Management is the process of working together with people and resources to accomplish organizational goals. (Bateman-Snell, 2006) Good managers do these things by using the four functions of management, also known as the management process. The four functions are planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Even though the face of business is changing daily, these four time-tested principles still remain constant. Each of these functions plays a different role in helping the manager reach his or her goals. This paper will explore each of these functions deeper to examine what each function contributes to the management process.
The most important function in the management process is planning. Planning is generally the first step taken in beginning any sort of project or task. Planning provides a way to stay organized during a project. It also provides a way to measure progress during a project. For example, a home improvement project would not be attempted without planning. During the planning phase, measurements are taken, blueprints are laid out, and budgeting is considered. If a person were to go to a store without planning first, he or she has no way of knowing exactly what is needed to accomplish the project they set out to do. The same is true in the business world. Strategic planning helps identify an organization's long term goals based on overall business objectives. Once strategic planning has taken place, a series of smaller, short-term goals are developed based on the strategic plan in order to place the organization in a better position in which to conduct business. During the planning phase, specific goals are decided upon. This is also the phase where business related tasks are analyzed, numbers are crunched, and objectives are determined. Plan ...