Management challenges in organizational contexts

Management

Managers at different levels

Indeed managers at every level face challenges that are critical to the company and the employees. For instance an article entitled "Challenges and Strategies of Matrix Organizations: Top-Level and Mid-Level Managers' Perspectives" there are five main challenges that Top-level and mid-level managers face. These challenges include

Misaligned goals- which includes competing objectives between matrix dimensions, lack of synchronization, inadequate processes to align and detect possible misalignments and inadequate communication and consultation between matrix dimensions (D'Annunzio L.S., Sy T.,2003). (2) Unclear roles and responsibilities- this includes unclear job descriptions which serve as guides for roles and responsibilities, confusion over leadership, unclear roles and responsibilities produce tension among employees, not knowing whom to contact for information (D'Annunzio L.S., Sy T.,2003). (3) Ambiguous authority-Uncertainty over who has the final authority', leaders that are not used to sharing decision rights, lack of accountability, as decision making delays. (4) lack of a matrix guardian problems include establishing a monitoring procedure to identify matrix performance, lack of consequences and rewards for matrix performance fails to motivate employees and make the matrix work, guarantee the matrix guardian has senior level support and authority to take action, safeguard the objectivity of the matrix guardian (D'Annunzio L.S., Sy T.,2003). (5) silo-focused employees problems include Personal conflicts between leaders which encumber collaboration between unit, lack of trust between employees that work for different segments of the business, withholding resources from others, employees lack the requisite skills to function in the matrix, insufficient communication between different business units (D'Annunzio L.S., Sy T.,2003).

A level managers differ from mid level managers in that they tend to report misaligned goals as the pressing challenge they face. On the other hand mid level managers assert that ambiguous roles and responsibilities as the primary challenge that they face. In addition to these challenges that top and mid level mangers face first line managers also face many of the same challenges. The main challenge for first line managers is communication and making certain that employees receive the correct information.

How challenges affect the informational, interpersonal and decision-making roles

According to Lewis (2004) one of the ways that these challenges affect managers is in the way that they operate in terms of information, interpersonally and in decision making. The article explains that managers often rely on creativity to respond to these challenges. The article asserts

All managers and administrators have to deal with problems - either internal or external. It does not matter whether the problem has to do with product quality, internal efficiency, the supply chain or customer relationships - whatever the particulars, the challenge is to find innovative and workable solutions. And this is where creative thinking comes into its own. The old cliche suggests that at the heart of every problem lies an opportunity- but in order to realize that opportunity people have to be ready to change their perspective (Lewis 2004).