The levels of management are the division among managers based on the responsibility and the authority they have in the company or organization. Typically, the management level comprises top-level, middle-level, and first-line managers. The different levels of management define their roles and responsibilities relevant to their position. However, the focus of every management level is on various areas like employee satisfaction, success, and growth. Today, we’ll discuss different levels of management, their definitions, and their functions in detail.
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3 Levels of Management
Different levels of management along with designations and functions are as follows;
Top-Level Management
The role of top-level managers comprises giving direction to the whole company. The top managers ensure that the company is moving at a steady pace towards achieving its goals and objectives. However, their main objective is to launch a successful company that would increase the company’s profitability with a great reputation.
The top-level managers have got the highest control, authority, and responsibility in the company. Often, they take suggestions, and consultations and listen to the feedback and concerns of their employees. Their primary duties and responsibilities comprise maintaining contacts with external businesses, setting, and objectives, making business plans for the company.
Some of the main designations for the top-level managers are as follows;
- Chief Operating Officers
- Vice President
- Managing Directors
- President
- Chief Technology Officers
- Chief Sale Officer
- The Chief Marketing Offer
- Chief Executive Officer
Some of the main functions they perform are as follows;
- Managing financial matters and other obligations and responsibilities of the company; they have the responsibility for company’s growth and survival
- Drafting the policy for the company
- Designing the role and function of the middle managers; setting goals and assigning them tasks and responsibilities to follow
- The responsibility of top managers is making business plans and strategizing things for the company; they have to layout and define the mission and vision of the company, which helps employees and customers to understand the values of the company
Middle-Level Management
The middle-level managers comprise heads of departments and units within the company. Their role is to bridge the communication between the top-level and lower-level managers. They have to perform the task of execution and micromanaging various things within the company. Some of the designations for the middle managers are as follows;
- Finance Managers
- Branch Managers
- Operational Managers
- Sales Manager
- Purchase Manager
- Marketing Managers
Some of the key functions of middle managers are as follows;
- They have to recruit employees and allocate resources for the team; making use of the workforce at the optimum level
- Responsibility for the performance of lower-level managers; encouraging and motivating them to perform their tasks efficiently
- Micromanaging the tasks and work done by the lower managers, and having the responsibility of developing coordination among teams
- Communicating the mission and policies of the company set by the top managers, and have the responsibility of managing communication and building and maintaining a healthy environment in the company
First-Line Managers
The first-line managers have got the responsibility of developing coordination between middle managers and executing the workforce of the company. They have to micromanage various operational works and manage their teams. Usually, they have to execute orders given by the middle managers and they make limited decisions.
The first-line managers play a critical role in the success of the company. The difference is that they don’t have to make critically important decisions, and their performance and efficiency depend on the middle managers.
Some of the designations of the operational and first-line managers are as follows;
- Sub-department executives
- Inspectors
- Junior managers
- Clerk
- Foreman
- Supervisors
Some of the functions of the first-line managers are as follows;
- They help the middle managers evaluate the performance of employees and other HRM roles in the company
- Managing the resources of the company and focusing on optimum utilization of resources
- Responsibility for building and maintaining of the healthy working environment in order to improve the efficiency of the work; they have to make sure that the employees are following the guidelines while performing the operations
- Training the employees and micromanaging their progress
- The critical responsibility of first-line managers is to talk about the challenges and listen to the grievances of workers
Skills for Different Levels of Management
When it comes to managing the employees and micromanaging their work, some of the main skills that managers need at different levels are as follows;
- Organizing. Organizing allows them to perform their managerial duties and responsibilities and make sure that they finish their work and tasks on time. It is highly beneficial for the employees and the company because they can perform better with an organized and clear direction given by the managers.
- Quick Thinking. Quick thinking is a very important skill when you have to make time-sensitive decisions. It is the job of managers to make quick decisions to deal with customer complaints, resolve their issues, and keep the company on the right track.
- Observing. Observing comprises paying heed to small details like customer behavior, production complications, and employee performance. They’re important skills for them to learn towards the improvement of the company. However, it helps them to increase their company’s reputation, profitability, and efficiency.
- Communicating. Written and verbal communication plays a significant role in comprehending the needs and wants of your employees and customers. Managers employ communication skills to collaborate with other customers, external businesses, and managers.
- Leadership. It is significant for them to lead the employees so that their work would have a positive impact on the company. Leadership skill means that you have to keep in mind the feedback and views of your customers while making decision that is beneficial for everyone.
