Functions of Management
The process of working with resources and people in an organization to accomplish a goal can be defined as management. "The traditional functions of management?planning, organizing, leading, and controlling?continue to be the key activities used to enable the organization to accomplish its goals and objectives. Though significant changes have occurred in all organizational structures, processes, and managerial styles, these traditional functions remain a constant." (Anderson & Pulich, 2002, para 1) To be effective in any organization a manager must posses these skills.
Planning is the first function of management. The decisions made in this in function determine the future of the company. "Planning is specifying the goals to be achieved and deciding in advance the appropriate actions needed to achieve those goals." (Bateman & Snell, 2007, p 16). The company must always be evolving and ever changing if it wishes to stage on the forefront of the competition. The planning stage is an early development function, but also a necessity to continue to improve and revamp previous plans to ensure the longevity and future of the company.
The second function of management is organizing. "Organizing is assembling and coordinating the human, financial, physical, informational, and other resources needed to achieve goals." (Bateman & Snell, 2007, p 17). In organizing you are creating job duties and grouping teams up in workgroups, defining employee roles and allocation resources. Although this function seems to be mainly a part of human resources, it also is necessary for direct managers utilize this function. Managers must have this attribute to enlist potential new employees but also to aid them in their success. The managers must take t ...