Directing

Management

1. DIRECTING

2. Directing is the heart of management function. All other functions of management such as planning, organizing, and staffing have no importance without directing.  Leadership , motivation,  supervision , communication are various aspects of directing. Let us study the importance and principles of directing. INTRODUCTION

3. DEFINITION

4. PRINCIPLES OF DIRECTION

5. Minimum Individual Contribution : This principle emphasize that directing techniques must help every individual in the organisation to contribute to lies minimum potential for achievement of organisation objectives. It should bring out confuted energies of employees for the efficiency of organisation. For example – A good motivation plan with suitable monetary and non-monetary rewards can motivate an employee to contribute his minimum efforts for the organisation as he or she may feel that their efforts will bring them suitable rewards.

6. Harmony of Objectives : Very often, we find that individual objectives of employees and the organisation objectives as understood are conflicting to each other. This principle explains that there should be cordial relationship between all the stake holders of the organisation. The different objectives should not be the barrier of the organisation, but they should be complementary to each other. For example – An employee may expect attractive salary and monetary benefits to fulfill his personal needs. The organisation may expect employees to improve productivity to achieve expected profits. But good directing should provide harmony by convincing that employee rewards and work efficiency are complementary to each other.

7. Unity of Command : This principle insists that a person in the organisation should receive instructions from one superior only. If instructions are received from more them one it creates confusions, conflict and disorder in the organisation. Following this principle ensures effective direction.

8. Appropriateness of Direction Technique : According to this principle appropriate technique should be used while directing the people based on subordinate needs, capabilities, attitudes and other situational variables. For example – for some people money can act as powerful motivator while for other promotion may act as affective motivator.

9. Managerial Communication: Effective managerial communication across all the levels in the organisation makes direction effective. Directing should convey clear instruction to create total understanding to subordinates, through proper feedback, the mangers should ensure that subordinate understands his instructions clearly. Use of Informal Organisation: A manger should realize that informal groups or organisation exits within every formal organisation. He should spot and make use of such organisations for effective directing.

10. The first and foremost element of direction is to issue orders and instructions which are considered an essential step in the process of directing subordinates. An  order  is a fundamental tool for getting things done. Therefore, the orders and instructions reflect managerial decisions and initiate action on the part of subordinates. Orders may be general or specific, formal or informal, written or oral. Issuing Orders and Instructions to Subordinates

11. CHARATERISTICS OF A GOOD ORDER The  order  should be clear and easily understood . The  order  should be complete in all respects. ... It should be compatible with the objectives of the organization . There should be specific instructions as to the time by which the   order  should be executed or completed.

12. TECHNIQUES OF DIRECTION

13. The supervisor or superior has consultation with his subordinates before issuing a  direction . The consultation is made to find out the feasibility, enforceability and nature of problem. It does not mean that the superior is not capable of acting independently. CONSULTATIVE DIRECTION

14. Free - rein  Leadership Style.  Free - rein  leadership, also called Laissez-Faire, is a type of leadership style in which leaders are hands-off and allow group members to make the decisions. Mangers set objectives and employees are  free  to do whatever is appropriate to accomplish those objective FREE-REIN DIRECTION

15. Autocratic  leadership is a management style wherein one person controls all the decisions and takes very little inputs from other group members.  Autocratic  leaders make choices or decisions based on their own beliefs and do not involve others for their suggestion or advice. AUTOCRATIC DIRECTION

16. Direction integrates employees' efforts:   The individual efforts needs to be integrated so that the organisation achieves its objectives. No organisational objective can be achieved without the function of direction . Direction initiates action:   It is through direction that the management makes individuals function in a particular way to get organisational objectives . Direction gets output from individuals :  Every individual in the organisation has some potentials and capabilities which can be properly utilised through the function of direction . Direction facilitates changes:   To manage change management must motivate individuals to accept these changes which can be accomplished through motivation.

17. CHARAYERSTICS OF DIRECTION

18. It is the function of the superior manager and runs from top to down in the organization structure. A subordinate has to receive instructions for doing his job from his superior . Direction implies issuing orders and instruction. Besides issuing orders and instruction a superior also guides and counsels his subordinates to do his job properly.

19. The top management gives broad direction to the middle level managers who inturn give specific direction to the lower level management . The four important aspects of directing are supervision, motivation, leadership and communication. All these functions are interconnected and mutually dependent.

20. BY- Dr.Neetu Sharma