1 You will all have worked with or for people who were managing an activity, either in an organisation or in some other human activity. What makes some better managers than others?

Form a group with three or four others on your course and share your experience of managers

– good and bad. List what those who were good managers did, which led you to regard them favourably.

Then answer these questions:

• To which of the management tasks or roles identified in Chapter 1 do these seem to relate?

• Are there any which do not fit the theories?

How would you judge your skills in dealing with the tasks and roles you identified? Be ready to share your conclusions in class.