Manager
Successful Agribusiness Manager
The History of Management
In In early days, there was little need for management. -Societies were largely agrarian, businesses were primarily owner operated with relatively few employees. However, technological development in However, transportation and communication along with development in agriculture provided the basis for companies to grow. Management Management became a separate discipline in the 1930's. Although management is a separate discipline, it uses skills from a variety of disciplines including statistics, psychology, engineering, economics and accounting.
Successful Managers
Technically knowledgeable Products Services Effective leader Good communicator Everyone Especially firm workers firm workers Technical skills Business management Inventory management Accounting Forecasting Mix the right proportions --- Why management is an art supported by science
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Agribusiness Management
Management Management of Agribusinesses are particularly unique. Managers here not only have to deal with financial and personnel matters (including competition) but also worry about uncertain weather, disease, changes in technology, changes in government policies, plus the perishability of products.
Managers must have a strong understanding of the biological and institutional factors surrounding the production of food and fiber. Managers must have an ability to adapt quickly to changes in market conditions that result from changes in government policies, weather, technology and international markets.
Six Steps in Decision Making
Problem Identification
Following up
Determining alternative Courses of action
Implementing decision
Analyzing alternatives
Selecting best alternatives
Four Functions of Management
Planning
Directing
Dynamic Continuous Process
Organizing
Controlling
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Planning Functions Objective Objective of planning:
Put firm in best possible position
Relative Relative to future business conditions Customer Customer demands
Planning Planning begins
Developing organization Marketing plan
Planning Functions Marketing Plan
First First item:
Define firms purpose
Second Second item:
Statement of firms objective
Organizing Organizing Function
Development of Development organizational scheme
Accomplish firms purpose & objective efficiently and effectively
Selection Selection of legal structure
Sole proprietorship Partnership Cooperative or corporation
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Controlling Function
Concerned Concerned with giving management feedback
Firms progress towards
Goals Goals set in planning
Include Include measure
Individuals progress Progress entire departments and business
Directing Function
Implementation Implementation three management functions
Planning Organizing Controlling
Successful Successful directing relies strongly
Good leadership skills to accomplish mission
Success Success of directing function
Dependent on managers ability to motivate employees Can not be a good manager before being a great leader
Summary
So So in our discussions that follow, management will be viewed as a process of four interrelated functions, planning, organizing, controlling and directing. Managers Managers must make plans for the future, develop organizations to carry them out, direct putting plan into action, and monitor or control the progress toward the objective. A major part of the manager's job is decision making. A sound major approach to decision making involves identifying the problem, determining alternatives, weighing the alternatives, selecting the best alternative, implementing the decision, and evaluating the decision.
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Discussion Questions
1. Why is business management referred to as a profession rather than a discipline? What is the difference between a discipline and a profession? Business managers practice management just as a physician practices medicine or a lawyer practices law. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Explain your answer. What is the difference between business management and leadership? Describe the decision-making process. decision-
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Discussion Questions
5. 6. List the four functions of management and describe how they interact to permit a firm to succeed. Agribusiness management is described as a dynamic, continuous process. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your continuous process. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer. answer. What is the difference between efficiency and effectiveness?
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