Managing people in the twenty-first century

Managing people is the most complex dimension of management, and arguably one which is most difficult to learn, especially for line managers who also have other responsibilities. In this chapter, we are going to take an overview of what a manager needs to understand in relation to managing people in a changing environment, as well as looking at the predominant models of managing people. The theme of the chapter is change, but we will also comment on the importance of continuity and context. We will be looking at the following issues:

& What does a manager do? & Trends in environmental change & Trends in organizational change & Trends in managerial skills & Continuity & Approaches to managing people

The objectives of the organization Ethical considerations for managers Historical phases of people management Human Resource Management

& The importance of context & The impact of people management practices

& What is ‘good’ human relations? & How to use this book.