What are management Levels? And how can we define and differentiate between those levels in any organized big firm?

The term “Levels of Management’ refers to a line of demarcation between various managerial positions in an organization. The number of levels in management increases when the size of the business and work force increases and vice versa. The level of management determines a chain of command, the amount of authority & status enjoyed by any managerial position. The levels of management can be classified in three broad categories:

1. Top level / Administrative level

    

    

2. Middle level / Executory

    

    

3. Low level / Supervisory / Operative / First-line managers

    

Managers at all these levels perform different functions. The role of managers at all the three levels is discussed below:

1. Top Level of Management

   It consists of board of directors, chief executive or managing director. The top management is the ultimate source of authority and it manages goals and policies for an enterprise. It devotes more time on planning and coordinating functions.

   The role of the top management can be summarized as follows -

   1. Top management lays down the objectives and broad policies of the enterprise.
   2. It issues necessary instructions for preparation of department budgets, procedures, schedules etc.
   3. It prepares strategic plans & policies for the enterprise.
   4. It appoints the executive for middle level i.e. departmental managers.
   5. It controls & coordinates the activities of all the departments.
   6. It is also responsible for maintaining a contact with the outside world.
   7. It provides guidance and direction.
   8. The top management is also responsible towards the shareholders for the performance of the enterprise.

2. Middle Level of Management

   The branch managers and departmental managers constitute middle level. They are responsible to the top management for the functioning of their department. They devote more time to organizational and directional functions. In small organization, there is only one layer of middle level of management but in big enterprises, there may be senior and junior middle level management. Their role can be emphasized as -

   1. They execute the plans of the organization in accordance with the policies and directives of the top management.
   2. They make plans for the sub-units of the organization.
   3. They participate in employment & training of lower level management.
   4. They interpret and explain policies from top level management to lower level.
   5. They are responsible for coordinating the activities within the division or department.
   6. It also sends important reports and other important data to top level management.
   7. They evaluate performance of junior managers.
   8. They are also responsible for inspiring lower level managers towards better performance.

3. Lower Level of Management

   Lower level is also known as supervisory / operative level of management. It consists of supervisors, foreman, section officers, superintendent etc. According to R.C. Davis, “Supervisory management refers to those executives whose work has to be largely with personal oversight and direction of operative employees”. In other words, they are concerned with direction and controlling function of management. Their activities include -

   1. Assigning of jobs and tasks to various workers.
   2. They guide and instruct workers for day to day activities.
   3. They are responsible for the quality as well as quantity of production.
   4. They are also entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining good relation in the organization.
   5. They communicate workers problems, suggestions, and recommendatory appeals etc to the higher level and higher level goals and objectives to the workers.
   6. They help to solve the grievances of the workers.
   7. They supervise & guide the sub-ordinates.
   8. They are responsible for providing training to the workers.
   9. They arrange necessary materials, machines, tools etc for getting the things done.
   10. They prepare periodical reports about the performance of the workers.
   11. They ensure discipline in the enterprise.
   12. They motivate workers.
   13. They are the image builders of the enterprise because they are in direct contact with the workers.

An organization can have many different managers, across many different titles, authority levels, and levels of the management hierarchy.  The three levels of management typically found in an organization are low-level management, middle-level management, and top-level management.

  Top-level managers are responsible for controlling and overseeing the entire organization.

  Middle-level managers are responsible for executing organizational plans which comply with the company's policies. These managers act at an immediately between top-level management and low-level management.

  Low-level managers focus on controlling and directing. They serve as role models for the employees they supervise.

·         hierarchy

Any group of objects ranked so that everyone but the topmost is subordinate to a specified one above it.

·         manager

A person whose job is to manage something, such as a business, a restaurant, or a sports team.

·         board of directors

A group of people, elected by stockholders, to establish corporate policies, and make management decisions.

·         top management

company employees responsible for controlling and overseeing the entire organization

·         middle management

company employees that are accountable for controlling and overseeing a department.

Examples of top-level managers include a company's board of directors, president, vice-president and CEO; examples of middle-level managers include general managers, branch managers, and department managers; examples of low-level managers include supervisors, section leads, and foremen.Management Levels: An Overview

Most organizations have three management levels:

·         Low-level managers;

·         Middle-level managers; and

·         Top-level managers.

These managers are classified in a hierarchy of authority, and perform different tasks. In many organizations, the number of managers in every level resembles a pyramid.

Below, you'll find the specifications of each level's different responsibilities and their likely job titles.

Top-level managers

The board of directors, president, vice-president, and CEO are all examples of top-level managers.

These managers are responsible for controlling and overseeing the entire organization. They develop goals, strategic plans, company policies, and make decisions on the direction of the business.

In addition, top-level managers play a significant role in the mobilization of outside resources.

Top-level managers are accountable to the shareholders and general public.

Middle-level managers

General managers, branch managers, and department managers are all examples of middle-level managers. They are accountable to the top management for their department's function.

Middle-level managers devote more time to organizational and directional functions than top-level managers. Their roles can be emphasized as:

·         Executing organizational plans in conformance with the company's policies and the objectives of the top management;

·         Defining and discussing information and policies from top management to lower management; and most importantly

·         Inspiring and providing guidance to low-level managers towards better performance.

Some of their functions are as follows:

·         Designing and implementing effective group and intergroup work and information systems;

·         Defining and monitoring group-level performance indicators;

·         Diagnosing and resolving problems within and among work groups;

·         Designing and implementing reward systems supporting cooperative behavior.

Low-level managers

Supervisors, section leads, and foremen are examples of low-level management titles. These managers focus on controlling and directing.

Low-level managers usually have the responsibility of:

·         Assigning employees tasks;

·         Guiding and supervising employees on day-to-day activities;

·         Ensuring the quality and quantity of production;

·         Making recommendations and suggestions; and

·         Upchanneling employee problems.

Also referred to as first-level managers, low-level managers are role models for employees. These managers provide:

·         Basic supervision;

·         Motivation;

·         Career planning;

·         Performance feedback; and

·         Staff supervision.

Management Levels

Hierarchical view of management in organizations.

Source: Boundless. “Management Levels: A Hierarchical View.” Boundless Business. Boundless, Jul.. Retrieved Apr. 

Thanks

Totally agree with the answer given by Mrs. Ghada

The three levels of management typically found in an organization are low-level management, middle-level management, and top-level management. Top-level managers are responsible for controlling and overseeing the entire organization.

I agree with specialties answers, thanks for the invitation. 

1. Top level / Administrative level

    

    

2. Middle level / Executory

    

    

3. Low level / Supervisory / Operative / First-line

Thanks for the invite I agree with the experts answers

Thank you for invitation

I agree with the answers of experts

agree with all expert answers above

its the level of authority given to managers , and you can know by the level of authority policies , or the budget amount he can approve and the ability to take decision

A part of an organization that maintains responsibility for the productivity and the work performance of employees. There are generally three levels of management within an organization including top-level, middle-level, and first level that are tiered in numbers with more first level managers, a smaller amount of middle managers, and less top-level managers within one organization. Each level possesses certain job responsibilities within their position to ensure the effective overall operation of the organization.