In the previous topic, you discovered that
managers need to constantly monitor and process information
about their organizational capabilities and the external
environment in which their organization exists. As you’ve
learned, managers rely on a variety of techniques to process
this information and make decisions – both as individuals and as
part of a group. If done properly, this process results in
decisions about long term goals for the company and strategies
on how to accomplish these goals.
What we want to explore in this next topic is
the second of the basic managerial functions – that of
organizing. Now that we have set goals and strategies for the
organization, we need to determine how best to arrange and
allocate our resources to accomplish those goals. There are many
types of resources within any organization which need to be
organized and allocated to support the organization’s goals. For
instance, financial resources must be obtained to support
specific strategic goals (such as acquisition or merger). We
must organize our information technology systems to ensure the
right people have the right information at the right time. These
types of organizational issues are covered in other Business
courses (Bus. 301 and 350 at the University of Idaho). The
organization must also determine how best to structure itself,
how to organize its functions and personnel to best accomplish
its goals. These are the topics we will cover in the next two
modules. In Module 3.1 we explore the different design
dimensions and structural choices organizations have at their
disposal and the factors that can help managers determine which
structural design is best suited for their company. In Modules
3.2 through 3.4 we cover the function of human resource
management, which is concerned with the hiring and organizing of
a firm’s human capital.
|
