What
is POSDCORB? Description
In 1937, social scientists Luther Gulick and L. Urwick (Papers on the Science
of Administration) describe seven "major activities and duties of any
chief executive". Since then, the acronym POSDCORB is used to describe
the 7 functions of managers:
- Planning. Working out in broad outline the things that need to
be done and the methods for doing them to accomplish the purpose which is
set for the enterprise.
- Organizing. The establishment of the formal structure of authority
through which work subdivisions are arranged, defined and coordinated for
the defined objective of the organization. Compare:
Organization Chart.
- Staffing. The whole personnel function of bringing in and training
the staff and maintaining favorable conditions of work. Both qualitative
and quantitative.
- Directing. The continuous task of making decisions and embodying
them in specific and general orders and instructions and serving as the
leader of the enterprise.
- Coordinating. Interrelating the various entities and processes
of the work.
- Reporting. Keeping those to whom the executive is responsible
as well as subordinates informed through records, research and inspections.
- Budgeting. Fiscal planning, accounting and control.
Origin of POSDCORB. History
Gulick and Urwick built their ideas on the earlier
14 Principles of
Management by Fayol. Note that in 1937, the prevalent thinking was the
separation of politics and administration. Gulick advocated that it was impossible
to separate the two.
Usage of POSDCORB. Applications
- Good starting point to analyze management functions and activities in
a structural way.
Strengths of POSDCORB. Benefits
- Helps to structure and analyze management activities.
Limitations of POSDCORB. Disadvantages
- Mark Moore (1995, Creating Public Value: Strategic Management in Government)
believes that POSDCORB is too inward looking. In his view, the single most
important job of a manager is Understanding and shaping the environment
of the organization, primarily, but not solely, by means of the services
it delivers to its customers and clients.
- According to Dr. Lewis Meriam, the most important thing has been omitted
in the fascinating word POSDCORB: Knowledge of a subject matter.
After all, you have to plan something, you have to organize something, you
have to direct something... Compare:
Training Within Industry
- Does not pay any attention to what managers should Achieve.
Functions of Management (POSDCORB) Special Interest Group.

Special Interest Group (1420 members)
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Forum about the Functions of Management (POSDCORB).
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Mintzberg Critique on POSDCORB
Just like Gulick, Mintzberg also studied the description of managerial functions and asked himself what managers really ...
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The top-rated topics about the Functions of Management (POSDCORB). Here you will find the most valuable ideas and practical suggestions.
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Advanced insights about the Functions of Management (POSDCORB). Here you will find professional advices by experts.
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Why and How the Functions of Managers Have Changed Modern Management, Management Functions, Management Roles Traditionally, the task of managers would be described or summarized as "getting the work done by others". Nowadays, the...
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Mintzberg: 7 Myths on Management Management Development, Leadership Development, Managers versus Leaders, MBA Prof. Henry Mintzberg refutes 7 myths on leadership and management:
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Fayol's 16 Management Duties of the Organisation Management Science 1. To aim at giving serious thoughts to activity plans and having them firmly executed.
2. To aim at having employed pe...
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Fayol's 7 Qualities of Managers Management Science The 7 qualities Fayol expected from managers were:
1. Health and vigour
2. Cleverness
3. Moral qualities
4. General ...
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Fayol's 5 Elements of Administration Management Science Fayol wrote any organisation can be subdivided into 6 types of Operations. The sixth one has 5 elements:
6. Administrat...
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Various sources of information regarding the Functions of Management (POSDCORB). Here you will find powerpoints, videos, news, etc. to use in your own lectures and workshops.
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Mintzberg's Managerial Roles, Ten Roles of Managers, 10 Management Roles Management, Leadership, Reflection on What Management Fundamentally is, Workshops, Trainings This superb presentation outlines the roles and tasks that managers perform. The presentation includes views of importan...
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Scientific Management: Definitions, Theorists and Main Contributions Scientific Management, Taylor, Gannt, Gilbreth, Gulick, Weber, Fayol Presentation about Scientific Management that includes a description of the main theorists their contributions to the th...
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Controlling as a Management Function Controlling, Management Control Presentation about controlling as a management activity includes the following sections:
1. Why Management Controlling?...
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Leading versus Managing Understanding the differences between Leading and managing Dr. John Kotter gives his opinion on what are the key differences between leading and managing.
- Management is a set o...
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Young Steve Jobs on the Role of Managers Management, Leadership, Talent Management, Talent Acquisition, Talent Development This video is a nice start for any management course. Jobs shares some ideas on managers (in a high-tech environment) an...
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Compare with POSDCORB:
General Management |
14 Principles of
Management (Fayol) |
Fourteen Points of Management
(Deming) |
Training Within Industry |
Eight
Attributes of Management Excellence |
Organization Chart
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