Role of a Manager in an Organization

(i) To Have Contacts:

He has to establish and maintain contacts with many people both within and outside the business. The persons with whom he has regular contacts within the organization include his subordinates, fellow managers and so on. Government officials, suppliers etc., are the outsiders with whom the manager may have frequent contacts.

(ii) To Supervise:

Every manager has to supervise the work of subordinates while the latter are doing their work and offer necessary help. Supervision also needs to be undertaken to ensure that the subordinates do not waste their time during working hours.

(iii) To Attain Targets:

Managers may work under pressure most of the time as they have targets to achieve. This is particularly true in the case of production and sales managers who are the line managers.

(iv) To Delegate Authority:

Managers have to get done things by their subordinates. For this they have to delegate authority to the latter to enable them to perform the tasks assigned. The managers must ensure that the authority delegated is just sufficient to carry out the duties by the subordinates. If authority exceeds responsibility there may be misuse of authority. On the other hand, if authority is inadequate, the subordinates may not be able to carry out the task.

(v) To Hold Meetings:

Managers, often, may have to hold meetings to put forth their views before their subordinates. Such meetings are also necessary to get feedback information from the subordinates on the progress of their work. Managers of different departments also may have to meet at regular intervals to secure proper co-ordination and to review progress.

(vi) To Act as a Leader:

As a leader, the manager has to set an example to his subordinates. He must be sincere, honest and committed to his work. Only then, he will be able to guide and motivate the subordinates under him.

(vii) To Ensure Proper Use of Resources:

The manager has to ensure that the organizational resources such as men, machines, materials and money are optimally utilized.

(viii) To Resolve Conflicts:

Whenever there are conflicts between the employees over certain organizational matters, the manager is expected to resolve all such conflicts and arrive at an amicable solution.

(ix) To Undertake Trips:

Managers, particularly those in charge of sales, may have to undertake business trips frequently and as a result they may not be able to remain in hometown always. In the same manner, the managers cannot work strictly according to the working hours. They may have to work even beyond working hours sometimes in view of a higher quantum of work.

(x) To Make Decisions:

Managers also have to make certain routine decisions in connection with matters pertaining to the daily operations of the business. Purchase of raw materials, payment of wages, sanctioning leave to subordinate staff, etc., are examples of such routine decisions.

(xi) To Handle Crisis:

The manager is also expected to handle crisis that may arise in the organization. Strike-call by the workers, breakdown of machinery, fire accident in the godown or in the workplace are examples of critical situations that may arise in any organization at any time. In such a situation the manager has to act swiftly and wisely and find remedy.