Final answer:
Henri Fayol was the first to identify the specific managerial functions of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.
Step-by-step explanation:
Henri Fayol's contribution to the field of management was b. He was the first to identify the specific managerial functions of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.
Fayol's theory of management, known as the administrative theory, focused on the principles of management and the functions that managers perform in organizations. He identified five main functions of management: planning, organizing, leading, coordinating, and controlling. These functions provide a framework for effectively managing an organization and achieving its goals.
For example, in the planning function, managers set goals and develop strategies to achieve them. In the organizing function, managers allocate resources and design the organizational structure. In the leading function, managers motivate and guide employees. And in the controlling function, managers monitor performance and take corrective actions when necessary.