Management in Brief

After I completed my Masters Degree in Public Administration (MPA) many years ago, I decided that the essence of everything I had learned about Management could be summed up as follows:

Luther Gulick (1937) suggested that the major functions of the managerial process are embodied in the acronym, POSDCRB

• Planning,
• Organizing,
• Staffing,
• Directing,
• Controlling/Coordinating,
• Reporting
• Budgeting.

Cycle of Major Management Functions

 

According to Peter Groen (1977), the major resources to be managed are embodied in the acronym, 4M’S & I -

• Manpower,
• Money,
• Machines,
• Materials,
• Space,
• Information.

Once you understand and master the major functions and and key resources its is then all about style and experience - learning what management style best fits the particular type of organization, situation or project you are facing.