Principles of Management

Name
Course
Instructor
Date
Principles of Management Book Review
Summary
In 12: The Elements of Great Managing, Wagner and Harter analyze data from surveys conducted by the Gallup Organization to evaluate what influences employee engagement and why happy workers are good for business. The authors offer practical solutions to improve employee relations and great managing in the workplace, focusing on 12 factors. The identified factors are associated with a high performance where great managing requires hard work to achieve success. Evaluating how to nurture an environment associated with employees' motivation is associated with improved employees' engagement and great managers.
Key Strengths, Weaknesses, and Elements
The first element is "knowing what's expected, " highlighting the need for a deep understanding of the employee tasks that are the best fit for the employees and managing expectations. This element goes beyond the mere job description. Highly committed employees are more likely to know what is expected of them at the workplace, and the organization focuses on verifying that the employees understand this. Thus, the authors emphasize managers' need to determine what motivates the employees as one-way support and facilitates better job performance. Committed employees know how they contribute to a company's goals and what is expected of them. The employees tend to be more productive as the employees' jobs fit in with their co-workers and the organization.
The book uses data to support the authors' points and links the facts and figures, and evidence with managing people and employee engagement. The authors use quantitative data from Gallup and qualitative anecdotes to research people's behavior, with the facts and figures being the basis of the evidence. Wagner and Harter (103) reported the case of a New York manufacture where there were higher production and fewer defects in a group where there was a team program compared to having no team. Using figures bolsters the authors' arguments and credibility as there is a measurement of the employee performance based on specific metrics.
Discovering what influences motivation is necessary to improve employee retention and job performance, and the authors rightly provide enough information using available evidence. The book highlights the benefit of managers understanding what keeps the employees motivated. Team spirit is also essential to the employees compared to hierarchies, and understanding what really motivates employees helps keep the employees productive. The authors argue for a highly motivated workforce by comparing and using anecdotes on the difference between highly motivated and poorly motivated employees.
The book is logically constructed with the authors addressing each of the 12 elements and addressing employees' engagement in different sections. Despite addressing what makes great managers, the book is not repetitive, making it an easy read. The sections are linked to each other, where the relationship between the employees and the employers is mutually beneficial.
Employee empowerment is associated with outcomes as there are greater commitment and involvement. This is because partly there is an increased awareness and commitment to put more effort to accomplish the organization's goals (Hua and Men 226). This is consistent with findings from Gallup surveys reported in the book that employee empowerment is associated with improved job performance.
The authors quoted data from Gallup that showed higher employee turnover when there are disgruntled or disconnected. Organizations then spend more resources and time finding suitable replacement personnel, especially when highly specialized skills are required, and there are unique talents. . Happy and highly engaged employees tend to be highly committed and focused, while they also like what they are doing and are attentive. It is mutually beneficial for employees and organizations to have a nurturing work environment that promotes happiness and motivation.
One of the main points explored in the book is the importance of motivation in job performance, and productivity and the authors explore what makes employees properly motivated. Gallup found that employees who are actively engaged in the workplace were more satisfied working in good teamwork, higher productivity, customer service, and fewer accidents than their peers (Wagner and Harter 24). Being properly equipped with the necessary materials and equipment in the workplace is associated with a significant increase in motivation and reduced work stress. The authors further highlighted that when the employees have what they need to improve productivity based on Gallup's interviews and their product evaluation.
Throughout the book, the authors emphasize the benefits of great management and em...