Question

explain how you could incorporate some or all of Mintzbergs ten roles into the work place (I work in the automotive industry) how could I incorporate these?

Answer 1

Henry Mintzberg wrote a book in 1990 named - "Mintzberg On Management: Inside Our Strange World of Organizations". In this book, he placed the emphasis upon the role of managers to achieve the goals of the organisation effectively and efficiently.

He divided the role of managers into three categories: interpersonal roles, informational roles and decisional roles. Managers should incorporate these roles while performing their duties, to accomplish organisational goals. These roles can be incorporated to any organisation be it automobiles in the following ways :

A. Interpersonal roles- this role can be performed by a manager in automobile sector by maintaining personal relation with the employees. It includes the following activities-

1. The figurehead - means meeting the employees on behalf of the organisation. Like attending the wedding ceremony of an employee.

2. The leader - means taking the responsibility of work of the subordinates. An automobile organisation manager can lead the subordinates regarding the kind of automotive design, product to be produced and then motivate and encourage them to accomplish the task.

3. The Liaison- means making contacts outside the organisation with other companies, government. An automotive industry manager should maintain relation with other organisational employees, governmental authorities to take advantage of such inter-personal relations to the benefit of the organisation.

B. Informational roles- this role can be performed by the manager of an automotive organisation by processing the information of the automotive sector from the surroundings of the industry. It includes the following roles of automotive manager:

1. The Monitor - an automotive manager should closely administer the environment to collect new information related to tge automotive sector. It includes knowlege of sectoral changes, new innovations etc.

2. The Disseminator - it incldes passing on the privileged information to the employees directly. An automotive manager can pass on the new product design to the operational level directly, which is derired to be produced.

3. The Spokesperson - means conveying information to the people outside the organisation. An automotive manager can tell the special modification to be made by the supplier of parts.

C. Decisional roles - this role can be performed be an automotive manager by taking various decisions in the following ways:

1. The Entrepreneur - means initiating new project. An automotive manager can lead and encourage his subordinates toward producing a new automotive product with features necer seen before.

2. The Disturbance Handler - means taking the correct decision to handle the disturbances in the organisation. An automotive manager can take the correct decision to bring an end to the strike of the employees.

3. The Resource Allocator - an automotive manager must take the right decision to allocate the resources like finance, material etc in correct quantities and to correct areas.

4. The Negotiator - means to negotiate on behalf of organisations. An automotive manager can negotiate with its suppliers on behalf of organisation.

Therefore, these are the roles an automotive manager can incorporate as suggested by Mintzberg.