Final answer:
The function of management referred to in the question is planning, which involves establishing goals and determining actions necessary to achieve them. It is a process that guides organizational direction and resource allocation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The function of management that is being referred to in the question is planning.
Planning is a fundamental management function, which involves setting objectives and determining the courses of action required to achieve these goals.
Unlike human resources, which is a department or division, and raw materials, which are inputs to production processes, planning is a process that ensures that the organization's direction is clear and that its resources are allocated effectively to achieve its objectives.
Efficiency and effectiveness are outcomes of successful planning and other management functions, but they are not functions themselves.