Managers are individuals who work in an organization directing and overseeing the activities of other people. Managers are usually classified as top, middle, first-line, or team leader. Organizations, which are where managers work, have three characteristics: goals, people, and a deliberate structure.

Management is the process of getting things done, effectively and efficiently, with and through other people. Efficiency means doing a task correctly (“doing things right”) and getting the most output from the least amount of inputs. Effectiveness means “doing the right things” by doing those work tasks that help the organization reach its goals.

What managers do can be described using three approaches: functions, roles, and skills/competencies. The functions approach says that managers perform four functions: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Mintzberg’s roles approach says that what managers do is based on the 10 roles they use at work, which are grouped around interpersonal relationships, the transfer of information, and decision making. The skills/competencies approach looks at what managers do in terms of the skills and competencies they need and use. Four critical management skills are conceptual, interpersonal, technical, and political. Additional managerial competencies include aspects such as dependability, personal orientation, emotional control, communication, and so forth. All managers plan, organize, lead, and control, although how they do these activities and how often they do them may vary according to their level in the organization, whether the organization is profit or not-for-profit, the size of the organization, and the geographic location of the organization.

One reason it’s important to study management is that all of us interact with organizations daily so we have a vested interest in seeing that organizations are well managed. Another reason is the reality that in your career, you will either manage or be managed. By studying management you can gain insights into the way your boss and fellow employees behave and how organizations function. Finally, taking a course in management will help you develop and improve your employability skills. These skills—which include critical thinking, communication, collaboration, knowledge application and analysis, and social responsibility—are essential to getting and keeping a job.

In today’s world, managers are dealing with changing workplaces, a changing workforce, global economic and political uncertainties, and changing technology. Four areas of critical importance to managers are delivering high-quality customer service, encouraging innovative efforts, using social media efficiently and effectively, and recognizing how sustainability contributes to an organization’s effectiveness.

The key employability skills gained from studying management include critical thinking, communication, collaboration, knowledge application and analysis, and social responsibility. These skills will help you be successful in a variety of business settings.