3 answers
alena
Student
Tinton Falls, New Jersey
1
Question
Asked
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what is the best method of business administration?
business administration tips
3 answers
John Graham
Music Producer
57
Answers
Bremerton, Washington
Updated
John’s Answer
Hi Alena!
First a little about me. I started out as a window service employee and a shift manager at a fast-food restaurant with 15-50 employees. Later on, I was in the U.S. Navy for 30 years on active duty both enlisted and officer, then I served another 12 years as a senior civilian manager in a Navy command with many programs buying and fielding major systems for ships and aircraft. During those careers I managed groups of people as few as ten, and large divisions and departments with as many as 400 direct and 3,000 indirect employees. I also have a Masters degree in Management.
That said, I believe that the best method of business administration / management is a fusion of Delegative and Participative Management styles, depending on the situation.
I was fortunate to have first served at the lowest levels of organizations doing the most manual and basic tasks in several jobs before becoming a supervisor, and then a manager. Having this experience and knowledge along with plenty of technical and managerial training gave me a better understanding of the work and workers I was responsible for - and knowing what direction was feasible or achievable in a given period of time given the resources at hand. So I think it's important that leaders at all levels have a thorough knowledge of the work in order to direct it well. If you talk with employees from any large organization you will frequently hear that management has no idea of the consequences of their decisions and direction. This comes from a false belief that the short-sighted "I'm the boss - do what I say or else" attitude can be efficient or effective. In my opinion, it can't.
With respect to Delegative Management (or Leadership) this method recognizes that when there are many tasks, one person cannot do everything him/herself alone. This understanding and style goes way back in history - even Moses in the Bible had to be talked into letting go of the reins and trusting others to help get things done. A good example of this style is Amazon's Jeff Bezos.
Some major benefits of delegation are:
Inclusivity: When tasks are delegated, more members can participate in activities. This fosters a sense of belonging and ownership, making everyone feel they are essential to organization.
Empowerment: Entrusting responsibilities empowers individuals, instilling trust and a belief in their capabilities. This empowerment can lead to growth as individuals rise to the occasion and explore their talents and capabilities.
Efficiency: Delegation naturally promotes efficiency. With tasks distributed according to the skills and abilities of individuals, the organization can function smoothly, ensuring that the workload is more evenly spread and helps to minimize burnout.
Teaching managers the Delegation method isn't easy. Leaders often hesitate because:
Fear of losing control - they think they can ensure quality and the outcome if they handle everything themselves.
Doubting the ability of their team - they aren't sure anyone else can perform to the desired standard.
Confusion and misunderstanding - they think it's a sign of weakness or not meeting their own responsibilities.
Fortunately there are ways to overcome these hesitations through:
Training: Making sure that team members have the right knowledge, skills, and resources gives confidence to both leadership and employees.
Building Mutual Confidence: Beginning with smaller tasks and then increasing responsibility builds trust over time.
Communication: Keeping an open channel with all members of the team ensures that expectations are reasonable, feedback is given, and roles and responsibilities are clear and understood by everyone.
Think about it - who would you rather work for - someone who just gives orders, or someone who you know fully understands the process?
That brings us to Participative Management. This is a style that involves employees in decision-making and other aspects of a business. It's based on the idea that empowering employees can help build commitment, develop initiatives, and improve business performance. Using a consultation approach, managers seek employee input before making decisions or implementing changes that can impact the rest of the business. Gathering multiple opinions from team membership is a great way to gain different perspectives. A good example of this style is Microsoft's Bill Gates.
But like anything, this method has its pros and cons.
Here are some advantages of a participative management style:
Increases team morale. Participative leaders give every team member a voice. Because employees play an active role in the success of the company, they are more motivated and engaged with their work.
Promotes collaboration. Employees are provided the flexibility to work together to reach goals, make plans, and help one another.
Uncovers creative solutions. Since employees are encouraged to collaborate, there is a free-flowing exchange of ideas that often leads to innovative solutions that would not otherwise be considered.
Teams more readily accept decisions. Knowing that each team member contributed to the decision-making process makes employees feel more confident about the final outcome.
Improves employee retention. Participative managers foster an environment that makes people feel genuinely valued. They give employees plenty of development opportunities—showing that there is room for them to grow within the business—and offer them chances to implement their ideas. This helps make employees want to stay.
Here are some disadvantages of a participative management style:
Slows down the decision-making process. Since participative managers want each team member to weigh in on the situation at hand, it can take time. When an urgent matter arises, this type of leader may take too long to reach a conclusion.
Increases the likelihood of conflict. When multiple people are voicing differing opinions, conflict can happen. While conflict doesn’t necessarily have to be negative, participative leaders must be prepared to handle disagreements.
