Four Functions of Effective Management
"Times may change, but managerial practices will always separate effective from ineffective organizations." (Bateman, 2004) There are four main functions that make up a complete circle and create an effective manager. Without all four, there would be a missing link to the circle, and without each one depending on one another, the circle will not complete itself. The four functions I speak of are planning, organizing, leading and controlling. Each one serves an important part of a successful organization. The Marriam-Webster dictionary defines manage as follows: to handle or direct with a degree of skill, to work upon or try to alter for a purpose, to succeed in accomplishing, and to direct the professional career of (Marriam, 2005). Managers are responsible for helping not only the company grow and reach its goals, but also to help the individual grow and reach his or her goals as they are related to the company's success. The four functions of management help the manager to break down his or her role, and focus on the smaller parts that make up the whole.
Planning is selecting priorities and results (goals, objectives, etc.) and how those results will be achieved. "It is concerned with the future impact of today's decisions." (Erven, 1994) In the planning stage, the desired end result is looked at objectively to see the necessary resources needed to accomplish the job. The company's vision, mission, objective, and goals are taken into consideration in the planning stage and each one is worked through separately (Erven, 1994). A vision includes motivational guidance for the entire company. It is the highest level of pla ...