Middle Manager

Traditionally, middle managers make up the largest managerial layer in an organization. The Middle Manager is responsible to those above them and those below them. They head a variety of departments and projects. In order for a company to operate smoothly, it is essential that those in middle management be committed to the goals of the organization and understand how to effectively execute these goals. It is crucial for businesses to focus on these essential managers and provide them with the opportunities to succeed. No matter the organization’s structure or size, it will benefit from employing well-trained middle managers. Having a middle manager understand their role in the organization is very important. They are in communication with a very large percentage of the company, and will have a large impact throughout the organization.

Course outline

Module One: Getting Started
• Icebreaker
• Housekeeping Items
• The Parking Lot
• Workshop Objectives

Module Two: Introduction to Management
• What is Management?
• What Do Mangers Do?
• What Does It Take to Be a Manager?
• Why Does Management Matter?

Module Three: Ethics and Social Responsibility
• What is Ethical Workplace Behavior?
• What is Unethical Workplace Behavior?
• How to Make Ethical Decisions
• What is Social Responsibility?

Module Four: Managing Information
• Why Information Matters
• Strategic Importance of Information
• Characteristics and Costs of Useful Information
• Getting and Sharing Information

Module Five: Decision-Making
• What is Rational Decision-Making?
• Steps to Rational Decision-Making
• Limits to Rational Decision-Making
• Improving Decision-Making

Module Six: Control Basics of Control
• The Control Process
• Is Control Necessary or Possible?
• How and What to Control
• Control Methods

Module Seven: Organizational Strategy
• Basics of Organizational Strategy
• Sustainable Competitive Advantage
• Strategy-Making Process
• Corporate, Industry, Firm Level Strategies

Module Eight: Innovation and Change
• Organizational Innovation
• Why Innovation Matters
• Managing Innovation
• Organizational Change
• Why Change Occurs and Why it Matters
• Managing Change

Module Nine: Organizational Structures and Process
• Departmentalization
• Organizational Authority
• Job Design
• Designing Organizational Process

Module Ten: Managing Teams
• The Good and the Bad of Using Teams
• Kinds of Teams
• Work Team Characteristics
• Enhancing Work Team Effectiveness

Module Eleven: Motivation and Leadership
• Basics of Motivation
• Equity Theory
• Expectancy Theory
• What is Leadership?
• Situational Leadership
• Strategic Leadership

Module Twelve: Wrapping Up
• Words from the Wise
• Review of Parking Lot
• Lessons Learned
• Completion of Action Plans and Evaluations