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Management Functions Overview

Aug 27, 2025

Overview

This lecture introduces the importance of good management and outlines the four key management functions: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.

Importance of Good Management

  • Good management enables efficient use of resources and motivates employees toward organizational goals.
  • Poor management can result in wasted resources and organizational failure.
  • A manager's success is measured more by team performance than individual contributions.

Definition and Functions of Management

  • Management is defined as getting work done through others.
  • The four main management functions are planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.

The Four Functions of Management

  • Planning: Setting goals and creating strategies to achieve them; provides direction and focus.
  • Organizing: Establishing organizational structure, assigning authority, and defining job roles.
  • Leading: Directing and motivating employees to meet goals; involves understanding and applying effective incentives.
  • Controlling: Monitoring performance, comparing it to goals, and making adjustments as necessary.

Tools and Practices in Management

  • Organizational charts are used to show authority and reporting relationships within an organization.

Key Terms & Definitions

  • Management — Getting work done through others.
  • Planning — Setting goals and formulating strategies to reach them.
  • Organizing — Arranging resources and tasks to achieve objectives.
  • Leading — Motivating and guiding employees to fulfill organizational goals.
  • Controlling — Monitoring results and implementing corrections to meet objectives.
  • Organizational Chart — Visual representation of authority and reporting relationships in an organization.

Action Items / Next Steps

  • Watch upcoming videos to explore each management function in more detail.
  • For questions, leave comments as directed by the lecturer.