Conceptual skill is the ability to understand abstract or general ideas and apply them to specific situations. As applied to the manager, conceptual skill usually means understanding how the total organization can be affected by a specific activity. The manager with good conceptual skill tries to integrate the interests of many different departments. Assume that a supervisor is trying to reach a specific production quota by Friday afternoon. The supervisor recognizes that ii he allows one defective unit to be shipped, the production quota will be met. Conceptual skill will help the supervisor realize that if he allows this to make the quota, some customer is likely to be dissatisfied.
