Which of the following best describes the main focus of the planning function in management?

The main focus of the planning function in management is setting objectives. This foundational aspect of management involves determining where an organization wants to go and identifying the steps needed to get there. Effective planning requires a clear understanding of the organization's goals, resources, and the external environment, enabling management to chart a path forward.

By establishing clear objectives, management can align resources and efforts toward achieving specific outcomes, which provides direction and benchmarks for progress. Setting objectives is crucial as it informs the subsequent phases of management activities, such as implementation and evaluation. While implementation of strategies, evaluation of performance, and coordinating resources are all important management functions, they largely derive from the objectives set during the planning phase. Thus, without a solid foundation of objectives, the other functions would lack effective guidance.