Question

Integrating management theories (Lead)

Management at Work
You are the proud owner of a small vintage clothing store. Your store, Fantastic 40s, specializes in clothing from the 1940s. You have four great employees, Rebecca, Rachel, Roberto, and Rafael. At first, business was good, but, recently, you have noticed that sales are sleeping. Puzzle, your turn to your management textbook for some ideas on how to turn things around.
Identify each management strategy in the following table with a management theory.
Classical Humanistic Management Contingency
Management Management Science Theory
Strategy Theory Theory
You measure sales over time and
realize that the months of July, August,
and September are particularly slow.
As a result, you ask two of your sales
clerks if they would be willing to work
part-time during those months.
You make sure that when you hire new
people, you get input from each of the
existing team members. If they are happy
with the new hire, they are more likely to
make that person part of the team, and
the team will sell more.
You notice that when customers have too
many choices, they are less likely to make
a decision about what to buy, so you tell all
of your employees to bring out only three
things at one time. In addition, you start to
pay your employees a commission for every
item that they sell.
A customer survey shows that the men who
come into the store would prefer to be left alone
while they shop, but the women who come into
the store want to be asked if they need assistance.
You tell your employees to leave men alone and ask
women if they want help.

Answer 1

Identifying each Management Strategy with a Management Theory:

Management Strategies: Management Strategy

1. You measure sales over time and 4. Contingency Theory

realize that the months of July, August,

and September are particularly slow.

As a result, you ask two of your sales

clerks if they would be willing to work

part-time during those months.

2. You make sure that when you hire new 3. Management Science

people, you get input from each of the

existing team members. If they are happy

with the new hire, they are more likely to

make that person part of the team, and

the team will sell more.

3. You notice that when customers have too 2. Humanistic

many choices, they are less likely to make Management Theory

a decision about what to buy, so you tell all

of your employees to bring out only three

things at one time. In addition, you start to

pay your employees a commission for

every item that they sell.

4. A customer survey shows that the men who 1. Classical Management

come into the store would prefer to be left alone Theory

while they shop, but the women who come into

the store want to be asked if they need assistance.

You tell your employees to leave men alone

and ask women if they want help.

Step-by-step explanation:

Management Theories:

1. Classical Management Theory concentrates on specialization of labor, centralized leadership and decision-making, and profit maximization.

2. Humanistic Management Theory is a people-based management that seeks profits for human ends and not for the sake of profit as an end in itself.

3. Management Science concentrates on problem solving and decision making in human organizations.

4. Contingency Theory is a situational management practice without set rules, but depends on the prevailing moment.