1. In your opinion what is Management?

Management is the coordination and administration of tasks to achieve a goal. Such administration
activities include setting the organization's strategy and coordinating the efforts of staff to
accomplish these objectives through the application of available resources.

2. What are the Characteristics of Management?

 Management is Goal-oriented Process:

No goal in the hand no need of management. In other words, we need management when we have
some goals to be achieved. A manager on the basis of his knowledge and experience tries to achieve
the goals which are already decided. Hence, nothing is wrong to say that management is a goal-
oriented process.

Management

 Management is All-pervasive:

Anything minus management is nothing or zero. Here by anything we mean all types of activities-
business and non-business. If we deduct management out of these activities, the result will be
failure or zero. It means management is necessary to conduct any type of activities. Hence, it is
pervasive or universal.

 Management is Multidimensional:

The management is a three-dimensional activity:

(i) Management of Work:

Every organization is established for doing some work, like a school provides education, a hospital
treats patients, a factory produces, etc. Of these, no work can be completed satisfactorily without
management,

(ii) Management of People:

Each organization is established for doing some work and the same is conducted by people. Hence,
it is necessary to manage the people so that the work can be accomplished in a better way.

(iii) Management of Operations:

To achieve the goals of an organization many operations or activities need to be conducted, such as,
production, sale, purchase, finance, accounting, R&D, etc. Again, management is needed to make
sure that operations are accomplished efficiently and effectively.

 Management is a Continuous Process:

The various managerial activities cannot be performed once for all, but it is a continuous process. A
manager is busy sometimes in doing one managerial activity and at other times some other activity.

 Management is a Group Activity:

It means that management is a group effort.

 Management is a Dynamic Function:

Management is a dynamic activity as it has to adjust itself to the regularly changing environment. In
this context, it can be rightly said that nothing is eternal in management.

It is necessary here to clearly understand that the recognition of management in the form of group
is only in reference to big organizations, because in these kinds of organizations many managers are
appointed at various managerial levels.

On the other hand, in small organizations only one manager is sufficient as he can himself manage
all the affairs of the organization. For these kinds of organizations it would not be right to call
management a group activity.
  Management is an Intangible Force:

Management is that power which cannot be seen. It can only be felt. If any organization is heading
toward higher levels of achievement, it signifies the existence of good management and vice versa.
In other words, achievement reflects the quality of management and its effectiveness.

3. What are the Function Management

Management has been described as a social process involving responsibility for economical and
effective planning & regulation of operation of an enterprise in the fulfillment of given purposes.

Planning - It is the basic function of management. It deals with chalking out a future course of action
& deciding in advance the most appropriate course of actions for achievement of pre-determined
goals.

Organizing - It is the process of bringing together physical, financial and human resources and
developing productive relationship amongst them for achievement of organizational goals.

Staffing - It is the function of manning the organization structure and keeping it manned. Staffing has
assumed greater importance in the recent years due to advancement of technology, increase in size
of business, complexity of human behavior etc. The main purpose of staffing is to put right man on
right job.

 Manpower Planning (man power estimating in terms of searching, choose the person and
giving the right place).
 Recruitment, Selection & Placement.
 Training & Development.
 Remuneration.
 Performance Appraisal.
 Promotions & Transfer.
 Directing- It is that part of managerial function which actuates the organizational methods to work
efficiently for achievement of organizational purposes. It is considered life-spark of the enterprise
which sets it in motion the action of people because planning, organizing and staffing are the mere
preparations for doing the work. Direction is that inert-personnel aspect of management which deals
directly with influencing, guiding, supervising, motivating sub-ordinate for the achievement of
organizational goals.

 Supervision
 Motivation
 Leadership
 Communication

Supervision- implies overseeing the work of subordinates by their superiors. It is the act of watching &
directing work & workers.

Motivation- means inspiring, stimulating or encouraging the sub-ordinates with zeal to work. Positive,
negative, monetary, non-monetary incentives may be used for this purpose.

Leadership- may be defined as a process by which manager guides and influences the work of
subordinates in desired direction.

Communications- is the process of passing information, experience, opinion from one person to another.
It is a bridge of understanding.

Controlling- It implies measurement of accomplishment against the standards and correction of

deviation if any to ensure achievement of organizational goals. The purpose of controlling is to
ensure that everything occurs in conformities with the standards.