Remote working is a form of arrangement where the employee does not have to commute to the workplace. The rise and success of remote working have been facilitated by technological development. Technological advancements offer the ability to get work done despite the worker’s location and enable communication with coworkers and clients. These forms of technology include local area networks, collaborative software, conference calling, internet access, private visual networks cloud computing, video telephony and Voice over Internet Protocol (IP) technologies. Teleworking has been assisted by the technology involved in telecommunication, such as smartphones, tablet computers, laptops, landline telephones and desktop computers. There have also been developments of software that have come in handy to facilitate remote working, such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Cisco WebEx, Stack, WhatsApp and Google Meet. The history of remote working is traced back to the 1970s when Jack Nilles developed the name telework or telecommuting. Technology was Continue reading
Management Principles
Three Perspectives on Organizational Change
Organizational change is best achieved by setting a clear objective, carefully planning all necessary tasks, and following a detailed plan. The above statement is very true given the fact that failure to articulately effect change in organizations has led to unnecessary internal and external conflicts that breed business failure. Competition has gone global and the market and industry dynamics have necessitated the need for companies to make concerted efforts streamlined towards ensuring that high-quality goods and services are offered in the market at competitive prices. This has resulted in the adoption and implementation of several tools and strategies in change management geared towards the attainment of the aforementioned goals. A good example is the discovery of the internet that has enabled faster communication and easier access to knowledge. In addition to the above, globalization is tearing down traditional approaches to management. It is no wonder relentless change has become a Continue reading
Fordism – Meaning, Concept, Contributions, and Critiques
Economists and philosophers have developed many theories that explain how organizations are managed and how they function. Managers look upon these theories when they are managing the organization. The theories have impacts on the organization in which they are applied. The impacts could either be positive or negative depending on how it is applied and the form and nature of organization in which it is applied. In fact, each theory has its strengths as well as shortcomings. It is, therefore, the duty of the managers to choose the theory that best fits their organization and that which contributes to organizational success. Among the theorists who have contributed to the theories that have had significant impacts on organizations is Henry Ford. Henry Ford is one of the most celebrated industrialists of all times. He is the one who founded the famous motor company known as Ford Motor Company, named after him. Continue reading
Should Management and Leadership Be Separated?
Achieving business victory calls for diverse individuals to handle diverse functions for organisational operations to be handled as planned. While some roles are easy to define, others may at times have confusing boundaries due to their vague nature. An example of a case where such confusion may arise is differentiating between a leader and a manager. Management and leadership have an imperative function in getting things done. However, both of them have varying aspects with respect to the role they play and their impact. This claim does not imply that one cannot play both roles simultaneously. It is possible for one to be a leader and a manager at the same time performing both roles. However, it is worth noting that being a great leader does not necessarily imply that such a person makes a phenomenal leader and vice versa. For this reason, it is paramount for people to get a clear Continue reading
Three Perspectives of Organizational Theory
Organizational theory is based on its three perspectives, which are the modern, symbolic-interpretive and the post-modern. The perspectives each have different approaches when it comes to the management of an organization. 1. Modern Perspective Modernists are objectivists who focus on reality of knowledge which is build based upon the conceptualization and the theorization. An Example would be that a company earns profits based on the CEO’s ability to make right decisions while investing the money of an organization. The results of the actions can be measured in profit and loss and can be directly measured. The data which modernists recognize are from the five senses, through what they see, heard, touch, smell and tasted. Modern Perspective builds a set of rules that can be used in organization so that all employees will be able to follow, perform and function, ensuring the entire process in the organization runs smoothly. Modernists do Continue reading
Comparison Between Leadership and Management
The concepts of leadership and management are an essential discussion in business. Each company or organization maintains people who are in charge and the approach they choose to take strongly depends on personality as well as education and training. The field of leadership research has offered competent theories to outline the dynamics of being in a position of power. As industry players expand and become more complex, company executives need to acquire critical skills and balance leadership styles with management approaches. Leadership is necessary for any organization to achieve its mission and vision. It is a process when an individual influences peers to work towards and achieve common objectives or outcomes. The concept of leadership can be developed into a focused, dynamic, and cooperative performance system. Interaction through dialogue and discussion can lead to influence and changes in organizational structure, operational procedures, key performance indicators, and the feedback process. Essentially, Continue reading