Functions of Management - Essay Example

Functions of Management al Affiliation: Effective management involves solving of problems, motivating the subordinates and ensuring that the organization accomplishes the set goals and objectives. There are four main functions of management which separates the process from the rest of the business functions. These are planning, staffing, organizing, and controlling (Daft, 2008).Planning is a function that allows the organization to run effectively. It involves the definition of the goals and the best course of action to take in order to achieve these goals.

However, the planning process must be flexible because the planner must work together with the rest of the departments (Fox, 2009). An example of planning function occurs when the retailer wants to expand its operations to new markets. Organizing function involves controlling the overall operations in the organization. This includes assigning of tasks, and delegating authority and responsibility to some employees (Fox, 2009). In Wal-Mart, this function is common when the retailer wants to relieve the top management some tasks in order for it to deal with external issues.

Staffing is a function that involves the recruitment of the subordinates. This function ensures that the right people are hired for the job (Fox, 2009). In addition, in Wal-Mart, the process encompasses training, promoting best employees, and transferring them to different departments and subsidiaries. Controlling is a function that ensures that all operations are ongoing without any hitches. It is an important function that identifies problems and setting new standards of performance (Fox, 2009).

In Wal-Mart, this function involves auditing and using performance appraisal to identify any issue that might affect the performance of the organization. ReferencesDaft, R. L. (2008). Management. Mason, OH: Thomson Southwestern. Fox, W. M. (2009). The management process: An integrated functional approach. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.