Question no. 01. Which of the two managers is the more effective?

Give your reasons, including in particular how you define effective. What evidence, if any, would you require in order to judge the managers effectiveness?

Answer:

CONTRASTING THE MANAGERIAL ACTIVITIES OF THE TWO MANAGERS

After reading the stated above tales of the two managers, in my point of view, I think the second manager who is Rose has got the more effective approach as a manager than Alex does.

DEFINING EFFECTIVENESS: It is a central element in the process of management that

entails achieving organizational objectives. An effective manager should have the following qualities:            Must know the ways to get the stated objectives done Must perform what his post requires Should perform to satisfy both top and lower management Maintain the provision of standard service Should be concerned about the vision of the organization Must monitor the operational performance Should have the entrepreneurial qualities as a modern manager Should be initiative Must serve as a link in the chain of command Maintaining industrial relations Negotiating to handle disputes

So, most of these qualities are found in our second manager, Rose. To me, Rose is the more effective between them. Judging the two managers effectiveness on the basis of some evidential points: Excluding the basic works needed to manage an organization properly, these qualities are must to be called as an effective manager. They are:  Expectation of top management: Alex is not that bothered about the vision and expectations of his top management whether Rose manages to satisfy them to an extent by her own personalized managerial activities.  Liaison: Rose manages to communicate with not only her top management but also with the staffs working under her and maintains the industrial relation also where Alex fails to maintain the liaison.  Consider duties as responsibilities: Rose considers her responsibilities as her duty which Alex does not do.

 Entrepreneurial approach: Rose has the qualities to explore her potentiality within the axis of her job but Alex performs marginally here because of his top level mangers intervention.  Satisfying the management: Rose tries to satisfy both the top and lower level management where Alex is not bother about what is expected by the staffs working under him.  Coordination with staffs: Rose manages to coordinate with her staffs in the day to day managerial activity by being meetings or by speaking with them where Alex remains confined to the paper works only.  Being informational: Rose act as a source of information and advices or assists her staffs which is absent in Alexs management process.  Being proactive: Rose performs an anticipatory role and gets involved in the changing environment of her workplace. Alex doesnt possess this.  Organizational politics: Rose handles the political issues inside her organization which Alex doesnt need to do.

 Personalized management: Rose is open to her job requirements and has a

considerable choice about how she wants to manage things where Alex walks on the chosen path by his top managers. So again, Rose is the effective one here.  Dealing with problems: Both the managers deal with their staffs problem but Rose has an instigator approach here as an effective manager.  Quality and hygiene standards: Both of them have this quality but Rose seems to be more active and responsive in this case. All the points stated above generate a clear contrast between the two mangers and apparently show that Rose has the more effective approach as a manager. In my opinion, effectiveness means doing the right things at the right time in the right place. And Rose also complies with this definition of effectiveness more than Alex.

Question no. 02. How far and in what ways are the two managers influenced by: (a) the internal environment of the organization; and (b) the external environment ?

Answer:

Environment of an organization: The factors and forces that potentially influence the
operations of an organization are included as its environment.

Internal environment: It includes the factors on which an organization has maximum

control.

External environment: It includes the factors on which an organization has less or no

control. The two managers, Alex and Rose, in the case study are influenced by both the internal and external environment in the following way:

(a)Elements of internal environment and its influence over the two managers:
Alex is more influenced by the internal environment of the organization. Because he works in the private sector and he is more dependent on his superior for the work procedures. The number of rules and procedures given to Alex within he has to work are determined by head office. Rose is also influenced by the internal environment. Details are given below:

 Management: Managers have to ensure that they are managing the

department properly and correctly. Both Alex and Rose are to manage the internal staff duties, keeping staff records etc. But none of them gives training to them which is negative. Machine or Premises: Both Alex and Rose have to make sure that both the equipments and the premises of their organization are perfect to perform their jobs. Strategic strength: For managing the staffs, a manager must have some strategic strength for lessening the unnecessary lengthiness of work. Both Alex and Rose are aware of this internal element. Working condition: The environment on which a manager works is very important as it decides how effectively and how willingly the manager will perform their duties. In Alexs case, the working conditions are not that friendly. Thus he doesnt explore his potentiality where as Rose works under an open and friendly environment. Thus she can easily use her innovations and potentiality. Motivation: A manager needs to motivate his staffs for better performance. Rose acts proactively, listens to her staffs problem. This attitude makes them to concentrate more on their job. But Alex lacks this. Wages of the staff: Alex and Rose take care of the determination and distribution of staffs salaries. Interruptions: A manager has to face less or more interruptions in his day to day work. Both the managers face this and handles it with patience.

 

(b)Elements of external environment and its influence over the two managers:
As Alex works in the private sector, he is less influenced by the external environment. External stakeholders and the political issues do not affect his works.

As Rose works in the public sector, she is more influenced by the external environment. She has to manage the political conflicts as it influences her works. Details are given below: 

Political: As Rose works in a public organization, she has to maintain links to cope
up with the organizational political issues. Alex is not that much affected by this as he is in a private sector. Social and Cultural issue: It is related to customers behavior. For Alex, the manager of the restaurant, customers culture and mentality are important for him to understand. Same goes for Rose, she has to ensure services up to social and cultural standard. Both of them are equally affected by this issue. Customers: Customers are needed to be kept satisfied by the managers. Alex and Rose both are influenced by this issue and talk to their consumer, keep checking the quality of their products and services. Ethical issue: A manager needs to behave ethically while serving his customers. Rose does what she ought to do. It is the outcome of her inner responsible thinking, but Alex is not that much influenced as a private worker. Changing environment: Change is the most constant factor in the external environment of an organization. Rose influenced by it and is more active in coping herself with the change and Alex, in some points is also responsive to this issue. Negotiating with variety of people: External people affect operational process either directly or indirectly. This influences the two managers to maintain link with top managers, personnel department, union representatives etc. Rose, as a public manager does it the most.

Question no. 03: how far can the similarities and differences between the two jobs be explained by the fact that they are both in the service sector but one is in the private sector whilst the other is in the public sector?

Answer:
Though they are both in the service sector but one is in the private sector while the other is in the other public sector. Both of them are managers who manage the operational process of their respective organizations. But there are some similarities and differences between these two sectors job type.

Similarities:

 Both Alex and Rose ensure the adequate staff levels, recruit and select domestic staff, conduct training, allocate duties, organize shifts, deal with grievances and keep staff records.  They both maintain the quality aspect of the organization.  Deal with the equipment sector of their organization.  Perform operational activities of the organization.  Plan to manage the staff levels.  Ensure and maintain the standards of cleanliness.

Differences:
 Rose explains existing and new regulations and policy and offers technical advice when required but Alex does not.  Alex monitors customer satisfaction with the service and deals with customer requests and complaints but Rose does not.  Alex controls stock, orders goods and checks deliveries but Rose does not.  Alex controls costs, cash and complete financial returns but rose does not.  Rose acts as a source of information and advice but Alex does not.  Rose follows proactive approach but Alex does not.  Rose has to attend several unscheduled meetings with union representatives, administrators for maintaining links but Alex does not have to as he is in private sector.  Rose has to deal with the political issues because her job is a public job but Alex does not.  Rose enjoys the freedom of the job she is in public sector, but Alexs working area is chosen.  Rose interacts most with outside people, but being in a private sector, Alex needs not to do so.