---
title: "Define management; functions of management"
subject: "Organization and Management"
chapter: 2
key: "semester_7/organization_and_management:management-functions"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/organization_and_management/management-functions
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Define management; functions of management

Organization and Management · Chapter 2: Management

- Asked in: 2073 Shrawan, 3+5 marks; 2072 Kartik; 2069 Chaitra, 3+5 marks; year not given (asked 3 times)
- Video: [Management Process | Functions of Management process #managementprocess](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6LMjurECZM) — Educationleaves
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/organization_and_management/management-functions
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/organization_and_management/chapter-2

## Question

Define the term management and explain the functions of management.

## Short answer

Management is the process of planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling resources to achieve goals efficiently. Functions: planning (setting objectives), organizing (structuring work), staffing (recruiting), directing (leading/motivating), coordinating (harmonizing), and controlling (measuring and correcting deviations).

## Answer

#### Management
Management is the process of planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling the human, financial and physical resources of an organization so that its goals are achieved efficiently and effectively. In short, it is "getting things done through people".

#### Functions of management
1. **Planning:** Deciding in advance what to do, how, when and by whom. It involves setting objectives, forecasting, and making policies, procedures and budgets. Example: NEA prepares a plan to add 10,000 MW of generation.
2. **Organizing:** Arranging the work, grouping activities into departments, assigning authority and responsibility, and establishing relationships. Output is the organization structure.
3. **Staffing:** Recruiting, selecting, training, appraising and compensating the right people for the right job.
4. **Directing (leading):** Guiding, supervising, motivating and communicating with employees so that they work willingly towards the goals.
5. **Coordinating:** Harmonising the efforts of different departments (sometimes treated as the essence of management).
6. **Controlling:** Setting standards, measuring actual performance, comparing, and correcting deviations. Example: a bank checks monthly targets against actuals and takes action.

```text
Planning -> Organizing -> Staffing -> Directing -> Controlling
    ^                                                  |
    +-------------------- Feedback --------------------+
```

The functions are interrelated and continuous. Controlling gives feedback for the next planning cycle, so management works as a cycle. Some authors (Koontz and O'Donnell) list five functions: planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling; Fayol's list is planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating and controlling.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Management is described briefly as:
   A. Working alone for profit
   B. Only controlling workers
   C. Writing rules
   D. Getting things done through people
   Answer: D. The answer defines management as getting things done through people. (Key point: Definition)

2. Which sequence describes controlling?
   A. Setting standards, measuring actual performance, comparing, and correcting deviations
   B. Recruiting, training and paying people
   C. Setting objectives and forecasting
   D. Grouping activities into departments
   Answer: A. Controlling compares performance to standards and corrects deviations. (Key point: Controlling)

3. Which function involves recruiting, selecting, training and appraising people?
   A. Organizing
   B. Staffing
   C. Planning
   D. Directing
   Answer: B. Staffing places the right people in the right job. (Key point: Staffing)

4. Why does management work as a cycle?
   A. Planning only happens once
   B. Organizing repeats without feedback
   C. Controlling gives feedback for the next planning cycle
   D. Staffing follows controlling directly
   Answer: C. Feedback from controlling feeds planning. (Key point: Management cycle)

## Related in Organization and Management

- [Personnel management and its functions](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Apersonnel-mgmt-functions) — Organization and Management, chapter 7, asked 3×
- [Importance and functions of management](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Amanagement-importance-functions) — Organization and Management, chapter 2
- [Personnel management vs HRM](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Apersonnel-motive-hrm) — Organization and Management, chapter 7
- [Purchasing and functions of purchasing department](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Apurchasing-functions) — Organization and Management, chapter 6, asked 3×
- [Needs, functions and importance of MIS](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Amis-needs-functions-importance) — Organization and Management, chapter 9, asked 3×
- [Functions of marketing](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Amarketing-functions) — Organization and Management, chapter 6, asked 2×

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