Overview
This lecture introduces the core concepts of organizations and management, comparing traditional and modern organizations and explaining why management is essential for effective resource use.
What is an Organization?
- An organization is a deliberate arrangement of people to achieve a specific purpose.
- Organizations require a distinct purpose, people, and a deliberate structure.
- Traditional organizations were stable, rigid, job-focused, individual-oriented, and had hierarchical relationships.
- Modern organizations are dynamic, flexible, skill-focused, team-oriented, involvement-oriented, customer-focused, diverse, and have lateral or network relationships.
- Modern organizations adapt to technological and globalization changes and empower employees at all levels.
What is Management?
- Management is the process of achieving organizational objectives by combining human, physical, and financial resources efficiently.
- It involves converting inputs (resources) into outputs (goods/services) while maximizing productivity and minimizing resource wastage.
- Management is necessary for all organizations, regardless of size, type, or department.
- Management applies to daily activities, even outside formal organizations, such as at home.
- Management can be viewed as a discipline (body of knowledge), a human activity (involving people), and a process (specific functions/activities).
The Role of Managers
- Managers are individuals who implement management principles to achieve organizational goals.
- A manager gets work done through others by coordinating team or group efforts towards common organizational goals.
- Management is about achieving results through the efforts of others, not just individual work.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Organization — A structured group of people working together for a specific goal.
- Management — The process of efficiently using resources to achieve organizational objectives.
- Manager — A person who gets work done through managing the efforts of others.
- Traditional Organization — Stable, rigid, job-focused, and hierarchically structured.
- Modern Organization — Dynamic, flexible, skill-focused, team-oriented, and diverse.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Watch Part Two of Module One to learn about manager roles and management functions.