CEO – Chief Executive Officer Chief Executive Officer : The highest ranking executive in a company who is responsible for a company’s operations , usually the President or the Chairman of the Board. Chief Executive – Architect of an Organization: An architect brings out the aesthetics of a building by infusing soul into spaces through his thought process. Likewise a chief executive (CE) is the most important architect of an organization who is responsible for designing and building all aspects of strategic management right from formulation to evaluation of strategies through thought management. He has multifarious facets to exhibit and designations to be withheld, such as the managing director, executive director, president or general manager in business enterprises. As the chief strategist, he plays a pivotal role in strategic decision-making too. Due to the significance attached to the post, researchers and numerous authors have attempted to redefine their roles, functions and responsibilities from time to time. This is quite understandable since the CE of an association plays the most vital role in determining whether an organization has chosen the right path towards success. Chief Administrator: He might also be called as the organizational leader or builder; chief administrator, implementer or coordinator and communicator of organizational objectives; he should don various roles in the likes of motivator, personal leader or mentor, depending on the function he is anticipated to perform by the management. Every chief executive does not and need not personify all the above cited qualities: but a good chief with high business acumen and an eye for detail can definitely fill the bill over a period of time. Major roles and responsibilities of a chief executive: Enunciation of Corporate Philosophy -with the help of his team members the chief executive must try to set the company’s goals and objectives and supporting strategic moves must be planned from the bottom level to the top. Clues from the external environment must be taken into consideration before making the necessary moves. Growth-all the CE’s are expected to be growth stimulators. This can be accomplished by setting targets which have to be dealt with within the stipulated time period. Employees can be involved in this process to set short term objectives followed by periodical reviews with management executives to evaluate the success rate of the projects undertaken. The expertise and interest of the CE helps to infuse motivation and enthusiasm amongst the work force which results in quick completion of targets. A chief executive is responsible for both external and internal functional responsibilities. His role cannot be confined to a particular sphere of action as he is expected to be a generalist in order to manage effectively and be self sufficient once he reaches the top. Self-management and management of time are very important. Outgoing and should possess charisma Other parameters like age, intelligence, education, functional background and experience are also scrutinized when a company likes to choose its chief strategist. A CE performs the strategic tasks- actions which are essential to provide a direction to the organization in order to achieve its purpose. He is the key person in setting the mission of the organization, deciding the objectives and goals, formulating and implementing the strategies and in setting a concrete ethical prototype to enhance the quality of the system as a...

Nature and Characteristics of Management Some good definitions on Management: According to Harold Koontz, “Management is the art of getting things done through and with people in formally organised groups.”- in his book “The Management Theory Jungle”. According to Henri Fayol, “To manage is to forecast and to plan, to organise, to command, to co-ordinate and to control.”- in his book “Industrial and General Administration”. According to Peter Drucker, “Management is a multi-purpose organ that manages business and manages managers and manages workers and work.”- in his book “The Principles of Management”. According to Mary Parker Follet, “Management is the art of getting things done through people.” According to William F.Glueck, Management is the effective utilization of human and material resources to achieve the enterprise objective.   Concepts of Management: Management as an Activity Leader is the Manager Team consist of the Subordinates Synergy – Leads to enhanced performance The activities of management are:  Interpersonal activities  Decisional activities  Informative activities Management as a Process Management is a continuous process involving interaction of people and integration of human, physical and financial resources. Management as an Economic Resource Management is an important factor of production like Land Labor and Capital Management as a Team  The team comprises of Top level management- CEO ,CHAIRMAN,PRESIDENT and the like Middle level management-Department Heads Low level management-Work force or the Employees       Pic Courtesy: Charismatic Leaders   Management as an Academic Discipline Getting a management degree has become the order of the day and many reputed educational institutions are coming out with a new discipline in management course every day that rewards an exciting and challenging career for the graduates. Management professionals are the need of the hour for corporate companies to manage the dynamic environment that poses very many challeneges.  Management as a Group  Chief executive (managing director), Departmental heads Supervisors make up the management group.   Nature and Characteristics of Management   1. Management is goal-oriented: The ultimate purpose of management is to achieve certain goals over a period of time. The goals must be realistic and achievable that ensure  efficient utilization of the resources and satisfy the enterprise objectives. 2. Management is universal: Where ever  there is a business activity or non-business activity, management comes into the fore. Be it a small family function or a multi crore business activity, you need people and other resources to make it a success. 3. Management is an Integrative Force: Team work creates synergy and accomplishment of the firm’s objectives by the unified and co-ordinated efforts of all the individuals working for that firm. Note: 1+1=2, we all know that . Have you heard of 1+1>2 , Yes, synergy is the combined effort of all the people working as a team that leads to enhanced performance levels facilitating the completion of objectives in a short span of time. Dhirubhai Ambani was very popular for completing tasks in lightning speed. This was possible only because he had able administrators who shared the same kind of wavelength. 4. Management is a Social Process: You can become an excellent manager without becoming a good leader, but you cannot be an excellent leader without becoming a good manager. This explains it all. Management is a social process since it involves people and their inter personal relationship. A good manager succeeds in motivating , guiding and extracting work from people working under him. 5. Management is multidisciplinary: Management takes inspiration from  disciplines like engineering,   sociology, psychology, economics, anthropology etc. 6. Management is a continuous Process: Management is a dynamic and an on-going process. A business has to die on its own. 7. Management is Intangible:  The success of management can only be measured...