Functions of Management

• Management is the process of planning, organising, directing and controlling the efforts of organisational members.
• It also involves using organisational resources to achieve specific organisational goals.

Planning

• Decides what, how and who will do the work.
• Sets goals and develops plans.
• Predicts problems and prepares contingency plans.

Organising

• Assigns duties and groups tasks.
• Establishes authority and reporting relationships.
• Allocates resources for implementation.
• Improves efficiency and effectiveness.

Staffing

• Right person for the right job.
• Human resource function.
• Includes recruitment, selection, placement and training.

Directing

• Leads, influences and motivates employees.
• Includes leadership, motivation, communication and supervision.
• Encourages employees to perform their best.

Controlling

• Monitors performance towards goals.
• Sets standards and measures performance.
• Compares results with standards.
• Takes corrective action.

• The functions are usually discussed in the order: Planning → Organising → Staffing → Directing → Controlling.
• In reality, managers are rarely able to carry out these functions in isolation.
• Managerial activities are interrelated, and it is often difficult to pinpoint where one function ends and another begins.