Sometimes reduces the quality of expertise. If you have a specialist on your team with valuable insight regarding the decision, their knowledge may be drowned by the opinions of others.
Requires employee participation. Participative management only works if employees are willing to engage. Employees may not want to voice their opinion for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they are shy, don’t enjoy group discussions, don’t have enough knowledge on the subject to weigh in, or are simply disengaged. In any case, managers won’t get the results they’re looking for without an active team.
So Alena, I hope you got something out my long-winded answer to your question. Good luck in all you do and we look forward to hearing more of your successes along the way!
First a little about me. I started out as a window service employee and a shift manager at a fast-food restaurant with 15-50 employees. Later on, I was in the U.S. Navy for 30 years on active duty both enlisted and officer, then I served another 12 years as a senior civilian manager in a Navy command with many programs buying and fielding major systems for ships and aircraft. During those careers I managed groups of people as few as ten, and large divisions and departments with as many as 400 direct and 3,000 indirect employees. I also have a Masters degree in Management.
That said, I believe that the best method of business administration / management is a fusion of Delegative and Participative Management styles, depending on the situation.
I was fortunate to have first served at the lowest levels of organizations doing the most manual and basic tasks in several jobs before becoming a supervisor, and then a manager. Having this experience and knowledge along with plenty of technical and managerial training gave me a better understanding of the work and workers I was responsible for - and knowing what direction was feasible or achievable in a given period of time given the resources at hand. So I think it's important that leaders at all levels have a thorough knowledge of the work in order to direct it well. If you talk with employees from any large organization you will frequently hear that management has no idea of the consequences of their decisions and direction. This comes from a false belief that the short-sighted "I'm the boss - do what I say or else" attitude can be efficient or effective. In my opinion, it can't.
With respect to Delegative Management (or Leadership) this method recognizes that when there are many tasks, one person cannot do everything him/herself alone. This understanding and style goes way back in history - even Moses in the Bible had to be talked into letting go of the reins and trusting others to help get things done. A good example of this style is Amazon's Jeff Bezos.
Some major benefits of delegation are:
Inclusivity: When tasks are delegated, more members can participate in activities. This fosters a sense of belonging and ownership, making everyone feel they are essential to organization.
Empowerment: Entrusting responsibilities empowers individuals, instilling trust and a belief in their capabilities. This empowerment can lead to growth as individuals rise to the occasion and explore their talents and capabilities.
Efficiency: Delegation naturally promotes efficiency. With tasks distributed according to the skills and abilities of individuals, the organization can function smoothly, ensuring that the workload is more evenly spread and helps to minimize burnout.
Teaching managers the Delegation method isn't easy. Leaders often hesitate because:
Fear of losing control - they think they can ensure quality and the outcome if they handle everything themselves.
Doubting the ability of their team - they aren't sure anyone else can perform to the desired standard.
Confusion and misunderstanding - they think it's a sign of weakness or not meeting their own responsibilities.
Fortunately there are ways to overcome these hesitations through:
Training: Making sure that team members have the right knowledge, skills, and resources gives confidence to both leadership and employees.
Building Mutual Confidence: Beginning with smaller tasks and then increasing responsibility builds trust over time.
Communication: Keeping an open channel with all members of the team ensures that expectations are reasonable, feedback is given, and roles and responsibilities are clear and understood by everyone.
Think about it - who would you rather work for - someone who just gives orders, or someone who you know fully understands the process?
That brings us to Participative Management. This is a style that involves employees in decision-making and other aspects of a business. It's based on the idea that empowering employees can help build commitment, develop initiatives, and improve business performance. Using a consultation approach, managers seek employee input before making decisions or implementing changes that can impact the rest of the business. Gathering multiple opinions from team membership is a great way to gain different perspectives. A good example of this style is Microsoft's Bill Gates.
But like anything, this method has its pros and cons.
Here are some advantages of a participative management style:
Increases team morale. Participative leaders give every team member a voice. Because employees play an active role in the success of the company, they are more motivated and engaged with their work.
Promotes collaboration. Employees are provided the flexibility to work together to reach goals, make plans, and help one another.
Uncovers creative solutions. Since employees are encouraged to collaborate, there is a free-flowing exchange of ideas that often leads to innovative solutions that would not otherwise be considered.
Teams more readily accept decisions. Knowing that each team member contributed to the decision-making process makes employees feel more confident about the final outcome.
Improves employee retention. Participative managers foster an environment that makes people feel genuinely valued. They give employees plenty of development opportunities—showing that there is room for them to grow within the business—and offer them chances to implement their ideas. This helps make employees want to stay.
