Get premium membership and access questions with answers, video lessons as well as revision papers.
A committee is a group of persons asked to consider, investigate or act on some matter. It is a formal group that meets on an organized basis for consideration of matters brought before it.
A committee may also be known by a wide variety of other names such as task force, council, board, agency or commission.
The formality of the committee is expressed by the following features - chairman, secretary, agenda, minutes of the meeting, committee papers and reports and rules of procedure.
Some committees meet regularly but others meet for ad hoc purposes only e.g. parliamentary steering committees set up to monitor short term projects.
ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF COMMITTEES
Committees abound in practically every king of organization. They are very popular with management and have become an integral part of their operation. Committees play the following roles:
- They facilitate coordination - each committee member may be reporting about or representing each of the functional areas of the organization.
- They foster support for decision: through the use of committees employees are given the opportunity to participate in decision making as they are allowed to present their view points.
- They are used because they produce more information for decision-making. There is a pooling of special know how and talents possessed by individual members. In the committee there are experts from different fields.
- Their use ensures that authority is distributed as decisions are made by a group. Proposals and decisions are based on group assessment of facts and ideas and not just one powerful individual’s preferences.
- They lead to employee development. Because of the extensive contact with people from different field, committee members get to broaden their knowledge. Young managers can learn a lot by sitting in committees.
- They are organized groups hence they can undertake a large volume of work than individuals or small groups working in isolation.
- They are used for group decision making, which gives very high quality decision. These decisions are more readily accepted than an individual’s decision. Committees bring about democracy.
- They improve communication between members of an organization. Information and ideas can be easily transmitted upwards and downwards.
- Through committees, unwritten policies can be explained creative ideas emerge in these fora.
- They are used to motivate employees. Employees are given an opportunity to express themselves and this boosts their morale and evokes a sense of ownership of the decision.
- They are sometimes constituted to postpone or avoid unrest and mass action. Delaying such action through a committee is a strategy for overcoming resistance, or opposition from affected people.
CONCLUSION
Despite the shortcomings of committees such as slowness in decision making, management hiding behind committee decisions and lack of flexibility, committees remain widely popular because of the benefits they accord management. The sheer size and complexity of modern organizations make it increasingly impossible for isolated individuals or small groups to meet the decision demands of the organization. Besides, the growing pressure from all sections of the work force for a greater say in the decision making processes of their organizations are creating expectations that decision making will become more open and democratic.
Kavungya answered the question on April 24, 2021 at 15:07
- Objectives are needed in every area where performance and results directly and vitally affect the survival and prosperity of the business. Discuss this statement and...(Solved)
Objectives are needed in every area where performance and results directly and vitally affect the survival and prosperity of the business. Discuss this statement and identify those key objectives considered to be most important to a business.
Date posted: April 24, 2021. Answers (1)
- Describe the traditional functions of channel intermediaries and comment on their applicability to services marketing.(Solved)
Describe the traditional functions of channel intermediaries and comment on their applicability to services marketing.
Date posted: April 24, 2021. Answers (1)
- Identify the major barriers to delegation.(Solved)
Identify the major barriers to delegation.
Date posted: April 24, 2021. Answers (1)
- Outline the factors that would influence a manager’s decision to delegate authority and assign subordinates.(Solved)
Outline the factors that would influence a manager’s decision to delegate authority and assign subordinates.
Date posted: April 24, 2021. Answers (1)
- Michael Porter suggests that “Competition in an industry is rooted in its underlying economics, and competitive forces exist that go well beyond established combatants in...(Solved)
Michael Porter suggests that “Competition in an industry is rooted in its underlying economics, and competitive forces exist that go well beyond established combatants in a particular industry. The problem for the strategist is to determine which of those forces are relevant, and to what extent”.
You are required to identify the five competitive forces in the environment of a firm and discuss the threat posed to the firm by each of those forces.
Date posted: April 24, 2021. Answers (1)
- Identify and discuss the principal factors that might influence the design of the structure of a major organization.(Solved)
Identify and discuss the principal factors that might influence the design of the structure of a major organization.
