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(c) 
Managers do have routine duties to perform, especially of a ceremonial nature (receiving 
important guests) or related to authority (signing cheques as a signatory) – contrary to the myth 
that all routine work is done by juniors. 
(d) 
Managers prefer verbal and informal information to the formal output of management information 
systems. Verbal information is 'hotter' and probably easier to grasp. 
(e) 
Management cannot be reduced to a science or a profession. According to Mintzberg, managerial 
processes cannot be analysed scientifically or codified into an examinable body of theory.
Mintzberg states that general management is, in practice, a matter of 
judgement and intuition
, gained 
from 
experience
in 
particular situations 
rather than from abstract principles. 'Fragmentation and verbal 
communication' characterise the manager's work. 
QUESTION 
Managerial roles
 
Who suggested that a primary managerial role is 'developing people'? 
A Handy 
C Herzberg 
B Taylor 
D Drucker 
ANSWER 
The correct answer is D. Drucker. 
 
 
3
Management and supervision 
There are different levels of management in most organisations. A finance department in an organisation 
might be headed by the finance director (A) supported by a chief financial accountant (B) and chief 
management accountant (C). Lower down in the hierarchy assistant accountants might report to (B) and 
(C). 
Supervision
is the interface between the operational core (non-managerial workers) and management. 
3.1 The supervisor's role 
The supervisor is the lowest level of management, at the 
interface 
between managerial and non-
managerial staff. 
The key features of supervision are as follows. 
(a) 
A supervisor is usually a