SOFSKIL BAHASA INGGRIS

MANAJEMEN

      Management is complex and requires genuine understanding and experience. It is vital because managers directly impact the well-being of a society in it, because it is they who decide how to use many of society’s move valuable resources (e.g. people and their skills, machinery, raw materials, etc.). In addition, proper management helps people learn to deal with bosses and co-workers.

Nonetheless, why do many small business owners and entrepreneurs not bother with learning as much as they can about management? Maybe it is because they do know fully understand the true definition of management and the positive effect learning about management provides. So, what is the definition of management? Based on my own experience as a management consultant for different companies and my studies, management is the planning, organizing, leading, and controlling of various resources to achieve company goals effectively and efficiently.

To truly understand how important (and complex) the topic of management can be, let me briefly describe the 4 key management functions in my definition above:

Planning is the process of choosing the right goals and actions for an organization. It involves three steps: deciding which goals an organization will pursue, deciding what courses of action to adopt to attain those goals, and deciding how to allocate organizational resources to attain those goals. The outcome of this process is the organization’s overall strategy, a cluster of decisions concerning what goals to pursue, what actions to take, and how to use resources to achieve goals.  Planning is complex and difficult because of the level of uncertainty and the risk involved.

Organizing is the process of establishing a structure of working relationships that allow an organizations’ members to interact and cooperate to achieve set goals. The outcome of the process is an organizational structure.

Leading involves articulating a vision and energizing employees so that they are eager to play a part in achieving organizational goals. Leadership involves the use of power, influence, vision, persuasion, and effective communication skills.

Controlling is the process of evaluating how well an organization is achieving its goals and taking corrective action to maintain or improve performance, if needed. Managers monitor the performance of individuals, departments, and the organization as a whole to see whether they are meeting desired performance standards. If standards are not being met, managers take action to improve performance. The outcome of the control process is the ability to measure performance accurately and regulate organizational efficiency and effectiveness. The controlling function also allows managers to evaluate how well they are performing the functions of planning, organizing, and leading.

Without extensive management knowledge and experience, knowing how to implement (or just being aware of) all of the details, tasks, and responsibilities that make up a manager’s 4 key functions may not be realistic for a ’self-made’ manager. If you’re reading this, I encourage you to do as much as you can to learn about established management and leadership practices.