Overview of Management

Overview of Management

Introduction

In today’s technologically-advanced, fast-paced business world, it is imperative that organizations have talented and capable people in management roles with the ability to adapt to an ever-changing environment. These leaders and managers have a variety of responsibilities and call on many different skills to move an organization forward in achieving its goals.

Primary Functions of Management

Management is how companies get organizational goals accomplished and managers are the people assigned with the task of accomplishing them. Managers are thought to achieve organizational goals through four primary functions of management: 1) planning and strategizing, 2) organizing, 3) leading, and 4) controlling. (Mejia 2002).

Planning involves identifying the firm’s objectives and ideas for moving forward in the future while strategizing is more actively looking at how the organization is going to get there given the impact of the surrounding environment including competitors, regulatory changes, and other factors. Strategy is analogous to a chess game in play while planning is more in advance of events (Mejia 2002).

Organizing involves configuring the internal work environment for optimum effectiveness and efficiency. It includes organizing and/or delegating people and tasks, gathering and then parsing out necessary resources, developing policies and procedures, and prioritizing the work (Mejia 2002).

Leading involves being the presence or figurehead that people look towards to identify the goals and culture of the organization. This is the political role involving the most presence and charisma to inspire and motivate “the troops” to live up to their potential and help the company achieve its goals (Mejia 2002).

Controlling is about measuring how well the organization did compared to the plan and making course corrections as needed. It is also involves sheperding or mentoring non-management personnel to help facilitate their understanding of the work and what they need to do to contribute to the organization’s success.

Who at Kudler is responsible for each primary function of management?

As the proprietor of Kudler Fine Foods, a small food product business, Kathy Kudler stays involved in all of the primary functions of management. However, as the senior most executive, her top focus is in planning and strategy and in leading. This is consistent with the highest levels in most organizations. (Mejia 2002).

In addition, according to the organizational chart, the following people represent the tactical managers of the company, and are also, to varying degrees, involved in all primary functions of management:

Brenda Wagner, Director of Administration and Human Resources

Harvey Stephens, Director of Finance and Accounting

Yvonne Reynolds, Director of Store Operations

Much of the planning and strategy occurs at this level in addition to Kathy.

The next layer is at the manager job class level and includes:

Store managers

Assistant store managers

Purchase manager

Inventory manager

Department managers

These managers are focused on the organizing function, staffing the stores, purchasing and maintaining inventory, and running the day-to-day hands-on operations. They also are involved in controlling as they supervise and groom their workers and work to stay within their budgets.

How technology and the Internet are utilized by Kudler currently and how that affects its management.

Kudler uses the internet in a variety of ways. They used it to create an intranet to communicate policies and procedures, forms, and other key information for their employees. They use it for recruiting by posting online ads at Monster.com and industry web sites with industry associations. Kudler also uses QuickBooks and outsources its payroll processing to Intuit which has a database that tracks personal information for each employee. They also maintain a database of historical performance reviews for employees. In addition, they are in the process of integrating a new software system in the development