DIRECTING
1 Define Directing.
• In the ordinary sense, directing means giving instructions and guiding people in doing work.
• In the context of management of an organisation, directing refers to the process of instructing, guiding, counselling, motivating and leading people in the organisation to achieve its objectives.
2 Explain the characteristics of directing.
• Directing initiates action:
Directing is a key managerial function. A manager has to perform this function along with planning, organising, staffing and controlling while discharging his duties in the organisation.
• Directing takes place at every level of management:
Every manager, from top executive to supervisor performs the function of directing.The directing takes place wherever superior – subordinate relations exist.
• Directing is a continuous process:
Directing is a continuous activity. It takes place throughout the life of the organisation irrespective of people occupying managerial positions.
• Directing flows from top to bottom:
Directing is first initiated at top level and flows to the bottom through organisational hierarchy.
3 Explain the importance of Directing.
• Directing helps to initiate action by people in the organisation towards attainment of desired objectives. For example, if a supervisor guides his subordinates and clarifies their doubts in performing a task, it will help the worker to achieve work targets given to him.
• Directing integrates employees-efforts in the organisation in such a way that every individual effort contributes to the organisational performance. Thus, it ensures that the individuals work for organisational goals.
• Directing guides employees to fully realise their potential and capabilities by motivating and providing effective leadership.
• Directing facilitates introduction of needed changes in the organisation. Generally,people have a tendency to resist changes in the organisation. Effective directing through motivation, communication and leadership helps to reduce such resistance and develop required cooperation in introducing changes in the organisation.
•Effective directing helps to bring stability and balance in the organisation since it fosters cooperation and commitment among the people and helps to achieve balance among various groups, activities and the departments.
4 Explain the principles of Directing.
• Maximum individual contribution: This principle emphasises that directing techniques must help every individual in the organisation to contribute to his maximum potential for achievement of organisational objectives. It should bring out untappted energies of employees for the efficiency of organisation.
• Harmony of objectives: Very often, we find that individual objectives of employees and the organisational objectives as understood are conflicting to each other. But, good directing should provide harmony by convincing that employee rewards and work efficiency are complimentary to each other.
• Unity of Command: This principle insists that a person in the organisation should receive instructions from one superior only. If instructions are received from more than one, it creates confusion, conflict and disorder in the organisation.
• Appropriateness of direction technique: According to this principle, appropriate motivational and leadership technique should be used while directing the people based on subordinate needs, capabilities, attitudes and other situational variables.
• Managerial communication: Effective managerial communication across all the levels in the organisation makes direction effective. Directing should convey clear instructions to create total understanding to subordinates.
• Use of informal organisation: A manager should realise that informal groups or organisations exist within every formal organi-sation. He should spot and make use of such organisations for effective directing.
• Leadership: While directing the subordinates, managers should exercise good leadership as it can influence the subordinates positively without causing dissatisfaction among them.
• Follow through: Mere giving of an order is not sufficient. Managers should follow it up by reviewing continuously whether orders are being implemented accordingly or any problems are being encountered. If necessary, suitable modifications should be made in the directions.
5 State the elements of directing
• Supervision
• Motivation
• Leadership
• Communication
6 Define supervision.
It means overseeing what is being done by subordinates and giving instructions to ensure optimum utilisation of resources and achievement of work targets.
7 Explain the importance of supervision.
• Supervisor maintains day-to-day contact and maintains friendly relations with workers.A good supervisor acts as a guide, friend and philosopher to the workers.
• Supervisor acts as a link between workers and management. He conveys management ideas to the workers on one hand and workers problems to the management on the other. This role played by supervisor helps to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts between management and workers/employees.
• Supervisor plays a key role in maintaining group unity among workers placed under his control. He sorts out internal differences.
• Supervisor ensures performance of work according to the goals. He takes responsibility for task achievement and motivates his workers effectively.
• Supervisor provides good on-the-job training to the workers and employees. A skilled and knowledgeable supervisor can build efficient team of workers.
• Supervisory leadership plays a key role in influencing the workers in the organisation.A supervisor with good leadership qualities can build up high morale among workers.
• A good supervisor analyses the work performed and gives feedback to the workers. He suggests ways and means of developing work skills.
8 Define Motivation.
• Motivation process of stimulating people to action to accomplish desired goals.
9 What is motive?
• Motive means the process of making subordinates to act in a desired manner to achieve certain organisational goals.
10 What is motivator?
• Motivator is the technique used to motivate people in an organization. Managers use diverse motivators like pay, bonus, promotion, recognition, praise, responsibility etc.,
11 Explain the features of Motivation.
• Motivation is an internal feeling. The urge, drives, desires, aspirations, striving or needs of human being, which are internal, influence human behaviour.
• Motivation produces goal directed behaviour.
• Motivation can be either positive or negative. Positive motivation provides positive rewards like increase in pay, promotion, recognition etc., Negative motivation uses negative means like punishment, stopping increments, threatening etc. which also may induce a person to act in the desired way.
• Motivation is a complex process as the individuals are heterogeneous in their expectations, perceptions and reactions.
12 Explain the Motivation process with an example.
Motivation Process: Motivation process is based on human needs. A simple model to explain motivation process is presented below.The following example explains the process of satisfaction of human needs.Ramu is very hungry since he did not have breakfast in the morning. By1.00 P.M., he became restless and started walking on the road in search of a hotel for snacks or meals. After walking for 2 kms, he could find a hotel where roti and daal was available for Rs. 10. Since he had only Rs. 15 in his pocket, he paid Rs. 10 and had a satisfying meal. After taking a meal, he felt that he had regained energy.An unsatisfied need of an individual creates tension which stimulates his or her drives. These drives generate a search behaviour to satisfy such need. If such need is satisfied, the Individual is relieved of tension.
13 Explain the importance of motivation.
• Motivation helps to improve performance levels of employees as well as the organisation. Since proper motivation satisfies the needs of employees, they in turn devote all their energies for optimum performance in their work.
• Motivation helps to change negative or indifferent attitudes of employee to positive attitudes so as to achieve organisational goals. For example, a worker may have indifferent or negative attitude towards his work, if he is not rewarded properly. If suitable rewards are given and supervisor gives positive encouragement.
• Motivation helps to reduce employee turnover and thereby saves the cost of new recruitment and training. The main reason for high rate of employee turnover is lack of motivation.
• Motivation helps to reduce absenteeism in the organisation. Some important reasons for absenteeism are–bad working conditions, inadequate rewards, lack of recognition, poor relations with supervisors and colleagues etc.
• Motivation helps managers to introduce changes smoothly without much resistance from people. Normally, for any change introduced in the organisation, there may be resistance for changes. If manager can convince employees that proposed changes will bring additional rewards to employees, they may readily accept the change.
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