Which of the following is not considered one of Fayol's four primary management functions?

• A. Staffing
• B. Planning
• C. Directing
• D. Controlling

Answer: (A)

Fayol’s approach to management centers on four main activities that guide how managers use resources to reach goals: planning what to do, organizing how to use resources, directing (leading) people to carry out tasks, and controlling performance to meet standards. In some versions, coordinating is added as an ongoing integrative step, or folded into the other functions, but staffing isn't listed as a separate primary function. Staffing involves recruiting, hiring, training, and placing people, and these tasks would be carried out within the organizing and directing activities rather than standing alone as its own function in Fayol’s framework. Therefore, staffing isn’t considered one of Fayol’s primary management functions; the others—planning, organizing, directing, and controlling (with coordination sometimes included as a fifth)—fit his model.