The Roles and Responsibilities of Managers in an Organization - Essay Example

First Last Number 28 November Manager Interview Paper INTRODUCTION Selecting an individual for managerial role is one of the major decisions for an employer or a leader to increase performance efficiency of a particular department or an organization. Therefore, developing or designing a set of effective interview questions for managerial position plays a crucial role not only for the department, but for streamlining the overall organizational performance as a whole (Jackson, Schuler and Warner 249). With regard to the increasing competitiveness in the global business environment, designing interview questions for managers covers the areas related to managerial roles and responsibilities along with practice relating to the core subject areas such as planning, managing, controlling, directing and leading. Moreover, identifying skills of the interviewees’ decision making capabilities and their skills to motivate other subordinates also play a major role for the employers while selecting an individual for a specific managerial position (Jeff 159). THESIS STATEMENT Emphasizing the roles and responsibilities of managers in an organization, the discussion of this study tends to include a critical analysis of interview questions for selecting an individual for managerial responsibilities. The paper illustrates an interview process of an individual with 3+ years of experience for any specific managerial position in the organization. In order to critically explore the managerial responsibilities, the discussion also identifies the intention for selecting the key questions along with their different subject areas. The questions developed for hiring the manager have also covered the major competency areas such as leadership, workplace diversity along with global challenges, ongoing learning from managerial roles and anticipated future direction for managers. METHOD UNDERTAKEN FOR THE INTERVIEW Determining a particular method of interview is one of the major steps for the leaders or organizations to increase validity and efficiency of selecting right individuals for a specific job role (Jackson, Schuler and Warner 249). In the context of the managerial post, the interview process was outlined with major guiding principles in terms of its methodology and efficacy of selecting appropriate candidate for the managerial role in the organization. Interview Method. The interview questions have been framed with a structured framework in order to select a right individual for the specified managerial post. According to the theoretical understanding, there are basically two types of interview methods including structured and semi-structured interview techniques (Jeff 159). The structured interview method provides a consistent set of data regarding a specific topical area. It helps to design a self-administered type of questions that helps an interviewee to standardize the quality of the interview process. The questions for a structured interview are required to frame prior to the interview process, which further help the interviewer to consistently focus on obtaining reliable outcome in response to the specified job role. In addition, the structured interview questions also require the interviewees to provide skilled answers for addressing the questions on a particular topical subject area (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, “Semi-structured Interviews”). On the contrary, the semi-structured interview method generally includes a basic set of guidelines that lead to produce various types of outcomes from an interview process. It is often conducted with an open framework, which helps an interviewer with focused and conversational two-way communication process with the interviewees. The semi-structured method of interview generally starts with the questions from general topical subject area. Less instructive and obtaining detail outcome of the interviewees is few of the benefits of a semi-structured interview method (Jeff 159). In the context of the proposed interview process for a managerial job position, the interview process was conducted with a structured method. The methodology selected as the process of structured interview tends to provide consistent outcome regarding the questions in the interview. Moreover, it also helps the interviewer to set an appropriate set of questions regarding the primary topical subject area. The integration of a structured interview method has provided a major insight in order to identify managerial skills and competency level of the candidate on different managerial responsibilities. SUBJECT AREAS COVERED IN THE INTERVIEW PROCESS The structured process of interview has provided a major support to obtain relevant and most generous set of outcomes from an interview. Few of the key subject areas that had covered in the interview process are detailed in the following sections. Personal Statement. The questions developed for the specified managerial post have started with a personal statement. At the very starting level of the interview, the interviewee was asked to introduce about him or to give a personal statement. The question has provided a brief understanding about the background of the interviewee along with his career prospects and vision. Moreover, the personal statement of the interviewee has also provided a major understanding about the interest of the individual towards exploring his managerial skills and capabilities. Managerial Skills and Capabilities. Determining managerial skills of the candidate was one of the major attributes of the interview process. In order to identify the managerial skills of the interviewee, the interview questions was customized with the primary management functions including planning, directing, organizing, leading and controlling. The structured interview questions were designed in accordance with the management areas. Moreover, the structured questions on managerial areas have also enabled to gain major understanding about the managing capabilities of the candidate irrespective different management situations. Decision Making. The attributes in the interview process had provided an in-depth understanding regarding the decision making capabilities of the interviewee in various management