According to Henry Fayol, “To manage is to forecast and plan, to organize, to command and to control”. But the most widely accepted are functions of management given by Koontz and Staffing, Directing and controlling.

  1. Planning: it is the basic function of management. It deals with chalking out a future course of action and deciding in advance the most appropriate course of actions for the achievement of pre-determined goals. According to Koontz ‘O’Donnell, “planning is deciding in advance – what to do, when to do and how to do. It bridges the gap from where we are to where we want to be”. Thus, it is a systematic thinking about ways and means for accomplishment of goals. Planning is necessary to ensure proper utilization of human and non-human resources and helps to avoid confusion, uncertainties, risks and wastages.
  2. Organising: It is the process of bringing together physical, financial and human resources and developing relationship amongst them for achievement of organisational goals. It involves dividing work into convenient tasks or duties, grouping of such duties in the form of positions, grouping of various positions into departments and sections, assigning duties to individual positions and delegating authority to each position so that the work is carried out as planned.
  3. Staffing: It is a function of acquiring, developing, employing, appraising, remunerating and retaining people so that the right type of people, are available at right positions and at right time in the organisation. Staffing involves:
  • Manpower planning: estimating manpower in terms of searching, choosing the person and giving the right place.
  • Recruitment, selection and placement
  • Training and development
  • Remuneration
  • Performance appraisal
  • Promotions and transfer
  1. Directing: It is that part of managerial function which actuates the organisational methods to work efficiently for achievement of organisational goals. It is considered as the life-spark of the enterprise which sets in motion of people because planning organising and staffing are the mere preparations for doing the work.

However, direction is not merely issuing orders and instructions by a superior to their subordinates but it includes the process of guiding and inspiring them. Thus it has following elements:

  1. Supervision: Overseeing the work of sub-ordinates by their supervisors. It is the act of ordinated by their supervisors. It is the act of watching and directing work and workers.
  2. Motivation: Means inspiring or encouraging the sub-ordinates with zeal to work.
  3. Leadership: Defines as a process by which manager guides and influences the work of subordinates.
  4. Communication: It is process of passing information, experience, opinion etc. from one person to another.
  5. Controlling: Control is the process of checking whether the plans are being adhered to or not, keeping a record of progress and then taking corrective measures if there is any deviation. Thus, control involves knowing what work is to be done as to quantity, quality and time available and verifying whether work has been or is being carried out in advance with the plan.

Controlling has following steps:

  • Establishment of standard performance
  • Measurement of actual performance
  • Comparison of actual performance with the standards and finding out deviation if any.
  • Corrective action