LEVELS OF MANAGEMENT

The level of management signifies the hierarchy of management in any organization.  We can classify the levels of managers depending upon their activities. The number of levels will depend upon the size of business, number of workers and effective span of control other such factors of management.

The hierarchy of management positions from top to bottom is called levels of management. The level of a manager in the hierarchy determines the amount of authority and responsibility empowered to him and the decision making powers. So simply we can say the top management level will have more authority and power along with greater responsibility as compared to the supervisory level of managers with less authority and responsibility.

Pfiffner and Sherwood have classified management levels into four viz., corporate management, top management, middle management and supervisory management.

Koontz and O'Donnell and Brech have classified the levels into two, viz, top level management and supervisory level management.

Joseph Litterer has suggested three levels, viz., institutional level, general management and departmental management.

J.B. Batty has classified management into four levels, viz., top management upper middle management, middle management and supervisory management.

So based on the analysis of so many expert we can classify the levels of management in to three levels as

Top Management Level:-  Include the Board of Director, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Managing Directors, etc.  

Middle Management Level: - Include Head of Business Units, Department Heads, Functional Heads, Division Heads etc

Lower Level Management:- Operational Heads, Supervisors, Front line Managers etc.

 Top Management

Some of the functions of top management are

·          To formulate the vision and mission for the company

·         To lay down policies and objective of the organization

·         To formulate rules and regulations for the functioning of the organization

·         To formulate long term goals and strategy planning

·         To set targets for all the other functional bodies working under him

·         Resource allocation for functioning of the organization

·         To coordinate the activities of the organization for the achievement of the set goals.

·         To review the performance of the company and the lower level of the management.

•   Middle Management

Some of the functions of middle management are

·         They are the link between the Top and Lower Management levels.

·         To implement the policies and strategy as given by the top management

·         To achieve the targets set for them by utilizing the resources provided to them.

·         To perform functions of management like planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling for his area of work.

·         To instruct the lower level of management so that the necessary task can be done.

·         To monitor and appraise the performance of the lower level of management and suggest appropriate administrative actions.

·         To improve interdepartmental and intradepartmental relationship in his area.

·         To provide guidance and remove barriers in achievement of targets by the lower rung of management.

·         To negotiate and allocate resources to achieve the targets set by the top management.

·         To align the functioning of his department or division or area under him in line with the organizational targets.

•   Lower or Supervisory Management

Some of the functions of lower management are

·                  To actually supervise the beginning, monitoring of different tasks or operations.To directly supervise the actual work and manage operative employees.

·                  To direct and control the function rather than planning and organizing, such planning and organizing is only limited to short term and on tactical basis.

·                  To achieve the operational targets which help the achievement of departmental or divisional targets which in turn contribute in the achievement of the organizational targets.

·                  To implement the top management policies and provide feedback to the higher levels of management.

·                  To plan the day-to-day activities and assign tasks to their subordinates, guide them and take corrective steps whenever necessary.

·                  To arrange for necessary materials, machines tools, etc. for workers and
to provide them the necessary working environment.

·                  To provide necessary skill training and guidance required by the operative work force.

·                  To help resolve day to day problems of the workers.

·                  To act as an interface between the operative staff and higher management for various issues like appraisal, grievances, complaints etc.