Management Functions - Assignment Example

? MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS Number: Introduction Management is a social process that involves responsibility for economical and effective planning as well regulating the activities in an organization to achieve its purposes. George and Jerry (1999) define management as fundamental functions that consist of planning, actuating, organizing and controlling. Each function blends and overlaps with each other. Planning The writer has experienced these management functions implemented at his work place which is Wal-Mart retail store. Planning a function of management that deals with chatting out the future course of action and making a decision on the most appropriate course of action (George & Jerry, 1999).it is a process that involves several steps which starts with scanning the environment to analyze external threats facing the organization. This could be economic conditions, customers or competitors. Planning considers available and prospective physical and human resources in the organization in order to get effective contribution, coordination and perfect adjustment. in ensuring that they achieve their goal of developing cost structures that would enable the organization offer low prices,wal-mart strategies on replenishing their inventory using cross docking logistics technique. With this technique products are got from suppliers to wal-mart warehouses, they are then shipped to store in the shortest time period possible. This strategy has seen Wal-Mart reduce cost and passed o the savings to customers’ by offering competitive pricing. Troy (2003) argues that Wal-Mart has concentrated on developing and advancing a highly structured supply chain management to enhance their competitive advantage in the market. Organizing Organizing is the process of bringing together elements of financial, human and physical resources in developing a productive relationship among them in order to achieve organizational goals. this organizing process involves identification of actitities,classification of activities, assignment of duties, delegation of responsibility and authority, and coordinating responsibities and authority relationships(Barney,2006).the organizing function of Wal-Mart has benefited from low prices and cutting down costs. It has refocused on offering low prices for their products, improved the mix of merchandise sold, and provided friendlier and quick customer service. The secret to this was the organization culture introduced by the company that encourages teamwork. Teams in the company get together to discuss performance and to help each other with the goals of improving performance (Barnaro, 2005). Staffing Staffing deals with managing the structure of the organization that ensures putting the right man on the right job. “Staffing involves managing the structures of the organization through doing proper selection, appraisals and personnel development to fill roles designed in the organization’s structure.” (George & Jerry, 1999, p.74). staffing includes manpower planning, recruitment and selection, training and development,compensation,performance appraisal and promotions and transfers.walmart ensures that it recruits employees who have the right qualifications for the positions that they hold.walmart also encourages diversity at the workplace by employing staff from different cultural backgrounds and minority groups. The company has Latinos, African-Americans, Asians and people with disability.walmart have over 1000 employees in their retail outlets in the U.S market. Controlling Controlling is the measurement of goals that have been accomplished against the set standards and correction of deviations that have occurred if any, to ensure organizational goals are achieved. Controlling is done to ensure that everything confirms to standards and having an effective system of control that can help in predicting deviations before they occur. controlling involves steps which include establishment of standard performance, measurement of actual performance, comparing actual performance and standards to verify if any deviation have occurred, and having corrective action in place incase of any deviations.walmart is a huge retail industry operating to meet the needs of its stakeholders by using controls like market controls, performance standards, and auditing managers. Each control is important to the company to excel in business, improve employee productivity, increase customers and improve supplier assurance. The open door policy culture that Wal-Mart encourages has enabled employees to communicate with their managers freely, and this has made the company regulate the staff in smooth running of the retail business (Wailgum, 2007). Leading Leading is a managerial function that deals with actuating organizational methods so as to work efficiently in achieving the organizational golas.leaders motivate, console and work together with a team to keep cohesion, setting direction and having an effective method of communication. It involves supervision which is supervision of subordinates by their superiors, motivation that implies encouraging subordinates to work with zeal, leadership in which managers give direction and influence their subordinates to achieve organizational goals, and communication where information is passed from managers to subordinates and vice-versa. The leading function of management at Wal-Mart is manifested in the company’s creation of leaders that effectively and often communicate with their associates for any problem that pertains to job matters. Meetings are always held regularly to discuss ways to improve jobs and tasks. The company’s founder Walton uses a charismatic leadership style which gives morale to employees by giving all the support in accomplishing the organization’s goals. Conclusion Management functions are the set of activities that defines role of managers in an organization. these functions of planning,staffing,controlling,organizing and directing helps in achieving group goals, ensures optimum utilization of resources and reduces costs through minimum input by proper planning and using minimum input and getting maximum output. They help in establishing a sound organization, establishing equilibrium and they are essentials’ for prosperity of society, in that efficient management leads to better economic production which increases the welfare of the people. References Troy, M. (2003). Logistics Still Cornerstone of Competitive Advantage Wal-mart the Category King: A New Era of Excellence. Business Library, 18,136-140. Retrieved May 4, 2013, from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FNP/is_11_42/ai_10311929> Barnaro, M. (2005, November 1). A New Weapon for Wal-Mart: A War Room. The New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2013, from Barney, H. (2006). Strategic Management and Competitive Advantage. (p. 77).  Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc. Wailgum, T. (2007). 45 Years of Wal-Mart history: A Technology Time Line.Walmart History, 6(13), 167-182. Retrieved from Milkovich, G., & Jerry M. (1999).Organizational Behavior and Management. Irwin: McGraw-Hill. Read More