What is Business Management?

Author: University of North Dakota
May 24, 2024

Business management is a key driver that helps companies achieve their goals by coordinating efforts and smoothing out the process.

It's a crucial force that's always at work, though you might not always see it—think of it as the oil that keeps the engine of a business running smoothly.

Imagine a place where every decision is carefully considered, tasks are organized efficiently and everyone is pulling in the same direction. This is what effective business management looks like. It's all about good planning, smart organizing and strong leadership that together push a business toward success. 

Keep reading to discover more about business management, starting with the basic question, "What is business management?" and looking into how it shapes the future of companies.

What is Business Management?

Business management involves coordinating organizational activities to achieve its objectives and goals. This is done through functions such as planning, organizing, directing and controlling various aspects of operations, including finance, marketing and human resources.

Business management is distinct from business administration in that while business administration focuses on the day-to-day operations and administrative tasks within an organization, business management takes a broader view, encompassing strategic planning, leadership and decision-making processes that drive the organization forward.

The Importance of Business Management

Business management is crucial in determining an organization's success and sustainability. One of the most critical areas where effective management shines is retaining employees. Research shows that a staggering 57% of employees have left one or more companies due to poor management. Therefore, good management habits are essential for fostering a workplace culture that encourages long-term employee engagement and retention.

Additionally, effective business management significantly impacts productivity within an organization. The quality of leadership and management practices directly correlates with employee productivity levels. A supportive and inspiring leadership style motivates employees to perform at their best throughout the workday, driving higher productivity levels. 

Conversely, ineffective management practices or a toxic company culture can lead to communication breakdowns, demotivation and ultimately hindered productivity. Therefore, strong management practices are essential for optimizing employee performance and maximizing overall productivity.

Lastly, effective business management is crucial for bolstering an organization's capacity to weather challenging circumstances, such as economic recessions. During times of crisis, competent management becomes even more critical in navigating uncertainties and guiding the organization toward resilience and recovery. 

A well-equipped management team can make strategic decisions, implement cost-saving measures and adapt swiftly to changing market conditions, safeguarding the organization's stability and ensuring its long-term survival. 

Core Functions of Business Management

Effective business management encompasses several core functions essential for achieving organizational goals and driving success. Each function helps guide the organization's operations and activities toward desired outcomes and ensures overall efficiency and effectiveness.

Planning and Strategy

Firstly, planning and strategy form the foundation of effective business management. This function involves setting clear objectives and goals for the organization and developing comprehensive plans to achieve them. Strategic planning entails analyzing market trends, assessing internal capabilities and identifying opportunities for growth and innovation. 

By carefully crafting strategies and action plans, businesses can navigate uncertainties, anticipate challenges and position themselves for long-term success.

Organizing and Structuring

Organizing and structuring involve designing the organizational framework and allocating resources to facilitate the execution of plans and strategies. This function encompasses establishing reporting relationships, defining roles and responsibilities as well as creating workflows to ensure seamless employee coordination and collaboration. 

Effective organizational structure fosters clarity, efficiency and accountability within the organization, enabling teams to work cohesively toward common objectives.

Leading and Motivating

Next, leading and motivating is about inspiring and empowering employees to perform at their best and achieve organizational goals. Effective leaders set a compelling vision, communicate clear expectations and provide guidance and support to their teams. They foster a positive work culture that values teamwork, innovation and continuous improvement, thereby motivating employees to contribute their talents and efforts to the organization's success.

Controlling and Evaluating Performance

Lastly, controlling and evaluating performance involves monitoring progress, measuring outcomes and making adjustments as needed to ensure that goals are being met. This function includes establishing performance metrics, conducting regular reviews and implementing corrective actions to address any deviations from the plan. 

By maintaining oversight and accountability, businesses can identify areas for improvement, capitalize on strengths and drive continuous growth and development.

Specialized Areas of Business Management

Business management has various specialized areas encompassing multiple functions, from managing human resources and finances to overseeing marketing initiatives and optimizing operational processes. While each area has its unique focus and responsibilities, they all contribute to the organization's overall efficiency, productivity and profitability.

Human Resource Management

Human resource management (HRM) is a specialized area of business management that revolves around recruiting, developing and managing an organization's workforce. It encompasses various aspects such as total compensation, hiring processes, employee safety and wellness.

Contrary to popular belief, HRM is not solely the HR department's or individual's responsibility; rather, it is a collective effort involving all department managers who recognize the importance of effective HR practices in enabling employees to contribute effectively to the organization's overall goals and direction. In modern HRM approaches, emphasis is placed on utilizing employee programs to foster a positive impact on both staff members and the broader business.

Financial Management

Financial management encompasses a broad spectrum of financial activities, including budget planning, cash flow management and oversight of financial procedures. This facet of business management involves planning, directing and coordinating various activities such as accounting, investing, banking, insurance and securities management. 

Key elements of financial management include financial planning, financial control and financial decision-making, focusing on achieving a healthy balance between profit and risk to ensure long-term profitability. 

Financial management also entails short-term financial management, known as "working capital management," which includes cash management, inventory management and debtor management, all aimed at optimizing financial resources and maintaining profitability.

Marketing Management

Marketing management is a specialized area of business management that focuses on the practical application of marketing techniques and the strategic management of marketing resources and activities. It encompasses various aspects such as company analysis, collaborator analysis, competitor analysis, customer analysis, brand management, marketing strategy and pricing. 

Effective marketing management involves leveraging a company's resources to expand its customer base, enhance customer satisfaction and increase the company's perceived value through strategic branding and marketing initiatives tailored to meet business objectives.

Operations Management

Operations management (OM) is a specialized area of business management concerned with optimizing business practices to achieve maximum efficiency within an organization. It involves efficiently administrating processes to convert materials and labor into goods and services, thereby maximizing profits.

Operations management encompasses various strategic issues, such as determining the sizes of manufacturing plants, project management methods and information technology network structures as well as operational tasks like inventory management, quality control, materials handling and maintenance policies.

By managing resources and processes effectively, operations managers strive to balance costs with revenue to achieve optimal net operating profit and drive organizational success.

Essential Skills for Business Managers

To excel as a business manager, you'll need a diverse set of essential skills, including:

• Financial management skills
• Project management skills
• Team management skills
• Decision-making skills
• Leadership skills
• Communication skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Strategic thinking abilities
• Analytical skills
• Adaptability and flexibility

Studying Business Management

Careers in business management typically begin with obtaining a bachelor of business management degree. Such undergraduate programs provide a foundational understanding of various business principles and practices, including finance, marketing, human resources and operations management.

Beyond a bachelor's degree, individuals interested in advancing their careers in business management can pursue graduate degrees such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Management. These advanced degrees offer opportunities to explore specialized areas of business management and provide students with advanced knowledge, strategic thinking abilities and leadership skills essential for managerial roles in diverse industries.

Career Opportunities in Business Management

One of the key benefits of earning a business management degree is the vast array of career opportunities it opens up. Graduates with a background in business management are sought after by various industries and organizations, offering diverse career paths and advancement opportunities. Some of the potential career opportunities in business management include:

• Business analyst
• Marketing manager
• Human resources manager
• Operations manager
• Project manager
• Sales manager
• Supply chain manager
• Financial analyst
• Management consultant
• Entrepreneur or business owner

The Bottom Line

All in all, the role of a competent business manager is indispensable for the success of any organization. To excel in this field, acquiring the requisite education and training is paramount. Therefore, consider joining us at UND, where our programs empower aspiring managers with the skills and knowledge crucial for navigating the dynamic business landscape. Together, we can transform ambition into achievement. 

FAQs