Management Functions

To achieve the organization$$s objectives, managers perform four general types of activities.

Managers and Their Activities

Managers do the following:

An illustration listing the four basic activities in the management process. $1.$ Planning and decision making, $2.$ Organizing, $3.$ Controlling, and $4.$ Leading.

$$ Planning is setting an organization$$s goals and deciding how to achieve them. Part of planning is decision making, which is choosing a course of action from various alternatives.

$$ Organizing means deciding how people, their activities, and the organization$$s resources should be grouped so that they work together in a coordinated way.

$$ Leading is motivating and managing members of the organization to work together in the interests of the organization.

$$ Controlling is monitoring and correcting the organization$$s progress toward its goals.

At a food delivery company, a manager would $...$

$$ Determine how many drivers are needed to staff a shift $($planning and decision making$)$

$$ Give those drivers the instructions and supplies they need $($organizing$)$

$$ Communicate and model the company$$s customer service ethic $($leading$)$

$$ Ensure that food deliveries reach customers $($controlling$)$

Match each statement with the management activity it illustrates.

Statement

Planning

Decision Making

Organizing

Leading

Controlling

Meeting one$-$on$-$one with subordinates to discuss their strengths and opportunities for improvement

Requiring employees to remain within a fixed budgetary limit when purchasing supplies and travel for the company

Budgeting enough money for maintenance, marketing, and development of new products

Recommending that the company hire more full$-$time employees instead of using a temporary agency for extra staff

Setting an organization$$s goals