The Four Functions of Management

The Four Functions of Management

Planning, organizing, leading and controlling are the four functions of management. To

effectively manage people and accomplish organizational goals, these four functions of

management are required. Managers must be able to set goals and define the actions necessary

to achieve these goals, determine the tasks to be accomplished, who will do the task, and how these

tasks will be managed and coordinated. Managers must also be capable of leading the members

of their work group towards the accomplishments of the organization's goals as well as how

the organization is achieving its goal and take corrective measures to improve performance.

These functions can be applied in a child care environment or facility.

Planning is the first of the four functions. Planning “should produce a picture of [the]

desirable future” (Wickremasinghe, 2001, p. 1). Planning is based on a logical or systematic way rather than on a hunch. In a child care facility, constant planning is needed. A child care will plan on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. On a daily basis, there is planning for pick-up and drop-off

of the children, preparation of meals, cleaning up the facility, and making an attendance

sheet. On a weekly basis, activities for the children must be planned along with the

grocery list. On a monthly basis, there is paperwork that needs to be submitted, automobiles

need to be serviced, and a detailed clean up of the facility needs to be completed.

The next function is organizing. Organizing “is the function of management that involves developing an organizational structure and allocating human resources to ensure the accomplishment

of objectives” (Gale, 2006, p. 4). In a child care, the organizing function is used to be

effective in the goals of caring for the children. The capacity as to how many children are in the

facility, the files must be organized and up-dated, and the ratio of care must also be organized.

The third function of management is the leading function. Leading “involves influencing others toward the attainment of organizational objectives” (Gale, 2006, p. 4). To be an effective leader,

the manager needs to “motivate subordinates, communicate effectively, and effectively use power” (Gale, 2006, p. 4). In a child care facility, the leading function is used by teachers giving

instructions and setting examples for the children.

The last function of management is the controlling function. Controlling “involves