Functions of Management

Functions of Management

Bateman and Snell (2004) define management as the process of working with people and resources to accomplish organizational goals effectively and efficiently. To be effective, as defined by the Webster’s Dictionary (1990), is to have power to produce effects. To be efficient, as defined by Webster’s Dictionary (1990) also, is capable, competent, to produce effect. In management, these words would mean achieving the organizational goals with the best possible use of resources. (Bateman & Snell, 2004, Ch. 1) In order to be able to manage effectively and efficiently one must know the four functions of management. These functions are planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.

Planning is knowing what is going to happen ahead of time. In an organization management must make specific goals and decide beforehand what needs to be done in order to make the goals happen. In planning management needs to first evaluate the organizations existing situation. This would include checking what the organizations previous goals were and seeing if they have been met. The next thing the management of an organization must do is anticipate the future. This would be predicting things that may happen in coming months or years if certain goals are enforced. The next thing for management to do is determine the objectives. For this management would state the outcomes wanted from each goal they make for the organization. The last thing management needs to do in planning is determining the resources needed. An organization would need to decide which resources would be the best to use so that they do not waste any of their resources. (Bateman & Snell., 2004, Ch. 1)

The second function of management is organizing. Bateman and Snell (2004) define organizing as assembling and coordinating the human, financial, physical, informational, and other resources needed to achieve their goals. In organizing the first thing management needs to do is attract people to the organization. This could be done by advertisements. When people are found to do the job then management must specify the job responsibilities. The people need to know what roles they must perform that will help get the goal accomplished. The next thing management would do in organizing would be to group jobs into work units. This is like Wal-Mart having certain associates working in different departments - garden, tire & lube, jewelry, kids wear, men’s wear, toys, etc. The next thing management needs