Final answer:
Planning is the process of setting goals and outlining strategies to achieve them, distinct from other managerial functions like leading or organizing. An authoritarian leadership is marked by top-down communication. Functionalism does not view the equal distribution of resources as a primary government purpose.
Option 'C' is the correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
Planning is choosing a goal and developing a method or strategy to achieve that goal. This process is fundamental in business management and involves setting objectives and outlining steps to achieve these goals, thus facilitating efficiency and effectiveness within an organization. In contrast to options such as leading, organizing, coordinating, and commanding, planning is uniquely associated with goal setting and the formulation of strategies.
For instance, when considering types of group leadership, an authoritarian leadership style typically has a communication pattern that flows from the top down. This approach corresponds to a structured hierarchy where decisions are made at the top and are disseminated downwards. Authoritarian leadership contrasts with democratic and laissez-faire styles, which allow for more communication and decision-making from group members.
Functionalism discusses several purposes of government, including maintaining law and order and meeting social needs, though equally distributing resources is not traditionally one of those purposes. When deciding on policies, governments may opt for a command-and-control approach, which sets requirements that all must follow, or market-based policies that incentivize certain behaviors through market mechanisms.
Additionally, bureaucracies are characterized by their hierarchy of authority, explicit rules, and division of labor but do not coerce individuals to join. In the scientific realm, steps like making and testing hypotheses are essential; they do not include coercing individuals into participating. Types of authority exist in various forms, with traditional and dictatorial being centered around individuals, whereas others might be based on rational-legal grounds.