State the characteristics of management.
Management is a continuous, lively and fast developing
science. Management is needed to convert the disorganized resources of men,
machines, materials and methods into a useful and effective enterprise.
management is a pipeline, the inputs are fed at the end and they are proceeded
through management functions and ultimately we get the end results or inputs in
the form of goods, services, productivity, information and satisfaction.
Management is a comprehensive word which is used in different sciences in the
modern business and industrial world. In the narrow sense, it signifies the
technique of taking work from others. In this way a person who can take work
from others is called manager. In the wide sense, the management is an art, as
well as science, which is concerned with the different human efforts so as
achieve the desired objective.
Management has been defined by different authors in a
number of ways. Some call it a process of managing. Some call it a coordination
of resources, some call it body of personnel challenged in the task of managing
while others call it as an organized distinct discipline. The following are
some of the main definitions of management:
1. Management as process:
Kimball, koontz and O’Donnell, Newmann and Summer, Stanley
Vance, Theo Haimann, F.C. Hooper and E.F.T Breach they all call it a process.
It is evident from the following definitions also:
I. According the Kimball-management may be broadly
defined as the art of applying the economic principles that underlie the
control of men and materials in the enterprise under consideration.
II. According to Koontz, “Management is the art of
getting things done through and with people in formally organized groups.”
III. According to Theo haimann, “Management is the
function of getting things done through people and directing the efforts of
individuals towards a common objective.”
IV. According to Sisks, “Management is the process of
working of with and other to effectively achieve organizational objectives by
efficiently using limited resources in changing environment.”
2. Management as an Activity:
According to this approach management consists of those
activities, which are performed by managers in attaining the predetermined
objectives of the business. This approach may be referred to Henry Fayol, who
classified management activities into the following categories:
• Technical – referred to production department.
• Commercial – relates to buying, selling and exchange.
• Financial concerned with maximum utilization of capital.
• Security concurred with protection of property and
person.
• According concerned with maintenance of accounts,
presentation and statistics and
• Management concerned to planning, organizing,
commanding, coordinating and controlling.: