Functions of Managemetn

Four Functions of Management

According to Bateman & Snell, (2009), management is the process of working with people and resources to accomplish organizational goals. A successful manager is one that leads his or her company to a stated objective by using all means available for accomplishing it by known procedures, guidelines and resources accessible. In order to achieve this goal the following four functions must be utilized: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. The four functions of management comprise of the primary functions of managers, across all fields of management, be it at a factory, a super market, a restaurant or even at home. These four functions are referred to as the management process.

Planning

Planning is the first component of management. In planning, one is to specify the goals to be achieved and decide in advance the appropriate actions needed to maintain success (Bateman & Snell, 2009). Planning is a constant process. In all functions, planning will involve the same thought process; however, the plan itself will differ according to the needs of an organization. Planning activities include analyzing current situations, anticipating the future, determining objectives, deciding in what types of activities the company will engage, choosing corporate and business strategies, and determining the resources needed to achieve the organization's goals (Expert Manage, 2010). There are several types of planning. There is strategic planning (long- range plan), tactical planning (short-range plan), or contingency planning (alternative plan). Strategic planning can answer such strategically important question as who the employee should be; tactical planning relates to how the crew should select the anticipated employee in accordance to the standards set, contingency planning is about having alternative means of finding employees if the current technique has failed (Expert Manage, 2010).

Organizing

Organizing is a very important part of the management process. According to Bateman and Snell (2009), organizing is assembling and coordinating the human, financial, physical, informational, and other resources needed to achieve goals. If a manger fails to organize effectively in an organization, no work will be done. Insufficient organization can also lead to chaos inside of the organization. A manager's organizational responsibilities include attracting people to the company, grouping jobs into work units, organizing the resources of an organization, identifying different roles, choosing the right people for these roles, and delegating tasks to people (Expert Manage, 2010). The manager also has to ensure that the employees have the required resources to perform their tasks better. In the past managers organized tasks by creating an organizational chart. Presently, managers have access to new forms of organizing and view subordinates as the most valuable resource (Bateman & Snell,