Question

5.
Explain the functions of Management.

Answer 1

The functions of management include planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. These are critical processes that ensure the organization achieves its goals and operates efficiently.

Step-by-step explanation:

Functions of Management

The functions of management are essential to any organization and consist of several different but interrelated areas. They are traditionally defined as planning, organizing, leading, and controlling:

• Planning: This is the initial step in the management process, involving the setting of goals and outlining the future course of action required to attain these objectives. It helps in forecasting the future, making strategies, and developing policies.
• Organizing: This stage revolves around arranging and structuring work to accomplish the organization's goals efficiently. It includes the distribution of resources, defining roles, and establishing relationships.
• Leading: Also known as directing, this function is about motivating and leading employees to work efficiently to achieve organizational goals. Effective leadership involves clear communication, motivation, and providing guidance.
• Controlling: This function includes setting standards, measuring actual performance, and taking corrective action. It ensures that the organization's resources are being used effectively and efficiently towards the set goals.

In summary, these management functions are essential to ensure that an organization runs smoothly and achieves its strategic aims.

Answer 2

Management has been described as a social process involving responsibility for economical and effective planning & regulation of operation of an enterprise in the fulfillment of given purposes. It is a dynamic process consisting of various elements and activities. These activities are different from operative functions like marketing, finance, purchase etc. Rather these activities are common to each and every manger irrespective of his level or status.

Different experts have classified functions of management. According to George & Jerry, “There are four fundamental functions of management i.e. planning, organizing, actuating and controlling”.

According to Henry Fayol, “To manage is to forecast and plan, to organize, to command, & to control”. Whereas Luther Gullick has given a keyword ’POSDCORB’ where P stands for Planning, O for Organizing, S for Staffing, D for Directing, Co for Co-ordination, R for reporting & B for Budgeting.

But the most widely accepted are functions of management given by KOONTZ and O’DONNEL i.e. Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Directing and Controlling.

For theoretical purposes, it may be convenient to separate the function of management but practically these functions are overlapping in nature i.e. they are highly inseparable. Each function blends into the other & each affects the performance of others.

Functions of Management

Planning

It is the basic function of management. It deals with chalking out a future course of action & deciding in advance the most appropriate course of actions for achievement of pre-determined goals.

According to KOONTZ, “Planning is deciding in advance - what to do, when to do & how to do. It bridges the gap from where we are & where we want to be”. A plan is a future course of actions. It is an exercise in problem solving & decision making.

Planning is determination of courses of action to achieve desired goals. Thus, planning is a systematic thinking about ways & means for accomplishment of pre-determined goals. Planning is necessary to ensure proper utilization of human & non-human resources. It is all pervasive, it is an intellectual activity and it also helps in avoiding confusion, uncertainties, risks, wastages etc.

Organizing

It is the process of bringing together physical, financial and human resources and developing productive relationship amongst them for achievement of organizational goals.

According to Henry Fayol, “To organize a business is to provide it with everything useful or its functioning i.e. raw material, tools, capital and personnel’s”. To organize a business involves determining & providing human and non-human resources to the organizational structure. Organizing as a process involves:

Identification of activities.

Classification of grouping of activities.

Assignment of duties.

Delegation of authority and creation of responsibility.

Coordinating authority and responsibility relationships.

Staffing

It is the function of manning the organization structure and keeping it manned. Staffing has assumed greater importance in the recent years due to advancement of technology, increase in size of business, complexity of human behavior etc.

The main purpose o staffing is to put right man on right job i.e. square pegs in square holes and round pegs in round holes. According to Kootz & O’Donell, “Managerial function of staffing involves manning the organization structure through proper and effective selection, appraisal & development of personnel to fill the roles designed un the structure”. Staffing involves:

Manpower Planning (estimating man power in terms of searching, choose the person and giving the right place).

Recruitment, Selection & Placement.

Training & Development.

Remuneration.

Performance Appraisal.

Promotions & Transfer.