Management as a science

The word science literally means knowledge. It is a systematised body of knowledge acquired by mankind through observation and experimentation and which is capable of verification. The basic difference between Art and science is that Art implies knowing, how the application, where as science is concerned with knowing why?In the words of Keynes "Science is a systematised body of knowledge which establishes relationship between cause and effect".
The essential features of science:

1. It is a systematised body of knowledge that uses scientific methods for observation.
2. The principles are evolved on the basis of continued observation
3. The principles are exact and have universal applicability without any limitation.
4. The principles establish a cause and effect relationship between various factors.
5. The validity of scientific principles can be verified and they provide a reliable basis for predicting future events.

1) Systematised Body of Knowledge:
                Management is viewed as a science as it is an organised body of knowledge built up by management practitioners, thinkers and philosophers over a period of time. "Management science is a body of systematised knowledge accumulated and accepted with reference to the understanding of general truths concerning management".
               The principles of management make use of scientific methods for observation. Frederick W. Taylor, the Father of science Management applied scientific techniques to studies of planning, organising, staffing, motivating etc.
2) Continued Observation:
                As applied to management, the principles of management have been developed after continued effects of many theorists and practitioners over a period of years.
3) Universal Application:
               In the field of management, this knowledge has been accumulated and accepted with reference to general truths. There are certain fundamental principles of management which can be universally approved. In the words of Taylor "The fundamental principles of management are applicable to all human activities from our simplest individual acts to the working of our great corporations".
4) Cause and effect Relationship:
               Scientific principles establish cause and effect relationship between various factors. When applied to management the principles of management also establish cause and effect relationship.
e.g., Poor planning and plant layout cause low productivity.
5) Validity and predictability:
               More knowledge or collection of facts is not science. It is only when the knowledge so gathered can be verified, it becomes science. The management also be verified for their validity. The principles of management also be verified for their validity. The principles of management have been put to several tests and found to be valid. For Ex: a subordinate put under one boss will show better results, than a subordinate who has to follow two or more bosses. Further, the principles of management by finding cause and effect relationship can serve basis for predicting further events.
             

   

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Management as an Art

An art is often regarded as the systematic application of skill or knowledge in effecting accomplishment of results. It represents the methods or ways of doing specific things and indicates how an objective is to be achieved. The function of art is to effect change and accomplish results through  deliberate efforts. Art is a personalised process and every artist has his own style. It is Practice - based and perfection and is requires continuous practice over a long period of time.
The main elements of Art are:

1. Personal skill
2. Practical knowledge
3. Result - oriented approach
4. Regular practice
5. Creativity

1) Personal skill:

           Like any other artist, a manger also uses his knowledge and skill in co-ordinating the activities of people to accomplish desired results.

2) Practical Knowledge:

           Management is concerned with the application of knowledge and skill, unless managerial principles are used for making the things effective and better, these will not be covered in art.

3) Result-oriented approach:

           Management is result oriented because it is concerned with accomplishment of objectives. It aims at achieving maximum productivity at lowest costs.

4) Regular Practice:

           Like an artist, management always tries to attain higher and higher goals in order to reach the state of absolute perfection. This efficiency and effectiveness is attained through regular practice.

5) Creativity:

           Every art has an element of creativity and in this sense also management is one of the most creative art as it is concerned with getting work done through others by motivating them to work and co-ordinating their activities.

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Management Roles

The more complex the organization, the more crucial his role. The more crucial his role. The success of an organization will depend upon the caliber of a manager to achieve its objectives.

HENRY MINTZBERG`S opines every manager, plays roles in three areas:

1) Inter personal relatonships:

• As a figure head.
• Leadership role
• Liason officer 

2) Informantion processing:

• Monitoring information
• Disseminating Information
• Organisations Spokesman

3) Decision Mnking:

• As an Entrepreneur
• As a conflict handler
• As a Resource Allocate
• As a negotiator

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Management skills

A skill is an acquired and learned ability to translate knowledge into performance. it is the competency of a person that allows his performance to be superior. All managers need to possess various skills which are necessary to carry at their jobs successfully.

1. Technical Skills:  Technical skills are necessary to accomplish or understand the specific kind of working done in an organisation. The perrsons who are working with tools and techniques are needed such skill. Ex: Engineers, Scientists, computer programmers etc. Technical skills are essential for first line managers who spend their time in training their subordinates and clear their doubts regarding were.
2. Human Skills:  Human skill is the ability to work with other people in a cooperative manner. Human skill are essential to hence effective team work in the organisation. It involves patience, understanding trust and genuine involvement in interpersonal relationship.
3. Analytical skills:  These skills are essential to identify key factors and to understand the interrelate roles they play in a given situation. Analytical skills help a manager to establish cause and effect relationship. These skills also help a manager for problem identifying, solving and decision making.
4. Conceptual Skills:  Such skills are essential to the managers to understand the overall working of the organisation and harmonise the working of the sub-system for reaching the organisational objectives.
5. Communication Skills:  Communication skills are an important element of interpersonal skills. Communication is essential for proper implementation of orders. The best ideas of manager may not be of any use if these are not properly communicated to subordinates.
6.  Decision-making Skills: Decision making is the process of reaching a point. It is choosing the best alternative of doing a thing from various choices available. Manager may make use of various techniques available for taking decisions.

