A functional manager is a person who has management authority over an organizational unit—such as a department—within a business, company, or other organization. Functional managers have ongoing responsibilities, and are not usually directly affiliated with project teams, other than ensuring that goals and objectives align with the organization's overall strategy and vision.
Contents
- Subject matter expert
- Work management
- Process improvement
- The skills of functional managers
- Functional manager VS project manager
- Functional manager VS strategic manager
- Functional manager VS Line manager
- Examples of functional managers
- References
In both traditional and matrix organizations, the control of the resources is centered on the functional managers, essentially putting project managers at a disadvantage when bargaining about staffing arrangements. Additionally, in such organizations, Project managers usually report to functional managers, who report to senior management.
Subject matter expert
Work management
Process improvement
The roles of functional managers can be defined by obligation and authorities:
The skills of functional managers
To achieve an organisation's objectives, functional managers need a number of specific skills—for example: communication skills, decision making skills, and interpersonal skills.
Although above skills are important to all types of managers, their relative importance tends to vary by various functions, for example, finance functional managers need to have skills about rising fund and financial analysis.
Functional manager VS project manager
Functional managers and project managers have different roles and duties within an organisation. Functional managers are accountable to manage people with specific skills and different resources within a department or section to meet functional objectives as well as corporate objectives. Project managers must bring people together from different functions and specific skills to accomplish specialized tasks within a required time. Sometimes, both functional managers and project managers have to work together to share resources and experience . This may help to improve efficiency and overall performance.
Functional manager VS strategic manager
The strategic manager must view each action as it relates to the organization's larger strategic mission.They help the top leadership to prioritize business objectives and also help to provide strategies to capitalize opportunities and to avoid potential risks. Strategic managers should always have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. However, the functional managers can concentrate on what is best for their specific sector.
Functional manager VS Line manager
Functional manager are always responsible for how their functions are carried out, and how their employees work to meet functional objectives. However,a line manager directly manages other employees and is responsible for administrative management of individuals. If someone refers to their "boss" they mean the individual who is their line manager.
Examples of functional managers
Functional manager is in charge of a specific business unit or section such as Finance or Sales.Here are some examples of functional managers: