UMAN3011 Understanding Management: Coursework Report Autumn 2018

This report provides an overview of key management principles, including planning, organizing, organizational culture, and communication, within the context of a business proposal for a restaurant. It discusses the importance of operational planning for quality improvement, the selection of a general partnership structure, and the role of management culture in shaping employee behavior. The report further emphasizes the significance of effective communication for organizational growth, decision-making, and change management. The student reflects on the lessons learned regarding planning, organizing, culture, and communication and how these principles will be applied in future decision-making processes to foster employee engagement and business success.

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Understanding management
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Contents
Task 1..........................................................................................................................................................3
Task 2..........................................................................................................................................................4
Task 3..........................................................................................................................................................5
Task 4..........................................................................................................................................................7
References...................................................................................................................................................9

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Understanding Management
Task 1
My business proposal would be starting a restaurant which provides quality foods with
excellence in value pricing to the customers. As a manager, I should organize on some of the
activities which are necessary for a business success. These activities include giving employees
guidelines on how they should perform their daily tasks. It also involves giving them directions
on how to prioritize activities and deal with the problems. I should also discourage some of the
things which can make employees not to meet their daily tasks. This includes excessive use of
cell phones and social media. When employees have organized their tasks there efficient work
and increased productivity because they would not waste most of their time wondering what to
do next (Xin & Huiyuan 2012, p.47).
Planning involves thinking of the activities which are necessary for accomplishing goals
(Laura 2013, p.80). Operational planning activities assisted me in improving the quality of the
food. This is because during campaigns and promotions I engaged my customers in decision
making by asking for their opinions on what they think should be done to improve on the quality.
Also, to ensure that there is consistency in providing quality products, I bought most of my
products from manufacturers who were innovative. Also, deciding on the policy and procedures
helped employees conduct themselves in a way which is expected and also carry on their duties
effectively (Carina 2014 p.37). These policies ways in which managers should deal with
problems which may arise.
The purpose of this business is to provide quality foods at a competitive price. The best
structure for this business would be a general partnership. This is where two or more people
agree to contribute money, skills or labor to a business. This structure is important because when

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two or more people come together to agree on something there is usually a variety of ideas than
when coming from one person (Jonas & Satoshi 2014, p.25) Combination of this knowledge and
skills would enable the business to provide quality food. Also, when these people bring their
money together, it would be easier for them to buy their products from the best manufactures
because more capital is available for the business. It would also be possible to carry out some of
the activities which are necessary for increased productivity. The burden of loses would be low
since it is shared among the partners (David 2016, p.82).
Task 2
Management culture explains how work should be done and the behaviors encouraged or
discouraged within the workplace (Nathaniel 2013, p.12). The nature of this business culture
brings out different types of employee in various departments and the tasks performed by each.
Edgar’s first level of organizational culture refers to the characteristics of a company which can
be felt, heard and easily viewed by individuals collectively. These include employee’s behavior,
organizational policies, mission, and vision.
One of the ways I should express my organization culture is by giving guidelines to
employees on how they should conduct themselves at work. First, I should discourage them from
using their cellphones when attending to customers or while preparing the food. This can easily
make them not to pay attention to customers hence frustrating them. Secondly, they should avoid
talking too much to customers more so about the company’s policies because some of them
might be our competitors. Another way I should express the organization culture is by ensuring
that there are policies which guide everyone on their daily activities hence help them in
achieving their goals (Valentina & Constantin 2012, p.23). I should, therefore, come up with

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measures on what to do in case one does not follow those procedures like giving them
compulsory leave in case of misconduct.
Leadership style refers to the leader’s method of providing guidelines, motivating people
and implementing plans (Pavla & Karel 2013, p.41). My democratic and participative leadership
style would change the organization's culture in the process of decision making. In most
companies, it’s only top leadership who are involved in the decision making process. This style
of leadership involves all the subordinates in the process of decision making and formulation of
policies. This makes employees to feels that the organization needs them as well as their ideas
and this improves their morale (Andrei 2016, p.57).
The mission of my business would be ‘to provide the best quality food at a fair price to
customers’. On the other hand, the vision would state ‘to be the leading restaurant with quality
food across the region’. Having this mission and vision would enable me to buy my products
from the best manufactures hence giving quality food. I should also employee qualified staffs
who are able to cook quality food. This would also enable me to define the duties well to
employees for efficient work. Having mission and vision in your business helps one focus on the
activities which are necessary for achieving your goals (Valentina & Constantin 2012, p.22).
Task 3
Effective communication is an important tool for organizational growth. Communication
is important because it facilitates planning (Cosmin 2013, p.9). With effective communication, it
becomes easier for management to plan on their daily activities. For example, in the human
resource department, people can know about the qualification and type of job they are intending
to take through communication. Effective communication also strengthens the relationship
between the top leadership and the employees. This is because with effective communication

