Топик: Career in hotel industry

Some decisions are of the routine kind. They are decisions which are made quickly. Because a manager is experienced, he knows what to do in certain situations. He does not have to think too much before taking action.

Other decisions are often intuitive ones. They are not really rational. The manager may have a gut feeling that a certain course of action is the right one.

Many decisions are more difficult to make since they involve problem-solving. Very often they are strategic decisions which will affect the future direction of the enterprise. To make good decisions the manager should be able to select rationally a course of action. In practice, decisions are usually made in circumstances which are not ideal. They must be made quickly, with insufficient information. It is probably rare that a manager can make an entirely rational decision.

When a complex problem arises, the manager has to collect facts and weigh up courses of action. He must be systematic in dealing with the problem. A useful approach to this sort of decision-making is as follows: the process consists of four phases:

a) Defining the problem;

b) Analyzing and collecting information;

c) Working out options;

d) Deciding on the best solution.

As a first step, the manager must identify and define the problem. And it is important that he does not mistake the symptoms of a problem for the real problem he must solve. At this early stage the manager must also take into account the rules and principles of the company which may affect the final decision. These factors will limit the solution of the problem.

The second step is to analyze the problem and decide what additional information is necessary before a decision can be taken. Getting the facts is essential in decision-making. However, as already mentioned, the manager will rarely have all the knowledge he needs. This is one reason why making decisions involves a degree of risk. It is the manager’s job to minimize that risk.

Once the problem has been defined and the facts collected, the manager should consider the options for solving it. This is necessary because there are usually several ways of solving a problem. The enterprise might be modernized or service might be improved, for example.

Before making a decision, the manager will carefully access the options, considering the advantages and disadvantages of each one. Having done this, he will have to take a decision. Perhaps he will compromise using more than the option.

VII. Communications in excellent companies are different from those in other companies. Excellent companies have “open communications”. People working in them keep in contact with each other regularly. The companies do everything possible to ensure that staff meets easily and frequently.

One problem with communication is that we do not, in fact, communicative as effectively as we think we do. This is important for managers. It suggests that, when giving instructions, managers must make sure that those instructions have been understood and interpreted correctly.

A breakdown in communications is to happen if there are some kinds of social distance between people. In organizations people may have difficulty communicating if they are different in status, or if one person has a much higher position than the other. It is risky to tell the truth to someone higher up in the hierarchy – they may not like what they hear and hold it against you. For this reason staffs often “filter” information.

One way of reducing social distance – and improving communications – is to cut down on status symbols. It is possible, for example, to have a common dining-room for all staff.

Physical surroundings and physical distance limit or encourage communication. The physical layout of an office must be carefully planned.

Another important barrier to communication is selective perception. This means that people perceive things in different ways. The world of the sender is not the same as the world of the receiver. A manager will say something but the employee will interpret his meaning incorrectly.

Communication problems will arise, from time to time, in the best-run companies. However, to minimize such problems, managers must remember one thing. Communication should be a two-way process. Managers should encourage staff to ask questions and to react to what the managers are saying. The most useful question a manager can ask is “Did you understand that?”

VIII. In the lodging industry it is important that managers should be effective. They must be able to achieve their objectives. The problem is that there are so many pressures on managers, reducing their efficiency. The managers find that they do not have enough time to devote to the really important jobs. They find that other people take up a lot of their time, so that they have little time of their own.

Effective managers learn how to manage their time. They cut out unproductive activities. They never forget that time cannot be replaced.

Before being able to control his time, the manager must find out how he is actually using it. He must know where it goes. The best way to do this is to record how he uses time. One way of logging time is to note down all the activities and indicate how long they took. The manager can ask questions such as: Are some of the things I am doing wasting time? Should I be spending more time on certain activities? Knowing how to spend time is an essential skill of a manager.

IX. People entering the lodging industry frequently wonders whether it is better to begin their careers in a small or large hotel. What branch of hotel operation is the best to start in after graduation? Where you start is probably less important than how well you work and whether you make the most of opportunities. It is important to learn something about all phases of hotel operation. You may prefer to work first in those departments you know least about. Then with some exposure to all areas, you can begin to focus on your areas of interest.

X. We must not forget that the successful managers are necessarily people who set high standards. Good managers need not be geniuses, but must bring “character” to the job. They are people of integrity, who will look for that quality in others.

Questions:

1) Is the lodging industry the most important element of the social sphere?

2) Must the manager bring “character” to the job?

3) Why is the hotel distinguished by the additional service among other hotels?

4) What main methods of the management can we number in the lodging industry?