The demands on today´s manager are quite significant and tools that provide support to enable managers to carry out their job functions more efficiently and effectively are available. This paper will consider some of the typical day to day demands that a manager must contend with in today´s business environment. The steps taken by HR to support its managers will be considered. Within this context, the role of technology will be considered and examples of steps taken by a number of organizations will be discussed.
With today´s flatter organizational structures and increasing workload, managers are often what we could call "working managers" - individuals who have managerial responsibilities along with a substantial job-related workload as well. This means that on top of other duties these managers must find the time to manage. As a result, the value of tools and processes that make a manager´s job easier and more efficient are of increasing importance. In addition to increased demands on time, managers are being given responsibilities that may not have historically been included in their job description. Often, individuals at lower levels within organizations have increased decision-making capability along with increased leadership responsibilities. Subsequently, managers must demonstrate effective leadership skills, deal with a constantly evolving/changing business environment and demonstrate a thorough understanding of priorities in the face of a changing environment.
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