General and Operations Managers

Also called : Business Manager, General Manager (GM), Operations Director, Operations Manager, Plant Superintendent, Store Manager

What they do

Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Ex

On the job, one would

Direct or coordinate financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.

Establish or implement departmental policies, goals, objectives, or procedures in conjunction with board members, organization officials, or staff members.

Perform personnel functions, such as selection, training, or evaluation.

Plan or direct activities, such as sales promotions, that require coordination with other department managers.

Set prices or credit terms for goods or services, based on forecasts of customer demand.

KNOWLEDGE

Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Personnel and Human Resources
Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

SKILLS

Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.

ABILITIES

Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

PERSONALITY

People interested in this work, will do well at jobs that need;

Leadership
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.

Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.

Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Related Occupations

Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers

First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers

Lodging Managers

Food Service Managers

First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators

TECHNOLOGY

Access software

Accounting software

Analytical or scientific software

Backup or archival software

Business intelligence and data analysis software

Calendar and scheduling software

Cloud-based data access and sharing software

Cloud-based management software

Communications server software

Computer aided design CAD software

Computer aided manufacturing CAM software

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Preparation
Considerable Preparation Needed
Education
Four-year bachelor degree
Experience
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupation
Jobtraining
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.