Chapter 1 POM-1
Chapter 1 POM-1
PRINCIPLES OF MGT
Topics to be covered:
Topic 1: Concept / Meaning of Management
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Management is a discipline which makes the use of various other disciplines like
economics, sociology, psychology, anthropology, statistics etc. so giving precise and
exact meaning or definition is very difficult because the term management is used in
variety of ways.
For example economists have used the term Management as a factor of production,
sociologists have treated management term as group of people and some others
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have defined Management as process composed of various functions in it. So,
together by taking viewpoint of all into consideration, we can give a brief idea of
management in the following ways.
1. Management as a discipline
2. Management as a group of people
3. Management as a process
Management as a discipline
Discipline refers to the study of knowledge having well defined concepts and
principles, rules, regulations, definitions, laws etc.
Management is a discipline because it is also having relevant concepts, laws, rules
and principles which can be helpful in managing an organisation.
Management as a Process
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1. One cannot say who can be considered as Managers on the basis of above
mentioned definition.
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2. If one could still know about who are the managers, then it would be difficult to say
what they do on the basis of this definition.
In order to overcome the above limitations we can divide the total activities of the
organizations into two parts. Firstly, we talk about those activities which are of operative in
nature through which we can achieve the actual work of an organisation. Like handling
machines by workers, putting materials in the machines, going in to the market to make a
sales call etc. Secondly, we talk about those activities which are done to get the work done
by others. Like motivating employees to achieve the target, instructing the worker to
perform his work, train the executive how to complete a sales call etc.
A. Production/Productivity/Efficiency Oriented
B. Decision Making Oriented
C. People Oriented
D. Functions Oriented
“Management is an art of knowing what you want to do and then seeing that it is done in
the best & cheapest way.” - Fredrick Winslow Taylor
“Management is simply the process of Decision Making and control over the actions of
human beings for the expressed purpose of attaining pre-determined goals.”
Stanley Vance
People Oriented Definition of Management
“Management is an art of getting things done through and with people in formally
organised group.” - Harold Koontz
Lawrence Appley
Functions Oriented Definition of Management
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Topic 3: Characteristics / Features of Management*
*(Students are requested not to confuse this answer with “Features of Management as a System”, as both are different
answers)
Management is Intangible
Every Organisation is a deliberate and purposive creation and therefore they must have
some objectives.
The objectives are the desired state of affairs which an organisation attempts to achieve.
Every activity in an organisation is done to achieve some objectives because without
objectives, it becomes very difficult to define direction where organised group activities
would lead to.
Objectives in an organisation may be to earn maximum revenue, to achieve efficiency in
production, to make good brand image in market, to get maximum ROI (Return on
Investment)
Decision making means selecting the best alternative among the several available
alternatives.
A manager needs to take numerous amounts of decisions throughout the life of an
organisation and the quality of decision determines the success or the failure of an
organisation. Even success or failure of managers can also be judged by the quality of
decisions they make.
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Management is a process of organised activities. Without organised activities, two
groups of people cannot be involved in the performance of activities.
Management comes into existence when groups of people are working towards
achieving the common objectives.
Resources include Man, Machine, Material, Method, Money and Market. All these
resources are given to those who manage the activities in an organisation.
These people would apply their knowledge, expertise, and experience for getting the
desired results using all these resources.
But the major concern is to integrate these resources i.e. what resource should be used
at what time, in what quantity and should be delegated to whom. Workers or
employees do their work by using these resources but the main thing is to utilize and
allocate these resources in a way to get maximum output from them.
Management is Multi-Disciplinary
Management takes the knowledge and concepts of several other disciplines; makes use
of them and apply them to explain many concepts of Management itself.
Management makes use of psychology, sociology, economics, mathematics, accounting,
statistics, econometrics, anthropology, ecology, operation research etc. to explain the
concepts of management.
Management integrates the ideas from these disciplines and suggests new knowledge
which can be put into practice for managing an organisation.
Management in itself uses various rules, laws, principles and theories to explain its
concepts. In this regards it is considered to be as a systematic body of knowledge. And
hence we can consider it as a science.
But, it would be completely immaterial to know these principles of management unless
and until they are applied in real life in a better way.
So management is not only dealing with what and why of a phenomena but along with
that it deals with how of a phenomena too.
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Hence, we can say that Applied Knowledge is power.
Management is Universal
The fundamentals & theories of management are universally applicable but its
techniques and practices are not universally applicable.
Management is Profession
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regard Management as a pure of perfect science like natural or physical science but rather
we can consider management as a Pseudo Science (Inexact Science). This will become
clearer from the following discussions.
