The Role of a Modern Industrial Manager Literature review

The Role of a Modern Industrial Manager - Literature review Example According to Zhong-Ming &, Takao (1994), modern management thinkers assert that leadership must be more facilitative, participative and empowering in how visions and goals of the organizations are carried out. Industrial management is concerned with the design, improvement, and implementation of integrated systems of people, material, information, equipment and energy (McGregor & Cutcher 2006). According to McGregor & Cutcher (2006), industrial management is a broad concept. Today, industrial management is also known as industrial engineering, operations management now encompasses services though initially applied to manufacture. By definition, industrial management draws upon specialized knowledge and skills in the mathematical, physical and social sciences not leaving out the principles and methods of engineering analysis. Greenberg and Baron (2003), define leadership as the process whereby one individual influences other group members toward the attainment of defined group or organizational goals. The leadership process primarily involves influence whereby one individual can influence or change the actions of several group members or subordinates. There are many techniques for exerting such influence ranging from relatively coercive wherein the recipient has little choice but to do what is requested, to relative non-coercive ones, wherein the recipient can choose to reject or accept the influence offered. In general, leadership refers to the use of non-coercive influence techniques. It is important to distinguish a leader from a dictator. Whereas dictators get others to do what they want by using physical coercion or by threats of physical force, leaders do not (Greenberg and Baron, 2003: pp 471). According to Darwish (1998) leadership represents an important factor in the determination of the success or failure of organizations. Darwish indicated that effective leadership is to be associated with improved organizational performance.