circumstances. The questions structured in this particular subject area have been highly focused on identifying the decision making skills of the candidate to meet the postulated managerial goals and objectives. Moreover, the decision making questions of the interview have also been considered as a process of determining the skills that helps the manager to align business objectives with his managerial roles in the organization. Communication Skill. The communication skills of the manager are one of the vital elements that help an individual to successfully achieve his/her respective performance goals. In order to identify the communication skills of the candidate, the interview questions were customized with the understanding of communication skills of the interviewee. Moreover, it will also help to perceive the communication skills of the individual to deal with different types of subordinates and members with different attitude and behavioral characteristics. Leading and Motivational Skills. In order to hire an individual for the managerial job role, it is also essential for the interviewer or the employer to perceive adequate understanding about the leadership capability along with the skill of the individual to motivate his/her followers. In order to remain competitive, identifying and developing leadership and motivational skills of the managers have become a common practice in the organization. Therefore, the interview questions also focused on the leadership competencies motivational capability of the individual. Workplace Diversity. Workplace diversity is also one of the growing concerns for the organizations in the current business environment. The process of managing diversity of workforce irrespective of their job roles is a major set of practice for a manager to achieve long-term growth of the organization. The interview questions designed for a defined managerial job position also included understanding capability of the individual to manage diversity in the workplace as the workforce are from different demographic and cultural backgrounds. Therefore, the question relating to the workplace diversity management capability of the manager has also provided a major insight in the overall interview process. Global Challenges. The interview questions also covered understanding of the interviewee in terms of his knowledge of global challenges concerning different issues and constraints. In order to streamline the performance of business, it is highly essential for the mangers have adequate knowledge and understanding about the challenges of the global business environment, including economic condition, political system and environment along with the constraints associated with ecological policies and technological advancements. Therefore, the interview questions were also designed with respect to the challenges in the global business environment. The process might enable to understand about the knowledge of the individual to be selected for a managerial position on global challenges along with their consequences to an organization. Ongoing Learning for their Roles and Anticipate Future Direction. Perceiving valuable knowledge and/or skills from the own job responsibilities can be duly accepted as one of the major aspects for the managers to improve their managerial skills and competencies. The adequate focus on continuous learning from the assigned responsibilities further streamlines the decision making capability irrespective of circumstances that might be generated in the workplace. Therefore, the structured design of questions in the interview process also integrates interrogations relating to the ongoing learning process of the managers. DETAIL ANALYSIS OF THE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS The structured methodology in terms of designing the questions substantially facilitated in addressing the different managerial responsibilities. Moreover, the method has also been observed to provide a major insight in terms of determining the managerial capabilities and skills of the interviewee. The interview questions for this specific job position have been provided in the Appendix section of this paper. A detail analysis of the questions asked in the interview is provided hereunder, which significantly denotes the skills and capabilities of the selected individual for the assigned managerial job position. General Questions. The interview process for the assigned managerial job position was started with a general question, i.e. “Give your personal statement” where the interviewee was asked to give his personal statement about his educational and professional background. The question regarding the self-statement of the candidate has provided a major insight to perceive information about the educational and professional background of the interviewee. Moreover, the statement also provided an understanding regarding the experience along with major strengths and weaknesses of the interviewee which can be justified with the specified managerial role in the organization. Secondly, the question of “What conveys you here today” has also provided a major understanding regarding the perception of the interviewee of this particular job proposal. The question has provided a major support to understand the perception of the interviewee. According to the observation, it has been perceived that the job proposal for the managerial post was a promotional opportunity for the candidate to obtain growth of his professional career. In this regard, it has determined about the ambition and professional traits of the individual, which can be a major advantage for the organization. In the context of identifying the managing capability of the interviewee, the next question of the interview was followed with “How do you deal with situations comprising stress and challenge?” The outcome obtained regarding this question has reflected a major capability of the candidate in terms of coping with difficulties that are often raised in the organizational operations. Following with this question, the next question that was designed to determine the coping strategy of the interviewee to effectively handle obstacles. The question was “How did you overcome operational obstacles during your past job roles?” It has been perceived from the candidate’s respond that