FUNCTIONS OF MANAGEMENT

PLANNING- is a primary managerial function. Without planning, it becomes

impossible to predict future business scenario and opportunities for survival and
growth. Planning looks into the future. Planning is the process by which objectives
are established and all the resources of the business are effectively utilised to
accomplish the objectives profitably. Planning is the determination of a future course
of action and therefore, bridges the gap from where we are to where we want to
go.
ORGANISING- is a managerial function of assigning duties, grouping tasks,
establishing authority and providing resources to carry out a specific plan.
Organizing is establishing an effective behavioral relationship among persons so that
they may work together efficiently by performing selected tasks under given
environmental conditions. Organizing promotes collaboration and negotiation among
individuals in a group and thus improves the effectiveness and efficiency of
communication within the organization through clear cut lines of authority and
responsibility.
STAFFING- is a managerial function concerned with filling and keeping filled
positions in the organization through the identification of workers, recruiting,
selecting, training and development, etc to accomplish tasks. Staffing ensures that
results are achieved through others. All managers have the responsibility for staffing
as it is important to obtain and maintain able and competent manpower at all levels
of the organization. An effective and efficient staffing system helps to identify the
talent and potential of employees, matching the job and the person, ensuring the
right number of people and their proper utilization.
COMMUNICATION- is the art of developing and attaining understanding between
people. It is the process of exchanging information and feelings between two or
more people. Communication is the transfer of information from sender to the
receiver, with the information being understood by the receiver. The ability to think
and transmit thoughts/ideas through the communication process provides the
binding element for all social interaction. Therefore, the relative success or failure of
human Endeavour depends to a great extent upon the effectiveness of
communication.
MOTIVATION- basically, a person works to satisfy his/her needs and as such human
needs are the cause of actions. Motivation is a process of arousing and sustaining
goal-directed behavior induced by the expectation of satisfying individual needs.
Motivation is an act to stimulate someone to act in a desired pattern to achieve

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 desired goals. Generally, motivation refers to the factors that cause, channel and
sustain an individuals behavior. Motivation can either be intrinsic or extrinsic. People
by nature are complex and uniquely different and what motivates one person may
not motivate another as levels of motivation are different.
DIRECTING (LEADING)- is entirely a human function involving managing the
managers and the workers by means of proper leadership, motivation, effective
communication and coordination. A manager has to direct and guide his
subordinates and get the work done through them by influencing them not by force
or coercion but by ability. Directing/Leading is influencing others to work together
willingly to achieve set goals. A manager must know how to issue orders and
instructions to the subordinates securing their willing obedience without dampening
their morale, initiative and creativity. Hence a manager must make use of his
leadership skills and motivational qualities to direct and guide subordinates/workers.
CO-ORDINATION- refers to achieving harmony and unification of action of a group
directed towards a common objective. Co-ordination includes division of work and
distribution of duties and responsibilities among various individuals and groups in
the organisation. Co-ordination is an orderly arrangement of group efforts to provide
unity of action. It ensures that all the individuals and groups work together
effectively, economically and harmoniously for the common goal of the enterprise.
CONTROLLING- ensures qualitative production and performance of the plans
according to expectation. Control is necessary at various stages of performance of
plans. Control/Controlling is the regulation of organisational activities so that the
targeted element of performance remains within acceptable limits.
Control/Controlling is determining what is being accomplished, i.e evaluating
performance and if necessary, applying corrective measures so that the performance
is in line with the plan. In the words of E.F.L. Brech, Controlling is the process of
checking actual performance against the agreed standards with a view to ensuring
satisfactory performance. Thus the process of managerial control comprises the
following steps:
Determining the Standard for measuring work performance;
Measuring the performance;
Comparing the performance with the standard;
Taking corrective action to ensure to ensure attainment of objectives.