FUNCTIONS OF A MANAGER

The functions of a manager provide a useful framework of organizing management knowledge

All the managers are responsible for:

1. Planning: It involves selecting missions and objectives and actions to achieve them. The objectives should be achievable. The process of planning involves the following steps:

a. Determination of goals of the enterprise.

b. Forecasting.

c. Search of alternative courses of action.

d. Evaluation of alternatives and formulation of plans.

e. Formulation of policies and procedures.

f. Preparation of schedules programmes and budgets.

2. Organization: Arrangement of staff, funds, energy and other requirements to achieve the goal. The process of organization involves following steps:

a. Determination of objectives and identification of main activities.

b. Division of activities and creation of jobs.

c. Fitting individuals into jobs.

d. Developing relationship in terms of authorities and responsibilities.

3. Staffing: It involves filling and keeping filled, the positions in the organization structure. It involves:

a. Identification of work force requirement

b. Inventorying the people available, recruiting, selecting, placing, promotion and planning the career.

c. Compensating, training and approval of personnel.

4. Leading: Leading is influencing people so that they will contribute to organization and group goals, giving instructions, communication, motivation, orientation, guidance and counseling the subordinates. It consists of three sub functions:

a. Communication.

b. Leadership.

c. Motivation.

5. Controlling: Controlling is the measuring and correcting of activities of subordinates, to ensure that events conform to plans. Controlling involves the following steps:

a. Setting standards of performance.

b. Measurement of actual performance.

c. Comparing of actual performance with the standards.

d. Taking corrective measures if the performance does not meet the standard.

6. Co-ordination: It is the task of unifying and integrating effects to ensure successful completion of and objective. The basic features of co-ordination may be summed as follows.

a. It is a managerial activity and is needed at all levels.

b. It is an orderly arrangement of group efforts.

c. Its purpose is to secure unity of action towards common objectives.

d. It is a continuous process.

This co-ordination may be through:

o Planning or

o Organizing or

o Staffing or

o Directing or

o Controlling.