Management involves planning, organizing, leading, and controlling organizational resources to achieve goals. It is the process of designing and maintaining an environment where people work together efficiently to accomplish objectives. Management theories provide tools and techniques to increase productivity. Key functions include planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling. Managers play various roles like figurehead, leader, liaison, monitor, and decision maker. Planning is an important management function that involves analyzing the environment, setting objectives and goals, forecasting, evaluating alternatives, and developing action plans.