Functional: Management and Business Essay

There are several functional areas within the business world today that managers use to make certain that their businesses run successfully. The functions approach provides four major functional areas in the business world. The four functions include planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. The functional areas in the functions approach are vitally important when concerning operating a business. The two functional areas most important for managers when creating a business would be the planning and organizational areas. Planning is by far the most important functional area in business that managers can follow. I believe this because without proper planning whether in business or anything in general if proper planning is not laid out managers may run into short-term or long-term obstacles that could cause the business to suffer and perhaps even go under. Managers must know what organizational goals they have for the business and must be able to implement planning to target those goals. Managers must plan to provide direction and reduce uncertainty (Robbins & Coulter, Management, 2010). Planning for managers involves setting short-term and long-term goals, establishing strategies, and developing plans to coordinate activities (Robbins & Coulter, Management, 2010). Planning helps managers to minimize and to eliminate problems foreseen within the business. Planning is the foundation that a business is built upon. Because of the uncertainty involved with planning, the plan must be updated as information is gathered and changes take place (Ibahim, Angelidis, & Parsa, 2004). Proper planning gives management and businesses the opportunity to determine what the desired outcome should be and how to go about achieving that desired outcome. While planning managers must not only be sensitive to their needs but also to the needs of their employees. It is very necessary to take into account not only the future but also the present as well. I believe that many times managers make the mistake by planning to far in advance and missing opportunities for growth and development in the now. This is why establishing short-term and long-term goals are important. Because long-range planning is a continual process, it should be periodically reviewed and revised (Ibahim, Angelidis, & Parsa, 2004). The types of goals taken into consideration include financial goals, which relates to a business’s financial performance, strategic goals that relates to other areas of a business’s performance, stated goals are those goals explicitly stated by an organization, and real goals that an organization wishes to accomplish and actively pursues (Robbins & Coulter, Management, 2010). Those charged with the responsibility for the plan must determine if the company’s performance and other happenings are compatible with the plan (Ibahim, Angelidis, & Parsa, 2004). Strategically planning each step in a business could have much to do with the successes and failures of the business. I believe that most business that fail do so because managers lack the necessary skills of preparation and planning. When management fails to plan strategically a business has the capabilities to run into problems with organizing, leading, and controlling. Planning can only be a useful managerial function if objectives are properly chosen (Ibahim, Angelidis, & Parsa, 2004). Types of plans that managers must take into consideration would include strategic plans. Strategic plans are broad and apply to the organization and help establish the organization’s goals. The second type of plans is operational plans. Operational plans are narrow and relate to a specific business area, long-term plans generally tend to be more than three years long, short-term plans that will be achieved within a year or less, specific plans are plans that do not permit for ambiguity and work well with low levels of uncertainty, flexible directional plans that accommodate high levels of uncertainty, single-use plans focus one specific project or to achieve a specific goals, and standing plans put in place for a fair amount of time such as policies and procedures (Robbins & Coulter, Management, 2010). Planning goes hand-in-hand with the organizing function of a business’s success. With proper planning of a business this gives room for better organization of the business. Organizing a business would involve determining what is to be done, how it will be done, and who is to do it. If a business has proper planning the functional area of organization has no other choice but to fall in place. Organizational structure issues include (1) how structure will affect communications within and outside, (2) how much centralizations is desired, and (3) how projects will be planned (Adler, MacDonald, & McDonald, 1992). If management has evaluated and implemented the proper planning and organizing techniques I do not see any reason that a business should suffer. I believe that if a management implements these two functional areas within their business that leading and controlling would be no issue. With the planning aspect managers know who will lead in the organization and managers also know what will be done and how the job will be done. Organizing also optimizes the communication and achievement of strategic objectives (Adler, MacDonald, & McDonald, 1992). All functional areas are important and I believe that every business should incorporate them to be successful. However, with strong planning and organizing with a business there is a better chance of much success and less barriers and obstacles down the line. In conclusion every area of the functions of management is important. Some areas take more time and consideration than others. Without proper planning and organization a business will suffer. Every business and manager must stay focused and keep in mind what the goals and desired outcomes are. In keeping goals in mind this will help managers plan and organize their business.