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Legal Definitions - manager

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Definition of manager

A manager is an individual who is given the authority and responsibility to oversee, direct, or administer the affairs of an organization, a specific department, a project, or a particular task. The precise duties and scope of a manager's role can vary widely depending on the context, encompassing everything from daily operational supervision in a business to specialized functions within governmental or legal frameworks.

  • Business Operations Example:

    Imagine Mr. David Chen, who holds the title of Operations Manager at a large logistics company. His daily responsibilities include supervising the warehouse staff, optimizing delivery routes, ensuring compliance with safety regulations, and managing the budget for operational expenses. He reports directly to the company's director of logistics.

    This illustrates a manager in a business context, as Mr. Chen is responsible for administering and supervising the core operational affairs of a significant part of the company, ensuring efficiency and adherence to company standards.

  • Legislative Context Example:

    Consider a situation where the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate pass different versions of a complex healthcare reform bill. To resolve these discrepancies, a conference committee is formed. Senator Anya Sharma is appointed as a manager to this committee. Her role involves negotiating with her House counterparts to reconcile the differences between the two bills, aiming to produce a unified version that can pass both chambers.

    Here, Senator Sharma acts as a manager in a legislative sense, specifically appointed to administer the task of resolving legislative differences, a critical step in the lawmaking process.

  • Court-Appointed Oversight Example:

    Suppose a family-owned restaurant chain is experiencing severe financial distress and is unable to manage its debts effectively. A court, concerned about the preservation of assets for creditors, appoints Ms. Eleanor Vance as a temporary manager for the business. Her mandate is to oversee the restaurant's daily operations, manage its finances, and make decisions that protect the interests of the creditors and beneficiaries, reporting her progress directly to the court.

    In this scenario, Ms. Vance functions as a manager because she is a court-appointed individual tasked with administering and carrying on the business's affairs, specifically for the benefit of its creditors and other stakeholders, demonstrating a legal and fiduciary application of the term.

Simple Definition

A manager is an individual responsible for administering or supervising the affairs of a business, office, or other organization. This role can range from overseeing specific operations to a "general manager" who holds overall control, similar to a president or CEO. In certain legal contexts, a manager may also refer to a court-appointed person tasked with operating a business for the benefit of creditors or other beneficiaries.