Introduction to Business Management: What to expect from it as a career choice.

Jessamy Amic

Posted: January 12, 2021

Table of Contents

Business management involves the supervision, organisation and coordination of business resources and operations to achieve specific objectives. A business manager has a wide range of responsibilities and daily duties that need to be performed to ensure the overall health of the business and its projects, cash flow and team members. In this, we explore the introduction to business management in full.

What is the introduction to business management?

The introduction to business management requires looking at the functions which are commonly regarded as the planning, organising, directing, leading and controlling. In simple words, it is the job of a business manager to ensure that employees and resources are effectively coordinated so that the necessary work may be completed and business objectives can be accomplished. Here we outline a brief introduction to business management, including skills needed and the daily responsibilities of a business manager.

Skills: The introduction to business management

In order to effectively manage an organisation and its resources, business managers need to possess both hard and soft skills in a number of different areas:

Finance 

At the end of the day, a business exists to make a profit through the sale of goods or services; which makes it essential that a business manager is equipped with the financial knowledge, skills and experience needed to make the right decisions for the organisation’s success. Business managers should have a solid understanding of and be skilled in budgeting, accounting, taxes, financial analysis and investment strategies. The combination of these skills allows you, as a manager, to effectively coordinate labour, resources and projects to ensure minimum losses and maximum profit.

Planning 

A large aspect of management is the ability to effectively allocate resources in order to capitalise on opportunities and mitigate risks; this cannot be done without careful and comprehensive planning. A business manager needs to be able to strategise and formulate plans and projects that will drive organisational growth, while also navigating potential risk factors.

This is especially important in times of political, economic and global instability, as managers need to analyse the allocation of funds and decide on the best areas to reduce spending in order to protect the business and its employees.

Leadership 

While the ultimate goal of a business is to make profit, an organisation cannot achieve its objectives without an empowered, passionate and well-functioning workforce. Mangers, therefore, need to have strong leadership skills in order to guide their team and effectively tackle risks and problems.

To be a good leader, a manager needs to have a working knowledge of business operations. More importantly, they need to be able to motivate their team, address interpersonal issues, work with the strengths and weaknesses of their employees, and know when to delegate tasks. All employees should be treated fairly and provided with the necessary support to ensure that they are equipped to successfully complete tasks and projects.

Get schooled in Strategic Leadership

Communication 

Business management relies on the realisation of ideas and plans seeking to further business objectives; for this, effective communication is absolutely essential. You need to ensure that you are able to clearly articulate the goals that need to be achieved, and properly explain what needs to be done by each department or team member. This reduces the chance of confusion and ensures that the company functions like a well-oiled machine.

Brush up on Business Writing

Risk Management

While many organisations have a dedicated risk manager, it is important that business managers are familiar with the principles and practices of risk management so that they can incorporate risk analysis and mitigation techniques into all operations and planning.

Business Development 

In order to stay ahead of the competition, a business needs to protect its value while simultaneously seeking out and pursuing opportunities for growth and expansion. A business manager needs to be able to identify gaps in the market and formulate strategies for investment, product development and restructuring.

The practical introduction to business management: A day in the life of…

A business manager has a jam-packed day that involves a wide variety of tasks including:

Meetings 

One of the most important daily responsibilities of a manager is to communicate with shareholders, employees and other executive personnel. Managers need to check in with their team frequently to ensure that projects are on track, budgets are being adhered to, stakeholders are satisfied with business progress, and to tackle any problems that require managerial intervention.

Project planning 

Business managers need to be involved in the development of projects that will aid in company growth; this comprises identifying expansion opportunities, reviewing available organisational resources, negotiating with various business stakeholders, and assessing the health of ongoing projects.

Human Resource management 

It is important that managers are active in the human and cultural factors of the business. This requires addressing interpersonal conflicts, restructuring teams and hierarchies, and playing a role in the recruitment of new talent. Furthermore, business managers should work to create an inclusive, supportive company culture in which employees are equipped with the resources and tools they need to perform their daily work, address problems and implement solutions.

So, what is business management in a nutshell?

Well, since business managers are the driving force of an organisation’s success, business management carries a vast amount of responsibility and those in the role are required to keep their finger on the pulse of all business operations. Business management may be hard work, but it is an incredibly rewarding and lucrative field that allows you to pursue opportunities in a wide range of industries and locations.

If you are interested in becoming a business manager, consider enrolling in training programmes and courses that will equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills, while allowing you to gain hands-on professional experience.

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