Managerial Work Over the Last Four Decades Essay - 1

Managerial Work Over the Last Four Decades - Essay Example It is only the method of study that differs. The aim of this paper is to highlight and discuss the most important findings from research work and explain why they are important. In doing so, the work of five authors will be evaluated to get an insight into managerial work research over the decades. Fells Michael in his work Fayol stands the test of time gives an in-depth look at the work of four researchers: Henri Fayol (1949), Henry Mintzberg (1973), Kotter (1982) and Hales (1986). He observes that the researchers have different views as to what constitutes the roles of a manager and goes further to explain how the roles enumerated by the researchers are interrelated. One important finding by the author is that though Fayol’s work has been overtaken by other researchers over time, his work still remains relevant today (2000, p 347). Fayol’s research (1949) was based on industrial undertakings and was an interpretation of an earlier work done in 1916 Administration Industrielle et Generale by Constance Storrs. Fayol came up with five elements of management and fourteen principles of management. These principles are supposed to act as guide to execution of the five elements. The five elements include: planning, organising, co-ordinating, commanding and controlling (Fells 200, p. 347-360). These are essentially the roles that managers perform in their day-to-day operations. The fourteen principles enumerated by Fayol include : division of work, authority and responsibility, discipline, unity of command, unity of direction, remuneration, centralisation, span of control, order, equity, stability of tenure of personnel, subordination of individual interests to general interest, initiative and esprit de corps (200 p. 346). These principles according to Fayol guide the manager in conducting his five roles thus are very crucial.