MANAGEMENT ROLES

and
SKILLS

Define role
A role is a set of behaviours associated
with a particular job

Mintzbergs Managerial Roles

Henry Mintzberg studied CEOs at work
and created a scheme to define what
managers do on the job. These are
commonly referred to as Mintzbergs
managerial roles.
These can be grouped into three primary
headings: interpersonal, informational and
decisional
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Role
Figurehead

Leader

Liaison

INTERPERSONAL
Description

Manager serves as an official

representative of the
organization or unit
Manager guides and motivates
staff and acts as a positive
influence in the workplace
Manager interacts with peers
and with people outside the
organization to gain information

Identifiable Activity

Greeting visitors;
signing legal
documents
Staffing, training

Acknowledging
mail/email; serving on
boards; performing
activities that involve
outsiders
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Role

INFORMATIONAL
Description

Monitor

Manager receives and

collects information

Communication
(Disseminator)

Manager distributes
information within the
organization

Spokesperson

Manager distributes
information outside the
organization

Identifiable Activity

Reading magazines
and reports;
maintaining personal
contacts
Holding meetings;
making phone calls to
relay information;
email/memos
Holding board
meetings; giving
information to the
media

Role

DECISIONAL
Description

Entrepreneur

Manager initiates change

Disturbance
Handler

Manager decides how

conflicts between
subordinates should be
resolved
Manager decides how the
organization will use its
resources

Resource
Allocator
Negotiator

Manager decides to negotiate

major contracts with other
organizations or individuals

Identifiable Activity

Organizing sessions to
develop new
programs; supervises
design of projects
Steps in when an
employee suddenly
leaves or an important
customer is lost
Scheduling;
requesting
authorization;
budgeting
Participating in union
contract negotiations
or in those with
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suppliers

Review ~
Processes or tasks (activities: planning,
organizing, leading, controlling)
Roles (behaviours: interpersonal,
informational and decisional)
Skills are abilities crucial to success in
a managerial position.

MANAGEMENT SKILLS
What are the critical skills that are related
to managerial competence?
Generally speaking, effective managers
must be proficient in four general skill
areas:
Conceptual
Interpersonal
Technical
Political
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Conceptual skills
The mental ability to analyze and
diagnose situations.
The skills that help managers understand
how different parts of a business relate to
one another and to the business as a
whole.
Decision making, planning, and organizing
require these skills.
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Interpersonal skills
The ability to work with, understand,
mentor, and motivate other people.
Interviewing job applicants, forming
partnerships with other businesses, and
resolving conflicts all require these skills.

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Technical skills
The ability to apply specialized knowledge
or expertise.
Specific abilities that people use to
perform their jobs.
Operating a word processing program,
designing a brochure, training people to
use a budgeting system, understanding
manufacturing systems, etc. are examples
of technical skills.
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Political skills
The ability to enhance ones position, build
a power base, establish connections,
acquire resources for the business.

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