The different authors have classified the functions of management in different ways. The major functions of management are described below:
- Planning: Planning is the primary function of management. It is the systematic activity which determines when, how and who is going to perform a specific job. It specifies the future course of action and decides the best course of action to achieve the pre-determined goals. It involves setting the objectives and preparing the work procedure to achieve them. So, planning is thinking before doing the job. Planning is a key function as it helps to achieve efficiency and growth. So a manager’s ability to forecast the upcoming situation precisely is very crucial. Thus, forecasting is an inseparable aspect of planning.
- Organizing: Organizing is indicated as the arrangement of the human, physical and financial resources for the execution of plans. Organizing is to manage the M4 (Man, material, machines and money) in the best possible manner in order to achieve the desired output of an organization. Planning focuses on deciding what to do and organizing focuses on how to do.
- Staffing: Staffing is the process of fulfilling the vacancies by competent personnel through recruitment and selection. It includes training and development employees, their appraisal, promotion, transfer and proper remuneration. The process of staffing involves screening, recruitment, selecting, training, grooming and development and appraising.
- Directing: Direction is the process of activating human resources to achieve the organizational objectives. It is concerned with instructing, guiding and inspiring the people in the organization for the achievement of the objective. It involves functions like supervision, motivation, leadership, and communication. It is concerned with the instructing, guiding and inspiring the people in the organization for the achievement of the objective.
- Controlling: Controlling is the evaluation of the performance. It is ensuring whether the results are according to the pre-determined standards or not. It is the process of measuring and comparing actual results with standards and taking correct.