What Is Management ? Discuss 4 Management Functions

“Management is getting things done through and with other people.” You might know this simple definition. The most used term in today’s world is probably “management”. Everywhere we use the word “management” like time management, anger management, and word of mouth has made the term management almost clear for all but it needs a clear definition. You also need to define management in its true sense and after reading this blog post, tell your friends what management is.

In this blog post, we will define management, functions of management, and goals or objectives. So, this blog post is going to help you improve your management skills. Keep reading till the end, we promise you will find the blog very useful.

Definition of Management: What Management Experts Say?

“Management is getting things done through and with other people.” [Stephen P Robbins]

“Management is planning, organizing, leading, and controlling the organizational resources to achieve organizational objectives and goals.[Richard Daft]

“Management is all about managing organizational resources to achieve organizational goals.”

With these definitions in mind, you might have an idea of what managers do. Right? Let’s discuss this in a bit more detail from the perspective of the business world. The term “management” can create different images and associations for business students. When you hear the word “business,” what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Some people might think of a Chief or other upper-level executive making decisions for their company. Others may think of managers as the people responsible for day-to-day operations, ensuring that things run smoothly and efficiently.

In reality, management is both of these things and more. Simply put, management is the continuous process of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling organizational resources to achieve organizational goals. It is a critical function in any business or organization, and managers play a vital role in ensuring that operations run smoothly and efficiently. Whether you aspire to be a chief executive officer (CEO) or a front-line manager, understanding the basics of management is essential to success in any business career. So, let’s start reading more about management.

Related: How To Make Work Feel More Effortless?

4 Functions of Management

Every organization, whether it’s a for-profit business, a nonprofit group, or a government agency, needs someone at the helm to ensure that things run smoothly to achieve organizational objectives. That’s where management comes in. As defined above, it is the process of working with people and resources to achieve organizational goals.

Management is a continuous process and is often divided into four basic functions: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Let’s take a closer look at each one:

1. Planning:

Planning involves setting objectives and determining the best way to achieve them. This step is all about looking ahead and thinking long-term. Senior management determines the organizational goals, and the resources needed to achieve those goals. The management also sees the potential obstacles that an organization might encounter along the way. A good plan takes all of these factors into account so that an organization can be prepared for anything.

For example, imagine you are a manager at a small retail store. As the holiday season approaches, you know that sales will increase and customer traffic will be higher than usual. To prepare for this, if you know management concepts, you might create a plan that includes hiring additional staff, stocking up on inventory, and extending store hours.

For your information, planning is done by senior management, and executing organizational plans is the task of middle management.

Also read: What Is Goal Setting Theory?

2. Organizing:

Organizing is the process of putting together the people, resources, and systems that we need to achieve our objectives. This step is all about putting our plans into action and making sure that everyone and everything is in the right place at the right time.

For example, using the same holiday retail example, you might organize your staff by creating schedules, assigning tasks, and making sure that everyone knows what they need to do. You might also organize your inventory by stocking up on popular items and making sure that they’re easily accessible to customers.

3. Leading:

Leading is about inspiring and motivating people (human resources) to work hard to achieve our objectives. Good leaders know how to get the best out of their employees by setting clear expectations, providing adequate support, and offering recognition for a job well done. Leading is usually the function of middle managers whose leadership style ensures employees’ better performance.

For example, going back to our holiday retail example, you might motivate your employees by setting sales goals and offering incentives for meeting (or exceeding) them. You might also provide support by offering training on how to handle increased customer traffic and dealing with complaints.

4. Controlling:

Controlling is the process of monitoring progress towards organizational objectives and taking corrective action when necessary. It is comparing the standards with the actual performance of the organization. This step helps an organization stay on track so that it can reach organizational goals efficiently and effectively.

For example, using our holiday retail example again, you as a good manager might control progress by keeping an eye on sales numbers and customer traffic. If you see that something isn’t working as planned, you can make adjustments accordingly.

These four key management techniques or functions often overlap and they all play a role in achieving success.

To sum up, Planning, Organizing, Leading, and Controlling functions are essential for every organization type including for-profit businesses, nonprofit groups, or government agencies. These 4 management functions offer a unique perspective on how an organization can function most efficiently by looking ahead (planning), taking action (organizing), inspiring employees(leading), and monitoring progress (controlling).

Goals of Management: Effectiveness and Efficiency

Efficiency is often confused with effectiveness. Simply put, effectiveness is doing the right thing while efficiency is doing it right. A manager’s goal is to optimize both effectiveness and efficiency to achieve the best results. Let’s explore how these two concepts differ and how they can be applied in the workplace.

In business, the terms “effectiveness” and “efficiency” are often used interchangeably. However, there is a big difference between the two. Efficiency is about doing things right while effectiveness is about doing the right things. To be an effective manager, you must learn to optimize both.

Effectiveness

Effectiveness is about setting the right goals and achieving them. It’s about making sure that your time and resources are being used in a way that will lead to achieving desired objectives. To be effective, you need to have a clear understanding of what it is you’re trying to achieve and what steps need to be taken to get there.

Efficiency

Efficiency, on the other hand, is about doing things right. It’s about using your time and resources in the most efficient way possible so that you can achieve your goals without wasting any effort. To be efficient, you need to have a clear understanding of what processes are needed to achieve your goals and how to streamline them.

The goal of every manager should be to optimize effectiveness and efficiency to achieve the best results. If you understand the difference between these two concepts and how they can be applied in the workplace, you will be able to be an effective manager.

Conclusion:

We hope you understood the term management in the true sense. It will help you in your business studies and you will be able to apply these five basic functions of management in your professional life.

You also might have realized that good management skills are equally important for managers in lower-level management(or front-line managers) and middle management roles.