The Four Functions of Management
Lynn Gavilanes
MGT 330
Professor G. Campbell
January 17, 2008
The Four Functions of Management
A specific definition of management is that “management is creative problem solving.”
(Erven, B. L., & Higgins, J., para 4. 1994). Creative problem solving can be done with the
four functions of management: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Here these
functions will be discussed and defined.
For planning, management can develop the companys objective and how management can
do that with the best outcome possible.
For organizing, management can establish within the company a structure of the company.
This part pays close attention to how information is passed along within the company and
how managers divide up responsibility to the workers they manage.
For Leading, management can influence a worker behavior by using the tools that her or
she has developed training to be a manager. Just a few examples would be; motivation,
communication, and discipline.
For controlling, managers use a four-step process to establish performance standards based
on your companys objectives. Management can gauge performance and equate it alongside
company goals. Management will find any form of detouring from any set plans to reach a
set goal and then take action to fix the problem.
Since being self-employed, planning plays a big part of my work. Thinking through
thegoals for the day, the week, and then planning a course of action to see it through helps
to keep the project on track. Organizing what writing will be done or what research will be
done and then putting things in order for the publishers to look at they can then see where
