Manager's Work, Roles And Skills

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Abstract

This essay examines the question of whether managerial work, roles, and skills are same throughout the world. Academic journals and textbooks are used in this essay to provide some evidences and examples to support the conclusion. The academic journals and textbooks were obtained from Monash University’s library. Conclusion of this essay indicates that organizational level and cultural diversity have significant influence on degree and emphases of the managerial work, roles, and skills performed by managers throughout the world.

Introduction

In all societies, people are involved in managing things. Everyone manages, but not everyone is a manager. “A manager is someone who works with and through other people by coordinating their work activities in order to accomplish organizational goals” (Robbins, Bergman, Stagg and Coulter, 2003, p.6). Robbins and DeCenzo (2005, p.10) stated that “A manager is a manager regardless of where he or she manages”. The statement has led to one question. Are the manager’s job and activities universal?

It is believed that there is no such thing as universal manager. Managers around the world perform similar work, roles, and skills. However, it should not be interpreted that the activities of all managers are the same. The differences are of degrees, importance and emphasis they put on their work, roles and skills due to some factors such as organizational level and size, culture, political and economic condition. This essay will only emphasize on organizational level and cultural factors.

The purpose of this essay is to discuss and examine whether the work, roles, and skills of a manager are the same throughout the world. Analytical discussion will be constructed with the use of evid...

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..., Wariszak, R. & Hartmann, L. (1997), "What do managers like to do? Comparing women and men in Australia and the US”, Australian Journal of Management, Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 71-97.

Wilson, F.M. (1999), Organizational behaviour: a critical introduction, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Lenartowicz, T. & Johnson, J.P. (2002), "Comparing managerial values in twelve Latin American countries: an exploratory study”, Management International Review, Vol. 42, No. 3, pp. 279-307.

Peterson, T.O. & Van Fleet, D.D. (2004), "The ongoing legacy of R.L. Katz, an updated typology of management skills”, Management Decision, Vol. 42, No.10, pp. 1297-1378.

Lubatkin, M.H., Ndiaye, M. & Vengroff, R. (1997), “The nature of managerial work in developing countries: a limited test on the universalist hypothesis”, Journal of International Business Studies, Vol. 28, No. 4, pp.711-734.

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