The four functions of management are Planning, Organizing, Leading, Controlling. Which option lists exactly these four?

• A. Planning, Organizing, Leading, Controlling
• B. Planning, Organizing, Directing, Controlling
• C. Organizing, Leading, Budgeting, Staffing
• D. Planning, Leading, Coordinating, Evaluating

Answer: (A)

The central idea here is the classic four-function framework of management: Planning, Organizing, Leading, and Controlling. Each captures a distinct responsibility in guiding an organization—planning sets the goals and steps, organizing arranges the resources and structure, leading motivates and directs people, and controlling tracks performance and makes adjustments as needed. The option that lists exactly these four terms aligns with the established model, so it is the best answer. Other options swap in terms like Directing, Budgeting, Staffing, Coordinating, or Evaluating. While some texts treat Directing as the same as Leading, or see elements of budgeting or staffing as part of planning or organizing, those substitutions don’t match the standard four-function framework on their own.