Analysis of Decision Making, Controlling, and Leadership Concepts

This essay delves into the critical management concepts of decision-making, controlling, and leadership, examining their theoretical underpinnings and practical applications within a business context. It begins by outlining the decision-making process, highlighting its importance in navigating uncertain environments and improving organizational productivity, referencing the author's experience in the liquor store business. The essay then transitions to leadership theory, discussing various leadership styles and their impact on employee motivation and organizational performance, with a focus on the benefits of a participative democratic leadership approach. Finally, it explores the controlling function, emphasizing its role in ensuring standards, compliance, and the protection of organizational assets through budgetary and non-budgetary controls, detailing the implementation of stock control systems and feedback mechanisms in the author's business to enhance efficiency and performance.

Running head: management concepts 1
MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS: DECISION MAKING, CONTROLLING AND LEADERSHIP
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Running head: management concepts 2
The decision making theory is a multidisciplinary approach of choosing alternative to adopt from
several in unknown and uncertain environment. The concept or theory defines how managers
need to make decisions from different dimensions, tools, and disciplines. Every employee in
organizations in respective of the levels of management is expected to make decisions that affect
their daily work. Decision is not only an action it is also a process that involves steps to be
followed in solving a problem (Zsambok & Klein, 2014). It entails an eight step process
(identification of a problem, establishing decision criteria, criteria rankings, and development of
alternatives, analysis, selection, implementation and evaluation of alternative (Power, Sharda &
Burstein, 2015). Decision making has been useful to the liquor store business I operate with the
help of an employee. Every minor or major problem that the business faces we consultatively
follow the decision making process. Recently the business was faced with a problem of increased
competition from more established stores we had to make a decision on the best decision to make
which we were able to make through the decision making process. Since adoption of the
decision making process the business decisions have improved positively and productivity have
increased significantly.
The leadership theory consists of techniques, skills and methodologies adopted by managers to
influence groups to achieve organizational goals (Uhl-Bien, 2015). Current managers are faced
with issues on how to manage different personalities, cultures, gender and races. A good leader is
defined with the different attributes that they possess or expected to possess for example being:
risk takers, good communicator, innovative, motivators, understanding, and good listeners.
Scholars have identified several sources in which a leader can obtain its power. These sources
are from legitimate, coercive, reward, expert and referent means. Uhl-Bien, 2015) further states
that every leader in a leadership position is recognized with the style of leadership adopted to
rule the employees. The styles of leadership include: autocratic, democratic, bureaucratic,
participative, free rein, transformative, transactional and visionary leadership styles (Lussier &
Achua, 2015). The understanding of the leadership approach has helped my liquor store business
in influencing and motivating performance of the employee. I employ a participative democratic
type of leadership that involves allowing employee freely participating in running of the
business. The style of leadership has brought several benefits to the business. Innovative and
consultative decisions emerge from the leadership style employed, and there is no instance of
employee resistance in the working environment.

Running head: management concepts 3
Controlling approach theory explains techniques, tools and methods employed to ensure
standards and compliance is fulfilled in organizations. Control involve a process of monitoring
plans, goals, programs and work structures to ensure that they are done as expected and
correcting deviations that would have arisen (Kerzner & Kerzner, 2017). The role of the
manager when performing the controlling function is to set standards, measurements, making
comparisons and taking action where necessary. There are several controls in which managers
can use in organization aimed at different areas and sections in workplaces. Kerzner & Kerzner,
(2017) state that there are two categories of controls the budgetary and non-budgetary it’s for the
managers to access the needs of the organization to adopt which is suitable. Control is an
important function in organization because it helps managers to identify if goals are met; policies
are being complied with, provide feedback on performance and protecting organization assets
(West, 2016). Controls have helped my liquor store business in management of stock and cash,
and improvement of work performance. Implementation of stock control systems as lessen stock
losses and increased efficiency at work, and I can obtain feedback from my customers on my
performance through suggestion boxes. Control function has been helpful in improving work and
business performance.

Running head: management concepts 4
References
Kerzner, H., & Kerzner, H. R. (2017). Project management: a systems approach to planning,
scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Lussier, R. N., & Achua, C. F. (2015). Leadership: Theory, application, & skill development.
Nelson Education.
Power, D. J., Sharda, R., & Burstein, F. (2015). Decision support systems. John Wiley & Sons,
Ltd.
Uhl-Bien, M. (2015). Complexity leadership theory: An interactive perspective on leading in
complex adaptive systems.
West, W. F. (2016). Controlling the Bureaucracy: Institutional Constraints in Theory and
Practice: Institutional Constraints in Theory and Practice. Routledge.
Zsambok, C. E., & Klein, G. (2014). Naturalistic decision making. Psychology Press.