6MANAGEMENT MADE EASY
1.INTRODUCTION TO MANAGEMENT:
CONTENTS:
Definition of management
Features/nature of management
Overview of managerial functions
Managerial levels & skills
Qualities of a good manager
DEFINITION OF MANAGEMENT:
Definition: I
Management is an art of getting things done through and with people in
formally organised groups.
Definition: II by Mac Farland
Management is the process by which managers establish, maintain and
operate purposive organisations through a co-ordinated, co-operative and
systematic human effort.
FEATURES/NATURE OF MANAGEMENT:
1. Management is a process.
As a process management involves several activities and it is not a single
activity.
2. Management is peopled:
Management is made up of people and without people there is no
management. It is done through and with people. It is therefore a social
process.
3. Existence of objectives:
Management is done in purposive organisations and without some set
objectives there cannot be management.
4. Existence and relatedness among resources:
There are four resources that are necessary in management i.e. money,
men, machines and materials. (4Ms). These resources are related and
inter – dependent.
5. Management is a dynamic process:
The management principles do change with the changes in the
environment. There is no one best way of managing and what is good
management today cannot be good management tomorrow.
1
,6. Management is multi-disciplinary:
Though developed as a distinct body of knowledge, management, derives
knowledge from various other disciplines e.g, history, economics,
mathematics, operational research, psychology, philosophy, sociology,
science, etc.
7. Relative and not absolute principles:
A principle is any myth or belief that explains the cause and effects of
doing something. Management has developed such principles. These
principles are relative and not absolute. This means that the management
principles are applied differently in different organisations and different
places and have different strengths in different organisations and places.
This is affected by factors like culture, practices and the managers
philosophy.
8. Management is intangible;
Management is an unseen or invisible force. It cannot be seen but its force
can be felt every where in the form of results.
9. Management a universal phenomenon:
The management principles are of universal application, i.e they are found
in all organisations in all parts of the globe.
10. Is management a science or an art?
Management is both an art and a science.
11.. Is management a profession?
It is true that management is a profession.
THE UNIVERSALITY OF MANAGEMENT:
Reasons for universality of management:
The concept of universality of management suggests that the basics of
management are universal and can be found in all types of organisations
situated in any country or culture.
The following arguments are advanced to support the view of universality of
management:
1. Management as a process:
Management as a process is found in all organised activities irrespective
of country, culture, or size. The various functions of management process
i.e. planni9ng, organising, co-ordinating, controlling, staffing, directing,
budgeting, etc. are universal for all organisations.
2. Distinction between management fundamentals and techniques:
2
, Management fundamentals are the basic principles and theories while
management techniques are the tools for managerial functions. Whereas
management techniques may differ from country to country, management
fundamentals remain the same.
3. Distinction between management fundamentals and practices:
Universality of management suggest that management fundamentals are
the same only the practices that differ.
Reasons against universality of management
According to this view management is situational and there is nothing like
universal principles of management. Therefore there is no such way that is
right for a manager to operate or behave. The arguments against universality
of management are based on the following facts:
1. Management is culture bound:
There is an argument that applicability of management principles may be
limited by culture. Culture consists of attitudes, beliefs., and values .These
include individual psychological differences such as personality traits,
society’s varying educational levels, social and political systems. Since
management is people oriented, there is always a possibility that
application of management principles will be affected by these factors.
2. Objective of an enterprise:
The objective of an enterprise determines the type of management
required.
3. Differences in philosophises:
Difference in philosophises of various organisations put a limit on the
person being a good manager in all types of organisations. Philosophy can
mean an attitude toward certain activities as in a person’s philosophy of
doing business.
MANAGEMENT AS AN ART:
The meaning of management as an art is related with the bringing of a
desired result through the application of skills. It is concerned with the
understanding of how a particular work can be established.
Management is more of an art than a art than a science and can be seen from
the following facts:
1. The process of management does involve the use of skills and know how
like any other art such as music, painting, etc.
3
, 2. The process of management is directed toward achievement of concrete
results as any other art.
3. Management is creative like any other art. It creates new situations for
further improvement.
5.Management has a personalised meaning. Therefore there is no one best
way of managing. Every manager in his profession or organisation has an
individual approach and technique in solving problems.
MANAGEMENT AS A SCIENCE:
A science is based on logical consistency, systematic explanation, critical
evaluation and experimental analysis. It is a body of knowledge accumulated
and accepted with reference to the understanding of general truths
concerning a particular phenomenon, subject or area of study.
Management is viewed as a science due to the following facts:
1. It involves operational research like other sciences.
2. Like the scientific laws the management principles explain the cause and
effects of doing something.
3. Like other sciences, management involves quantitative analysis and
measurement
4. There is experimental analysis in management e.g. quality control in
production.
5. Management like other sciences advances with knowledge.
N/B : Management is seen to be a pseudo / quasi / an inexact science or a
science half-way. It has not been developed into a full science.
MANAGEMENT AS A PROFESSION:
A profession can be defined as an occupation upon a specialised, intellectual,
and long study and training, the purpose of which is to supply skilled service
or advice to others for a definite fee or salary.
The following characteristics of profession have been discussed to show the
extent to which management is a profession;
1. Existence of knowledge:
A profession emerges from the establishment of the fact that there is a
body of knowledge that cannot be skirted around but has to be studied.
This is true for all professions including management. Management has
been developed as a distinct body of knowledge.
