The Four Functions of Management

The Four Functions of Management

Lynn Gavilanes

MGT 330

Professor G. Campbell

January 17, 2008

The Four Functions of Management

A specific definition of management is that "management is creative problem solving." (Erven, B. L., & Higgins, J., para 4. 1994). Creative problem solving can be done with the four functions of management: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Here these functions will be discussed and defined.

For planning, management can develop the company's objective and how management can do that with the best outcome possible.

For organizing, management can establish within the company a structure of the company. This part pays close attention to how information is passed along within the company and how managers divide up responsibility to the workers they manage.

For Leading, management can influence a worker behavior by using the tools that her or she has developed training to be a manager. Just a few examples would be; motivation, communication, and discipline.

For controlling, managers use a four-step process to establish performance standards based on your company's objectives. Management can gauge performance and equate it alongside company goals. Management will find any form of detouring from any set plans to reach a set goal and then take action to fix the problem.

Since being self-employed, planning plays a big part of my work. Thinking through the goals for the day, the week, and then planning a course of action to see it through helps to keep the project on track. Organizing what writing will be done or what research will be done and then putting things in order for the publishers to look at they can then see where the book is heading. They can also see where the project is at and that the objectives are being met. If needed work like editing can be delegated to people from the publishing company. A leader will pass along parts of the project to others who will then edit and make suggestions as to how some things should be changed to make it more sellable. As a team everyone works together to ultimately have a best selling product. Keeping a book on schedule for release takes people who can work closely together and there is no room for non- team players. It is the job of the leader to make sure that the objectives are met on time with as little fuss as possible.

Through controlling it is the job of the writer (managers, owner, leader) to keep everything running smoothly. The writer will write and make changes