In today’s rapidly changing competitive world, the human component of management is becoming more and more important. A successful manger must have the knowledge and expertise of effective concepts as it relates to managing. Management is a function, a discipline, a task to be done; and managers are the professionals who practice this discipline, carry out the functions, and discharge these tasks. Throughout the centuries there have been many theories and developments in the field of study as relates to management however, most management historical writers refer to the manager’s four basic functions as planning, organizing, leading, and organizing.
Planning is an essential management function. In every organization, managers plan a wide variety of actions on a daily and long-term basis. As part of their jobs, managers are required to define the specific goals of an organization and develop the plans for attaining them. Planning is often called the first among equals of the four management functions. Planning is used to establish the goals and course of action, develop rules, and procedures, and forecasting future outcomes. Planning provides direction and purpose.
While planning tells us what should be done, organizing tells us how it is to be done and who should do it. Organizing is defining the roles and responsibilities to ensure that people with the skills required to discharge functions are available with the tools and materials to complete them successfully. Organizing is as arranging the activities of the enterprise in such away that they systematically contribute to the enterprise’s goals. Companies usually contribute in supporting organizations within the company by establishing organizational charts. Such charts show the structure of the organization by specifically listing the titles of manager’s position, and by connecting lines as to who is accountable to what area. Leading is the process by which a manager directs the efforts