Glossary of management terms

To manage is to use and coordinate resources (including people, money and materials) to achieve a goal. The word ‘management’ describes a role, a job title, and a skill.

A manager’s personality will affect their management style. Some are more people-centred while others are more production-centred. A management style should fit the needs of the organization. Every manager has a different management style. These differences will affect their staff and their customers.

An organisational structure is a way of dividing a business into jobs, tasks and responsibilities. There are lots of different ways of doing this. In a matrix structure, function managers and project managers share staff. This is commonly used for temporary projects.

A mission is like a reason or purpose. It answers the question ‘What business am I in?’ Mission statements are sometimes called ‘purpose statements’ because they explain an organisation’s reason for being.

Motivation is the reason or reasons to do something. In a business context it often means the desire to do well.