firms, the basic building blocks are its
business units
6) Strategic Business Unit- Grouping related businesses into a strategic Business unit
7) Matrix Organization Structure- This Organization structure possesses a dual chain of
command consisting of:
A functional Manager
Project Manager
8) Team Structure- it consist of three forms of team structures:
Project Team
Task force Team
Venture Team
9) Virtual Organisation Structure- this kind of structure enable firms to do business with less
capital, less human resource and other inputs

Tutorial 4 Activities

TOPIC 5: LEADING

1. Define leading in your own words.

- leading is about directing people and telling them what to do

2. Why is the leading function important in any organization?

- it is important by the following reasons;

Leads people towards the organization goals

Motivating and inspiring the people towards the predetermined tasks
Communicating the data, information, attitude, behaviors, morale and
satisfaction levels etc.

3. Discuss the key elements of leading

- following are the key elements of leading

a) Motivation –The act of stimulating the people so that they give

their best to the organization.
b) Leading (Leadership) - The process by which a manager guides
and influences the work of his subordinates; and
c) Communicating - The process of information flow from one
person to another and across the organization

4. Differentiate leadership from management

- the difference is Management is involved in the running of the entire

organisation, while leadership is bringing inspiring and
emotional elements into the organisation
5. Differentiate morale and motivation.

- morale as a state of mind or a

willingness to work which in turn affect individuals and
organizational objectives while motivation is the act of stimulating the people so that they give
their best to the organization

6. Identify and list the key factors affecting morale.

- following are some of the factors affecting morale

General worker’s attitude

Employees attitude
Level of satisfaction
level of consideration for subordinates
Work load and the work pressure level

7. How can morale be measured

- following are the three ways in which morale can be measured

Observation -a keen observation of employee’s

behavior
Attitude surveys –Interview Methods or
Questionnaires
Company records -Reports on labour turnover, rate of
absenteeism

8. Elaborate on the relationship between morale and performance outcome.

- Relationship between morale and performance is still

unclear.
Only little evidences in literature shows that employees
attitude bear any relationship to performance on the job. However, if there are evidence, then they are
confusing.
9. How can low morale in organizations be improved?

- yes by the following measures

1. Preventive measures -prevent regression in the level of

morale
2. Remedial measures –formulate strategies to improve
morale

10. Evaluate the influence of morale on productivity.

- it is done by the following steps

Creation of the whole job (assigning whole job to a single worker)

Job enrichment –give additional responsibilities
Modifying the work environment
Flexible working hours
Job rotations

Tutorial 5 Activities

TOPICS 6: CONTROLLING

1. What is controlling?

- A process of monitoring performance and taking action to

ensure desired results.

2. Why is the control function required in organizations?

3. Discuss the various steps in the control process.

Following are the control steps

Step 1 — Establish objectives and standards.
Step 2 — Measure actual performance.
Step 3 — Compare results with objectives and
standards.
Step 4 — Reinforcing good performance and take corrective action as needed

4. State the relationship between planning and controlling.

5. Why is planning and controlling called “Siamese” or twin of management? Explain

6. Explain the different types of control. Discuss the relationship between the different types of

control and the transformation process.

7. List some examples of control systems in an organization.

8. Explain management by objective in line with control systems and functions.