Reflexive Managers in Contemporary Organizations - Essay Example

and “Reflexive managers are needed in contemporary organizations” Introduction Contemporary organizations use the most recent strategies in the production and leadership practice (Boje, 2001). They are very different to traditional organizations and generate high revenues than the traditional ones. Reflexive managers are well experienced and think critically hence enabling them to make good decisions on management strategies by reflecting on their past experiences and skills and knowledge possessed. In this report, the research will attempt to outline how contemporary organizations are managed, skills and roles of reflexive managers in contemporary organizations. 1.0 Management in contemporary organizations Management is simply the process of organizing and coordinating all activities in all business organizations in order to achieve defined goals and objectives (Newton, 2005). Contemporary organizations are very different from traditional organizations in so much ways. In contemporary organizations, the leadership style applied is mostly the democratic leadership style. This is a style that gives organization’s employees to participate in all almost if not all decision making situations. Employees of an organization are the most vital resources that an organization possesses since they contribute significantly to the success of the organization in the achievement of organization’s goals and objectives. The managers of Tesco Company for example are aware of this and this is why they mostly prefer the democratic style of leadership. The managers involve employees in decisions making situations such as setting of organization’s goals and objectives, setting policies and code of conduct that must be adhered to in the organization and designing plans to achieve organization’s goals and objectives and much more. In Tesco Company for example, the management is responsible for developing a competitive advantage that will enable the organization compete effectively in its respective market. The knowledge and skills of reflexive managers and employees’ ideas are vital to the development of an effective competitive advantage in organizations. Democratic leadership exercised by leaders in a contemporary organization gives employees opportunities to share their ideas with the organization’s managers on the business can develop a good competitive advantage. Parker (2000) argues that employees in contemporary organizations are always highly skilled and educated. Most contemporary organizations perform exceptionally well in their respective market and therefore employ employees who are highly productive in the market. The organization’s management ensure that it’s organization acquire competent employees by putting in place an effective recruitment and selection process. It ensures that all members in their recruitment and selection panel are not in any way biased or corrupt in order for them to hire employees only on the basis of their qualifications and job specifications. In contemporary organizations unlike in traditional organizations, there exist motivation and training systems that empower all its employees (Boje, 2001). The organization’s managers mostly apply the reward system to reward the organization’s employees for their good performance within the organization and in some way motivating them. Once employees’ motivation is low, the organization’s performance will be low since productivity within the organization is poor. The reward system used by the organization’s managers is very instrumental in motivating employees to meet set targets and goals and in some cases exceed them. Employees who are performing exceptionally well are given rewards for example money or are promoted in the organization in front of all organizations employees. This motivates underperforming employees to up their socks in order to enjoy such rewards the next time round. In Tesco Company, the management ensures that all resources of the organization are effectively managed. For example, it ensures that the human resources are allocated depending on their skills and knowledge and that all departments are allocated resources that are specified in their budgets.The management appoints supervisors who monitor closely the day to day activities of all organizations employees and if the resources allocated are being well utilized.The top management punishes thoroughly those employees who are found guilty of misappropriation of funds in the organization.For example, employees who are found using organization’s resources for their own personal benefits are fired immediately in order to discourage any experiences of such cases within the organization.Astley (2005) argues that in contemporary organizations, all the business activities flow smoothly and in line with the strategic path of the organization. The top management outlines plans or strategies that are simple and clear so as to be easily understood by all employees within the organization. It also ensures that all organization’s departments have the right quality and quantity of resources that they need to carry out their departmental activities effectively and within the specified period of time.This facilitates smooth flow of all the business activities of the organization hence increasing the possibility of achieving organization’s goals and objectives (Grey, 2004).The top management monitors closely the performance of each department in contemporary organizations so as to ensure that no department lags behind hence minimizing any delay of realizing organization’s goals and objectives. 2.0 Reflexive manager A reflexive manager is an organizational leader who applies the reflexive practice to perform his duties and responsibilities in an organization. Reflexive practice enables the manger to learn from own experiences. A reflexive manager has the ability and skill to come up with appropriate strategies that bring out things in the open and analysis of all relevant information before decisions are made. In most cases, a reflexive manager is the ones who propose ideas that are more effective, realistic and beneficial to an organization’s performance when implemented well. Pretty (2001) argues that such a manager thinks before he acts and this enables him to produce outstanding results and does not easily disappoint when assigned a certain duty or responsibility. All business organizations have a duty to act responsibly to contribute towards the successful development of the communities they operate in. Reflexive managers are ethical in all their actions and this is mostly the reason why they emphasis on adherence to all ethical policies within the organization. Reflexive managers lead employees towards achievement of organizations goals and objectives through the best moral and effective way. For example, no corruption and bribery is in any way exercised within the Tesco Company and the management deals cleanly with all its stakeholders. Adherence to ethical practices enables the whole organization