The starting points of effective management

the starting point in effective management is setting goals -- objectives that a business hopes and plans to achieve. there are four main purposes in organizational goal setting: (1) providing direction and guidance for managers at all levels; (2) helping to allocate resources; (3) helping to define corporate culture; and (4) helping managers access performance. Firms that long-term goals, intermediate goals, and short-term goals.

Planning is often concerned with the nuts and bolts of setting goals, choosing tactics, and establishing schedules. In contrast, strategy outlines how the business intends to meet its goals and it includes the organizations responsiveness to new challenges and new needs. Three types of strategy usually considered by a company are corporate, business (or competitive), and functional strategy. Strategy formulation involves setting strategic goals, analyzing the organization and its environment. The heart of the strategy formulation is matching environmental threats and opportunities against corporate strengths and weaknesses.

Plans can be viewed on three levels that constitute a hierarchy because implementing plans is practical only when there is a logical flow from one level to the next. Strategic plans to reflect decisions about resource allocations, company priorities, and the steps needed to meet strategic goals. Tactical plans, which typically involve upper and middle management, are shorter range plans for implementing specific aspects of the company strategic plans. Operational plans, which are developed by mid level and lower level managers, are short-term targets for daily, weekly, or monthly performance.

Finally, companies often develop alternative commands for dealing with the unknown and unforeseen. A contingency plan is a hedge against changes that might occur. It seeks to identify in advantage important aspects of a business or its market that might change. Crisis management involves an organization's method for dealing with emergencies.