It is essential in order to run a successful business or organization to always keep in mind and implement the four primary functions of management. The four critical points are planning, organization, leading, and controlling. In this paper I will associate these principles and how they were utilized while working with my previous employer, the Daimler Chrysler Corporation.
The first primary function of management is planning. “ Planning is specifying the goals to be achieved and deciding in advance the appropriate actions needed to achieve those goals” (Bateman&Snell,2007).While working for Daimler Chrysler, I encountered this function on an almost constant basis. The specific goal to be achieved was the sale of new vehicles and car parts. I have sat in many meetings with those high in the corporation where the brainstorming and ultimately, the planning of how to reach such a goal would be accomplished. Basically, in these meetings all major objectives were laid out, possible new products or re-invention of old was discussed, and how in which to market these “new” ideas was contemplated for long periods of time. In this particular industry, timing is everything.
One major example would be the growing popularity of the hybrid vehicle. The introduction of the hybrid “…represents a major automotive industry milestone due to the unprecedented fully integrated combination of electric motors with a fixed-gear transmission” (GM.COM, 2006). Ten years ago auto makers were more inclined to produce vehicles such as SUV’s and large trucks because that is ultimately what the general public desired. Now that fuel wasting autos are fading in popularity, it was important for the Daimler Chrysler Corp. to introduce a product that would counteract higher fuel prices and save consumers dollars at the pump. I do find it funny that six years ago I was sitting in on a meeting discussing the ideas of a hybrid vehicle. One of the major players in the company stated that this...