Management
Introduced| English | Meaning |
|---|---|
| management/ˈmænɪdʒmənt/ | Planning, organising, directing and coordinating people and resources to achieve objectives. |
| planning/ˈplænɪŋ/ | planning |
| organising/ˈɔːɡənaɪzɪŋ/ | organising |
| coordinating/kəʊˈɔːdɪneɪtɪŋ/ | coordinating |
| controlling/kənˈtrəʊlɪŋ/ | controlling |
| autocratic/ˌɔːtəʊˈkrætɪk/ | Describing a leadership style in which decisions are made by the leader with little input from others. |
| democratic/ˌdeməˈkrætɪk/ | Describing leadership that involves group members in discussion and decision-making. |
| laissez-faire/ˈleɪsez feə/ | Describing leadership that gives members substantial freedom to make decisions with little direct intervention. |
| adapt/əˈdæpt/ | To change an approach, activity or arrangement to suit new conditions. |
| leader/ˈliːdə/ | A person who guides or influences others in working towards a goal. |
| vision/ˈvɪʒn/ | A statement of the future an organisation seeks to create or become. |
Making it all happen
- Plans and people don't organise themselves. Someone has to decide, direct and check.
- That is the job of management 管理 — and how it is done shapes the whole business.
Leadership style lab
Pick the management style that fits each situation.
Which are functions of management? (Select all that apply.)
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Managers plan, organise, direct, coordinate and control.
What managers do
- The classic functions: planning 计划, organising 组织, commanding (directing), coordinating 协调, and controlling 控制.
- Managers turn objectives into action and hold the organisation together.
Fayol's five functions of management form a repeating cycle
An autocratic management style is one where:
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Autocratic managers decide without consulting staff.
A democratic style is most likely to:
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Consultation motivates and improves information, though it is slower.
A hands-off style that lets skilled staff get on with the work is called ______.
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Laissez-faire suits self-driven, expert teams.
Management styles
- Autocratic 专制型: the manager decides alone; fast, but demotivating.
- Democratic 民主型: staff are consulted; slower, but motivating and well-informed.
- Laissez-faire 放任型: staff are left to get on with it; works for skilled, self-driven teams.
Worked example. In a crisis, an autocratic style gets a quick decision. For a creative design team, a democratic or laissez-faire style draws out better ideas. Good managers adapt 调整 the style to the situation.
A leader sets a vision and inspires, while a manager plans and controls.
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The roles overlap but are not identical.
Managers vs leaders 领导
- A manager plans, organises and controls; a leader sets a vision 愿景 and inspires people to follow.
- The best managers are also leaders — but the two roles are not identical.
You've got it
- management functions: plan, organise, direct, coordinate, control
- styles: autocratic (decides alone), democratic (consults), laissez-faire (hands-off)
- a manager controls; a leader inspires — adapt the style to the situation
Write from consulting 5 team leaders
- Before a decision, a manager asks 5 team leaders for their views, then decides.
- Name the leadership style.
A manager asks 5 team leaders for their views and then makes the decision. What leadership style is that, and what is the manager still doing?
Consultation followed by a managerial decision is democratic.
What style is used when 5 team leaders are consulted first?
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The manager consults and then decides. Other options — Autocratic (because a manager is involved); Laissez-faire (because other people spoke).