Management

Introduction

Managing is one of the most important human activities. Ever since people began forming groups from the days of civilization to present days to accomplish aims they could not achieve as individuals, managing has been essential to ensure the coordination of individual efforts. As society has come to rely increasingly on group effort, and as many organized groups have become large, the task of managers has been rising in importance from mono tasking to multi tasking. All the major achievement shave been made possible though people functioning in groups.

Definition

There is no single universally accepted definition of the term 'management'. Different scholars and schools of management have defined it differently emphasizing one or the other.

In the words of Mary Parker Follett 'management is the art of getting things done through others'. This definition emphasizes that the managers achieve organisational objectives by getting work from others and no performing the tasks themselves. However, the scope of management is not merely restricted to getting things  done through others. It is certainly much more that. It includes decision-making, organising, staffing, motivation and leading of subordinates and controlling the organisational activities.

Harold Koontz defined management as 'the art of getting things done through and with people in formally organised groups'.

Lawrence Appley defined management as 'the accomplishment of results through the efforts of other people'.

According to George R. Terry, Management is 'a distinct process consisting of activities of planning, organising, actuating and controlling, performed to determine and accomplish stated objectives with the use of human beings and other resources'.

These definitions are concerned with efficiency and effectiveness. Efficiency is getting work done with a minimum of effort, expense, or waste. Effectiveness is accomplishing tasks that help fulfill organisational objectives such as customer service and satisfaction. Thus, management is working through others to accomplish tasks that help fulfill organisational objectives as efficiently as possible.

Nature or Features of Management

Management is a distinct activity having the following salient features or characteristics

1. Goal Oriented:

Management is a purposeful activity. It coordinates t the efforts of workers to achieve the goals of the organisation. The success of management is measured by the extent to which the organisational goals are achieved. It is imperative that the organisational goals must be well defined and properly understood by the managers at various levels.

2. Economic Resource:

Management production together with land, labour and is one of the factors of capital. It is the most critical input in the success of any organised group activity. It is the force which assembles and integrates other resources, namely, labour, capital and materials. These factors do not by themselves ensure production, they require the catalyst of management to produce goods and services required by the society. Thus, management is an essential ingredient of an organisation 

3. Distinct Process: 

Management is a distinct process consisting of such functions as planning, organising, staffing, directing and controlling. These functions are so interwoven that it is not possible to lay down exactly the sequence of various functions or their relative significance. In essence, the process of management involves decision-making and putting of decisions into practice.

4. Integrative Force: 

The essence of management is integration of human and other resources to achieve the desired objectives. All these resources are made available to those who manage. Managers apply knowledge, experience and management principles for getting the results from the workers by the use of non-human resources. Managers also seek to harmonise the individuals' goals with the organisational goals for the smooth working of the organisation.

5. Intangible Force:

Management has been called an unseen force. Its presence is evidenced by the result of its efforts-orderliness, informed employees, buoyant spirit and adequate work output. Thus, feeling of management is result-oriented. One may not see with the naked eyes the functioning of management but its results are apparently known. 

6. Results through Others:

The managers cannot do everything themselves. They must have the necessary ability and skills to get work accomplished through the efforts of others. They must motivate the subordinates for the accomplishment of the tasks assigned to them.

7. A Science and an Art:

Management has an organized body of knowledge consisting of well-defined concepts, principles and techniques which have wide applications. So it is treated as a science. The application of these concepts, principles and techniques requires specialised knowledge and skills on the part of the manager. Since the skills acquired by a manager are his personal possession, management is viewed as an art.

8. System of Authority:
Management as a team of managers represents a system of authority, a hierarchy of command and control. Managers at different levels possess varying degrees of authority Generally, as we move down in the managerial hierarchy, the degree of authority gets gradually reduced. Authority enables the managers to perform their functions effectively.

9. Multi-disciplinary Subject:
Management has grown as a field of study taking the help of so many other disciplines such as Engineering, Anthropology, Sociology and Psychology Much of the management literature is the result of the association of these disciplines. For instance, productivity orientation drew its inspiration from Industrial Engineering and human relations orientation from Psychology. Similarly, Sociology and Operation Research have also contributed to the development of management science.

10. Universal Application:

Management is universal in character. The principles and techniques of management are equally applicable in the fields of business, education, military, government and hospital. Henri Fayol suggested that principles of management would apply more or less in every situation. The principles are working guidelines which are flexible and capable of adaptation to every organisation where the efforts of human beings are to be coordinated.

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Redrafted for Educational Purpose.

Deekshith Kumar,

Assistant Professor of Commerce

Book Reference:

1. Management: A Global and Entrepreneurial Perspective by Heinz Weihrich, Mark V. Cannice, Harold Koontz

2. Principles and Practice of Management by T N Chabra

3. Principles of management by L M Prasad

4. Management process and organization by V.S.P Rao