Functions of Management: While There Are Additional

¶ … Functions of Management:

While there are additional functions of management that are identified in some cases, the four most common functions uniquely explain the jobs of managers. This is because they differentiate the process of management from that of marketing, accounting, finance and other functions of business. Since the most basic management is founded on a functional framework, these four functions provide a helpful way of categorizing information regarding management. These management functions also allow organizations to deal with the planned, tactical and established decisions with their main aim being to have a controlled strategy over the protective measure. The four major functions of management are

Planning:

This is considered as the base or foundational function of management upon which all the other functions are established. It basically involves setting goals and determining a course of action for the realization of these set goals. In addition to requiring managers to be aware of the environmental conditions that the firm faces, planning also necessitates the evaluation of the current status of the organization and predictions of its future status. Planning is an ongoing course of action since an organization has to alter its strategies in order to achieve certain objectives depending on the conditions it faces. These environmental conditions are in most cases uncontrollable because they happen suddenly forcing the organization to alter its course of action (Pakhare, n.d.).

As the foundational function of management, planning involves several steps beginning with environmental scanning which is primarily the awareness critical contingencies like an organization's customers and competitors. Environmental scanning is then followed by attempts to predict future conditions, which constitute the basis of planning. During this process, objectives must be established and alternative courses of action to accomplish the set goals are determined. Following the assessment of these alternative courses of action, managers must choose the best step and ensure that the plans are implemented effectively. However, these managers may be forced to take corrective actions when the chosen step isn't effective after constant evaluation.

Organizing:

Organizing is the subsequent function of management that involves the setting up of an organizational structure and distributing human resources in order to achieve the objectives (Barnett, n.d.). Through the process of organizing, the management must determine the internal directional structure, set up and maintain relationships and also allocate necessary resources. In the determination of the internal directional structure, the management needs to look at the various departments or divisions of the organization. Each department or division of the organization is assigned resources depending on its needs. In so doing, the administration also tries to harmonize of staff, attempt to determine the appropriate way to handle vital tasks and the dissemination of information within the organization.

Directing:

This is the third function of management that enables the management to manage and oversee the actions of the organization's staff. Through this, the management is able to help the staff in accomplishing the organization's objectives while accomplishing their individual or career goals. These career or personal goals are those that can be stimulated by communication, departmental leadership, motivation and the dynamics of the department. As a result of high motivation, these employees surpass their job performance and play an integral role in the accomplishment of the organization's goals.

To direct effectively, managers need to motivate their subordinates, communicate effectively and use power efficiently. Through effective directing, an organization's employees will be excited about using effort toward the accomplishment of the objectives of the organization. However, managers must first understand the values, personalities, emotions and attitudes of their subordinates necessitating the need for behavioral sciences in understanding this function of management.

Controlling:

Controlling is the final of the four functions of management which involves the establishment of standards of performance that are dependent on the objectives of the organization. Generally, this function of management is for the purpose of ensuring that the organization's performance does not deviate from its standards. The three major steps in this process are setting performance standards, differentiating real performance against standards and taking necessary corrective action.