Functions of Management Paper
Management is creative problem solving. This creative problem solving is accomplished
through four functions of management: planning, organizing, leading and controlling. The
intended result is the use of an organizations resources in a way that accomplishes its
mission and objectives. (Higgins, page 7) There are four components that make up
management and they are planning, organizing, and directing, and lastly is controlling.
Each of these functions involves creative problem solving. (Higgins, page 118) Creative
problem solving is broader than problem finding, choice making or decision making. It
extends from analysis of the environment within which the business is functioning to
evaluation of the outcomes from the alternative implemented. As you read I will discuss
how management operates through various functions, often classified as planning,
organizing, leading/motivating and controlling.
Planning
The first part is planning and with planning it the ongoing process of developing the
business mission and vision and also the objectives and to determine how they will be
accomplished. Planning is deciding what needs to happen in the future (today, next week,
next month, next year, over the next five years, etc.) and generating plans for action. There
are three steps to good planning and they are, which goals should be pursued?, how shouls
the goal be attained?, and last, how should resources be allocated? This function is
designed to determine how effective and efficient the organization is and determines the
strategy of the organization. These is a critical partof management because most business
are setting goals to turn a profit and if they dont plan it just right they may fail as a
