Management Levels and Decision Making

 

Management levels and Decision making

·       Each level of management has its own responsibility and specific functions.

·       Strategic management:

o   Highest level

o   It aims to define the direction of the company and the strategies to be implemented to achieve the objectives set.

o   Who makes: Top management, CEOs, Board of directors.

o   The responsibilities and objectives of strategic management include:

§  Determining the vision, mission and goals.

§  Developing a strategy to achieve these goals.

§  The allocation of resources for the implementation of the strategy.

§  Market and competition analysis to adjust the strategy as needed

§  Assessing business performance and identifying opportunities for improvement

§  Strategic decision making

§  Strategic management focuses on a long-term vision and performance

o   Tools used: Environmental Analysis (PESTEL), Competitive analysis, BCG matrix, strategic planning etc.

 

·       Tactial management:

o   Intermediate level

o   Implements the strategies set by strategic management. It involves the coordination of operational activities to achieve the company’s short-term goals.

o   The responsibilities and objectives of tactical management include:

§  Resource planning and allocation.

§  Supervision and coordination of day-to-day activities to ensure short-term goals are met.

§  Communication of instructions and objectives to the teams

§  Assessing operational performance and identifying opportunities for improvement

§  Prepare equipment and manpower planning.

§  Make or buy decision.

o   Tools used: Short or medium-term operational planning, Budgeting and tracking costs, Performance evaluation, process analysis, Human resources management.

 

·       Operational management:

o   Operational management consists of implementing the strategies defined by strategic management. The tasks to be accomplished are prioritized and distributed.

o   Deals with routine decisions.

o   Prepared for shorter time frames.

o   Plans are definite, and action oriented, expressed in terms of parameters which can be quantified and hence comparison between planned and actual is easy.

o   Give detailed instructions regarding: What is to be done? Who should do it? When and where?

o   The objectives of operational management include:

§  Increased productivity and profitability

§  Reduction of costs and production times

§  Optimization of the use of human, financial and material resources

§  Meeting the needs and expectations of employees

§  Anticipation and management of potential risks

o   Tools used: improvement of organizational processes and methods, Identification of needs, supply chain management, Performance indicators, Stock management, etc.

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