Learning Activity #1 – Theme 1
This week, students learn about organizational theory and the
relationship to the role of 21st century manager. A manager is a person
whose job it is to direct the implementation and achievement of a
subset of organizational goals. Organizational theory is a field of study
that has evolved in the last one hundred years to offer assistance to
managers in the way they approach their job in an effort to accomplish
the organization’s vision and mission. The 21st century manager is a
person who organizes, executes, and plans the process and production
of an organization. Traditionally, the role of the manager, as defined
by organizational theory, has been the person who sets short term
goals for the organization to execute and performs tasks that include
the process, procedure, and production of the organization’s purpose
or vision. The modern role of the manager still includes these tasks but
has developed to include the role of facilitator in the way the manager
accomplishes the organizational goals assigned to his or her control.
• With these ideas in mind, compare and contrast the role of
management, as reflected by management theory, in the
20thcentury organization with the role of management in the 21st
Include in your discussion the theoretical schools of thought(s)
that speak to the manager’s role in the business environment as
well as definition of the environment itself.
• How has the change in business purpose (i.e. manufacturing vs.
service) and the business environment, worker attitudes, and
behaviors affected the role of the manager in an organization and
how has the theory evolved to cope? Discuss in detail. Be sure to
use information from the organizational theory timeline in your
answer.
Learning Activity #2 – Theme 2
As we saw in theme one the role of the manager has changed from the
20th century to the 21st century, with the manager becoming more
people-centric in the execution of their tasks.
• From this week’s material identify and discuss 5 skills that are unique
to the successful manager of the 21st century. Consider in your
answer workplace dynamics of new organizations such as the
change in organizational structure (flat, horizontal, virtual etc.)
and employee expectations for the workplace environment.
