Case 1.3: Tom Coronado1. Based on the case description, is Tom a staff

manager, a functional manager, or a general manager? Explain your answers.

Tom is a staff manager because he is in charge of payroll which does not directly contribute to production.

ONE POSSIBLE ANSWER

ANOTHER POSSIBLE ANSWER

Tom is a functional manager because he works in one specific area—payroll.

2. Is this description of Tom Coronado’s work day consistent with the ideas on managerial work advanced in Chapter 1? Why or why not?

ANSWER Yes—he works long hours, his day is hectic, he is constantly interrupted, he works with many media, and accomplishes tasks through other people.

3. Which of the essential managerial skills, roles, and functions is Tom using? Give examples from the case description.

Managerial skills

Technical—he understand the payroll, he answers questions about the mistakes in the payroll

Human—he answered the phone, went to a meeting, dealt with employees upset for the payroll mistakes, he will speak at a an outside association

Conceptual—understood and fixed the payroll problems, implemented a new payroll system

Managerial roles

Interpersonal—talking and communicating with people

Informational—understanding the problems with the payroll and gathering data

Decisional—problem solving the issues with payroll

Managerial functions

Planning—implementing a new payroll system

Organizing—working in the personnel department making sure that people are paid

Leading—helping people

Controlling—fixing the payroll problems