It is important to first of all understand what management is before tackling the other aspects of management. Management is a factor of production that involves coordinating and supervising activities in an organizational setup (Drucker, 1999).
Any organization or enterprise requires proper management for it to realize its goals and objectives. The task of management is very challenging and it is therefore very important for any person or group of people aspiring to be managers to receive some training for them to be equipped with the necessary management skills.
In order to guide a group of people, one needs to apply a lot of effort and knowledge in order to guide the group towards achieving its short- term and long-term goals. Since the functions of management form the basic core of management, this presentation will highlight the various management functions in place and at the same time discuss delegation skills and benefits.
The roles and duties of a manager are normally in the functions of management. The functions of management are distinct and in most cases highlight the basic management process (Drucker, 1999). Management functions are useful in the process of classifying management information.
Any aspiring manager should be conversant with all the functions of management. These functions are universal and are applied by all managers across the world regardless of the type of group they are managing. The functional approach to management is applied by managers in governments, religious organizations, the military, businesses and companies (Dale, 1969).
The first function of management we will describe in this paper is planning. Planning is the process of coming up with objectives for the group and determining the various ways and means of achieving the objectives (Witzel, 2004). In the course of planning, the managers should be aware of the physical economic and environmental condition of the organization in order to make the right decisions and at the same time forecast the future situation of the organization.
In a business scenario, the managers must be aware of the competition in the market and the customer need for effective planning. The planners must be in a position to take the necessary steps and courses of action to ensure the set objectives are fully met (Taylor, 2010).
This involves making the right decisions and delegating roles and responsibilities to subordinates to ensure that there is collective effort in meeting organizational objectives. There are different types of planning including strategic planning, tactical planning and operational planning which are often applied according to the type of organization and the nature of the objectives to be met (Taylor, 2010).
The second function that management students should learn is organizing. The organizing function involves the process of establishing the organizational structure delegating responsibilities to the members or workers with an aim of achieving organizational objectives (Hodgetts, 1986).
The various efforts within the organization can only be effectively coordinated if the there is a clear organizational framework. The responsibilities and duties of a particular job or position are set up and decided upon by the management to ensure that there are no conflicting roles during delegation. This function enables the movement to carry out delegation easily because all the roles are clearly defined through organizing (Dale, 1969).
The third function of management is the leading function. The leading function entails having the ability to influence others towards achieving organizational goals and objectives (Witzel, 2004). The manager should have good motivational and communication skills necessary to inspire the subordinates to work towards achieving organizational goals.
In order to become a good leader, the manager should be able to understand each subordinate at an individual level. The manager must study the personalities of their subordinates and it is therefore important tor managers to have some knowledge in behavioral science for them carry out the leading function effectively. The managers should conduct a personality research on their subordinates and various job attitudes for them to lead and relate well with the subordinates.
The effort put in by the subordinates will greatly depend on the level of motivation they receive form their leaders. It is therefore essential for managers to be aware of the he different motivation theories and leadership styles for them to the right motivational and leadership approach to use (Witzel, 2004). Leadership is important in delegation because every person is well motivated to perform their roles within the organization.
The forth and final function of management is controlling. Controlling ensures each person within the organization works according to the set organizational standards. In the controlling function, the managers have the responsibility of setting performance standards, check if the actual performance is similar to the set standards and finally take corrective measures to remedy cases of deviation (Taylor, 2010).
Each organization has its terms of stating standards depending on what it deals with. The managers have the responsibility to ensure that all the activities within their organization are geared towards achieving organizational goals and objective.
In order to become an effective manager, one should be equipped with delegation skills which are vey important in the field of management. There are quite a number of logical rules and techniques needed by the manager in their course of delegating duties and responsibilities (Drucker, 1999). To begin with, the manager should be able to confirm and decide if a particular task should be delegated or not. The manager must the skill of identifying if a task is worth delegating.
The manager should also have some specific reasons as to why they are delegating a particular task to a particular group or individual (Drucker, 1999). The desired end product should be clear even before delegating. Individual being selected to perform a particular task should have the necessary skills and capacity to perform a given task for it to be successful. Incase an individual or group to not have the necessary skills, they should first be trained or the delegate the task to a capable team or individual.
The manager should explain to the team or individual as to why the task is being delegated to them and what is required and expected from them. The manager should also state the required results clarify the expected feedback (Drucker, 1999). Before delegating, the managers must agree on the resources and services required to complete the task and at the same time ensure the availability of resources in order to give the subordinates an easy time (Dale, 1969).
The manager and the subordinates must agree on both the deadlines, targets and the project priorities if any. Apart from delegating, the manager should offer all the necessary support to the subordinates and constantly communicate with them to get any feedback on the progress of the delegated task (Dale, 1969).
Delegation is a very important aspect of management and it comes with fair share of benefits to both the manager and the subordinates. Effective delegation saves time within an organization and at the same time gives the subordinates a sense of recognition.
Delegation helps in career development because it is a useful tool for mangers to groom and fully prepare their successors (Witzel, 2004). Subordinates tend to be highly motivated when they are entrusted with some responsibility because it assures them that the management has got some trust in them.
Delegation also enables managers to identify the right candidates for promotion. This encourages surbodinates to put in a lot of effort with the hope of getting promoted. Delegation enables the subordinates to acquire the necessary skill and experience that are needed in higher responsibilities (Witzel, 2004). Succession planning is always challenging for many managers and it is therefore necessary for them to delegate duties to identify appropriate successors.
In conclusion, to become successful managers requires extensive training. A successful manager must be conversant with basic functions of management and delegation. Planning, controlling, leading and organizing are the four major functions of management that are essential in defining the whole process of management.
An effective manager should have the relevant delegation skills in order to simplify their work. Lack of delegation can lead to confusion and frustration within the organization which can be avoided with proper delegation. Delegation is important in grooming competent successors in an organization and at the same time promotes career development and motivation.
References
Dale, E. (1969). Management: Theory and practice. New York, NY: Rex Bookstore, Inc.
Drucker, P. (1999). Management: Tasks, responsibilities, practices. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis.
Hodgetts, R. (1986). Management: Theory, process and practice. New York, NY: Academia Press, College Division.
Taylor, F. (2010). The principles of scientific management. New York, NY: Forgotten Books.
Witzel, M. (2004). Management: The basics. New York, NY: Routledge.