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From the above arguments we can say that Management is not as perfect science as
physics, chemistry, biology or mathematics.
Management as an Art
Management is regarded as an art also.
An Art is related with bringing desired results through application of skills or
knowledge.
To manage effectively one must have the knowledge (Science) of management as
well as the skills and art to manage it well.
Science comes through knowledge and art comes through practice.
Science deals with ‘what’ and ‘why’ of a phenomenon whereas Art deals with
‘how’ of a phenomenon.
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Knowing the science (Rules, Laws, Principles, Hypotheses) of management is very
much necessary but the one who applies this knowledge differently or skillfully
ultimately wins.
E.g. Sachin Tendulkar knows the science of cricket and the same knowledge is there
with other cricketers, but he has a unique art of playing cricket than other cricketers.
Lata Mangeshkar knows the science of singing and the same knowledge is there with
singers, but she has a unique art of singing very beautifully.
By reading a book on swimming, one cannot know swimming; as a same way just by
having knowledge of management will not be enough for managing an organising. It
needs more of creativity, practice, intuition and experience. So management is more
of art than science.
Management as an Art can be seen from the following facts:
o The process of management involves the use of know-how and skills like any
other art such as music, painting, singing etc.
o Management demands creativity like any other art
o Management is based upon the fact that “there is no one best way of
managing the things”. Every person has his own art of managing the things.
o Management involves getting the desired result / objectives like any other
art.
Science and Art both are complementary in nature. Without science, one can not apply
anything and without art, just by having the knowledge, it is of no use. Same is the case with
management. Just having the knowledge of management is not enough but along with that
one must know the art of managing. We should conclude that management is both science
as well as an art. We should say “Applied Knowledge is power” rather than just “knowledge
is power”.
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There are different features of profession but as we earlier said all of them do not applied to
management. So let us see which of them are applied and which are not.
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1. Existence of Specialized Knowledge
For considering any discipline as a profession there must be an existence of
specialized knowledge.
Management there exists a large amount of specialised knowledge / distinct body of
knowledge. This specialised knowledge has emerged from the need of managing
highly diversified and complex organisations.
So in this regard, management can be considered as a profession.
3. Professional Association
Any occupation, which claims to be a profession, must have a professional
association with it.
An association regulates and controls the behavior of professionals, takes
disciplinary actions if necessary and prescribe the criteria for individuals who want to
enter the profession.
A person, who wants to practice a profession, must enter / register with a respective
professional association of their field. E.g. A students of Chartered Accountancy must
be a member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, A medical student must
be a member of Indian Medical Association, and a law graduate must be a member
of Bar Council of India.
In Management also there is an association called All India Management Association
(AIMA) in India and some associations are prevailing outside India too. But it is not
mandatory to be associated with AIMA to practice management.
In this regards Management cannot be considered to be a profession.
4. Service Motive
This concept suggests that professionals should keep social interest in their mind
while charging fees for their professional services.
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The service motive concept further lays that the success of any profession is
measured not in terms of money it earns but by the amount of social service it
provides.
This important contribution of management can’t be measured in terms of money
alone because without integrating effort of management, resources worth millions
of rupees may be useless.
And in management also there is service motive, so in that regard management can
be considered as a profession.
5. Ethical Codes
For every profession, some ethical standard are provided and every individual of the
profession is expected to maintain conformity with these standards.
The need for ethical codes arises because of the fact that occupations whose
practitioners have mastery over an area of knowledge have a degree of power by
virtue of their expertise and this power can be used for the benefit of the
professionals at the cost of the society.
From the above discussion shows that management possesses certain characteristics of
profession while others are missing. Therefore, it can’t be said to be a profession, though it
is an “Emerging Profession” i.e., emerging as a profession.
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Introduction:
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2. By people / By students from a developing country (like India), coming to study and
work in Industrially developed country (like USA) and they return back to their own
country
3. By Training and Development by the managers of Industrially developed countries
for Industrially developing country
The knowledge of management can be transferred from one person to another, from one
company to another and from one country to another country but this transferability of
knowledge of management can be meaningful only when that knowledge can be applied
universally or it has universal application. There are two views prevailing for this: Some say
the knowledge of Management has no universal applicability and some authors say it has
universal applicability. Let us see arguments for both, and we shall then decide whether the
knowledge of management is universally applicable or not?
Many authors & experts in management like Harbinson, Ghisselli, Porter and Richman,
through their research (in various countries & from various managers of different countries)
on universality of management have come to common conclusion that fundamentals and
basics of management are universally applicable.
