To be a successful and effective manager a person must have certain qualities. These can be both personality types and required skills. For example for a managers position at Elsevier an employer will look for competence in use of Windows applications, good interpersonal skills including interviewing and recruitment and the ability to communicate effectively at all levels. They must also have negotiation skills, leadership, team building, the ability to develop and motivate staff, they must have effective delegation skills and the ability to plan and prioritise conflicting tasks and objectives. Finally a manager must have a flexible approach to managing change and working knowledge of scientific publishing industry, or ability to assimilate such knowledge.
Managers at Elsevier also have training and development opportunities. Each year they have to attend an employment law course as the laws on recruitment and other employee issues, such as health and safety are constantly changing, it is vital that the managers are kept up to date and informed about these changes, to ensure that they are doing their job to the best of their ability and are not braking any laws. They also have to attend an annual recruitment course that advises them on the best ways to recruit new staff. It helps with the actual interview process and how to conduct the interview, they are also told on what they are and are not allowed to ask the candidate, and are informed about any discrimination laws. As well as these there are many courses available not only for mangers but any other employees. These can be internal courses are some are held externally from the business. Examples of these are a negotiation course and a leadership course. The negotiation one would be especially helpful for staff in the customer service department and employee who would be dealing with the public or other members of Elsevier, for example managers and team leaders. Elsevier even require leadership and negotiation skills as a key skill that an employee must have for a manager position. Again the leadership course would be helpful for staff members that are responsible for other employees, especially managers and team leaders. All these courses are ways for employees of Elsevier to develop and become better at the their job through learning new skills. This is a benefit both to the employee and Elsevier.
Another position I have studied within Elsevier is a team leader, or supervisor. The purpose of this job is to support and be fully committed to the management team in achieving the department’s aims and objectives. To fulfil this position at Elsevier there are key qualities you must have, these include, a working knowledge of Microsoft office computer systems, a good general standard of education with good communication and interpersonal and numeracy skills. A team leader must also have the ability to maintain good operational relationships with a good understanding of customers’ requirements, a willingness to accept responsibility and participate as effective team leader and the ability to work under pressure and within tight service levels. Finally a team leader should be confident and able to use their own initiatives, be organised with flexibility to manage change and have good presentation skills.
The main activities and responsibilities of this job are to assist in the monitoring of progress against objectives and to compile a work plan each day for the workload and assign individuals to each task. A team leader must be the first point of contact for all daily issues and to resolve any when necessary. They must also motivate their team, finding and adopting flexible ways of working, and to work with other team leaders to provide assistance in other areas during peak working times. The team leader also has to identify appropriate training requirements and ensure that all documentation is up to date and obtainable, as well as regularly reviewing processes, procedures and trends so that improvements can be identified. They also have the responsibility of helping to plan and collate results of system testing and report on test failures or passes. Teamwork is also a big part of a team leader’s job.
Elsevier uses many methods to motivate their staff; some of these include new training opportunities, appraisals and reviews with their manager, and finally Elsevier offer a wide range of benefits and perks to their employees. As I have already mentioned, Elsevier offer many internal and external courses to their employees, which is a ways to help them develop and at the same time is a motivational method. If the employee wants to learn more about their job and how to do it successfully through a course offered then they are going to be happier in their job and more willing to work. Another technique used is regular appraisals and reviews with managers and team leaders. This way the employee can express how they feel they are performing in their job, and the manager can find a way to improve this or to challenge them more. Again this is going to help employees get motivated if their managers are taking an interest in them are being recognised for their contribution to the job. Finally Elsevier do offer a very good and wide range of benefits to their staff. These include health care planes, free eye tests and vouchers for glasses if needed, 25 days holiday per annum with a flexible holiday scheme, whereby you can buy or sell your days of holiday. They also offer a final salary pension scheme, which is becoming very rare within companies, Elsevier offer life assurance, health insurance, subsidised gym memberships, a social club which attend many different concerts, sports days, even trips to Canada and cinema trips. There is a 200 club, which is a scheme similar to the lottery, child care vouchers, season ticket loans for any transportation and finally there is an employee assistance programme, which is a 24 hour phone number that will answer any issues you may have, anything form cinema times and train times to general information.