adequate determination to understand the situation and make effective decision with clear communication and leadership traits have successfully enabled the candidate to overcome his past job related obstacles. Therefore, it can be stated that the interviewee was substantially aware with the role of communication and effective leadership style to deal with operational obstacles. According to the structured guidelines of the interview process, the questions have also covered identifying experience level of the interviewee. Few of the major questions that have asked relating to the past experience of the candidate have been provided hereunder. Experience Questions. In order to determine the experience about the last job roles, a question “What are the situations that keep you most satisfied in the working environment?” was designed. The question was asked in order to understand the job roles that have successfully enabled the individual to satisfy with the working environment. According to the feedback of the interviewee, it has been perceived that collaborative along with maintaining adequate openness and performing with a shared vision or goal have helped the individual to satisfy with the working process. Keeping aside with the working environment, the question “What needs to be changed in operation during your past job experience?” has provided a major understand regarding the perception of the individual towards his past served organization. According to the feedback, it has been perceived that the operation involved travelling more than three times in a month to other destinations which has reduced the likeliness of the interviewee towards the previous job role. The frequent travel to other destinations (domestic and abroad) often exhausts individual to balance the pace of working performance in the organization. Nevertheless, feedbacks provided by the interviewee evaded from drawing any negative impression on the business policies, organizational culture or financial stability of the previous employers. In this context it has been determined that the individual also has major competency in terms of concealing business policies or other information of the organizations which is also a major trait of the interviewee. Correspondingly, question relating to motivation was designed as “What motivates the individual to obtained his assigned goals and objectives?” The question has enabled to determine the aspects that motivated the individual to meet his expected outcome. In relation to the feedback of the interviewee, it has been asserted that challenges of delivering expected operational results within stipulated deadlines often encourages or motivates the individual. In this regard, it can be stated that the potential of accepting continuous challenges and delivering expected outcome within the deadlines is one of the major aspect that can streamline the performance of the department along with the organization as well. In order to determine the key professional characteristics of the individual, the question “What are the key driving factors of your professional career?” has provided a major insight in the interview process. The question has enabled to determine the key professional traits of the individual that helped him understand his firm determination for achieving his professional goals. According to the feedback, it has been ascertained that the self-determination; leadership attributes along with skilled communication process are the few key attributes driving him to obtain professional growth. Moreover, obtaining continuous knowledge from ongoing processes and strong set of competencies to manage the followers are few of the key attributes of his professionalism. The question relating to diversity in the workplace has also provided a major understanding about the managerial capabilities of the interviewee. In accordance with the feedbacks, the candidate has significantly emphasized the significance of managing diversity in the workplace. According to his opinion, understanding cultural aspects and equal respect of each individual irrespective of their nationality, age, gender, language and/or physical disability are the major factor of the organization to stimulate performance. CONCLUSION With due regards to the overall interview process for the post of managerial position, it can be stated that the selected individual has major set of competencies regarding the nature of the specified job. The adequate capability of managerial skill in terms of dealing with challenges and leadership traits of the individual can substantially help the organization to obtain a significant contribution towards achieving the business goals. Moreover, the self confidence and analytical problem solving skills of the candidate are also a set of major elements for his selection as the specified managerial position. In addition, abundant knowledge and skills of managing diversity and making effective decisions with the changing business practices of the organization are also few of the major characteristics of the selected individual as a managerial designation. Works Cited Jackson, Susan, Randall Schuler and Steve Warner. Managing Human Resources. The United States: Cengage Learning, 2011. Print. Jeff, Tanner. Sales Management. New Delhi: Pearson Education India, 2009. Print. “Semi-structured Interviews.” Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 2008. Web. 25 Nov. 2014. APPENDIX Interview Questions 1. Give your personal statement 2. What conveys you here today? 3. How do you deal with situations comprising stress and challenge? 4. How did you overcome operational obstacles during your past job roles? 5. What are the situations that keep you most satisfied in the working environment? 6. What needs to be changed in operations during your past job experience? 7. What motivates the individual to obtain his assigned goals and objectives? 8. What are the key driving factors of your professional career? 9. How do you management workplace diversity in a competitive business environment? 10. What do you feel about the changing global business environment and their possible consequences on the organization? 11. How effective do you think about the process of ongoing learning that can help a manger to successfully perform his/her assigned roles? Read More