Functions of Management

Functions of Management

I. Introduction

Managers can be found in every business. The task related to management is the same for all types of industries. Whether a person manages a fortune 500 company or a Starbucks on the corner, the manager's job consist of the similar tasks. Created by Mary Parker Follett in the early twentieth century, by definition, "Management is simply the act of getting things done through people." Over the years, management has gone through changes and modifications, yet its major functions have remained almost constant. Planning, organizing, leading, and controlling all serve important roles. Each component is important and yet unable to survive without the others.

II. Planning

Planning is a process for which a company accomplishes goals. Planning is the foundation of business growth and sets the stage for development. Planning is used to set goals on the basis of the organization objectives and reminds management of the resources available. In determining what the organizations goals are and how to achieve those goals, a manager will turn directly to the mission and vision statement for the company. For example, the mission statement for the Department of the Navy, Human Resources is, "We ensure that the right people are in the right place at the right time to support the mission." The mission statement is critical to the daily activities of staffing for federal jobs that support the Navy's missions. For any organization, the objectives and plan for the goals are a key component of the planning functions.

III. Organization

In any business, organization is one of the most important responsibilities for any manager. In fact, the implementation of the organizing function of management can be the answer to why a company succeeds or fails. The focus of organization is important when creating the structure of the business. The division of the job and duties, control of the tasks, and ultimately staffing are key elements. According to Bernard L Erven, Department of Agricultural Economics at Ohio State University, "every organization has an organizational structure." The mission statement created in the planning process should always have an influence over the manager decision on the organization structure and the distribution of authority. Without an organized workplace, employees will see management unprepared and unfortunately may lose their respect.

IV. Leadership

The words leadership and leading are often used simultaneously and yet are not the same activity. Leadership is about setting goals identifying issues, and initiating the change. Leading focuses on the employees within the organization. Employees see a leader as someone who is motivating and encouraging while