Management is defined as a process where the organizing, planning, staffing, controlling, and directing activities interrelate to one another. The five activities are known as the functions of management (Marquis & Huston 2009). Direction is the heart or central point of management function that provides the platform where business goals and objectives take place. Direction determines the point where organization operation begins. Directing initiates business actions as it leads the subordinates to start working from a particular point. Subordinates learn and understand their line of duty through the direction they are given. The staff then acts according to the instructions they laid down. Direction gives managers opportunities to motivate their employees to improve their performance. The mangers can motivate the staff by rewarding them through incentives or compensation. Direction energizes employees to cope up with changes in their various environments due to competition.
Planning determines achievement of desired results by defining the course of actions to be undertaken. Planning is responsible for what the organization should do, how the course of action should be done, and who should take the action. Whenever organizations commence particular job without planning they are doomed to fail. Planning is a process that involves setting goals, developing premise, identifying alternative options, evaluate alternative options, choosing one option, plan implementation, and follow up action. Businesses strategize to succeed when they set out their plans. Planning leads organizations to better market position with their products or brands. Planning provides an integrative approach to businesses by bringing organization together. Different departments make different decisions but they aim to achieve similar goal hence planning integrates the various departments.
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Staff management is equally important for organizations. Effective management of staffs is vital for ensuring smooth and effective operation of organization’s workplaces. It ensures that staffs are at the right place in the right time. A staff that continually receives training and well managed serves their customers better as they are well prepared for the job. As a result, organizations’ performance improves hence increasing the profits accrued. In this scenario, the clients are satisfied with the business services they get. On the contrary, poor staff management can lead to unorganized and chaotic work environment that result in company losing its potential business.
Controlling is another function of management. The function gives the manager an opportunity to check employees’ performance in accordance to the organizations’ set plans. The manager evaluates the quantity and quality of performance considering the predetermined standards. Controlling allows managers to check deviations through comparison of predetermined standards with actual performance. Corrective measures are then taken for the negatively deviating actions to minimize the difference between desired outcome and actual performance. Most of organization’s constraints are eliminated through close monitoring of all activities that companies undertake. By eradication of organization’s hindrances, people’s efforts are directed towards achieving the set objectives. Since planning is essential for performance standards organizations controlling needs planning.
Organizing involves development of organizations’ structure and resource allocation to achieve desired results. The structure provides the framework where staffs efforts are coordinated. The structure draws the organization chain of command. Organizing designs staffs jobs including responsibilities and duties as well as the modes of carrying out the duties. Designing individual jobs allows organizations to enjoy benefits of specialization. People specialize by working on a particular job for long, which increases productivity in short span of time accomplishing maximum work. Organizing clarifies working relationships within the organizations. It clarifies to all staff the chain of command hence everybody understands how they are to report to their seniors and juniors. Therefore, organization determines effectiveness of communication process within companies. Organizing ensures companies enjoy maximum utilization of resources by dividing the responsibilities for each staff. In doing so, the organization ensures that no activities are left out or possibilities of duplication of duties are reduced.
Reference
Marquis, B. L., & Huston, C. J. (2009). Leadership Roles and Management Functions : Theory and application. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
