The 4 Functions of Management: Changing the Corporate Culture Columbus, GA Tuesday, March 01, 2011 Management is the process of working with people and resources to accomplish organizational goals. Good managers listen, effectively communicate, and take calculated risks; they do those things both effectively and efficiently. To be effective is to achieve organizational goals. To be efficient is to achieve goals with minimal waste of resources, that is, to make the best possible use of money, time, materials, and people.

Planning: Aligning Strategic Initiatives is specifying the goals to be achieved and deciding in advance the appropriate actions needed to achieve those goals. Plans set the stage for action and for major achievements. Ideally, the planning function for new startups describes the monetary amount associated with how well a job, tasks, good, or service meets stakeholder's need.

Organizing: Designing a Forward Thinking Organization is assembling and coordinating the human, financial, physical, informational, and other resources needed to achieve goals. New startup activities include attracting individual contributors to the organization, specifying job specifications, and allocating resources.

Leading: Transforming High Performers is mentoring and coaching people to be high performers. It includes motivating and communicating with employees, individually and in teams. Leading involves close day-to-day contact with people, helping to guide and inspire them toward achieving team and organizational goals.

Controlling: Learning and Embracing Change monitors performance and implements necessary changes. By controlling, managers make sure the organization's resources are being used as planned and that the organization is meeting its goals for productivity and quality. When managers implement their plans, they often find that things are not working out as planned. The controlling function makes sure that goals are met. Following these four time tested functions of management will lead your organization to greater efficiency, effectiveness, and prosperity