Functions of Management (Cambridge International IGCSE Business)

The main functions of management

Spec point — planning, organising, coordinating, commanding and controlling

• The responsibilities of managers are similar, no matter the organisation in which they work

  • In schools

    • Headteachers organise the school's overall curriculum and staffing
    • Heads of department manage teaching staff and subject course planning
    • Pastoral managers focus on pupil behaviour and reward systems
    • Site managers oversee the safety and maintenance of buildings and equipment

Manager roles

Managers roles commonly include planning, organising, commanding and controlling

1. Planning

• Setting targets or aims for the organisation or department to achieve which provide a clear sense of purpose and direction

• Managers also plan and budget for resources required to achieve targets

  • The number of people required
  • Finance and capital resources needed

2. Organising

• Once targets have been set, managers should then organise resources including

  • Allocate tasks and delegate responsibility to employees
  • Make changes to ways of working to improve efficiency

3. Commanding

• Managers need to guide, lead and supervise employees in the tasks they do

  • Make sure staff meet deadlines and achieve individual or team targets
  • Provide feedback and direct staff to tasks

4. Controlling

• Evaluate the performance of employees and teams
• Investigate reasons for missed targets and implement changes
• Manage budgets *and report to senior leaders
• Ensure effective coordination between departments to achieve the organisation’s aims

5. Coordinating

• Encourage groups of workers to communicate with each other and work towards the same goal
• Ensure all of the required resources are available to ensure objectives are met

Exam Hint A common mistake is to list these management functions (planning, organising, coordinating, commanding, controlling) without showing their links. In exams, show how they connect – e.g. planning decisions must be controlled and reviewed later

Delegation

Spec point — advantages and disadvantages of delegation

• Delegation is where responsibility for specific tasks is given to subordinates by managers

  • Delegation usually involves transferring authority *from manager to subordinate
  • For example, the Human Resources Director of a large company delegates authority for recruitment and training to the HR Manager

The advantages of delegation

• Some managers are reluctant to delegate, as they lose some control over decision-making

  • Managers may need support to be able to balance trust and control to delegate appropriate tasks
  • Autocratic leaders may not be willing to give authority to others
  • Some managers may feel threatened by highly skilled subordinates seeking promotion