The four essential components to management are planning, organizing, motivating and leading. In order to be an effective manager, we must learn how to be proficient in these areas as well as building relationships. When we continually learn and hone our skills, we will increase our success in being a strong leader. Looking at these functions individually gives us the opportunity to digest each area without feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the responsibility.
Four Functions of Management
Managers are called to fulfill many roles throughout their careers. Among these roles are planning, organizing, leading and controlling. "Managers need a variety of skills to do these things well. Skills are specific abilities that result from knowledge, information, practice, and aptitude" (Bateman, Thomas, Snell, Scott 2004). Understanding these particular functions will help us be successful in all levels of management and provide us with a mechanism to utilize the teams we have within our organizations.
Marine Institute Ireland, Strategic_Planning_Symbo...
Snell
Margaret Comstock SnellI am hopeful that my learning through the studies, class discussions and learning teams will enhance these skills and enable me to be an effective manager now and in the future.
Planning
"Planning is specifying the goals to be achieved and deciding in advance the appropriate actions needed to achieve those goals" (Bateman, Thomas, Snell, Scott 2004). In order to specify the goals to be achieved for any given project, we must understand the desired outcome. Knowing what we are trying to accomplish will help us through the planning stage. The planning stage is critical since the success of the project depends upon the plans that are put in place.
Once we have established the goal, we need to continue the planning process by outlining the scope of the work to be completed. It is necessary to be aware of our company's current status with respect...