2. Acquisition of knowledge:
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1.INTRODUCTION TO MANAGEMENT:
CONTENTS:
Definition of management
Features/nature of management
Overview of managerial functions
Managerial levels & skills
Qualities of a good manager
DEFINITION OF MANAGEMENT:
Definition: I
Management is an art of getting things done through and with people in
formally organised groups.
Definition: II by Mac Farland
Management is the process by which managers establish, maintain and
operate purposive organisations through a co-ordinated, co-operative and
systematic human effort.
FEATURES/NATURE OF MANAGEMENT:
1. Management is a process.
As a process management involves several activities and it is not a single
activity.
2. Management is peopled:
Management is made up of people and without people there is no
management. It is done through and with people. It is therefore a social
process.
3. Existence of objectives:
Management is done in purposive organisations and without some set
objectives there cannot be management.
4. Existence and relatedness among resources:
There are four resources that are necessary in management i.e. money,
men, machines and materials. (4Ms). These resources are related and
inter – dependent.
5. Management is a dynamic process:
The management principles do change with the changes in the
environment. There is no one best way of managing and what is good
management today cannot be good management tomorrow.
1
,6. Management is multi-disciplinary:
Though developed as a distinct body of knowledge, management, derives
knowledge from various other disciplines e.g, history, economics,
mathematics, operational research, psychology, philosophy, sociology,
science, etc.
7. Relative and not absolute principles:
A principle is any myth or belief that explains the cause and effects of
doing something. Management has developed such principles. These
principles are relative and not absolute. This means that the management
principles are applied differently in different organisations and different
places and have different strengths in different organisations and places.
This is affected by factors like culture, practices and the managers
philosophy.
8. Management is intangible;
Management is an unseen or invisible force. It cannot be seen but its force
can be felt every where in the form of results.
9. Management a universal phenomenon:
The management principles are of universal application, i.e they are found
in all organisations in all parts of the globe.
10. Is management a science or an art?
Management is both an art and a science.
11.. Is management a profession?
It is true that management is a profession.
THE UNIVERSALITY OF MANAGEMENT:
Reasons for universality of management:
The concept of universality of management suggests that the basics of
management are universal and can be found in all types of organisations
situated in any country or culture.
The following arguments are advanced to support the view of universality of
management:
1. Management as a process:
Management as a process is found in all organised activities irrespective
of country, culture, or size. The various functions of management process
i.e. planni9ng, organising, co-ordinating, controlling, staffing, directing,
budgeting, etc. are universal for all organisations.
2. Distinction between management fundamentals and techniques:
2
, Management fundamentals are the basic principles and theories while
management techniques are the tools for managerial functions. Whereas
management techniques may differ from country to country, management
fundamentals remain the same.
3. Distinction between management fundamentals and practices:
Universality of management suggest that management fundamentals are
the same only the practices that differ.
Reasons against universality of management
According to this view management is situational and there is nothing like
universal principles of management. Therefore there is no such way that is
right for a manager to operate or behave. The arguments against universality
of management are based on the following facts:
1. Management is culture bound:
There is an argument that applicability of management principles may be
limited by culture. Culture consists of attitudes, beliefs., and values .These
include individual psychological differences such as personality traits,
society’s varying educational levels, social and political systems. Since
management is people oriented, there is always a possibility that
application of management principles will be affected by these factors.
2. Objective of an enterprise:
The objective of an enterprise determines the type of management
required.
3. Differences in philosophises:
Difference in philosophises of various organisations put a limit on the
person being a good manager in all types of organisations. Philosophy can
mean an attitude toward certain activities as in a person’s philosophy of
doing business.
MANAGEMENT AS AN ART:
The meaning of management as an art is related with the bringing of a
desired result through the application of skills. It is concerned with the
understanding of how a particular work can be established.
Management is more of an art than a art than a science and can be seen from
the following facts:
1. The process of management does involve the use of skills and know how
like any other art such as music, painting, etc.
3
, 2. The process of management is directed toward achievement of concrete
results as any other art.
3. Management is creative like any other art. It creates new situations for
further improvement.
5.Management has a personalised meaning. Therefore there is no one best
way of managing. Every manager in his profession or organisation has an
individual approach and technique in solving problems.
MANAGEMENT AS A SCIENCE:
A science is based on logical consistency, systematic explanation, critical
evaluation and experimental analysis. It is a body of knowledge accumulated
and accepted with reference to the understanding of general truths
concerning a particular phenomenon, subject or area of study.
Management is viewed as a science due to the following facts:
1. It involves operational research like other sciences.
2. Like the scientific laws the management principles explain the cause and
effects of doing something.
3. Like other sciences, management involves quantitative analysis and
measurement
4. There is experimental analysis in management e.g. quality control in
production.
5. Management like other sciences advances with knowledge.
N/B : Management is seen to be a pseudo / quasi / an inexact science or a
science half-way. It has not been developed into a full science.
MANAGEMENT AS A PROFESSION:
A profession can be defined as an occupation upon a specialised, intellectual,
and long study and training, the purpose of which is to supply skilled service
or advice to others for a definite fee or salary.
The following characteristics of profession have been discussed to show the
extent to which management is a profession;
1. Existence of knowledge:
A profession emerges from the establishment of the fact that there is a
body of knowledge that cannot be skirted around but has to be studied.
This is true for all professions including management. Management has
been developed as a distinct body of knowledge.
2. Acquisition of knowledge:
4
