Nature of management

Nature if management:

 Management is a universal activity in nature as every organization requires making of decision, procurement of resources, coordination of activity, leading of people, and evaluation of performance directed towards its objectives.  Numerous activities have there specific types of management problems are discussed under such heading as business management or administration, club management, hospital administration, farm management and others. All have certain elements in common.

   

Definition of management:

In management literature, we find a large number of definition of management given by different writers who have different orientations. Various definition can be broadly classified as follows:

(1) Management as an art of getting things done.

(2) Management as a process.

(3) