The informational roles that managers perform include monitor, disseminator, and spokesperson.

4.3.2 Informational roles

Managers must collect, disseminate and transmit information and these activities have three corresponding informational roles: monitor, disseminator and spokesperson.

In monitoring what goes on in the organisation, a manager will seek and receive information about both internal and external events and transmit it to others. This process of transmission is the dissemination role, passing on information. A manager has to give information concerning the organisation to staff and to outsiders, taking on the role of spokesperson to both the general public and those in positions of authority. Managers need not collect or disseminate every item themselves, but must retain authority and integrity by ensuring the information they handle is correct.

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2. 10 Managerial Roles According to Mintzberg

By Indeed Editorial Team

Updated March 4, 2021 | Published January 5, 2021

Updated March 4, 2021

Published January 5, 2021

When you take on a managerial position, you take on a variety of roles. Not only do you manage people, but you also oversee the processes, relationships and resources that ensure work runs smoothly. Through his research on managers, business and management expert Henry Mintzberg was able to divide those diverse responsibilities into 10 roles within three categories. In this article, we define and list the managerial roles developed in the Mintzberg theory and demonstrate what they look like in the workplace.

Related: What Are the Responsibilities of a Manager?

What is a managerial role?

As a manager, you hold a position that requires you to perform and handle a variety of responsibilities regularly. While all these tasks fall under management duties, they can fall into specific categories based on their purposes.

To simplify the complexities of management positions, Mintzberg, an academic and author focused on business and management practices, developed 10 managerial roles that he divided into three categories. The categories of the Mintzberg theory are:

• Interpersonal roles: This category covers behaviors and responsibilities related to interactions with employees and other stakeholders. Through these interactions, the manager can achieve organizational goals. The managerial roles included in this category are figurehead, leader and liaison.
  

• Informational roles: This category represents situations when a manager generates, receives or shares knowledge with employees and higher-level colleagues to accomplish objectives. The managerial roles included in this category are monitor, disseminator and spokesperson.
  

• Decisional roles: This category describes a manager's responsibility to use the information they gain to form business and strategic decisions. The managerial roles included in this category are entrepreneur, disturbance-handler, resource-allocator and negotiator.

Related: Management Skills: Definition and Examples

Mintzberg's 10 managerial roles

The following defines and provides examples of the different roles managers hold in the workplace, according to Mintzberg:

Figurehead

This role refers to your responsibility as a manager to perform tasks related to social, symbolic or legal matters. In these situations, you are not making decisions but serving as a representative of the organization. As a figurehead, you also aim to inspire your team to complete goals and tasks.

An example of responsibility in the figurehead role is when you attend a social lunch or event with a client. You are there to promote your company or team and project a positive, professional image.

Leader

The leader managerial role refers to your duty as a manager to oversee the performance of your staff. Overall, you aim to manage the team and the responsibilities of each member to ensure you reach objectives effectively. Some of your duties in this role include providing guidance, developing and motivating staff and performing evaluations.

For example, your team may have a specific sales goal it aims to reach one month. As a leader, you would communicate your expectations to team members and ensure they understand them. Throughout the month, you would check in with them regularly to monitor their progress and may provide resources or delegate tasks as needed to help them achieve the goal.

Liaison

In the liaison role, you create and maintain internal and external relationships. You serve as a connection between different groups of people to ensure work runs smoothly. As a liaison, you can transfer knowledge or information to members across your organization's chain of command or communicate between stakeholders and employees to ensure projects remain on task. In some situations, you may bring members of your external network into the company to help achieve organizational goals more efficiently.

For example, as a manager, you would communicate regularly with your employees but also interact with your clients. In your client conversations, you can gain insights on what their needs are, then relay that information to your employees. Now that they have an understanding of the client's expectations, you can ensure that they work to fulfill those needs and deliver a successful result.

Related: The Importance of Networking in Business (Tips Included)

Monitor

In the monitor role, you seek information related to your organization, such as potentially impactful industry changes. Your research includes both internal and external sources. Once you gather all the relevant information, you will analyze it to identify and solve potential problems. Monitoring responsibilities also include assessing the current operations of the organization and identifying potential opportunities for improvement.

For example, you may use customer feedback to determine how you can improve your existing product line. You also need to monitor industry trends, such as products launched by competitors and regulatory changes that your company may need to follow. When you understand what is occurring in your industry, it ensures your company meets business standards and remains competitive.

Disseminator

As a disseminator, you receive messages from internal and external sources that you convey to the appropriate individuals. You can transmit this information in both verbal and written formats. Usually, this situation refers to valuable or otherwise important information that will benefit your organization or provides guidance on tasks your employees need to complete.

For example, after researching industry trends, you may have developed a proposal for a new product design. You would then submit this proposal to upper management for approval and also provide it to your employees. Providing the proposal to your employees allows them to familiarize themselves with the project and enables you to determine how to delegate tasks.

Spokesperson

In the spokesperson role, you represent your organization and convey information, such as goals or policies, to external stakeholders. If you work within a large organization, you may need to serve as the spokesperson of your team and represent it during internal meetings or events. In this situation, you may need to provide insights related to your team's performance and goals to upper management or other departments.

For example, your spokesperson's responsibilities may require you to attend the annual shareholder's meeting. At this meeting, you may inform the attendees about the quantifiable results or achievements your team achieved that year, such as sales numbers. You may also discuss the strategic business goals you aim to achieve within the next year.

Entrepreneur

The entrepreneur role involves responsibilities related to organizing and running business processes. These responsibilities may include solving problems and developing and implementing new ideas or strategies. As an entrepreneur, your ideas or decisions often promote innovative solutions that move the organization forward. If you notice slow sales on one of your organization's key offerings, for example, you may decide to develop a new marketing strategy using social media to solve the issue.

Disturbance handler

When your organization or team faces unexpected challenges, you take the role of a disturbance handler to help manage the issue. These challenges can be both external or internal—whether a client backs out of a contract or you discover a conflict between colleagues. In these situations, your employees will expect you to take charge to solve the issue and maintain productivity.

For example, managers often receive training in conflict resolution skills. If a conflict arises between two members of your team, you must handle the situation objectively while ensuring to collaborate on a solution that benefits all parties. You often must act quickly to ensure that operations continue to run smoothly and receive as little interruption as possible.

Resource allocator

In the resource allocator role, you are responsible for managing and distributing resources. You make the decisions on how those materials will best be used or applied throughout the organization or team. These resources will vary, from funding to equipment to staff members. For example, if you control the organization's budget, you will determine how to divide funding amongst your departments based on their needs or goals.

Negotiator

In the negotiator role, you participate in or direct negotiation situations. These negotiations may occur with external parties, where you will represent the interests of your organization. You may also host negotiations with internal parties, such as other departments or your team members. Successful negotiations will require you to gain buy-in by appealing to the interests and needs of the other party.

For example, you may enter a negotiation with an employee over their salary. If you cannot meet their monetary request, you may negotiate a lower number but provide additional benefits such as more vacation days to make the offer more attractive.

Related: Negotiation Skills: Definition and Examples

What are the informational roles of a manager?

Is a managerial role which includes spokesperson monitor and disseminator?

What are the informational roles?

When managers activities involve monitor disseminator and spokesperson this called a managerial role?