ASSIGNMENT

ON
TASK OF MANAGER
ACCORDING TO
CONTINGENCY APPROACH

SUBMITTED TO:
Mr. Sitaram

SUBMITTED BY:
Akanksha Jain
05817003909
MBA-I

Managerial Process and Organisational

Behaviour
CONTINGENCY APPROACH
Dissatisfaction with trait-based theories of leadership effectiveness led to the
development of contingency leadership theories. It is relatively new
approach to organization and management. It is also known as situational
approach. The contingency approach to management is based on the idea
that there is no one best way to manage and that to be effective, planning,
organizing, leading, and controlling must be tailored to the particular
circumstances faced by an organization.

Managers have always asked questions such as "What is the right thing to
do? Should we have a mechanistic or an organic structure? A functional or
divisional structure? Wide or narrow spans of management? Tall or flat
organizational structures? Simple or complex control and coordination
mechanisms? Should we be centralized or decentralized? Should we use task
or people oriented leadership styles? What motivational approaches and
incentive programs should we use?" The contingency approach to
management assumes that there is no universal answer to such questions
because organizations, people, and situations vary and change over time.
Thus, the right thing to do depends on a complex variety of critical
environmental and internal contingencies. The best solution is the one that is
between one situation and others. Therefore manager should deal with
different situation in different ways. The condition and complexities of the
situation determine which approach is applicable and effective.

The contingency perspective tells us that the effectiveness of various

managerial practices, styles, techniques, and functions will vary according to
the particular circumstances of the situation.

Fred Fiedler, in the 1960s and 1970s, was an early pioneer in this area.
Various aspects of the situation have been identified as impacting the
effectiveness of different leadership styles.

SKILLS
According to contingency approach, there are mainly two skills which a
manager should have to face various challenges in their jobs and to become
a successful manager.
1. Conceptual skills
 2. Diagnostic skills

Conceptual skills comprise the ability to see the whole organization and the
inter relationship between its parts. These skills refer to the ability to
visualize the entire picture or to consider a situation in its totality. Such
skills help the manager to conceptualize the environment, to analyse the
forces working in a situation and to take a broad and farsighted view of the
organization.

Diagnostic skills include the ability to determine. By analysis and

examination, the nature and circumstances of a particular condition. It is not
only the ability to specify why something happened but also ability to
develop certain possible outcomes. It is the ability to cut through
unimportant aspects and quickly get the heart of problem.

TASK AND RESPONSIBILITY

A series of tasks and responsibilities has been identified for each managerial
level. These are representative of the types of tasks and responsibilities you
may be expected to undertake as part of your role. Depending on the type of
work done in your department you may be expected to undertake a wide
range of these tasks and responsibilities or focus on a smaller number.

The important thing is to identify the link between the skills, knowledge and
attitudes relevant to your role so that you can develop yourself appropriately.
Following task has to be performed by managers according to contingency
approach:
Monitoring
Monitoring is the main function which is performed by managers. They have
to analyse the problems thoroughly. For this, they analyse all the relevant
factors related to external and intrernal environment related to a particular
situation. Monitoring is necessary to seek various information.

Analyze a Situation
The manager should have ability to analyze a situation. He should analyze
the situation from both prospective positive as well as negative. He have to
find both threats and opportunities lie in the problems.

Examine The Relationship Between The Internal And External

Environment
Manager have to examine the relationship between external and internal
environment in the organization. He have to match the opportunities and
threat lie in the situation with the internal strength and weakness of the
organization.

Identify Which Technique Or Approach Will Be The Best Solution

After monitoring, a manager have to identify the technique or approach
which is the best suited for the situation. For this, they should have thorough
knowledge of all the techniques and approaches which can be applied in
different situations and according to situation which technology or approach
is suited to the problem.

Innovation
Innovation is finding new , different and better ways of doing existing tasks.
To plan and manage for innovation is a on going task of a manager.The
manager must maintain close contact and relation with customers. Keeping
the track of competetor’s activities and moves can also be a source of
innovation , as can improvements in technology.

Change management
A manager has to perform the task of change agent. It’s the managers task to
ensure that the change is introduced and incorporated in a smooth manner
with the least disturbance and resistance.

Maintain firm’s efficiency

A manager has not only to perform and produce results, but also to do so in
the most efficient manner . The more output a manager can produce with
the same input , the greater will be the profit.
Therefore, a manager should perform above tasks according to contingency
approach to become a successful manager.