General and Operations Managers

Career summary

#checked 2/19/15 lh

General and operations managers oversee many parts of an organization's activities. Their goal is to make sure that the company runs efficiently and makes a profit. To do this, managers must:

• Develop and approve budgets
• Set goals
• Create deadlines
• Set prices

They manage production by following schedules. Products must also meet standards for quality. Managers ensure the product goes to the correct warehouse or directly to store shelves. They monitor to see how well the product (or service) sells. They make decisions about sales and promotions and may be involved in advertising and marketing.

Managers often hire and train employees. They do this work themselves or work with human resources staff. Depending on the organization, they may be directly responsible for setting work schedules and assigning duties. They may do some direct selling on the sales floor. Some general managers may set up store layouts and products displays.

General and operations managers work with a variety of employees. For example, to set up a budget for a new product line, they may talk with accountants and chief financial officers. They may work with a graphic designer and the marketing manager to develop sales flyers or newspaper ads. In addition, managers also consult with board members about new projects and ideas.

Managers may set up and run programs to decrease the impact of work on the natural environment. This includes recycling, conserving green space, or creating less pollution.

Related careers

This career is part of the Business Management and Administration cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Administrative Services Managers
• Agents and Business Managers
• Blue-Collar Worker Supervisors
• Buyers and Purchasing Agents
• Chemical Plant Operators
• Gas and Oil Plant Operators
• Geothermal Production Managers
• Hotel and Motel Managers
• Industrial Production Managers
• Marketing Managers
• Office Managers
• Power Plant Operators
• Restaurant Managers
• Sales Worker Supervisors
• Storage and Transportation Managers
• Supply Chain Managers
• Wind Energy Operations Managers
• Wine Makers

Military careers

• Administrative Officers
• Combat Missions Support Officers
• Emergency Management Officers
• Intelligence Officers
• Management Analysts and Planners
• Personnel Managers
• Purchasing and Contracting Managers
• Recruiting Managers
• Store Managers
• Transportation Managers

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to general and operations managers.

• Oversee departments that develop, price, and sell products.
• Determine the goods and services the organization will sell. Research to predict what the demand for the product will be, and how much people will pay for it.
• Recommend and implement changes to make an organization more efficient and profitable. This includes improving production by workers or increasing recycling of waste.
• Set prices and credit policies based on business trends.
• Create and change policies and goals. Work with board members, executives, and employees to gather their input.
• Oversee hiring needs. May interview, hire, and train new employees.
• Make sure goods are made and delivered on time.
• Manage all the ways an organization provides services or makes products.
• Manage staff, including creating schedules and assigning duties.
• May do direct sales work, such as greeting customers, stocking shelves, and answering questions.
• Oversee marketing of products and services. Approve sales and advertising campaigns.
• Review the financial status of the organization. Look at sales, productivity, and costs. Find areas that need improvement.
• May plan product displays or store layouts.

Common work activities

General and operations managers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Make decisions and solve problems
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Get information needed to do the job
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Use computers
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Evaluate information against standards
• Develop and build teams
• Schedule work and activities
• Process information
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Teach others
• Coach others
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Perform for or work with the public
• Monitor and control resources
• Develop goals and strategies
• Analyze data or information
• Document and record information
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Convince others to buy goods or change their minds or actions
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Perform administrative tasks
• Recruit, interview, or hire others
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Think creatively
• Provide advice and consultation to others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, general and operations managers:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of job-required social interaction. They interact constantly with employees and clients.
• Communicate by telephone, e-mail, and in person on a daily basis. They also write letters and memos, but less often.
• Are greatly responsible for the work done by those they supervise.
• Are regularly placed in conflict situations where people might become rude or angry.
• Are responsible for the health and safety of others.
• Almost always work as part of a group or team.

Physical work conditions

• Usually work indoors, but may on occasion work outside.
• Are exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable on a weekly basis. Factory machines can be quite loud.
• Work near others. They often share the same work space.
• Depending on the work site, may be exposed to contaminants. They may wear safety gear to protect themselves.

Work performance

• Must be sure their work is exact. Errors or omissions could cost the organization money.
• Make decisions that affect employees and clients on a daily basis. They rarely consult a supervisor before deciding a course of action.
• Regularly make decisions that strongly impact their employer's finances and reputation.
• Set most of their daily tasks and goals without talking to a superior first.
• Abide by strict daily deadlines. This makes the work environment fairly competitive.
• Repeat the same physical or mental activities.

