As a person moves up in the organization, the relative importance of ________ decreases. a. conceptual skills b. technical skills c. emotional intelligence d. social intelligence

b. technical skills

As a person moves up in the organization, the relative importance of technical skills decreases.

• As a person moves up in the hierarchy of an organization, the relative importance of technical skills usually decreases. Technical skills are the abilities and knowledge needed to perform specific tasks. They involve the proficiency in a certain specialized field. For example, a programmer requires technical skills in coding languages to write software, an accountant needs to understand financial systems, and a machinist must be able to operate machinery.
• At lower levels within an organization, employees are often responsible for direct production, services, or day-to-day tasks that require a high level of technical skill. However, when employees move up to managerial or executive positions, they become more involved in strategic planning, decision-making, and leadership. Although a basic understanding of technical matters is still necessary to oversee employees and operations effectively, managers and executives are generally expected to possess stronger conceptual skills, emotional intelligence, and social intelligence.
• Conceptual skills involve the ability to work with ideas and concepts, to understand and integrate the various functions within an organization, and to strategize and solve complex problems that are more abstract in nature.
• Emotional intelligence is the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, as well as handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. This skill becomes more significant in higher management roles as the need to manage and motivate staff and foster a positive work environment increases.
• Social intelligence is the ability to get along well with others, and to get them to cooperate with you. It often involves an astute awareness of social situations and dynamics, which is crucial for leading teams and managing interdepartmental relationships.
• Overall, as individuals progress in their careers and take on more leadership-oriented roles, their success tends to rely more on interpersonal and conceptual skills, even though a foundational understanding of the technical aspects remains important.