Mgt 330 - Four Functions of Management

The Four Functions of Management

Vanessa Y. Holloway

MGT/330

July 4, 2011

Lisa McClain

The Four Functions of Management

Managers in today's business world have to the changing conditions and apply fanatically, rigorously, consistently, and with discipline the fundamental management principles (Bateman & Snell, 2009). The four functions of management planning, organizing, leading, and controlling help provide the foundation managers need to operate a successful business. These four functions are important because it defines the role the manager plays in a business.

The planning stage sets the foundation for action and achieving the business's goal. Planning is formulating an action plan or program to carry out a particular task. During the planning process, specified goals, determine the objective, and what activities and strategies the business will use as well as resources needed to meet the goal. The City of Chattanooga's Traffic Operations Department (TOD) uses the planning phase as a way to decide where a traffic signal is to be installed, or where to install a traffic sign. The planning phase is important because there has to be significant reasoning for installing a traffic signal or sign. After it is determined the traffic sign or signal is warranted, the administrator most contact Tennessee One Call before any construction or digging to take place. If this is not done, there could be a major gas leak, a broken water main, or cause major damage to property or worse a person. In the past, there have been other city departments that did not call Tennessee One Call and it cause a neighborhood to be without gas and water for more than three days.

The organizing function of management is the managers assembling and coordinates the people to perform the task, the financials, physical, information regarding the task and the resources need to achieve the desired goal (Bateman & Snell, 2009). At this time, manager would assign job responsibilities according to the person's skill level or the group who is good at a particular task. During the organizing phase, manager explains what the task is, how it is to be executed, and provide as much information and resources to the employees as possible.

TOD organizes its work crews by paint crews, sign crews, traffic crews, and sign fabricators.

Each crew is assigned daily tasks, the crews are given instructions, work orders, and purchase orders in case they need to purchase supplies for the task. The work crew may have a goal of completing the assign task the same day or be given to the end of the week to have the work orders