What is management and how can artificial intelligence (AI) impact managerial leadership? We define a manager as someone who directs people and processes and makes decisions to optimize organizational performance. A manager may operate at any level from a team leader through middle management to C-level executives. Managers perform a vast array of duties for their respective organizations, divisions, groups, and teams. “A manager’s job should always be based on … task[s] necessary to attain the company’s objectives” (Drucker & Maciariello, 2008, pg. 239). While an exhaustive examination of the various responsibilities of managers is beyond the scope of this text, it will beneficial to survey some of the common requirements. The duties and responsibilities that managers are responsible for in the day to day operation of their organizations include:
Knowledge Management (Drucker & Maciariello, 2008; Hicks & Gullett, 1974)
Knowledge acquisition – having the right knowledge
Knowledge access – at the right time
Knowledge sharing – for the right people
Develop knowledge repositories
Knowledge creation
Staffing and Human Resources (HR) Management (Dubrin, 1989; Greene, 1984; Hicks & Gullett, 1974; Kimball, 2004)
Hiring new staff
Terminating staff
Evaluating staff
Forming project teams
Resource Planning and Management (Greene, 1984)
Resource acquisition
Resource scheduling/logistics
Process management
Disaster recovery
Financial Planning and Allocation Management (Greene, 1984; Hicks & Gullett, 1974)
Budget – assets and liabilities
Investments
Customer Service Management (Hicks & Gullett, 1974)
Keep customers satisfied
Keep customers informed
Strategic Management (Harvey, 1982)
Policy and procedures
Business goals
Development of business heuristics