What makes managers effective with people in the workplace today Essay

What makes managers effective with people in the workplace today - Essay Example In this regard, effective managers are team players who function in an environment that is characterized by changing economic circumstances, rapid technological advances as well as changes in politics which are often challenges to conducting business (Gordon, 2002 as cited in Shultz 2005, p. 10). It can be noted that the 21st century workplace is undergoing immense and permanent changes hence efficiency and flexibility are demanded of organisations, teams have become important whereas participative management and empowerment have become central to effective management of people (Swanepoel, 1998). As such, this report seeks to explore the factors that make managers effective with people in the workplace every day. The report is divided into four sections which include the following: The first part addresses the challenges to managers of managing people during the contemporary business environment. ... This will also include practical examples of effective problem evaluation and resolution through the use of ‘people management’ skills in action. The fourth section specifically deals with evaluating the practical value of management self development. This includes an evaluation of personal ‘people skills’ strengths and weaknesses based on ELLI, the skills evaluation and development questionnaire, the emotional intelligence questionnaire, The Belbin teamwork, on-line questionnaire as well as a critical reflection of interpersonal/teamwork skills in class. The fifth section will deal with conclusions and a brief reflective summary highlighting the lessons learnt from writing the report. 2.0 Evaluation of ‘managing people’ challenges facing managers during the contemporary business environment During the contemporary period, it can be noted that one of the most challenging roles faced by the managers is to manage an organisation that is undergoing a major change process. The business environment in which the organisations are operating is dynamic and constantly changing hence the need for the managers to identify different ways of managing change (Swanepoel, 1998). The way these organisational changes are managed will play a crucial role in the extent to which organisations remain competitive and successful. In this case, the leader plays a pivotal role in ensuring the success of the organisation undergoing a change process. As such, it is important to highlight some of the roles played by the manager as well as the challenges that may be encountered in managing change. Change is about transition by the organisation from its current strategy and operations in order to move the

Supply Chain and Operations Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Supply Chain and Operations Management - Essay Example Few businesses understood the entire chain of activities but where inadequately managed which ultimately delivered products to the final customers. Although the activities were brought to fulfilment, often the supply chains were ineffectively led. Supply chain management can thus be explained as the active management of activities related to supply chain in order maximise the value of the customer, thereby achieving a sustainable competitive advantage. Supply chain activities range from product development, production, sourcing to logistics (Ketchen and Giunpero, 2004). The organizations that form the supply chain are closely linked together through information flows and physical flows. Physical flow is characterized by the movement, storage and transformation of materials and goods. Information flows allow the various supply chain associates to coordinate their long term plans as well as control their daily flow of materials and goods up and down the supply chain. However, simple as it may seem, supply chain management is associated with a certain degree of complexity and with complexity comes the risk factor (Halley and Beaulieu, 2009). This topic forms the basis for this research. The following sections will involve a thorough analysis of the main characteristics of material requirements planning (MRP) and Just-in-time (JIT). Advantages and disadvantages of JIT and MRP will be stated and a detailed comparison will be done. Thereafter, the risks associated with the supply chain management will be discussed in details, followed by the ways that can be implemented in order to mitigate such risks. Finally, an overall conclusion will be provided. Discussion Supply Chain Management in Toyota Supply chain management at Toyota Motor Corporation is a constituent of the company’s operations strategy which is systematically based on the Toyota Production Systems (TPS). The supply chain management framework was developed in the 1940s by Taiichi Ohno and Shigeo Sh ingo. With the company’s success becoming attaining a worldwide coverage, the Toyota Production System was followed by other companies with keen interest. The principle idea that was followed in the company’s production system is expressed by the term ‘lean manufacturing’. The components of Toyota’s supplier partnering hierarchy are interlocking structures, mutual understanding and trust, control systems, information sharing, compatible capabilities, kaizen and learning and joint improvement activities. The Toyota production system thoroughly impotents implements the Just in Time Strategy (JIT) which is a system that arranges the resources, information flows and decision rules in such a way that it enables a firm to realise the benefits of implementing such a system. JIT is a business viewpoint for maintaining a competitive advantage which is based on the idea of incessant development and eradication of waste. This system helps to carry out work thr ough various operations by signals (called Kanban). The components of just in time system are very proactive as far as exposing problems within a company’s supply chain management framework is concerned. The components play a crucial role in reducing the problems thereby formulating an even sound supply chain management strategy. The components are based on the principles of pull production which based in Kanban, total quality management, reducing inventory by involving the suppliers in the planning process, elimination of waste, continuous