Overview of Management
Introduction
In today’s technologically-advanced, fast-paced business world, it is imperative that organizations have talented and capable people in management roles with the ability to adapt to an ever-changing environment. These leaders and managers have a variety of responsibilities and call on many different skills to move an organization forward in achieving its goals.
Primary Functions of Management
Management is how companies get organizational goals accomplished and managers are the people assigned with the task of accomplishing them. Managers are thought to achieve organizational goals through four primary functions of management: 1) planning and strategizing, 2) organizing, 3) leading, and 4) controlling. (Mejia 2002).
Planning involves identifying the firm’s objectives and ideas for moving forward in the future while strategizing is more actively looking at how the organization is going to get there given the impact of the surrounding environment including competitors, regulatory changes, and other factors. Strategy is analogous to a chess game in play while planning is more in advance of events (Mejia 2002).
Organizing involves configuring the internal work environment for optimum effectiveness and efficiency. It includes organizing and/or delegating people and tasks, gathering and then parsing out necessary resources, developing policies and procedures, and prioritizing the work (Mejia 2002).
Leading involves being the presence or figurehead that people look towards to identify the goals and culture of the organization. This is the political role involving the most presence and charisma to inspire and motivate “the troops” to live up to their potential an ...