Proper Management Techniques

I. INTRODUCTION

The quality of management in an organization determines how well a company will do. According to Taylor, Fayol, Weber and other classical theorists, there is a single best way for organization to be structured. The challenge to that idea is known as the contingency theory, which states that there is no one best way to organize your structure. I believe that the contingency theory is correct, but that in some cases, different approaches work better than others. In this paper I will be discussing three important management functions that I believe if implemented, will help lead to having a very successful organization. I will also be comparing them to three other ideas that are not quite as effective. The three functions or structures that I believe should be used are: using stretch goals instead of incremental or easy, having a decentralized structure instead of a centralized one, and having a very strong code of ethics instead of a lax code of ethics. As you will see, all three of these functions are related in some way, and help build on each other.

II. STRETCH GOALS

Stretch goals are goals that will challenge and stretch subordinates' ability but are not out of reach and will not require an impossibly high expenditure of managerial time and energy. Stretch goals are extremely ambitious targets that are very difficult to achieve.

IMPORTANCE. Stretch goals are important because they lead to the highest amount of effort put in by the employee. With impossible goals, the employee isn't motivated because he believes that the goals are so hard to achieve that it is a waste of time and energy to even try. With incremental or easy goals, the employee is working to achieve it, but may not be ...

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...achieve their goals might choose to break the law or behave unethically to try to reach them. Having a decentralized structure takes some decision making away from top managers, which gives them more time for other import issues such as performing the ethic audits and ensuring that the company's strong code of ethics is intact. It is very important for all three of these management practices to be used together, because they all build off each other. It is possible to have stretch goals without a decentralized structure or a strong code of ethics, but when those two principles are also in place, they build off each other and make them all more valuable. With all three of these principles in place, then my company has a good chance of being successful, because we are highly motivated, constantly improving, empowered to make decisions, and behaving ethically.