Four Functions of Management All businesses need to develop a strong management structure to guide their employees, accomplish goals, produce a quality product or service, satisfy the customer base, while making a profit. Every company from the small local grocery store to an international conglomerate with divisions around the world have to use the basic four management concepts effectively to make decisions to run their businesses. Managing include the four processes: planning, organizing, directing, and controlling. Planning is the main core process of management. The other three processes are built around the planning function. Management uses the planning function to determine the current condition of the organization, and the status of future operations. A plan is developed to detail how the company will set short and long term goals and the methods used to achieve them. Companies must identify their strengths and weaknesses, along the new areas of opportunities to implement a successful action plan. In business, there is no replacement for effective management. Companies may fly high for a while, but they cannot do well for very long without good management (Bateman, 2009). I work in the banking industry where the economy and government regulations had major impacts on operations. As the economy declined the federal government has placed stricter controls on how banks can operate. Customers complained about the existing service; wanted lower interest rates and mortgage assistance. Senior management developed high-level plans for new federal regulations or assistance programs. Middle management determines how those plans are put in place. My job as a support analyst is to determine if hardware or software has to change to achieve those goals. Organizing is the second management process, aligning the steps, and resources to