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Career Description

Plan, direct or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations. 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.

What Job Titles General and Operations Managers Might Have

• General Manager (GM)
• Operations Manager
• Store Manager
• Business Manager
• Operations Director
• Plant Superintendent

What General and Operations Managers Do

• Review financial statements, sales or activity reports, or other performance data to measure productivity or goal achievement or to identify areas needing cost reduction or program improvement.
• Direct and coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with the production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products.
• Direct administrative activities directly related to making products or providing services.
• Prepare staff work schedules and assign specific duties.
• Monitor suppliers to ensure that they efficiently and effectively provide needed goods or services within budgetary limits.
• 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.
• Manage the movement of goods into and out of production facilities to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, or sustainability of operations.
• Perform sales floor work, such as greeting or assisting customers, stocking shelves, or taking inventory.
• Develop or implement product-marketing strategies, including advertising campaigns or sales promotions.
• Recommend locations for new facilities or oversee the remodeling or renovating of current facilities.
• Implement or oversee environmental management or sustainability programs addressing issues such as recycling, conservation, or waste management.
• Direct non-merchandising departments of businesses, such as advertising or purchasing.

What General and Operations Managers Should Be Good At

• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing 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 there is a problem.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

What General and Operations Managers Need to Learn

• 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.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
• Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
• Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
• Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.