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AN INTRODUCTORY NOTE ON MANAGING PEOPLE IN
ORGANIZATIONS

op yo Ann Frost and Lyn Purdy wrote this note solely to provide material for class discussion. The authors do not intend to provide legal, tax, accounting or other professional advice. Such advice should be obtained from a qualified professional.
Ivey Management Services prohibits any form of reproduction, storage or transmittal without its written permission. Reproduction of this material is not covered under authorization by any reproduction rights organization. To order copies or request permission to reproduce materials, contact Ivey Publishing, Ivey Management Services, c/o Richard Ivey School of Business, The University of
Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 3K7; phone (519) 661-3208; fax (519) 661-3882; e-mail cases@ivey.uwo.ca.
Copyright © 2008, Ann Frost and Lyn Purdy

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Version: (A)2008-10-21

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The work of organizations is done through people. Elaborate structures, systems, rules, and reporting relationships do little more than provide guidance for such behaviour — they do not produce it. Eliciting the needed behaviour is the job of managers. Increasingly, firms are also dependent on more than mere compliance to the dictates of management. Rather, a firm’s competitive success rests on its ability to respond quickly and flexibly, to innovate, and to continually improve. To achieve success, the organization requires the commitment of its members. Today’s managers face the daunting task of converting their subordinates’ compliance into the commitment required to meet the organization’s strategic objectives.
Clearly then, the work of a manager goes beyond organizing, assigning, and deploying resources. Perhaps the most critical management skill is managing people — not only subordinates, but also superiors and peers. Your