The Four Functions of Management

The Four Functions of Management

Carrying out a successful business requires understanding and practice of the four functions of management. The functions of management commonly include planning, organization, leadership and control (Bateman and Snell, 2004). In every management system, with different roles and functions, makes every managerial role uniquely different. The continuously changing world that we exist in today requires managers to concentrate on the business running at its peak level. Running on the four functions of management will enable a business to run efficiently (Bateman and Snell, 2004). The four functions of management are a great method to stand by for everyday life, not only the business world. Integrating the functions of management should become a subconscious routine followed out everyday that every employee is aware of.

The first management function is planning. Planning consists of establishing tasks that need to be completed as well as awareness of what sources are required to achieve a successful day. Each manager in every business completes projects, whether small or large. Accordingly, the common ending result and goal are successful completion of the project (Bateman and Snell, 2004). Planning is easily understood as setting the course for the completion of a task or project. In many situations, the serving purpose for planning is not fully understood until the end of the project, speaking from experience. Planning is possibly the most important function in management and tracks out a course from beginning to end for a task or project. In a computer business of repairs, selling systems and continuously running service calls, planning becomes a very important step in the day that must be conducted very first. Setting goals in-house to achieve come after deciding who is going to run which mobile call. Planning helps each and every one of us decide what needs to be accomplished during the workday (Bateman and Snell, 2004). Setting goals and expectations for the day helps eliminate tasks that are not important to complete the one’s that are most important. In completing the planning for the day we move on to the next phase.

Organizing is the second function that includes the assignment of tasks to individuals. Each type of business manager for each type of business undoubtedly each have different tasks to carry out, however, the basic process of organizing is the same (Bateman and Snell, 2004). Time management, prioritizing and analyzing situations clearly is a very important task for managers to be able to carry out. In the computer business, delegating who is going to stay in-house and do repairs for the day and build computers is very important to distinguish from those that are going to go out for the day and run a certain route of mobile calls. Organizing the plans for the day is a critical step that is about communication in an effort to assure the same task does not get completed twice. Not being completely organized for the day is starting the day off on the wrong foot and wasting precious time.

Leadership is a strong character quality that is necessary for a manager to have. All good managers, as is with all good leaders carry out their job well and efficiently. Managers must be able to communicate the purpose of and goals of the day (Bateman and Snell, 2004). Motivation and positive character qualities keep employees on the move. An unplanned, unorganized, weak natured manager is not going