The 4 functions of management
The 4 functions of management are so easy to remember they are a useful pointer for any new manager and adaptable for existing and more experienced managers to keep them focused and motivated.
So, what are the four functions of management?
Plan – what is to be done, by whom, how and by when? This brings considerations of organisation goals and objectives, planning training (what is to be done and by when), training and health and safety considerations (by who & how).
Consequently, quite a lot for the new manager to think about…
Organise – Unfortunately, many people confuse organisation with delegation. All managers should be able to organise HOW things are done. Good ones can often leave most of this to staff. (A good manager won’t really care what time staff go to lunch as long as a ) they have one and b) continuous cover remains over the lunch period.
What good managers do is work towards delegating some tasks. Where they actually get a junior member of staff to do part of the management job instead of the manager doing it themselves.
Monitor – OK yes, I know that in most other places, the third function is leading/ leadership but I am going to write about monitoring.
The planning might be making 3 items of 11 different sizes, in 14 different colours by the end of the shift.
Each widget is quite expensive to make so a good manager will not want to get to Friday lunch time and have 195 in the same size and colour and none in the other colours and sizes.
Therefore, they need some method of monitoring production, output, staff input etc. This could be as simple as instructing one member of staff to keep tabs on the colour, another on the sizes, another on the safety. (notice how, already, this has started on the delegate route…)
Control – Suppose that the early warning system outlined above worked like clockwork and the manager did receive “early warning” of possible defects. They must have sufficient power to over rule the production process to safely intervene. Without control over the production process, the manager will fail.
So, has the 4 functions of management struck a cord with you?
Maybe it has, but even if it hasn’t, believe me this was a lot less boring than the academic version…
