The Four Functions of Management
Management is the process of working with other and capital to achieve organizational
goals. It is also known as creative problem solving. Defined by Webster Online Dictionary
as: the process of leading and directing all or part of an organization, often a business one,
through the deployment and manipulation of resources: human, financial, material,
intellectual or intangible). Webster Online Dictionary April 1, 2007.
The creative problem solving is accomplished through the four functions of Management:
Planning, organizing, leading and controlling. The intended outcome is using the
organizational resources in such a way to achieve its mission and goals.
What a manager does and how it is done can be categorized by the four functions of
management, through these functions managers can be catalysts for change or by
definition change agents- people who act as catalysts and manage the change process
robbins, Bergman, Stagg and Coulter, 2000, p438. Whether performing the role of the
change agent or not, change is a vital part of a manger job. Change is a modification in
people, structure or technology. It occurs within and around organizations today at a
unique speed and complexity. Change poses threats and creates opportunities. The fact that
change creates opportunities is reason why managers need to encourage change.
Changing people to help them work together within the organization more effectively
involves changing attitudes, expectations, perceptions and behavior. Changing structure
relates to job design, job specialization, hierarchy, formalization and all other structural
variables of the organization. These changes are ones that need to be flexibleand not fixed
