Management
Management is a strong tool in ensuring an organization’s better performance in the market. Management entails proper planning, organization, coordination, and supervision of the organization’s policies. Firms that are under proper management benefit from timely and smooth flow of operations. Proper management procedurally spells out when and who should carry out a concrete duty at specific time. The four most important functions of management are planning, organizing, leading, and controlling (MSG, 2013).
Functions of management
Planning involves outlining needs that should be done in the future in line with the organization’s objectives and operations. Planning limits time wastage since it calls for allocation of time schedules for all the activities, in which the organization is involved. Organizing, as a function of management, entails combining all the factors of production within the organization set up in order to maximize the output.
As a management tool, the manager performs this function by identifying the activities, which the organization should carry out, delegating duties at departmental levels, classifying powers to departmental managers, and coordinating activities amongst the departments as the case of the Coca-Cola Company.
Organizing helps in eliminating duplication of duties amongst the departments. Leading is the process of issuing instructions and overseeing the conduct of the employees in an organization in order to achieve the set objectives. Leading, as a management tool, therefore, initiates all other functions that management performs.
Controlling as a function of management
Controlling involves monitoring the actual performance of the organization against the set plans (John, 2012). As a management tool, controlling helps in planning of the organization’s activities as well as facilitating the organization process.
Controlling enables the management to engage the employees only in activities that are in line with the company’s objectives.Controlling, therefore, requires the organization’s management to set up rules and regulations, which all employees must follow when conducting their operations within the organization.
Usually, top performing organizations are those ensure that their management is in full control of all the operations that the organization conducts (Loren et al, 2013). Most employees normally do not like rules and measures that restrict their manner of operations within the organization.
As such, these employees assume that management does not need to monitor employees’ performance due to their high level of experience. According to the case of Coca-Cola Company, the company had to enforce a control measure barring the organization’s employees from running retail and wholesale shops dealing in the supply and distribution of Coca-Cola products.
Prior to implementing this control measure, the Coca-Cola Company conducted thorough sensitization and education of its employees to ensure that all the employees understood the need for the control measure. This control measure enabled the company to engage all the employees fully in the company’s activities. It also ensured that the company offered quality services to its customers.
The manager as leader
Good managers boast excellent skills in communication, human management and high level of conduct. One’s experience in management equally plays a major role in the decision that he or she makes pertaining to the management.
Managers should improve on their response to handling sensitive matters affecting the employees, so as to make employees comfortable within the organization’s set-up. Managers should also engage employees in making the organization’s policies so as to enable smooth implementation of the policies (Angelo et al, 2012).
References
Angelo, K., Brian, W. (2012). Management: A Practical Introduction. New York City: McGraw-Hill.
John, R. (2012).Management.New Jersey: Wiley Publishers.
Loren, B., Jim, M., & Gary, S. (2013). The First-Time Manager.New York: AMACOM.
Management Study Guide. (2013).Objectives of management. Retrieved from https://www.managementstudyguide.com/management_objectives.htm