Question

An individual reflection on how your knowledge about management has changed and what for you was the most valuable theory or concept you learned and how this will affect your practice of management and your attitude to managers you report to or will report to in the future. Maximum, 350 words

Answer 1

SOLUTION :

From my high school, I have been learning a lot about the discipline of management. Starting right from the basic break downing definition of the term, that is man, age and meant (getting things done by others), it has grown into very high level of self-thought through its various theories and classic definitions. A very critical element that changed my entire perception about management is its universal applicability. There was a time when I used to think that management is a sophisticated activity that gets performed only in companies (BIG companies). But my learning and experiences in the recent past made me understand that management is universal. It is everywhere. Just because the term ‘manager’ is something that can be seen only in organizations, it doesn’t mean that it is confined just there. It must be there for a person. It is there in a family, in society, in politics and even in religion. And I will call this change of perception, revolutionary.

The most valuable concept of management as far as I am concerned is the “division of work”. As I mentioned in the above paragraph, this idea, which is part of management, is also universally acceptable, from person to politics, from family to nation, from proprietorship to MNCs. Division of work brings control and transparency in the processes carried by anyone who oversees managing resources. It reduces the workload, motivates the team members and ultimately increases the quality of work done.

Personally speaking, this has benefited me whenever I was put in the shoes managing and coordinating seminars or other activities in schools and colleges. It has given me a better grip over my activities and assignments. And whenever I had to report to someone superior, this concept helped me just to concentrate my attention only on a task and enjoy performing it. This was also very instrumental in providing a platform where I could give my feedback since there was a clear-cut picture of accountability being established.

Division of work undoubtedly is a very beautiful theory of management that can be practiced irrespective of places and people.