Should managers who use the "managing by walking around" technique establish informal relationships with employees from other departments?

The correct response emphasizes that managers should not limit their interactions strictly to establishing informal relationships within their own department. While creating connections with employees in other departments can foster collaboration and communication, the main intent of "managing by walking around" is to maintain a focus within one's own team to understand their needs, challenges, and progress intimately.

Building relationships with other departments may dilute the manager's ability to focus on their primary responsibilities and could lead to distractions from their immediate goals. This technique is designed to promote an open dialogue, gather feedback, and support employees directly under the manager's purview, which could be hindered if time is spent engaging with a broader network beyond their immediate team.

Encouraging informal relationships with employees from other departments might not cultivate the specific, targeted growth and development intended within the primary responsibilities of the manager. Balancing these relationships is essential, but establishing them outside direct oversight is not the primary aim of this management technique.