The job of managing involves five basic functions. Which is one of them?

• A. Planning
• B. Staffing
• C. Budgeting
• D. Communicating

Answer: (A)

The concept being tested is recognizing one of the fundamental functions used to manage work. Planning involves setting goals and deciding what needs to be done, who will do it, what resources are required, and when things should happen. This step lays the direction for everything that follows, guiding how you organize people and resources, who you hire, how you lead, and how you measure success. Because planning provides the roadmap that shapes all other management activities, it is considered one of the core functions of management.

Budgeting, while essential, is typically viewed as a tool that supports planning and controlling rather than a standalone basic function. Communicating is critical across all management activities, but it isn’t listed as a separate fundamental function on the classic model. Staffing is indeed a key activity in many frameworks, but the question targets identifying one clear example, and planning is the best-known fit that directly embodies the planning stage of management.