As a company grows and departmentalizes, the general management function is divided into a family of positions. While the CEO and president remain committed to the overall mission of the organization, other positions have more specialized responsibilities. Underneath them are department heads who run specific areas of an organization, such as marketing or human resources. In this way, larger corporations have developed a well-defined chain of command. Lower-level employees answer to operational managers, who oversee their daily work.
Many firms have several layers of frontline and middle managers.
Such supervisors are responsible for managing the functions of an organization. They set project goals, make hiring decisions, settle staff disputes, and ensure that deadlines are met. Operational managers report to department heads who set policy and determine the goals of their divisions. Department heads answer to the executive officer who controls their area of specialty. Executive officers work together to set the goals and policies of a corporation.