- Several decades later, Henry Mintzberg argued that Fayol's Five Functions do not adequately describe the activities that managers undertake in their roles
- Mintzberg identified ten roles that are common to all managers that can be categorised into three groups
- Interpersonal roles
- Informational roles
- Decisional roles
Diagram: Mintzberg's Ten Managerial Roles
Minzberg outlined ten management roles within three distinct groups: interpersonal roles, informational roles and decisional roles
Interpersonal Roles
- A manager's interpersonal roles are those which focus on motivation and dealing with employees and, sometimes, other external stakeholder groups
- The three roles are:
- Acting as a figurehead
- E.g. Appearing in press conferences, hosting product launches and being the 'face' of the business
- Being a leader and enthusing others
- E.g. Be available to meet staff, encourage and praise employees
- Liaison with others inside and outside of the business
- E.g. Communicate with stakeholders, participate in events, respond to complaints
Informational Roles
- These roles involve the collection, communication and presentation of information within and outside of the business
- The three roles are:
- Being a monitor and collector of information relevant to business circumstances
- E.g. Attend conferences, keep up-to-date with industry research
- Acting as a disseminator of information to both subordinates and other key stakeholder groups
- E.g. Share key developments with staff, calm fears and communicate positively
- Being the business spokesperson
- E.g. Lead seminars, communicate with the media and government
Decisional Roles
- These roles are focused on making decisions and organising resources so that business objectives can be met
- The four roles are:
- Being an entrepreneur on behalf of the business
- E.g. Bring new ideas and empower others to become intrapreneurs
- Acting as a disturbance handler during periods of upheaval or change
- E.g. Determine rapid responses in crisis situations, act as a key point of contact
- Being a resource allocator to ensure adequate financial and physical resources are available
- E.g. Determine budgets and source finance, staff and equipment
- Representing the business as a negotiator with external stakeholders
- E.g. make deals with significant suppliers and customers, network with key business allies
Evaluation of Mintzberg's Ten Managerial Roles
- Mintzberg's model emphasises the importance of interpersonal roles in effective management, which Fayol's Five Functions largely overlook
- However, his informational and decisional roles are largely the same as those identified by Fayol, albeit more defined and of more practical use to managers