Question

From the 10 managerial roles provided by Mintzberg, choose three or four that you consider most important for the first-line manager, and explain your selection. Repeat for middle-level and top managers.

Answer 1

For a first line manager the important roles are :

Negotiator

A manager participates in negotiations with and individuals and he represents the core values and principles of the organization. This can be with his own staff or with third parties.

Monitor

All internal and external information is gathered that is relevant to the organization needs and he is responsible for arranging, analysing and assessing this information to identify issues and implement changes accordingly.

Disseminator

The manager shares the facts with his staff from his department or other departments within the organization.

For a middle level

Leader

Motivating and enhancing the skills of his staff to provide an comfortable and positive work environment is a major role for a manager. He should be able to address the staff’s issues and coach them and take care of the staff’s training needs.

Spokesperson

The manager, as a face of the company communicates on the polices, performance and other information to the third parties.

Liaison

Manager bridges gaps between the high and low levels as well as create and maintain external contact network.

This is to bring the right parties together to perform and deliver on a particular task.

For a Top level

Resource Allocator

Controlling and authority for optimum use of organization resources like finance assign employees etc so that the tasks are well executed and managed in the organization.

Disturbance Handler

Preparing for unexpected events and creating a mitigation plan to counter such unexpected events. The issues can be internal or external. Therefore, as a disturbance handler, the manager is required to come up with a proper business contingency plan and a disaster management plan.

Entrepreneur

Designing and initiating changes in the strategies.

Figurehead

As head of an organization, a manager should perform all the crucial tasks and act as a role model. He should address all the major events and attend key business meetings with stakeholders and investors.