Question
Explain the elements of directing function of management.

Answer

Following are the elements of directing:
  1. Supervision: It refers to monitor the progress of routine work of one’s subordinates and guiding them properly. Supervision is an important element of the directing function of management. Supervision has an important feature that face-to-face contact between supervisor and his subordinate is a must.
  2. Communication: It refers to an art of transferring facts, ideas, feeling, etc. from one person toanother and making him understand them. A manager has to continuously tell his subordinatesabout what to do, how to do, and when to do various things. Also, it is very essential to know theirreactions. To do all this, it becomes essential to develop effective telecommunication facilities.Communication by developing mutual understanding inculcates a sense of cooperation whichbuilds an environment of coordination in the organisation.
  3. Leadership: It refers to influence others in such a manner to do work what the leader wants them to do. Leadership plays an important role in directing. Only through this quality, a manager can inculcate trust and zeal among his subordinates.
  4. Motivation: It refers to that process which excites people to work for attainment of desired objective. Among the various factors of production, it is only the human factor which is dynamic and provides mobility to other physical resources. If human resource goes static then other resources automatically turn immobile.
Thus, it becomes essential to motivate human resource to keep them dynamic, aware and eager to perform their duty. Both monetary and non-monetary incentives are given to employees for motivation.

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In context of the above case :
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  2. Categorise the various types of plans as identified in part (a) into single use plans and standing plans.
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The above case highlights the features of one of the functions of management. By quoting lines from the above identify and explain these features.