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employees get to understand their roles and responsibilities hence creating motivation. This is
mostly done through employee emails or even having physical talks with them.
Effective communication also helps in changing bad behaviors of employees which can
lead to business failures (Felicia 2011, p.22). For example, a well-informed employee behaves
better than a less informed one. Leaders can use business journals, magazines or even hold
meetings with the employees to inform them on how they should conduct themselves.
Communication is also a source of information to the company’s members for the decision-
making process for it helps in coming up with possible actions.
Once one has decided to make changes in the business, it is important to make these
changes clear to the employees. This is because employees need to know what is anticipated of
them and how this change would affect their daily tasks. Communicating these changes would
not only be of help to employees but also assist the owner in the decision-making process on
how to implement the change. This is because employees would suggest their ideas on how they
think that change can be implemented and therefore choose the best (Cosmin 2013, p.11). This
also helps employees in coming up with measures on how to adapt to the change.
Communication helps employees in understanding organizations new directions and put
efforts into achieving it. Employees also get to know the changes in management and who they
should be approaching when they have problems. Communicating changes in the business help
the managers carry on their daily tasks smoothly (Felicia 2011, p.4). For example, in planning
activities, it would be easier to explain to the employee about the new tasks because they are
already aware of the change. Making changes of tasks to an employee who is not aware of any
change which has taken place can cause conflicts or even lose their morale.

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Task 4
I have learned that planning is the process of thinking on the activities which are essential
for a business success. Some of these activities include defining duties to the employees and
helping them in achieving goals. This process also involves deciding the correct measures to put
in place to achieve set goals. In my future decision-making process, I would engage my workers
because many possible solutions are provided. Organizing is also another principle of
management I have learned. This involves deciding on the ways and means to achieve what has
been planned.
Also, I have learned that organizational culture is important for business growth. This
involves setting of policies, procedures, and code of ethics. They include how employees should
conduct themselves and what they are supposed to do during the work. The culture also defines
the management of the business. Culture is important because it helps in creating motivation
among employees. The knowledge about the organizational culture has helped me in defining
tasks to my employees which has enhanced the relationship between the employees.
In addition, communication is also another important tool for a business success. This is
because it facilitates in proper planning. Communication serves as a source of information for
workers in the decision-making process and helps in coming up with correct solutions. In my
business, I would communicate well to my employees on how they should behave at work and
also discourage negative behaviors which can affect the business. With effective communication,
I would be able to carry on my controlling activities well. I have also learned that whenever there
is a change in a business, it is good to communicate with the employees. This would help them in
learning about their new responsibilities and also reduce confusions in the workplace.

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Communication can be done through business journals, magazines or holding meetings with
employees.

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References
Andrei, D 2016, the Significance of Total Quality Management Principles in Industrial
Organizations, Global Economic Observer, VOL. 4, NO.2, PP 56-70
Carina, A 2014, Understanding Economic and Management Sciences Teachers' Conceptions of
Sustainable Development, Perspectives in Education, VOL.32, NO.3, PP 34-40
Cosmin, I 2013, Effective Communication - an Essential Step towards Public Success, Journal
of Media Research, VOL.6, NO.1, PP 8-15
David, RB 2016, Gauging the Impact of Country-Specific Values on the Acceptability of
Global Management Accounting Principles, European Research Studies, VOL.19, NO.1, PP 80-
89
Felicia, Y 2011, Effective Communication for Reference Service Delivery in Academic
Libraries, Library Philosophy and Practice, PP 2-10
Jonas, H & Satoshi, M 2014, Seven Years of Development: United Nations-
supported Principles for Responsible Management Education, SAM Advanced Management
Journal, VOL.79, NO.4, PP 23-30
Laura, M, 2013, Basic Principles of Brand Management, Journal of Media Research, VOL.6,
NO.3, PP 78-85
Nathaniel, CO 2013, Impact of Organizational Culture and Technology on Firm Performance in
the Service Sector, Communications of the IIMA, VOL.13, NO.1, PP 10-14
Pavla, B & Karel, H 2013, Leaders Management and Personnel Controlling in SMEs, European
Research Studies, VOL.16, NO.4, pp 40-47

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Shohreh, A & Hassan, S 2016, The Mediating Role of Innovation about between Understanding
Knowledge Management and Environmental Leadership Whit
Performance Management System, International Journal of Education and Management
Studies, VOL.6, NO. 3, PP 90-99
Valentina, M & Constantin, B 2012, Organizational Culture Modeling, Management &
Marketing, VOL.7, NO.2, PP 21-25
Xin, L & Huiyuan, M 2012, Increasing Understanding of Educational Supervision Work,
Advancing Education Management Level According to Laws, Asian Social Science, VOL. 8,
NO.10, PP 45-50