Nature of management

Nature of management:
Everything you need to know about the nature of management. It is hard to define the nature of management.

Different people look at management differently. While a mathematician defines management as a logical process, a psychologist considers it as an art of understanding human behaviour.

However, such approaches are narrow as they look at a particular aspect of management, thereby, missing to see the subject as a whole.

Management as a Science:

Science is a systematically organised body of knowledge based on proper findings and exact principles and is capable of verification. Any subject which is scientifically developed and consists of universally accepted principles is a science.

1.In this respect, management can be considered a science. It satisfies the basic characteristics of a science.Science is an organised body of knowledge comprising general principles. Management is also an organised body of knowledge comprising general principles.

2. Science uses scientific and systematic methods for observations. Management also uses scientific methods for observations and calculations.

3. The principles of Science are derived from practice and are verified by competent people. The management principles are also derived from practice and are proved to be true.

4. The scientific principles are exact and are universally applicable. The principles of management are also exact and are universally applicable.

5.Science has a predictive power. A manager also can predict from practice that sales will increase if advertisement expenses are increased.

Thus, management can rightly be called a ‘science’. But, management is not a perfect science like Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry or Biology. Management falls in the area of “Social Sciences.” Ernest Dale has called management a ‘soft’ science.

2)Management as an Art:

‘Art’ refers to the way of doing specific things. It indicates how an objective is to be achieved. It is the know-how to accomplish a desired concrete result.

Management possesses many of the important qualities of an art.

It can rightly be called an art due to the following similarities:

1. Just like an art, the process of management requires the use of know-how and skills.

2. Management is also practical like an art because it aims at the achievement of concrete results.

3. There is always a risk regarding the success of an art. There is an uncertainty regarding the success of a manager also.

4. The work of an art is highly personalised. The management is also personalised because every manager has his own approach to the solving of problems.

5.Finally, like an art the management is undoubtedly an art, and that too a fine art.

3)Management as a Profession:

Management is regarded as a profession by many, although it does not possess all the features of a profession. A profession is an occupation for which specialised knowledge, skills and training are required.

The use of these skills is not meant for self-satisfaction, but for larger interests of the society. The success of the use of these skills is measured not in terms of money alone.

Management as a profession should possess the following attributes:

1.A profession involves the application of expert knowledge for solving problems. Management also requires expert knowledge for solving problems.

2. A person must compulsorily acquire the expert knowledge to practice a profession. Those who want to practice management as a profession must acquire expert knowledge.

3. Honesty and integrity are essential for a profession. They are equally essential for management also.

4. The principal motive of any profession is service. Modern management aims at giving priority to service to the customers.

5.Every profession has certain social responsibilities. The management has responsibilities to the various sections of the society like, owners, creditors, customers, employees, the government and the public at large.

Thus, we can conclude that management is a profession, although it is not a full-fledged profession. It is this aspect that has raised the status of the manager.

To sum up, management is a trinity of science, art and profession.