The Managerial grid

In considering the leadership orientation that a manager can take, it appears that he can either be people oriented or production oriented.

A people oriented leader is concerned with the human aspects of the organization. A production oriented leader's main concern is the tasks—seeing that work is accomplished. The best managers are both people and production oriented. By combining his people and production scores a manager will obtain his managerial score according to the grid. The managerial grid was developed by Blake and Mouton and its objective is to bring about a managerial style that maximises concern for both people and production.

A low score in either area is a good indication of a poor approach to management. The points on the grid give these types of management.

1    Impoverished Management

Has no concern for people and also little concern for production. Effective production cannot be achieved because people are lazy, apathetic and indifferent. Sound and mature relationships are unobtainable.

2    Task Management

Maximum concern for production and low concern for people. People are seen as a commodity just like machines. The manager aims to plan direct and control peoples activities.

3    Country-Club Management

Highest concern for people but little concern for production. Production is incidental to lack of conflict and good interpersonal relations.

4    Dampened Pendulum (middle of the road)

"Be fair and firm", push for production but not all the way, "give some but not all attitude of management".

5    Team Management

Highest concern for both people and production. Production is seen as a function of the integration of task and human requirements. Better managers are described by points towards this type of management.