Effective Management

Effective management involves four primary functions and related skill sets: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Although there's a logical sequence to the functions, in practice the four functions are often performed in a dynamic manner. For example, a manager would need to develop or reference a departmental or organizational plan prior to executing on it just as you would reference a map prior to embarking on a road trip. The proverb 'if you fail to prepare you are preparing to fail' underscores the importance of this function. However, just as when road or airport closures or other factors might cause you to change your original route, unanticipated internal or external factors might cause a manager to revisit and revise the original plan, requiring a change in the other functions and associated tasks. Thus, achieving organizational goals - arriving at your intended destination - requires ongoing management of the process and an understanding of the interrelationship of the four functions.