Here are some disadvantages of a participative management style:
Slows down the decision-making process. Since participative managers want each team member to weigh in on the situation at hand, it can take time. When an urgent matter arises, this type of leader may take too long to reach a conclusion.
Increases the likelihood of conflict. When multiple people are voicing differing opinions, conflict can happen. While conflict doesn’t necessarily have to be negative, participative leaders must be prepared to handle disagreements.
Sometimes reduces the quality of expertise. If you have a specialist on your team with valuable insight regarding the decision, their knowledge may be drowned by the opinions of others.
Requires employee participation. Participative management only works if employees are willing to engage. Employees may not want to voice their opinion for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they are shy, don’t enjoy group discussions, don’t have enough knowledge on the subject to weigh in, or are simply disengaged. In any case, managers won’t get the results they’re looking for without an active team.
So Alena, I hope you got something out my long-winded answer to your question. Good luck in all you do and we look forward to hearing more of your successes along the way!
Rajesh Kumar Subbiah
Manager
39
Answers
Florham Park, New Jersey
Updated
Rajesh Kumar’s Answer
The "best" method of business administration can vary depending on various factors, including the specific industry, organizational culture, and individual preferences. However, there are several widely recognized principles and approaches that can contribute to effective business administration:
Strategic Planning: Developing a clear vision, mission, and long-term goals for the organization is essential. This involves analyzing the market, identifying competitive advantages, and formulating strategies to achieve objectives.
Organizational Structure and Design: Creating an efficient organizational structure that aligns with the company's goals and facilitates effective communication and collaboration. This includes defining roles and responsibilities, establishing reporting lines, and promoting a culture of accountability.
Effective Communication: Communication is crucial for successful business administration. Ensuring open, transparent, and consistent communication channels both vertically and horizontally within the organization promotes clarity, collaboration, and employee engagement.
Financial Management: Implementing sound financial management practices, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis. Monitoring and managing cash flow, expenses, and investments to ensure long-term sustainability and growth.
Human Resource Management: Managing the organization's human capital is vital. This includes recruiting and retaining talented employees, providing training and development opportunities, fostering a positive work environment, and establishing effective performance management systems.
Operations and Process Improvement: Identifying and implementing efficient and effective operational processes to optimize productivity, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction. Employing tools and methodologies like Lean Six Sigma can help streamline operations.
Innovation and Adaptability: Encouraging a culture of innovation, adaptability, and continuous improvement is crucial in today's dynamic business environment. Embracing new technologies, staying updated with industry trends, and being responsive to market changes can provide a competitive edge.
Ethical and Social Responsibility: Conducting business with integrity, adhering to legal and ethical standards, and embracing social responsibility initiatives. Demonstrating ethical behavior and contributing positively to society can enhance the organization's reputation and build trust among stakeholders.
It's important to note that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to business administration. Each organization may require a tailored approach based on its specific needs and circumstances. Flexibility, adaptability, and continuous learning are key elements of successful business administration.
Strategic Planning: Developing a clear vision, mission, and long-term goals for the organization is essential. This involves analyzing the market, identifying competitive advantages, and formulating strategies to achieve objectives.
Organizational Structure and Design: Creating an efficient organizational structure that aligns with the company's goals and facilitates effective communication and collaboration. This includes defining roles and responsibilities, establishing reporting lines, and promoting a culture of accountability.
Effective Communication: Communication is crucial for successful business administration. Ensuring open, transparent, and consistent communication channels both vertically and horizontally within the organization promotes clarity, collaboration, and employee engagement.
Financial Management: Implementing sound financial management practices, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis. Monitoring and managing cash flow, expenses, and investments to ensure long-term sustainability and growth.
Human Resource Management: Managing the organization's human capital is vital. This includes recruiting and retaining talented employees, providing training and development opportunities, fostering a positive work environment, and establishing effective performance management systems.
Operations and Process Improvement: Identifying and implementing efficient and effective operational processes to optimize productivity, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction. Employing tools and methodologies like Lean Six Sigma can help streamline operations.
Innovation and Adaptability: Encouraging a culture of innovation, adaptability, and continuous improvement is crucial in today's dynamic business environment. Embracing new technologies, staying updated with industry trends, and being responsive to market changes can provide a competitive edge.
Ethical and Social Responsibility: Conducting business with integrity, adhering to legal and ethical standards, and embracing social responsibility initiatives. Demonstrating ethical behavior and contributing positively to society can enhance the organization's reputation and build trust among stakeholders.
It's important to note that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to business administration. Each organization may require a tailored approach based on its specific needs and circumstances. Flexibility, adaptability, and continuous learning are key elements of successful business administration.
