What is Management? Understanding Key Concepts and Functions of Management

If you want to understand What is Management? Then let us help you learn in simpler terms!

Management is called as the process of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling its resources, such as its people, time, and money, to achieve the maximum goals effectively and efficiently. When someone asks what is management, the simplest way to explain it is that it’s about using resources wisely and ensuring teams work together to reach desired outcomes.

Management is responsible for helping businesses and organizations to use their resources, such as their people, time, and money, to run their work smoothly and making sure that every member of the team works collaboratively to reach their goals.

In this blog, we will explore the key characteristics of management, the main functions, different types of management, and top career paths in management that you can consider if you’re looking to enter or grow in this dynamic field. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of what is management and why it plays a vital role in careers today. 

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What are the Characteristics of Management?

To clearly understand what is management, it's important to look at the core characteristics of management, which are essential for business growth, ensuring efficiency, adaptability, and goal achievement. These characteristis show that what is management is not just theory but a continuous process applied in all industries. 

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Here are the key characteristics of management, including strategic management, with examples:

1. Goal-Oriented Approach: Every management action aims to achieve specific objectives (e.g., Apple’s focus on innovation-driven growth).
2. Continuous and Dynamic Process: Management evolves with changing market conditions (e.g., Netflix shifting from DVDs to streaming).
3. Proactive Planning and Decision-Making: Strategic planning helps businesses stay ahead of challenges (e.g., Tesla’s investment in electric vehicle technology).
4. Efficient Resource Allocation: Ensuring optimal use of financial, human, and material resources (e.g., Toyota’s lean manufacturing system).
5. Adaptability and Flexibility: Quick response to market shifts and competition (e.g., Amazon’s expansion from books to a global e-commerce leader).
6. Collaboration and Teamwork: Effective coordination between teams to drive results (e.g., Google’s cross-functional project teams).
7. Leadership and Motivation: Inspiring employees for better performance and innovation (e.g., Elon Musk driving SpaceX’s ambitious goals).
8. Performance Measurement and Accountability: Tracking success through KPIs and data (e.g., Walmart’s supply chain analytics for efficiency).
9. Risk Management and Problem-Solving: Identifying and mitigating risks for sustainability (e.g., banks using AI to detect fraudulent transactions).
10. Customer and Market Focus: Aligning strategies with consumer needs and preferences (e.g., Coca-Cola’s localized product offerings).

Read More about the Process of Management in detail

What are the Functions of Management?

Another way to understand what is management is by looking at the functions of management. We can understand this through the POSDC framework: Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Directing, and Controlling. Each function answers the question of what is management in action, because these steps define how leaders guide organizations toward success. 

Here are the five functions of management:

1. Planning

• Planning is the process by which actionable steps and measures are decided to achieve the aim of the organization. It includes creating a plan or strategy for the organization and choosing the best way to use time, money, and people to achieve goals.

2. Organizing

• Organizing means arranging tasks and resources to help the company reach its goals. It includes assigning the duties to the dependable people to bring out the best of the resources and achieve the aimed results.

3. Staffing

• Ensuring that the right people are in the right positions. This function involves recruiting, selecting, training, and developing employees to meet the needs of the organization.

4. Directing

• This function includes leading and motivating employees to bring out the organization’s plans. This function includes communication, leadership, motivation, and guiding teams to reach their goals.

5. Controlling

• Controlling means keeping track of how work is going between the teams to ensure reaching the goals of the company. It helps in finding any mistakes at an early stage before getting into huge trouble.

Also Read: Top 4 Functions of Management Process Explained

What are the Types of Management?

There are various types of management that play an essential role in efficient operations and promoting growth in different areas of an organization or company. Each type explains a different angle of what is management in practice: 

Here are the different types of management:

1) Project Management

• The goal of the project management process is to plan, carry out, and close projects within a specified budget, time, and scope.
• To guarantee project success, project managers supervise the synchronization of teams, tasks, and resources.

Know more here: Types of project management

2) Business management

• It entails supervising an organization's or company's overall operations.
• To guarantee long-term success, business managers are in charge of budgeting, strategic planning, decision-making, and resource optimization.

Check out the Top Business Management Skills for Managers to learn the must-have skills for success. 

3) Operations Management

• Managing the daily processes that result in the production of goods and services is the focus of operations management.
• The goals of this management style are to simplify organizational procedures, increase efficiency, and maintain quality control.

4) Financial Management

• This includes financial planning, analysis, and budgeting as well as the management of an organization's financial resources.
• Financial managers make sure the business is making money and running smoothly.

Want to learn more about financial management? Read our blog on Functions of Financial Management to understand how it helps businesses grow and stay profitable.

5) Management of Human Resources (HRM)

• The recruitment, training, and management of an organization's workforce are the main objectives of human resource management.
• HR managers are in charge of employee relations, labor law compliance, performance management, and compensation.

Also Read: Key Functions of HRM

6) Strategic Management

• Setting long-term objectives and figuring out the best ways to reach them are parts of strategic management.
• To lead the company toward long-term growth, strategic managers concentrate on examining market trends, rivalry, and business opportunities. 

What are the Top Career Paths in Management?

If you’re still wondering what is management in terms of career impact, you can look at the roles it can lead to. From HR managers to product managers, each job reflects a specialized version of what is management in real-world contexts. 

There are many different career paths in management, each job comes with its own requirements and benefits. Given how rapidly the business markets are changing, there is an increasing need for qualified management professionals in India.

Here's a  brief overview of some of the top management positions and their average annual salary:

Sourced By: Ambition Box

Note: The average salary mention in the table are approximate and may vary as per the employer, experience and location.

How can upGrad help you elevate your career in Management?

To lead their organizations, skilled professionals with effective management skills and knowledge are in high demand in the constantly changing job market.

At upGrad, we offer a range of Management Courses that are suitable for professionals and students seeking to advance their careers. Our programs are designed to help you not just learn what is management, but also apply it through mentorship, real-world case studies, and industry connections. 

Here’s how we can support your journey:

• Industry-Focused Learning: Acquire knowledge by studying real-world case studies.
• 1:1 Mentorship: Get 1-1 personalized guidance sessions from the experts in the field.
• Networking Possibilities: Make connections with other professionals in the field for career support and opportunities.
• Flexible
• Learning: Complete your course at your own speed and location.
• Career Support: Take guidance to select the best course to pursue to begin your career.

In case you’d like to seek expert assistance in driving your management career forward, you can book a free counseling session with us now!

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