Organizing Functions Of Management

Organizing Functions of Management

University of Phoenix

MGT330

August 27, 2005

Organizing Functions of Management

The management process is composed of four functions, all of which are needed to have a successful Management Process. Organizing however is the second of the four functions. Organizing, grouped with planning, provides managers with control of all organizational aspects, the organizing function is said to be the most frustrating one.

Collecting and arranging the financial, physical, informational, the human and other resources needed to reach goals, is what organizing consists of. Organizing activities include attracting people to the corporation, identifying job responsibilities, grouping jobs into work units, collecting and assigning resources, and creating circumstances so that people and things work together to achieve maximum success. (University of Phoenix, 2004) In basic terms, organizing means for a cause to be structured or ordered or operating according to some principle or idea. The focus of organizing is on division, coordination, and control of tasks and the flow of information within the organization. It is in this function that managers distribute authority to job holders.

In order to carry out a plan effectively, managers must organize priorities to accomplish the overall objective. Both the managers and the organization must be able to develop major subsystems, such as departments, programs, divisions, and teams. Individually, each of these subsystems has a responsibility. Often, these systems and processes are defined by plans, policies, and procedures.

In the facility of Metro Regional Youth Detention Center, there are policies and procedures in place. There are also a number of different departments set in place to carry out the various tasks involved in operating such an organization. Mainly, it is the job of the security staff to ensure that the youth adhere to the schedule, the policies, and the procedures established. Because the facility is so large, top managers have situated middle managers called unit managers, to make certain that the correction officers effectively carry out their duties, and perform within the guidelines established in the policies and procedures.

Being that the safety and well-being of youth, staff, and the general public is the primary consideration when making decisions and planning in the Department of Juvenile Justice facilities, sufficient staff must be scheduled to work the housing units that accommodate the youth. Direct care staff function under the supervision of a unit manager, who reports to associate managers, who then report to the facility director.

Managers have divided security staff into two rotations or teams to productively supervise the youth at the facility. The staff work twelve hour shifts, first and second, and opposite days of each other. Separating the staff into different shifts makes it easy to have a positive ratio of security staff to youthful offenders and ensure an orderly environment.

After the hiring process of correctional officers or direct care staff, staff is then introduced to the policy and procedures imperative to the success of the facility and the program. The written policies and procedures provide consistent guidelines for handling various circumstances. Policy statements describe organizational rules and how anticipated situations should be handled. The procedures summarize a series of steps to be followed constantly in an exact order. Although there is numerous policy statements set in place, some must be revised to accommodate new changes. Additional policies may also be needed as new situations arise. Procedures on the other hand, outline specific operational protocol and describe detailed responses to incidents or events.

The Department of Juvenile Justice has organized a program activity schedule. The facility director implements a written daily schedule. The daily schedule is written in a clear, precise manner that is easy for staff to follow as well as the youth to read and understand. It is then posted in areas that are accessible to the youth. By policy, Juvenile Justice secure facilities must provide 14 hours of out-of-room daily activities. These activities have been designed to provide each youth with opportunities to mature physically, socially, and mentally through exposure to competition,