The 4 Functions Ofmanagement

Management is the process of working with others to achieve organizational goals. It is the process of effective and efficient problem solving. There are four basic functions of management in order to run a successful organization. These functions are of equal importance and none should be disregarded. For management to be efficient and effective: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling should be taken into consideration. Management is ample only when executives and administrative staff are fully knowledgeable of situations where they can apply each one of the four functions of management.

Planning is the first step to be taken in management. Planning is selecting priorities and results and how those results will be achieved. In planning the desired end result is looked at objectively to see the necessary resources needed to accomplish the job. The company’s vision, mission, objective, and goals are taken into consideration in the planning stage and each one is worked through separately. According to Bateman, Snell(2007, planning is specifying the goals to be achieved and deciding in advance the appropriate actions needed to achieve those goals. Planning activities include studying a situation, anticipating the future, determining objectives, deciding the type of activities to be engaged in, choosing corporate and business strategies, and determining the resources needed to achieve the organization’s goals. Planning is the primary function of management from which the other three functions originate. Planning is important at all levels of management. Planning is concerned with the future impact of today's decisions.

Organizing, the second function of management , can be viewed as the activities an organization employs to collect and arrange resources in order to utilize plans in a highly effective and efficient manner. Organizing is basically allocating and configuring resources to accomplish the preferred goals and objectives established during the planning process, and making the best use of these resources. Organizing is establishing the internal organizational structure of the business. Managers distribute responsibility and authority to job holders in this function of management. One of the most important aspects of organizing is decentralization. This is where the decisions are pushed down to the lowest levels possible and working managers are created rather than managed workers. It is in this function that managers distribute authority to job holders.

Leading, the third function is a very important concept for managers to grasp. Journalist Gail Sheehy once said, "The secret of a leader lies in the tests he has faced and the habits of action he develops to meet those tests." Leading, is the function of management that determines direction, states a clear vision for employees to follow and helps employees understand the role they play in working towards those goals. It is important that leaders are leading rather than directing. In this function, managers should influence employees’ behavior through motivation, communication, group dynamics, guidance and discipline. The purpose of leading is to direct the behavior of all personnel to accomplish the organization's