What are the four basic functions of every manager in the organization? Review them now: planning, o...

1. Four Basic Functions of Management
What are the four basic functions of every manager in the organization? Review them now: planning,
organizing, directing and controlling.
All management functions take place within the framework of the organization's overall purpose and
strategic plan. It doesn't matter how large her business unit is, no manager can plan and work alone.
The following summary of the key functions of the basic management process will help a manager
step back, think through her responsibilities, perhaps adjust her thinking and conduct and move
forward.
These management functions are planning, organizing, directing, and controlling.
Planning as a Basic Management Function
The manager must be aware of the overall objectives of the organization and how her work unit
contributes to achieving those objectives. Planning includes these steps.
Identify the goals for the work unit.Assess where the work unit is now in achieving those
goals.Identify what is working well and what needs improvement.Assess the current situation,
looking at what is happening and who is doing the work.Plan what steps need to be taken to move

2. from the current situation to reaching the goals. This includes reviewing various solutions and ways
forward for any problem areas, analyzing each possibility and making a decision.Identify the
performance indicators that will demonstrate that the goals have been met.Organizing as a Basic
Management Function
The plan has been made. Now, the staff and other resources have to be organized to get the work
done in order to achieve the work has to be organized in order to achieve the goals.
Identify each area of work and the specific tasks
to be done.
Assign staff to be accountable for each area.
These might be supervisors, or just team
leads.Divide the workload as equitably as
possible, taking into account both the volume and
the intensity of the work.Delegate any authority
necessary to get the job done.Determine and
assign staff and other resources such as equipment, space, travel allowances, or whatever else is
needed for staff to function effectively.Identify benchmarks with timelines. For example, the first
section of the work will be completed for review at the management meeting at the end of the
month.Most managers realize the value of having staff involved in both planning and organizing the
work. This encourages a commitment to getting it done.
It is also a good idea to format the plan and the organization of the work on a work plan template.
This can be distributed to everyone in the work unit so they all know who is doing what and by
when.
Directing as a Basic Management Function
An effective manager understands the function of directing is not standing over someone or
continually checking up on staff. There are better tools at her disposal.
Communication. Two-way, open, honest communication goes a long way to ensuring that all staff
understand the work being done. Listening to understand any comments, questions, or complaints
they have will also help the manager prevent any mistake or conflict and adjust processes as the
work is being done. Giving and gathering feedback, whether positive or negative, helps keeps the
work on track. Motivation. Provide opportunities for staff to benefit from professional development,
take on different kinds of work, and to be recognized publicly for a job well done.Coaching. When
staff are have difficulty doing the job, the manager can take the time do provide one-on-one
coaching. This might mean sitting in an office reviewing the situation with the staff person,
encouraging him to think of options, and supporting him in decisions. Or, it might means actually
being by his side while the work is being done and offering suggestions.Controlling as a Basic
Management Function
Control is just another word for evaluating or reviewing the work being done. The key point here is
that the standards for evaluation are the performance indicators that were part of the planning
function. Depending on the scope and kind of work, and the time available, the manager might lead
the evaluation herself but gather input from the staff doing the work. These are the staff who were
involved in setting the performance indicators in the first place so there should be no surprises

3. about expected outcomes.
If the goals are not met, then it is time to identify the problems areas and everyone is back to the
planning table.
The basic management functions of planning, organizing, directing and controlling do not go in
circles although it may appear like that. Each time the manager and her staff are back to the
planning process, they have already succeeded in moving the work ahead and are trying to find a
way to make it even better.