Functions of Management, Essay Example

Management is a science of getting people with various interests to operate for the sake of a company and work in a team. Its primary functions are developed to stimulate and motivate employees to accomplish certain short-term and long-term goals. It is not a secret that organizing workers with various interests can become a great challenge. Therefore, big companies and corporations usually have huge managerial branch, which is meant to organize people and provide adequate control over them at workplace. Planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling are those functions of management, which cover all aspects of company running.

By definition, “planning is the ongoing process of developing the business’ mission and objectives and determining how they will be accomplished.” (Erven, 2009). In other words, this function of management is meant to develop an algorithm of accomplishing specific goals for the organization. Planning can be viewed as a set of special instructions not only for various departments of the company, but also for each employee, as he/she is a part of company’s heart.

Organizing function of management is creating internal structure of the company. Organizing is focused on such aspects as coordination, flow of information within various units of the company, etc. In supervising a large, diverse group of subordinates who have different interests, this function of management is necessary for creation of well-organized, disciplined and effective team of supervisors and ordinary employees. “The organizing function of management addresses the manner in which people with the organization will interact.” (Online Economy, 2009)

As soon as mission, goals, and structure of the organization are identified, managers need to hire skillful, talented employees to occupy all of the necessary positions within the company. Staffing function of management is meant to help managers place diverse groups of workers to occupy such positions that will help them to realize their potential. According to the Management Study Guide, “human resources can be efficiently managed by a system or proper procedure, that is, recruitment, selection, placement, training and development, providing remuneration, etc.” (2009)

Directing function of management means forcing people to accomplish specific goals by means of motivation, communication, and discipline. In supervising diverse groups of employees with various interests, this function helps managers to find specific approaches to influence employees. “The purpose of directing is to channel the behavior of all personnel to accomplish the organization’s mission and objectives while simultaneously helping them accomplish their own career objectives” (Erven, 2009). This function gives managers the ability to obtain an active role in effective working performance of each employee at workplace.

According to Bernard Erven, controlling is a method of creating performance standards and principles based on the company’s goals and mission, evaluating and informing about the actual working performance, and taking preventative measures when needed. (Online Economy, 2009). It is logical to assume that various people have their own interests and devotion to doing their work. Therefore, controlling function can be effective when checking whether all employees meet company’s responsibilities.

References

Erven, B. (2009). Management. The Foundation of Management. Last retrieved on July 14, 2009 from http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~mgtexcel/Function.html.

Management Study Guide. (2009). Staffing Function of Management. Last retrieved on July 14, 2009 from http://www.managementstudyguide.com/staffing-function.htm.

Online Economy. (2009). Organizing function of management. Last retrieved on July 14, 2009 from http://www.sayeconomy.com/organizing-function-of-management/.