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
6342
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Alena,
Best Method of Business Administration
Business administration encompasses a wide range of activities that are crucial for the successful operation of any organization. The best method of business administration involves a combination of strategic planning, effective leadership, efficient operations management, and strong financial acumen. Here are some key tips for effective business administration:
Strategic Planning: Strategic planning is essential for setting the direction of the business and aligning organizational goals with resources and capabilities. It involves defining the mission, vision, and objectives of the organization, as well as developing strategies to achieve them. A well-defined strategic plan provides a roadmap for decision-making and helps in prioritizing tasks and resources.
Effective Leadership: Strong leadership is vital for guiding employees, fostering a positive work culture, and driving organizational success. Effective leaders inspire their teams, communicate clearly, make informed decisions, and lead by example. They also empower employees to take ownership of their work and contribute to the overall goals of the organization.
Efficient Operations Management: Efficient operations management involves optimizing processes, managing resources effectively, and ensuring smooth workflow within the organization. This includes streamlining operations, improving productivity, monitoring performance metrics, and identifying areas for improvement. Effective operations management leads to cost savings, increased efficiency, and enhanced customer satisfaction.
Financial Acumen: Understanding financial principles is crucial for effective business administration. This includes budgeting, financial forecasting, cash flow management, risk assessment, and financial analysis. Sound financial management practices help in making informed decisions, allocating resources wisely, and ensuring long-term sustainability.
Continuous Improvement: Business administration is an ongoing process that requires continuous improvement and adaptation to changing market conditions. It is essential to regularly review strategies, processes, and performance metrics to identify areas for enhancement and innovation.
In conclusion, the best method of business administration combines strategic planning, effective leadership, efficient operations management, financial acumen, and a focus on continuous improvement. By implementing these key principles, organizations can enhance their competitiveness, drive growth, and achieve long-term success.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
Harvard Business Review: Harvard Business Review is a renowned publication that offers insights on various aspects of business management and administration through research-based articles written by industry experts.
Forbes: Forbes is a leading source of business news and insights that covers topics related to entrepreneurship, leadership, finance, technology, and more. It provides valuable perspectives on effective business administration practices.
The Wall Street Journal: The Wall Street Journal is a trusted source of financial news and analysis that offers in-depth coverage of global business trends, market developments, corporate strategies, and economic insights relevant to business administration.
These sources were consulted to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information provided regarding the best methods of business administration.
GOD BLESS YOU,
JC.
Best Method of Business Administration
Business administration encompasses a wide range of activities that are crucial for the successful operation of any organization. The best method of business administration involves a combination of strategic planning, effective leadership, efficient operations management, and strong financial acumen. Here are some key tips for effective business administration:
Strategic Planning: Strategic planning is essential for setting the direction of the business and aligning organizational goals with resources and capabilities. It involves defining the mission, vision, and objectives of the organization, as well as developing strategies to achieve them. A well-defined strategic plan provides a roadmap for decision-making and helps in prioritizing tasks and resources.
Effective Leadership: Strong leadership is vital for guiding employees, fostering a positive work culture, and driving organizational success. Effective leaders inspire their teams, communicate clearly, make informed decisions, and lead by example. They also empower employees to take ownership of their work and contribute to the overall goals of the organization.
Efficient Operations Management: Efficient operations management involves optimizing processes, managing resources effectively, and ensuring smooth workflow within the organization. This includes streamlining operations, improving productivity, monitoring performance metrics, and identifying areas for improvement. Effective operations management leads to cost savings, increased efficiency, and enhanced customer satisfaction.
Financial Acumen: Understanding financial principles is crucial for effective business administration. This includes budgeting, financial forecasting, cash flow management, risk assessment, and financial analysis. Sound financial management practices help in making informed decisions, allocating resources wisely, and ensuring long-term sustainability.
Continuous Improvement: Business administration is an ongoing process that requires continuous improvement and adaptation to changing market conditions. It is essential to regularly review strategies, processes, and performance metrics to identify areas for enhancement and innovation.
In conclusion, the best method of business administration combines strategic planning, effective leadership, efficient operations management, financial acumen, and a focus on continuous improvement. By implementing these key principles, organizations can enhance their competitiveness, drive growth, and achieve long-term success.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
Harvard Business Review: Harvard Business Review is a renowned publication that offers insights on various aspects of business management and administration through research-based articles written by industry experts.
Forbes: Forbes is a leading source of business news and insights that covers topics related to entrepreneurship, leadership, finance, technology, and more. It provides valuable perspectives on effective business administration practices.
The Wall Street Journal: The Wall Street Journal is a trusted source of financial news and analysis that offers in-depth coverage of global business trends, market developments, corporate strategies, and economic insights relevant to business administration.
These sources were consulted to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information provided regarding the best methods of business administration.
GOD BLESS YOU,
JC.
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