to commit itself towards moral practice and this increases the possibility of fulfilling the corporate social responsibility of the organization (Alvesson and Dettz, 2000).Fulfillment of the corporate social responsibility enables an organization to establish a good reputation in the industry it operates.The good reputation established motivates consumers to associate with the organization since they are assured that due to ethical practices exercised in the organization, products and services produced are of good quality and friendly to their health.In the success of an organization, we can see how reflexive managers contribute significantly. From time to time, trends keep on changing in industries and markets. Therefore, the management of an organization needs to be well skilled to respond appropriately to changes in the market or in the industry it operates in. Reflexive managers are very flexible to change since they apply lessons they learnt from experiences when performing their responsibilities and duties (Grant, Keenoy and Qswick, 2008). They are aware that in each market and industry, trends keep on changing from time to time. This knowledge enables them to formulate plans and strategies that are flexible and can be adjusted to respond effectively to such changes. For example, the marketing strategy that is implemented in Tesco Company can be changed from time to time to fit in the market segment that is seen to be producing high outputs and where consumers are increasing. 2.1 Characteristicsof reflexive managers 2.1.1 Goal oriented Managers within an organization such as Tesco are allocated different duties and responsibility. They have to maximize their abilities in order to produce outstanding results from assigned activities. Managers need to achieve set goals and objectives in the specified time for them to be successful in their mission. Reflexive managers are always goal oriented. Barker (2003) argues that reflexive managers are driven by the targets set and mostly the goals and objectives of their respective departments. Reflexive managers use their experiences exceptionally well to outline plans that are simple to achieve set goals and objectives. When they meet set targets, they celebrate their success and recognize all people who were of great help in the process of achieving the goals and objectives since they believe that unity is strength and each and every person within the team deserves appropriate recognition. 2.1.2 A leader For Tesco’s managers to succeed in their roles and duties, they have to posses good leadership skills. But there are instances whereby managers are appointed on the basis of the academic qualifications and hence maybe lacking appropriate leadership skills since the recruitment and selection panels face challenges in determining if an applicant has leadership skills or not.This is due to the fact that, one has to deal with someone for a certain period of time in order to know if the person has leadership skills or not. However, a reflexive manager has to posses the appropriate leadership skills needed in the appropriate guidance of employees within the organization.Leadership skills are not inborn but are learnt and this is why most business organization organizes management and leadership seminars for their managers from time to time (Boje, 2001). A reflexive manager through experience accumulates all the necessary skills needed to conduct assigned duties and responsibilities exceptionally well. 2.1.3 Good decision maker A reflexive manager always makes good decisions in almost all situations. Managers of an organization are the ones responsible for making all decisions within an organization. They have to make decisions such as financial and marketing decisionsexceptionally well for the organization to succeed in achieving its goals and objectives. Decisions made in the organization determine whether the organization will achieve its goals and objectives or not. Reflexive managers play a huge role in the success of their organization since they have the abilities to make decisions that are vital in the organization in the most appropriate manner. They value making consultations each and every time since they are aware that ideas of different people contribute significantly to good decision making. For example, when setting policies and rules to govern all Tesco’s members, reflexive mangersinvolve employees in the process. This motivates employees to abide to set rules and policies hence promoting good practice within the organization. 1.2.4 Good management skills Management skills are the most important skills that need to be possessed by Tesco’s managers for them contribute significantly towards the realization of organization’s goals and objectives. Managers need to have the ability to manage all organization’s resources appropriately within the organization.Reflexive managers have outstanding management skills and this is the reason why they become successful in all their tasks. From experienced gained, they know the appropriate strategies to apply in different situations when managing different resources within the organization. Reflexive managers manage their time well and this enables them to achieve set goals and objectives in their departments within the specified period of time. 1.2.5 Critical thinkers For managers to make good and beneficial decisions for the whole organization, they have to think critically. Critical thinkers are good decisions makers and planners. In most cases, reflexive managers make exceptional decisions (Newton, 2005). This is due to their way of thinking that enables them analyze all available information critically hence making logical and good conclusions. The critical thinking skills enables reflexive managers to come up with good strategies and plans that cost effective and able to facilitate achievement of organization’s goals and objectives. 1.2.6 Good communicators For all organizations activities to flow smoothly for example in Tesco Company, communication within the organization need to be effective. The communication strategies that should be applied in the organization should enable quick transfer of messages within the organization. The top management should use the appropriate communication channels and language when communicating with their subordinates. Reflexive managers are goods communicators since they have learnt to communicate appropriately from experience and keep on learning how to communicate effectively on a daily basis. For example, when communicating private information to organization employees, they use a polite language and use communication channels such as direct phone calls, e-mail messages and private and confidential letters. 