CONCEPTS AND SCHOOLS OF MANAGEMENT THOUGHT

 Management encompasses various definitions and applications, adapting to different contexts. It draws from verbs like organizing, controlling, handling, and executing for specific purposes. Its scope includes:

1. Occupational Group: A collective term for people engaged in managerial tasks and functions. This can refer to the entire group or individuals within it.

2. Individual Management Role: Pertains to an individual performing managerial functions or being part of a management-focused group.

3. Academic Discipline: An area of specialization that imparts knowledge and skills in management.

4. Process of Activities: Management involves a series of specific activities or functions, serving as a science and an art.

   

Management is a blend of science and art. Effective managers employ a scientific approach, establishing philosophies, principles, and practices for application. While it shares commonalities with social sciences like psychology and sociology, it's distinct. As an art, management is about executing organizational functions through people.

An ancient practice, management is essential wherever organized human activities exist. It is crucial for both goods-producing and service-performing tasks, across diverse private and public organizations, regardless of size. Management helps achieve organizational and personal goals, balancing conflicting objectives, and ensuring efficiency and effectiveness.

In broad terms, management involves collaborating with people to define, interpret, and attain organizational goals. This is achieved through functions like planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling. It encompasses processes such as decision-making, problem-solving, and action-planning, all of which involve managing resources like human, financial, material, and time.

It's important to differentiate between management and administration. Management encompasses planning, initiating actions, and monitoring, serving as a policy-making and policy-control process. In contrast, administration centers on implementing policies, procedures, rules, and regulations set by management.