The Five Functions of Management

In this lesson, students will learn about the five functions of management by reading several Knowledge@Wharton articles that present a range of concrete roles and responsibilities common to management. Students will begin by thinking about what management means to them, and work toward building a comprehensive understanding of the specific types of responsibilities that fall under the five functions of management framework: decision-making, planning, staffing, directing and controlling. This lesson is ideal for providing students with a basic knowledge of management, which can be used to support later case study analyses of businesses or the development of entrepreneurial plans.