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THE INSPIRATIONAL MANAGER
INTRODUCTION
Longmans dictionary of Contemporary English describes the word inspire as ‘to encourage in someone the ability to act’ –that is the essence of the inspirational manager. Who or what is a manager? Managers are people that accomplish organizational goals. They do this with and through other people by coordinating their work activities. An inspirational manager understands the individual’s goals and dreams and has the ability to motivate and encourage people to act in such a manner that they can be achieved.
In this assignment, we will discuss how an inspirational manager can use the tools of management to inspire by improving work behaviour through the different management approaches, understanding how planning and decision-making influence work performance and how cultivating an organisational culture through effective communication can change the workplace to a place where people want to be. We will also look at the importance of control and how an effective control system can assist the manager achieving the above goals effectively and efficiently.

PERSONAL INFORMATION
I received a Diploma in Marketing in 2001 and also successfully completed the
NMDP programme at USB-ED in 2008. After two years of living and working in
London, I settled in Stellenbosch and started working for Stellenbosch University as

Wilna Kilian | MDP 2012 | Management Individual Home Assignment: The Inspirational
Manager

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an administrative assistant for the DNA Sequencer in the Department of Genetics. A year later I took over the financial administration of the Central Analytical Facilities which includes 12 research labs. I joined SUN MeDIA Stellenbosch in April 2005 as a financial assistant and over a period of five years gained experience and knowledge by working in logistics and as manager of the