 

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Distinction between Administration and management

Administration:

1. It is concerned with the formation of objectives, plans and policies.
2. It is a thinking function.
3. It is a top-management function.
4. It makes major policy decisions.
5. Decisions are influenced by external factors such as social, political, legal etc.
6. Administration is often associated with government policies.

Management:

1. It means getting things done through and people.
2. It is a doing function.
3. It is a lower-level management functions.
4. It makes decisions with the frame work of administration.
5. Decisions are influenced by internal factors such as values, beliefs, and opinions.
6. Management is widlely used in the business world.

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Importance of management

Management is overall the most important factor because no business runs itself, even no momentum. every business needs repeated stimulus which can only be provided by management. Thus management is dynamic, life giving element without which the "factors of production" will remain as were factors not become "production".
The following points bring out the importance of management:

1. Accomplishment of group goals,
2. Efficient operations of business,
3. Sound organization structure.

Accomplishment of group goals:

Success of a business enterprise depends on three important factors, viz

• How economically and efficiently the organization has used its man power and physical resources.
•  How effetively it has adapted the enterprise to the prevailing business environment e.g., needs and expectations of the customers, policies of rivals and
• How far the existing business policies have succeeded in realising the goals and objectives of the organisations.

Efficient operation of Business:

Efficient of an organisation depends on ability, experience, skills, co-operation zeal and enthusiasm to its employees. This, inturn, depends on proper motivation of there employee which can be accomplished only by an inspiring leadership provided by management makes sure that the workers know their jobs, helps them in improving their skills and abilities in doing their jobs.

Sound organisation structure:

Management establishes a sound organisation that is in accordance with the desired  objectives and goals and the weak to be done of accomplish them. Management establishes a system of authority and responsibility relationships, who will command whom, who will be responsible for what, and who shall be accountable to whom.

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Characteristics of Management

1.   Management is a group activity:  Nobody can satisfy all his desires himself. Therefore he unities which his fellow beings and works in an organized group to achieve what he cannot achieve individually. Massie has rightly called management as a “Co-operative group”.
2.    Management is goal – oriented: According to THEO HAIMAN “Effective management is always management by objectives”. Group efforts are directed towards the achievements of some predetermined goals. Management is concerned with establishment and accomplishment of these objectives.
3.   Management is a factor of production: Management is not an end in itself. It is a means to achieve the group objectives. It is a factor of production that is required the co-ordinate with the other factors of production for the accomplishment of predetermined goal and objectives.
4.  Management is a universal character: Management is essential in all types of concerns. If somewhere there is human activity, management is must there. The basic principles of management are universal. These can be applied in all types of concerns i.e., business, social, religious, cultural, sports, educational international technology.
5.   Management is needed at all levels of the enterprise: On the basis of the nature of work or target and the scope of authority, management is needed at all  levels of the organisations e.g., top level, middle level and supervisor level.
6.   Management is a distinct function: Management is a distinct function performed to fix and achieve stated objectives by the use of manpower and other factors of production. Different from the activities, techniques and procedures, the process of management consists of such functions as planning, organizing, staffing, directing, coordinating, motivating and controlling.
7.  Management is a social process: Management is taken as a social process. It has a social responsibility to make reasonable use of scarce resources keeping in view the benefit of the community as a whole.
8.  Management is system of authority: Authority is the power to compel men to work in a specific manner. Management cannot work in the absence of authority. There cannot be an efficient management without well defined lives of command a superior subordinate relationship at the every levels of decision making.
9.   Management is a dynamic function: Management has to be performed continuously in a rapidly every changing business environment. It is constantly engaged in the moulding of the enterprise. It is also concerned about the change of environment itself so as to ensure the success of enterprise. Hence it is on-going function.
10. Management is intangible: It can be seen in the form of results and could not be actually seen. For ex: when we are not able to produce desired quantity, we say it is the results of poor management.
11. Management is Art as well as Science: Management is a science since its principles have universal application. Management is an art as the results of management depends upon the personal skill of managers. The art of the management is essential to make the best use of management science. Thus management is both science and art.
12. Management is a profession: It has systematic and specialized body of knowledge consisting of principles, techniques, rules and laws. It can be taught as a specialized subjet.

   

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What is Management?

Management is universal in the modern industrial world and there is no substitute for good management. It makes human effects more productive and brings better technology, products and services to our society.

Management is a must to accomplish desired goals through group action. It is essential to convert the disorganised resources of men, machines, materials and methods into a useful and effective enterprise.

Management is the art of maximising efficiency, as a social process, a method of getting things done through others, a plan of action and its direction by a co-operative group moving towards a common goal. Effective utilisation of available resources to achieve same objective is management.
Management is a comprehensive function of planning, organising, forecasting, co-ordinating, leading, controlling, motivating the efforts of others to achieve specific objectives. management can precisely be called the Rule-making and Rule-enforcing body.
Some definitions of Management:

According to HAROLD KO

"Management is the art of getting things done through and with formally organized groups" 

 According to PETER F. DRUKER

"A Multipurpose organ that manages a usiness and manages managers and manages workers and works"

According to J.LUNDY

"Management is what a mangement does. It is the task of planning executing and controlling".

According to LAWRENCE APPLEY

"Management is the development of people and not the direction of things".

According to F.W.TYLOR

"Management is the development of people and not the direction of things". 

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