Introduction
Management is very important in every organization since it is the main determinant of a firm’s success. The management practices are ways in which an organization interacts and manages its workers when making decisions. Good management practice is one that motivates its employees and creates effective operations. In fact, any management practice should be determined by the vision of the organization. Different managerial practices are applied differently depending on the type of organization and the objectives that are to be accomplished. The management of an organization deals with five main responsibilities namely controlling, commanding, planning, coordination, and organizing. Managers should be conversant with all the management styles in order to know which one to use to accomplish different goals effectively.
Autocratic/ Authoritarian Management
According to Pride, Hughes and Kapoor (2009), autocratic management is a type of management practice where the manager acts like a dictator. The managers make decisions without consulting others. The managers only tell the employees what they are to do. The management practice is effective in getting work done quickly since only a few people are involved in making decisions. Besides, autocratic managers work well in a situation where a decision needs to be made on the spot. The management practice is also good for employees who do not have the required skills and experience for the job. The management style is efficient in reducing errors since the decision is only made by the one in charge. The only problem is that employees in the end lose motivation since they are working where they have no say. Thus, cases of employee turnover are on the rise as they exploit better opportunities where their input is required. The practice makes the subordinates very dependent on their boss by constantly requiring supervision. In situations where teamwork is needed, this management practice will not be suitable for that kind of work. The autocratic managers only work well in prison or military settings.
Democratic Management
In this type of management, the manager often shares work by appointing people to do the job. In fact, it integrates the opinions of its employees in the decision-making process. Normally, the staff feels included in the running of the company. The sense of responsibility makes the subordinates commit to their tasks and actions. The job performance is better than in the autocratic setting since the employees are motivated to do duties where they were involved in the decision-making (Murugan, 2007). The management practice is important in a complex situation where the input of various specialists is needed. The style ensures that thorough solutions are provided and reduces labor turnover. The disadvantage is that work could slow down given that many people are involved making the decision-making process to be delayed. Finally, it only requires skilled and experienced employees.
Laissez Faire Management
In this management style, the manager is only there to guide the employees and answer their questions. The team has the freedom to carry out their duties and tasks as they deem fit. The leader is more of a mentor. It works best where there are only highly experienced and trained employees. The management style is good when the manager wants to develop leaders from the team. The manager has some extra time to do other things since he does not have to supervise the work being done. The employees become more satisfied with their work, which in turn encourages productivity since they are highly motivated (Greene, 2011). The disadvantage of this management practice is that there are high chances of conflicts arising given that one of the employees may want to be in charge of the group.
Conclusion
A manager should be flexible and ready to change the management style depending on the work that is to be done. The management style to be used can be determined by the type of employees that a manager has in the organization. A good manager is one who can merge all these styles and create his/her leadership style that will work best for the success of the firm.
References
Greene, C. (2011). Entrepreneurship: Ideas in action. New Tech Park, Singapore: Cengage Learning.
Murugan, S. (2007). Management principles and practices. Nagar, Chennai: New Age International.
Pride, W., Hughes, R., & Kapoor, J. (2009). Business. New Tech Park, Singapore: Cengage Learning.