What Are Effective Management Techniques - Research Paper Example

Management Techniques The field of management brings together various techniques and approaches, which are tailored to suit certain outcomes. The choice of a given kind of management technique depends on the level of applicability, the nature of organization, the organizational structure, and a range of internal and external factors that regulate the process. In essence, some of the strategies employed in management have the capacity of producing different results in accordance with a set of conditions within the organization. Some of the most commonly applied and most effective management techniques include the Balanced Scorecard, Total Quality Management, and Six Sigma. Balanced Scorecard The Balanced Scorecard Technique is a performance-based technique that is structured in a way that enables a sequential check and evaluation of processes in order to determine the level of conformity with the expected outcomes (Armstrong 46). The popularity of the Balanced Scorecard has been witnessed largely in western countries. Studies have also found out a significant level of preference of this management tool in Scandinavian countries, the Middle East and Spain. Over the times, theorists and management experts have managed to develop related techniques and concepts of management basing on the structural foundation of the Balanced Scorecard. Some of the related techniques are Results Based Management and the Performance Prism technique. The fundamental feature in these techniques is the linking of all actions towards some specific outcomes. The balanced Scorecard operates through the creation of ‘target values’ that are used to measure the progress and specific outcomes of various processes within the organization. Essentially, the units of measurement are designed in ways that provide the most relevant information about the nature of performance of a given measure. Both financial and non-financial units of performance are assessed against these target values, which act as safeguards to the nature of performance (Armstrong 50). For instance, the volume of sales could be assigned to some specific target value so that all subsequent actions and results regarding the trends of sales are measured against this target value. On this score, it becomes necessary to consider the fact that other matters such as employee performance are regulated and observed through these values. Such measures could involve appraisal processes in which the performance of employees is measured against definite goals in order to determine the levels of progress in relation to certain specified objectives. The Balanced Scorecard could also be used to determine the manner in which organizations assess the performance of certain programs or changes within their systems. It is most effective in situations and processes that involve short-term goals. Another advantage is that it shields the organization from foreseeable losses as it provides periodic and interim warnings about the performance in ways that make it possible for the application of remedial safeguards through timely interventions. Organizational change requires continued and systematic measurements in order to evaluate the feasibility of the changes and new programs or systems (Ruello 49). On this level, the Balanced Scorecard is effective in processes that require the provision of specifics and stage-to-stage determination of progress. Its applicability could be more relevant in systems of production where the value of products and the efficiency of the systems require constant checks. However, the technique is costly in the sense that it requires constant monitoring and evaluation. Naturally, the high frequency of monitoring and evaluation demands an increased application of resources from the organization. Total Quality Management Total Quality Management (TQM) is a system that is primarily focused on the harnessing of the different processes and personnel within and without the organization towards meeting certain long-term goals (Armstrong 150). Usually, TQM is based on the need for providing quality products or services that meet the tastes of the targeted clientele. Quality remains one of the key drivers of TQM techniques. A range of factors and processes are streamlined in order to achieve some uniform continuum that links every action towards a united goal. Some of the salient features of TQM include customer-focused approach, total employee involvement, process-centered approaches, and integrated systems. Other features that complete the TQM technique are strategic and systematic approach, continual improvement, fact-based decision-making, and communication (Armstrong 151). The customer reigns supreme in TQM techniques. All processes are usually designed in ways that target the tastes of the customer. As such, TQM approaches begin with the understanding of the specific needs of the customer in terms of tastes, preferences, and all other concerns that attach to the interests of the customer. The aspect of quality is customized in a way that articulates the interests of the customer. In this regard, processes are designed in ways that respond to the specific needs of the customer in order to adjust positively to the market forces. As a result, some of the key determinants of quality are regulated in a manner that entails value addition to processes and values in line with key interests of the customer. Total Quality Management relies significantly on data and quantifiable details in order to achieve the required aspect of quality within the organization. For instance, the results are usually measured against a range of data that provides insights into the expected outcomes in relation to the interests of the customer. Data is also used to guide the process of decision-making (Armstrong 152). The decisions are made in reference to the available date in order to accurately determine processes and predict future outcomes. As such, TQM employs a scientific approach of measuring outcomes based on pre-determined hypotheses of market situations and customer preferences. Total quality Management is an effective managerial technique that affects positively on organizations that involve complex processes such as manufacturing of technological products. Technological firms have to respond quickly to the emerging pressures from the markets, particularly those that relate to customer preferences (Armstrong 153). For instance, Apple and Samsung, the two leading mobile telephone manufacturers carry out frequent market research to determine the kind of attitudes, opinions, and suggestions of their products in order to adjust their systems in ways that could respond effectively to these challenges. Therefore, the systems of production are necessarily tailored to serve the interests of the clientele as the first priority. The maintenance of an interaction database between the organization and the customers is one of the key aspects that ensure the attainment of customer standards and satisfaction. Six Sigma The Six Sigma is a technique of management that applies data and methodology in a process that aims at achieving the highest possible standard of a product or a service. The application of the methods in the Six Sigma are usually cross-cutting in a manner that links the various processes in a firm towards the desired goal of the production line or within the framework of transaction service (Todorut, Doru, and George 6). The key aspect of the Six Sigma is the incorporation of mathematical methodology that ensures the adjustment of the processes between a certain mean and the highest level of achievement of the same process. The application of the methods of Six Sigma is necessary in processes that require high levels of organizational competence and managerial determinism. In this sense, it becomes important to consider the fact that some of the issues related to managerial dynamisms. The Six Sigma methodology is usually aimed at lessening the amount of defects in the production process by determining the threshold of error of defect through mathematical determination of the processes and expected outcomes (Todorut, Doru, and George 8). Essentially, the determination of the Six Sigma entails the application of a range of studies that combine to determine some of the processes of the transaction or processes within an organization. Growing preference of the Six Sigma has been witnessed in organizations that deal with the production of sensitive gadgets that require high levels of perfection. The method could also be applied in the field of technology in the manufacturing of products with the best possible qualities that could match and exceed the expectations of the customers and the clientele. Generally, the Six Sigma technique combines analytic methods and market research for establishing the most appropriate quality of a product and service. It is important and resourceful in upholding the quality of products to desired levels of application. As such, the Six Sigma remains an important tool that allows organizations to design processes, products, and services to the highest possible levels of quality. The technique is resourceful in systems that rely on various aspects of standardization to evaluate their effectiveness and quality. Works Cited Armstrong, Michael. A Handbook of Management Techniques: A Comprehensive Guide To Achieving Managerial Excellence & Improved Decision Making. New York: Kogan Page Publishers, 2006. Ruello, Samuel, A. Transferring Managerial Concepts and Techniques to Operating Managers. SAM Advanced Management Journal, 1973, 38 (3), p. 42. Todorut, Amalia, V., Doru, Circus, and George Niculescu. The Relationship Among Six Sigma and Other Managerial Techniques of Improving the Performances of the Organizations. Annals of the University of Petrosani, Economics, 2009, 9 (4), p. 8. Read More