Maggie Wiltz manages a high-fashion specialty store in Atlanta, Georgia. Her daily activities start one hour before her store normally opens for business. She starts her day by opening the morning mail. Maggie must read numerous memos before the day starts. These memos are typically related to the coming day's business activities. Half an hour before the store opens, Maggie meets with her employees.

Today, she plans to discuss important issues, most notably the fact that sales were off in the first quarter by 10 percent. She also wants to discuss her concern over returned merchandise. Maggie's employees are relatively new and inexperienced. She believes she should select an appropriate leadership style to fit the situation and elects to use a participative style.

Once Maggie starts the meeting, she wants the employees to participate and provide solutions to the problems discussed. The employees cannot offer any reasons why sales are declining, but they do suggest that a quality issue may be involved in the returns of merchandise. After the store opens, Maggie is frequently interrupted by her employees. Another item on her agenda for the day is a midday luncheon with the Rotary Club, where she is to be the guest speaker.

Later in the day, at the close of business, Maggie is to meet with her regional sales manager to discuss the excessive returns of merchandise. She intends to provide him with the solutions that resulted from the meeting with her employees. She does not look forward to this meeting

Questions

1. Define time management. What recommendations could you make to help Maggie improve in this area?

2. Discuss the management functions that Maggie utilizes on her job.

3. Should Maggie have developed a plan of action before her meeting with her employees? If so, what specific plan would you suggest?