Unit 931: Principles of Management

1. Introduction to Management

• Definition and importance of management
• The role of management in organizations
• Evolution of management theories
  • Classical approaches (Scientific Management, Administrative Theory)
  • Behavioral approaches
  • Contemporary theories

2. Functions of Management

• Overview of the four primary functions
  • Planning
    • Definition and purpose
    • Types of planning (strategic, tactical, operational)
  • Organizing
    • Structuring resources and activities
    • Delegation and coordination
  • Leading
    • Leadership vs. management
    • Motivating and influencing employees
  • Controlling
    • Monitoring and evaluation
    • Feedback and corrective actions

3. Managerial Roles and Skills

• Mintzberg's managerial roles
  • Interpersonal roles (figurehead, leader, liaison)
  • Informational roles (monitor, disseminator, spokesperson)
  • Decisional roles (entrepreneur, disturbance handler, resource allocator, negotiator)
• Essential managerial skills
  • Technical skills
  • Human skills
  • Conceptual skills
  • Decision-making skills

4. Organizational Structure

• Definition and importance
• Types of organizational structures
  • Functional structure
  • Divisional structure
  • Matrix structure
  • Network structure
• Impact of structure on performance and communication

5. Leadership Theories

• Trait Theory
• Behavioral Theory
• Contingency Theory
• Transformational Leadership
• Comparing leadership styles and their effectiveness

6. Decision Making and Problem Solving

• Decision-making process steps
• Types of decisions (programmed vs. non-programmed)
• Decision-making models
  • Rational model
  • Bounded rationality
  • Intuitive decision making
• Problem-solving strategies
  • Identifying problems
  • Generating alternatives
  • Evaluating and selecting solutions

7. Motivation and Employee Engagement

• Overview of motivation in management
• Key motivational theories
  • Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
  • Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory
  • Expectancy Theory
• Strategies to enhance employee engagement and productivity

8. Communication in Management

• Importance of communication
• Types of communication channels
  • Formal vs. informal
  • Vertical, horizontal, and diagonal communication
• Barriers to effective communication
• Techniques to improve communication
  • Active listening
  • Feedback mechanisms
  • Use of technology

9. Strategic Management

• Definition and significance
• Strategic planning process
• SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)
• Competitive advantage concepts
• Formulating and implementing strategies

10. Organizational Change and Innovation

• Understanding organizational change
• Types and sources of change
• Resistance to change
• Change management strategies
• Role of innovation in growth and competitiveness
• Fostering a culture of innovation