An Assessment of Mintzberg Managerial Roles a Case Study
Key Learning Outcomes
By the end of the case, students should be able to:
- Understand the concept of managerial roles and how they differ from managerial functions and skills.
- Identify the managerial roles proposed by Mintzberg and their corresponding activities and behaviors.
- Analyze how managers perform these roles in different situations and contexts, such as level of management, type of organization, and environmental uncertainty.
- Evaluate the strengths and limitations of Mintzberg’s framework and its applicability to contemporary management practice.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This assignment will discuss the managerial roles proposed by Henry Mintzberg, a renowned management scholar and author. Mintzberg identified 10 roles that managers perform in their daily work and grouped them into three categories: interpersonal, informational, and decisional. I will explain each role and provide some examples of how they are applied in practice. I will also evaluate the strengths and limitations of Mintzberg's framework.
Interpersonal Roles
Interpersonal roles are those that involve interacting with other people, such as subordinates, peers, superiors, customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders. Mintzberg classified these roles into three types: figurehead, leader, and liaison.
Figurehead: This role involves performing symbolic and ceremonial duties, such as greeting visitors, signing documents, attending events, and representing the organization to the external world. The figurehead role helps to establish the legitimacy and authority of the manager and to create a positive image of the organization.
Leader: This role involves motivating, directing, coaching, and influencing the behavior and performance of the employees. The leader's role is essential for creating a shared vision, setting goals and objectives, providing feedback and recognition, resolving conflicts, and fostering a culture of teamwork and innovation.
Liaison: This role involves maintaining and developing contacts and networks with people outside the manager's immediate unit or organization. The liaison role enables the manager to access valuable information, resources, and opportunities, as well as to coordinate and collaborate with other units or organizations.
Informational Roles
The informational roles are those that involve processing and disseminating information, such as collecting data, analyzing trends, reporting results, and communicating messages. Mintzberg classified these roles into three types: monitor, disseminator, and spokesperson.
Monitor: This role involves scanning the internal and external environment for relevant information, such as market trends, customer feedback, competitor actions, technological developments, and regulatory changes. The monitor role helps the manager to identify opportunities and threats and to keep abreast of the latest developments in their field or industry.
Disseminator: This one share information with others within the organization, such as subordinates, peers, superiors, and other units. The disseminator role helps the manager to inform and educate others about the goals, strategies, policies, procedures, and performance of the organization.
Spokesperson: This involves transmitting information to people outside the organization, such as customers, suppliers, media, investors, regulators, and the general public. The spokesperson role helps the manager to promote and defend the interests of the organization and to shape its reputation and image.