Date posted: April 24, 2021. Answers (1)
- Leadership is the process of influencing others to work willingly towards an organizations goals, and to the best of their capabilities. How far is it...(Solved)
Leadership is the process of influencing others to work willingly towards an organizations goals, and to the best of their capabilities. How far is it possible and desirable for managers to become leaders?
Date posted: April 24, 2021. Answers (1)
- Organizations are going through a period of major technological change, which is obviously a great challenge to management particularly in the area of employee resistance...(Solved)
Organizations are going through a period of major technological change, which is obviously a great challenge to management particularly in the area of employee resistance to change. Give reasons for employee resistance to change and the techniques, which may be used to overcome the resistance.
Date posted: April 24, 2021. Answers (1)
- Managers must live in two time dimensions at once: the present and the future and this inevitably causes a conflict between focusing on the present...(Solved)
Managers must live in two time dimensions at once: the present and the future and this inevitably causes a conflict between focusing on the present demands of the day and creating space in which to plan strategically for the opportunities for tomorrow.
How can managers improve their personal time management so that both these activities can be achieved effectively?
Date posted: April 24, 2021. Answers (1)
- Managers spend over eighty percent of their time communicating. Why is there need for effective communication in an organization and what steps should be taken...(Solved)
Managers spend over eighty percent of their time communicating. Why is there need for effective communication in an organization and what steps should be taken to ensure that organizational communication is improved?
Date posted: April 24, 2021. Answers (1)
- What are the drawbacks of control systems?(Solved)
What are the drawbacks of control systems?
Date posted: April 24, 2021. Answers (1)
- To manage organizations effectively, managers require effective control system. Identify and explain the control systems which may be used by a manager to monitor and...(Solved)
To manage organizations effectively, managers require effective control system. Identify and explain the control systems which may be used by a manager to monitor and accomplish tasks in an organization.
Date posted: April 24, 2021. Answers (1)
- Explain how the ideas of scientific management thinkers contribute to the development of concepts and principles of modern work management in organizations.(Solved)
Explain how the ideas of scientific management thinkers contribute to the development of concepts and principles of modern work management in organizations.
Date posted: April 24, 2021. Answers (1)
- Organizations are becoming increasingly influenced by their external environment. In what ways does the understanding of the external environment factors enable managers to make better...(Solved)
Organizations are becoming increasingly influenced by their external environment. In what ways does the understanding of the external environment factors enable managers to make better decisions?
Date posted: April 24, 2021. Answers (1)
- Explain the differences between the role of a supervisor and that of a manager.(Solved)
Explain the differences between the role of a supervisor and that of a manager.
Date posted: April 24, 2021. Answers (1)
- In manufacturing industries, inspection in many stages and areas takes place to ensure a satisfactory standard of quality in the finished product.
Discuss the different stages...(Solved)
In manufacturing industries, inspection in many stages and areas takes place to ensure a satisfactory standard of quality in the finished product.
Discuss the different stages and areas where inspection may take place in a manufacturing process.
Date posted: April 24, 2021. Answers (1)
- A marketing director is planning to launch a product, which is claimed to be of superior quality to the existing products, into a competitive but...(Solved)
A marketing director is planning to launch a product, which is claimed to be of superior quality to the existing products, into a competitive but growing market. What factors should she bear in mind when setting the price?
Date posted: April 24, 2021. Answers (1)
- Many organizational decisions are made by groups in form of committees, task forces, review panels, study teams or similar groups. What are the advantages and...(Solved)
Many organizational decisions are made by groups in form of committees, task forces, review panels, study teams or similar groups. What are the advantages and disadvantages of group decision making?
Date posted: April 24, 2021. Answers (1)
- Describe the validity of the Peter Principle in modern management practices.(Solved)
Describe the validity of the Peter Principle in modern management practices.
Date posted: April 24, 2021. Answers (1)
- Define the “Peter Principle” as a management concept.(Solved)
Define the “Peter Principle” as a management concept.
Date posted: April 24, 2021. Answers (1)