Hours/travel

• Generally work a set schedule.
• Work full time. Overtime is common.

Physical demands

General and operations managers frequently:

• Sit for long periods of time.

It is important for general and operations managers to be able to:

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for general and operations managers to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.

Skills and abilities

General and operations managers need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.
• Understand written information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
• Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.
• Identify what must be changed to reach goals.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.
• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.
• Obtain needed equipment, facilities, and materials and oversee their use.
• Decide how to spend money to get the work done and keep track of how the money was used.

Work with people

• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Teach others how to do something.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Business Management and Administration
• Business, General
• Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
• International Business, Trade, and Finance
• Operations Management
• Public Administration

Other programs of study to consider

• Finance
• Law
• Management Sciences
• Project Management
• Recreation and Parks Management
• Retail Management

Training

To work as a general and operations manager, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have a bachelor's degree; and
• have five years or more of related work experience.

Education after high school

General and operations managers typically need to have a bachelor's degree. Most have a degree in areas related to the type of company or agency where they work. For example, an operations manager at a computer hardware company may have a degree in computer science. Some managers have a master's degree in business administration (MBA) or a law degree. This is becoming more common and desirable by employers.

Work experience

While education is important for this occupation, work experience is just as important. You can prepare for this occupation in many different ways. Most general and operations managers gain experience in the type of company or organization that they want to manage.

Some managers begin in entry-level positions, with only a high school diploma or equivalent. As they learn about the company and gain skills, they work their way up. However, this is becoming less common as many employers prefer managers to have a bachelor's degree.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Accounting
• Computer Applications
• Introduction to Business
• Public Speaking

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Most general and operations managers are hired for their knowledge of the company or industry. They also are recognized for their previous performance as supervisors or lower-level managers. General and operations managers must have highly-developed personal skills. They must have a mind that can quickly assess large quantities of data. They also must be able to figure out what information is most important and how it affects others. General and operations managers must be able to communicate clearly and be able to convince others of their ideas. Many managers are hired from within their company.

Costs to workers

Some workers join professional associations, which may have annual dues. Managers are usually expected to have professional attire. Some must pay for continuing education courses to improve and learn new management skills. Managers who desire certification may have to pay for additional education and testing to become certified.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• General and Operations Managers 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

In business, pay varies based on the amount of responsibility and how long managers have worked for the firm. It also varies by the type, size, and location of the firm. For example, top managers who work for very large corporations usually earn more than those at small companies.

In addition to pay, managers often receive other perks. They may receive company stocks and yearly bonuses. They may be given company cars and expense accounts. Other benefits include paid medical and insurance plans.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

#Between 2014 and 2024, it is estimated that there will be 677 openings annually due to new positions and 1,145 openings annually from workers leaving this career.

#Updated outlook 06.16 sd

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

General and operations managers work in almost every industry.

Major employers:

• Business management companies
• State and local government agencies
• Banks and credit unions
• Computer systems design companies

National outlook

Demand for general and operations managers will be steady. However, some industries, such as manufacturing, are not growing as fast as others so growth will be limited in those industries.

This is a very large occupation. Many job openings are expected as people retire or leave for other reasons.

Other resources

American Management Association 

Business Professionals of America 
5454 Cleveland Avenue
Columbus, OH 43231
800.334.2007
614.895.7277

Club Managers Association of America 
1733 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.739.9500

Institute of Certified Professional Managers 
James Madison University, MSC 5504
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
540.568.3247

Institute of Financial Operations 
149 Terra Mango Loop, Suite B
Orlando, FL 32835
877.885.4277
407.351.3322

National Management Association 
3055 Kettering Blvd, Suite 210
Dayton, OH 45439
937.294.0421

National Retail Federation 
1101 New York Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20005
800.673.4692
202.783.7971

US Small Business Administration 
Seattle District Office
2401 Fourth Avenue, Suite 450
Seattle, WA 98121
206.553.7310

Washington Business Week 
PO Box 1170
Renton, WA 98057
253.237.3545

References

Career cluster

• Business Management and Administration

Career path

• Enterprising (Business Communications)

O*Net  occupation

• General and Operations Managers (11-1021.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed. A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Manager, Department Store (185.117-010) 
• Manager, Industrial Organization (189.117-022) 

Strong Interest Inventory

• Operations Manager

Holland occupational cluster

• Enterprising/Conventional/Social

COPSystem

• Business Professional