Why do Management Roles need Decision Support?

Decision support = helping managers make better decisions.

• A wrong decision can have far-reaching consequences.
• No one person can remember (and recall) everything
• Frequently some form of calculating will be necessary
• A decision may be needed urgently

What form of support is needed?

Information that…

• is accurate
• is up-to-date
• is easy to assimilate
• is relevant
• has quick and easy access to specific records

Managerial Roles & Mintzberg’s 10 Management Roles

• Interpersonal
• Informational
• Decisional

Interpersonal

• Figurehead
• Leader
• Liaison

Informational

• Monitor
• Disseminator
• Spokesperson

Decisional

• Entrepreneur
• Disturbance Handler
• Resource Allocation
• Negotiator

Management functions

Management as an ‘interface of responsibility’ between a business unit / group / team and other business units or the business’ external environment.

The manager holds the responsibility for the performance of the business unit.

Management functions include:

• Receipt of requirements and interpretation of these into performance targets and schedules.
• Allocation of human and non-human resources.
• Monitoring of performance and behaviour.
• Improving performance and behaviour.
• Collection, summarising and reporting of performance measures.
• Troubleshooting
• Others ??