At the basic level, management is a regimen that comprises five standard functions, namely, planning, organising, staffing, leading, and controlling. These functions are part of a body of practices and theories that educate on becoming an efficient manager.
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.
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
Directing
It is that part of managerial function which actuates
the organizational methods to work efficiently for achievement of
organizational purposes. It is considered life-spark of the enterprise which
sets it in motion the action of people because planning, organizing and
staffing are the mere preparations for doing the work. Direction is that inert-personnel
aspect of management which deals directly with influencing, guiding,
supervising, motivating sub-ordinate for the achievement of organizational
goals.
Controlling
It implies measurement of accomplishment against the
standards and correction of deviation if any to ensure achievement of
organizational goals. The purpose of controlling is to ensure that everything
occurs in conformities with the standards. An efficient system of control helps
to predict deviations before they actually occur. According to Theo Haimann, “Controlling is the process of checking whether or not
proper progress is being made towards the objectives and goals and acting if
necessary, to correct any deviation”. According to Koontz & O’Donell
“Controlling is the measurement & correction of performance activities of
subordinates in order to make sure that the enterprise objectives and plans
desired to obtain them as being accomplished”
Communication:-
Communication provides the vital link in any organization. Every
successful manager has to develop an effective system of communication.
Communication means exchange of facts, ideas and information between two or
more person. It helps in building up high moral.
Motivation:-
In a well organization unforeseen problems are created. It becomes
necessary for the workers to have a leader, to whom they can consult for the
guidance. One must help the worker to solve their problems. The manager is the
leader for them. So he should accept the problems, should appreciate the
workers for the work done by them. He has to act as a well motivation source
for he workers.
Decision Making:-
It is the process in which a lot of actions are involved and lot of
alternatives are available. A manager has to choose right alternative for
attainment of his goals. There are many decisions which include marketing
decision, cost price decision and capital investment decision.
Forecasting:-
Correct sales forecasting is essential for manufacturing organization.
This helps in production, by making available right workers and right material
at right place and at right time. It also helps manager for purchasing of raw
materials, equipments and labours. Many times production is made in advance to
meet future demands and forecasting is essential because of short supply of raw
material, lack of proper control, to fix up sales targets and to meet future
financial needs. It also helps to give ideas about expansion of business; and
for giving training to the personnel of the organization.