1. Management as a Process
Management as a process is universally applicable
Management as a process can be found in all organised activities whatever the
country, culture or size it may be.
Management as a process includes steps like planning, organising, staffing, directing,
coordinating and controlling are universally applicable in all organisations and as a
manager one must possess the knowledge of all these function. However, intensity
of a particular function differs company to company.
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Art of managing includes use of / application of the theory and fundamentals of
management, which will differ country to country. The fundamentals will remain
same but its practice is subject to variations under different situations and
conditions.
E.g. Koontz & O’Donnell has exemplified this phenomenon as automobile to be used
in desert area and automobile to be used in super highways are obviously not going
to be the same even if physical science of automobile engineering tends to be the
same.
E.g. American Management Practice and Japanese Management practice tend to
differ
Arguments against universality suggest that there are certain factors which affect the
application of a principle or a set of principles of management.
1. Cultural Characteristics
The applicability of management principles throughout the world is based on the
culture of different countries.
“Culture is a set of beliefs, attitudes and values that are shared commonly by the
members of the society.”
Culture affects people’s behavior very significantly and management being a people
oriented process is highly affected by the culture. It is obvious that culture of
different countries is not going to be the same, so people’s behavior is not going to
be the same and as a result management is not going to remain the same
throughout the world.
2. Management Philosophy
Philosophy of management means philosophy of founders or philosophy of top
managers of the organisations.
Every organisation has its own philosophy (way of thinking) of managing an
organisation like an individual. And this philosophy is not going to be the same
organisation by organisation. E.g Some organisations believe in profit maximization,
while some may believe in service to society. So when philosophy changes,
management practices will also change.
E.g. Family Based Organizations’ Philosophy will totally differ from that of the
professionally Managed Organisations.
3. Organisational Objectives
The type of management will depend the organizational objectives. For different
types of objectives the approach of managing an organisation shall differ.
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E.g. If Stability is the objective of organisation, management will be different and if
the Growth is the objective, then management will totally differ from earlier.
E.g. Profit oriented organisations manage very differently as compared to those
which are Service Oriented / NPOs (Non-Profit Organisations) organisations.
CONCLUSION
Theories & Fundamentals of Management are Universal but its Techniques & Practices are
not.
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The social systems approach was introduced by Vilfredo Pareto, a sociologist. But
further development to his approach was made by Chester Bernard.
As per this approach, an organisation is a cultural system made up of people who
work in cooperation. To achieve organisational objectives, a cooperative system
can be developed by understanding the behaviour of people in the groups.
Contribution of Barnard:
1. Concept of Organisation
2. Formal and Informal Organisation
3. Elements of Organisation
4. Authority
5. Functions of the executive
6. Motivation
7. Executive Effectiveness
8. Organisational Equilibrium
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7B. DECISION THEORY APPROACH
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Try his best to organize the resources available to him with a view to optimize their
use to achieve objectives of the organisation.
Comply (Follow) with the Indian laws relating to the management of his organisation
and do his best to operate within the spirit of these laws.
Try to maintain and enhance the reputation of professional management.
Follow the guide to good management practice suggested by AIMA time-to-time.
Guide to good management practice says that a manager is primarily responsible to his
organisation and then he is responsible to fulfil the expectations of his Stakeholders:
Stakeholders:
Stakeholders of business are those parties or institutions who are interested in the
operations of the business and day to day happenings of the business. Moreover they have
some expectation in return from the business itself.
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Shareholders
Society / Govern-
Public ment
Business
Stakeholders
Employees /
Suppliers
Workers
Financial
Customers
Institution
1. Shareholders
A manager should ensure that dividend should is fairly divided amongst all investors
of the organisation.
A manager should ensure that they are being given full and correct information
regarding financial performance of the organisation.
2. Employees
A manager should pay properly regard to his safety and well being of the personnel
for whom he is responsible.
A manager should set an example for his subordinate through his own work
capability and performance.
A manager should train people to become qualified for higher duties.
3. Customers
A manager should ensure that customers are getting good products and services at
fair prices.
A manager is responsible for satisfaction or dissatisfaction of his customers.
4. Suppliers
A manager should ensure that all the terms and conditions of contract with suppliers
are written clearly and unambiguously.
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A manager should ensure timely payment to his suppliers and healthy relations with
the suppliers.
5. Government
A manager should comply with all the taxes to the government.
A manager should conform to the national interest as expressed in government
policy.
6. Society
A manager should make the most effective use of all natural resources.
A manager should be ready to help the society.
A manager should ensure that the working of an organisation should be such which
doesn’t harm the society.
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