Functions of Management

Functions of Management

In every organization management policies ensure a cohesive flow for employees, but the policies take hours of time and work to perfect. An organizations success can depend on the effective and efficient leadership of its managers. Strong managers take time to research all the stages of the management functions to create an effective work environment. There are four main functions in the management process: planning, organizing, leading and controlling. These functions are crucial for managers. The following will discuss all aspects of management functions and how they apply in the workplace.

Planning

Planning should be the first step in any process. “It is a foundation upon which the other three areas should be build.” (Rane, 2010) This means the planning process lays the foundation for a manager to begin building all components within the four functions. The manager must identify the goals and direction of the company and from there set objectives and deadlines for the completion of the task. For managers planning is an ongoing process and needs to be flexible to tie in with the goals of the organization. For example, a manager is given a team of new employees to train and have them ready in two weeks for their first assignment. The manager has to plan the training schedule as well as make sure all the trainees are on task. Finally, the manager will prep them for the start of the new task.

Organizing

Organization is the second step in the process. “Managers are responsible for organization of the company and this includes organizing people and resources.”(Rothbauer-Wanish, 2009) Organizing includes the delegation of tasks, timelines for each step, and setting up meetings to ensure the group is on the right track and make employees responsible for their tasks. Managers have to be able to manage the task of organization otherwise the team can fail at their task and if the team fails the organizations loses money...