Explain and Discuss the Planning, Organising, Leading and Controlling Functions of Management and Determine Whether or Not Managers Really Do More Than Carry Out of These Four Functions.

According to Stoner and Freeman (1989), “Management is the process of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling the efforts of organization members and of using all other organizational resources to achieve stated organizational". In addition, management also aims to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of organizations. If we want to understand what management is, we have to understand what managers do. As suggested by Davidson et al. (2009, pp. 13-20), there are three specific categorization to explain what managers do; Functions (Henry Fayol), Roles (Henry Mintzberg) and Skills (Robert L. Katz). Firstly, the four function of management are planning, organizing, leading and controlling. Secondly, the roles of management are grouped by Interpersonal, informational and decisional. Lastly, three categorical management skills are Technical skills, Interpersonal skills and Conceptual skills.

A good manager must carry on these four functions of management to be success in any organisation. The four functions are significant in the process of management. The first part of managing is planning. According to Bateman and Scott (2007), “Planning is specifying the goals to be achieved and deciding in advance the appropriate actions needed to achieve those goals”. Planning is the base function of management. It sets how the company will step forward in the future. Planning directs the goal of an organization and makes the process run effectively towards goals. For example, a manager of a new local restaurant will need to have a marketing plan, a hiring plan and a sales plan. For the marketing plan, a manager needs to know how to advertise it to the public with the right produce. Moreover, it should hire workers then maximize their performance. Furthermore, it should think out how to distribute the goods into markets efficiently and effectively.

As suggested by Davidson et al. (2009, p.13), “Organising is determining how activities and resources are to be grouped”....