- During our introduction to management, we defined what management is and what a manager does
- We looked at the various functions of a manager within an organisation and said these include: Coordinating, Organising, Leading, Planning and Controlling
- There is another way to look at what a manager does within the organisation and it involves looking at the roles that a manager plays within an organisation/business
- Henry Mintzberg, a renowned management expert, proposed a framework of managerial roles.
- Managers play a crucial role in ensuring the effective operation of an organization.
- Mintzberg’s framework categorizes managerial roles into three categories: Interpersonal, Informational, and Decisional.
- Managerial roles refer to the different types of tasks that managers undertake to ensure the effective operation of an organization.
- Managers are responsible for overseeing the work of employees and ensuring that organizational goals are achieved.
- As already said according to Minzberg there are three main categories of managerial roles: interpersonal, informational, and decisional.
- We will now look at each of these roles and what they entail
Interpersonal Roles:
- Liaison: Managers act as a bridge between different departments, teams, and individuals within an organization.
- Figurehead: Managers represent the organization and perform ceremonial duties, such as attending events or signing documents.
- Leader: Managers motivate and inspire employees to achieve organizational goals.
- An example manager organizing a company-wide event to foster team building.
Informational Roles:
- Monitor: Managers gather information about the organization’s internal and external environment to identify issues and opportunities.
- Disseminator: Managers share information with employees to ensure that everyone has the information needed to do their job effectively.
- Spokesperson: Managers communicate with external stakeholders to represent the organization’s interests.
- An example of a manager playing an informal role is when a manager provides regular updates to employees about changes in company policies.
Decisional Roles:
- Entrepreneur: Managers identify new opportunities and take risks to improve the organization’s performance.
- Resource Allocator: Managers allocate resources, including people, money, and equipment, to ensure that organizational goals are achieved.
- Negotiator: Managers negotiate with internal and external stakeholders to reach agreements that benefit the organization.
- An example of a manager playing a decisional role manager negotiating a new contract with a supplier to reduce costs while maintaining quality.
