Management: theory, practice, application To successfully manage a business or organization it is necessary to master the four main functions of management. The four functions of management are planning, organizing, leading and controlling. I run a thriving online shoe store (www.myhoodjapan.com) and each of these functions is important to the success of my store. This document will define the functions and explain how each relates to my organization. The first function of management is planning. “Planning means systematically making decisions about the goals and activities that an individual, a group, a work unit, or an organization as a whole will pursue.” (Bateman & Snell) In my organization, planning takes up most of the time. We need to define goals, review potential products, and plan the timing and type of marketing before we provide our product to our customers. This function should primarily be the responsibility of all those involved in the organization. Inadequate planning will spell the death of your organization. Organizing is the function of assembling and coordinating the human, financial, physical, informational, and other resources needed to achieve goals. Without this feature, my business would have failed in the first week. I have mid-level managers who bring my employees together and discuss plans for the week. Specific shoe styles need to be displayed and organized in a certain order. The information needs to be disseminated to our marketing team so they know who we are targeting and what steps to take to increase our visibility and productivity. Organizing is not something one person can do alone. For this feature to work, the entire team will need to come together to triumph. Leadership is the management function that involves the manager's efforts to stimulate high performance from employees. There is a big difference between leading and managing. Every organization requires a balance of both. Too much of one will cause your organization to fail to achieve its goals. Managers tell people what to do to achieve the organization's goals. Leaders also tell people what to do, but make the employee want to do what is necessary to achieve the goal. In my business, leadership is critical to making a profit. The people who work for me feel part of a team. We do everything we can to motivate our employees and this in turn creates a higher rate of return. Every organization needs leaders who guide everyone in the direction and vision of the company.