1.2.7 Team player Mangers need to posses good team work skills for them to lead organization in the most appropriate manner. For example, theyhave to involve employees when making organizational decisions in order to enhance good decision making within the organization. Reflexive managers are good team players (Grey, 2004). They have the ability to lead all their departmental members towards achievement of depart mental goals and objectives. The managers from experience know the appropriate strategies to bring the out the best in departmental members. For example, they motivate them by use of rewards and give them opportunities to decide on the best ways to follow when performing departmental activities. 1.3 Role of reflexive managers in Contemporary organizations 1.3.1 Effective resource management The main aim of a business organization such as Tesco Company is to maximize profits from their business activities. An organization realizes that it’s making profits if the income it generates is much higher than expenses incurred. For an organization to minimize its expenses, its resources have to be well managed and utilized within the organization. Grant and Qswick (2006) argue that organization’s managers need to posses the appropriate management skills for them to ensure that resources are effectively and efficiently within the organization. Reflexive managers in contemporary organizations have to ensure that organization’s resources are well managed. The managers have the appropriate management skills gained from experience and critical thinking. These skills enable them to come up with effective strategies that are needed in the management of the organization’s resources. For example, they allocate duties within the organization according to the skills and knowledge possessed by the organization’s employees. This enhances good utilization of human resources within the organization. Reflexive managers monitor closely the performance of organization’s employees on a daily basis to ensure that all resources are used appropriately. 1.3.2 Critical decision making The most vital process within an organization is the decision making process. The management of the organization is responsible for making all organization’s decisions.Alvesson and Dettz (2000) argue that decisions made within the organization contribute significantly towards achievement of organization’s goals and objectives. The decisions therefore need to realistic andgood consultation has to be done before they are made. Reflexive managers have good decision making skills and usually think critically. In a contemporary organization such as the Tesco Company, they are responsible for making decisions that will determine the success or failure of the organization in the quest for organization’s goals and objectives. The managers involve organization’semployees and all other vital parties before making decisions.They do analyze all available information critically before making decisions. For example, when making investment decisions the reflexive managers through their experience analyze closely all the vital information contained in the financial statements of the organization before deciding if to increase investment or decrease it. With the help of organization’s accountants and financial analysts, they come up with good financial decisions beneficial for the whole organization. 1.3.3 Developing budgets and allocating resources For Tesco’s leaders to develop appropriate budgets for the organization, they have to possess the right skills and experience. The managers need to allocate each and every department all the necessary resources needed for the smooth flow of activities within the department.Reflexive managers are well experienced in the management sector in most cases and have the appropriate skills and experience to come up with good budgets for each department. They ensure that all department are sufficiently with supplied all the necessary resources needed in the performance of all departmental activities exceptionally well (Astley, 2005). In case of resource surpluses or shortages in departments, they are responsible for allocating additional resources to a department experiencing a shortage in order to facilitate smooth flow of activities in that department. 1.3.4 Developing a competitive advantage In each and every market or industry, there exists stiff competition. Competition arises from the large number of firms producing similar products and services in the market or industry. In each and every organization, the management needs to come up with a good way of developing a competitive advantage for its organization. Reflexive managers are very creative and innovative. For an organization to establish a good competitive advantage, creativity and innovation needs to exist in the organization. The creativity and innovative skills of reflexive managers are very important and valuable in the development of a good competitive advantage for the organization. For example, the reflexive managers may use their skills and knowledge to propose strategies to improve organization’s brands by differentiating them from those competitors leading to creation of a competitive advantage. 1.3.5 Motivating employees Employees of an organization such as Tesco Company play a huge role in the successful achievement of organizational goals and objectives. The management of the organization is responsible for acquisition of competent employees to the organization.Through an effective recruitment and selection system, the management of an organization ensures that employees of the organization are well qualified and skilled to carry out organization’s activities appropriately. Reflexive managers are well skilled and qualified with relevant experienced needed to lead organization’s employees on the strategic path of the contemporary organization (Boje, 2001). They come up with good strategies that will motivate employees to improve their productivity levels within the organization. Once employees of an organization are well motivated, it becomes very easy for the organization to achieve its goals and objectives unlike when motivation lacks in the organization. Forexample, reflexive managers motivate organization’s employees by involving them in decision making process and empowering them by giving the training and promotion opportunities. Conclusion Contemporary organizations are very different compared to traditional organizations. The leadership and production strategies applied in contemporary organizations are modernized and the technology used in such organizations is advanced and the latest in the market. Reflexive leaders use their critical thinking abilities and experience to manage all organization’s resources.They are good decision makers, creative and innovative, democratic,good motivators, and problem solvers and possess the appropriate leadership skills needed in the appropriate management of organization’s resources. They are needed in contemporary organizations since their skills, knowledge and experienced are of great importance in the leadership and management of modernized organizations. References Alvesson. M., & Deetz. S. 2000. Doing critical management research. London: Sage. Astley, G. 2005. Administrative science as socially constructed truth.Journal of administrative science. 30, pp. 497-513. 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