Functions of Management Paper Working Knowledge

Functions of Management Paper

A business or company is a large group of people working together with a common goal. For a business to be successful the people must work as a team. Second the company must express and bring all ideas together. Managing is the way the company can accomplish this objective. The four functions of management stated in the text serve as a way to break down managing into the functions: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling (Bateman & Snell, 2009). In my own words I will define the four functions of business.

Planning is drawing out a map of what will come. Planning in business ranges from picking the spot to start a business to how the money made will be spent. Planning is both a technical and a tactical process to set up a business. The details involve hours of research, time and effort in the assembly of a business plan. Every company has a business plan, maybe not at the beginning but at some point in the life of the business.

Being a federal service the plan of the United States Postal Service may be different from plans of the private sector of businesses. The United States Postal Service has existed since 1775 and the plan has changed many times (United States Postal Service, 2010). The initial plan was to allow communications to be available between the United States.

Organizing is bringing together all needed aspects or objects in a manner that it is accessible. A business has a variety of needs to operate. Capital money, human resources, equipment, and other components vital to a business. Companies work hard to find the best locations and personnel.

By comparison the United States Postal Service pays one of the highest starting wages, for non-management entry-level positions. After six years of service with the United States Postal Service, one has security from labor force reduction and will receive reassignment instead of experiencing a lay-off. The United States Postal Service has set up mail processing plants near air ports in major cities to collect process and distribute all over the United States.

Leading is mentoring and motivating others so that a common goal can be accomplished. Employees need a purpose and direction so they can focus their work efforts. Many different types of leadership styles exist but all strive to motivate employees to complete the tasks that accomplish goals set by the company. Good benefits and good pay is a big motivation for employees.

The United States Postal Service has both with pay raises at different anniversary points in one’s career. The workroom floor is open so that employees can speak with coworkers and receive advice. The supervisor’s desk is also out in the open on the workroom floor so that the supervisor is available for counsel. In the morning, when postal carriers are preparing their letter mail and periodicals for delivery, the supervisor will announce when the parcels are ready for pickup. This saves the carrier’s time by keeping them on task.

Controlling is monitoring the company and adapting to the market to maintain the life of the company. Competition drives the U.S. market and the competition requires businesses to change their plans. Controlling also allows a company to make sure that its products have met the needs of their customers. The product that a business produces is somewhat like a spokesperson for the company if it is cheap and not a dependable product it will hurt the companies bottom line.

Currently the United States Postal Service is looking at closing any unnecessary operating post office branches, which can reduce waste in expenses. They are trying to control expenses so that the company profits will be greater than the company expenses. To my knowledge the United States Postal Service here in Nashville has not hired any new career employees since 2007. Revenue is falling because of paperless bank statements, direct deposits, pay by credit card, and computer e-mail use. The United States Postal service has launched a program to gain customers with easier ways to ship packages through their service. The letter carriers will pick up packages from a business or personal residence without a service fee, this will use the resources that the United States Postal Service already has.

The four functions of management are planning, organizing, leading, and controlling (Bateman & Snell, 2009). Each of the four functions is important to the vitality of a business. Every day in business one can find each function being used to reach the goals of any business. To fail to have one of the functions actively working in a business would be like driving a car with a flat tire. The text states, “Good managers don’t neglect any of the four management functions (Bateman & Snell, 2009).”

References

Bateman, T. S., & Snell, S. A. (2009). Management: Leading & Collaborating in a Competitive World (8th ed.). : McGraw-Hill.

United States Postal Service. (2010). USPS - Postal History. Retrieved from http://www.usps.com/postalhistory/welcome.htm