A sign hanging on the wall of a business establishment said: ''Managers are Paid to Manage -- If There Were No Problems We Wouldn't Need Managers." This suggests that all organizations have problems, and it is management's responsibility to deal with them. While there is some truth to this characterization, it is perhaps more reflective of a "not so impressive" organization that is moving from one crisis to another. Managerial talent goes beyond just dealing with the problems at hand.
What does it mean to manage? Managing requires numerous skill sets. Among those skills are vision, leadership, and the ability to procure and mobilize financial and human resources. All of these tasks must be executed with an understanding of how actions influence human behavior within, and external to, the organization. Furthermore, good managers must have endurance to tolerate challenges and setbacks while trying to forge ahead. To successfully manage an operation also requires follow through and execution. Because each management action is predicated upon some specific decision, good decision making is crucial to being a successful manager.