MGT 310 Management Theory · CSUDH · Fall 2026

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Chapter 1 · Explain this like I'm a manager

Katz's Three Managerial Skills

30-second explanation

Managers need technical skills (doing the work), human skills (working with people), and conceptual skills (seeing the big picture). Human skills matter at every level. As you move up, technical skills matter less and conceptual skills matter more.

Example

The best nurse on the floor is promoted to charge nurse and keeps jumping in to start IVs herself. Her technical skill is excellent, but the unit falls behind because no one is coordinating the shift.

What a manager should ask

What skill does this level of the job actually reward?

Common mistake

Promoting the best individual performer and expecting the same skills to carry them. The job changed; the skills have to change with it.

Use it at work

List what you spend your work time on. Which skill does each task use? If you want to be promoted, which skill should be growing?

Test yourself

A software engineer becomes a team lead and still writes most of the code. What skill gap is showing?

Show the answer

Human skills, and early conceptual skills. The lead job is coordinating, developing, and prioritizing, not out-coding the team.

Problems where this shows up

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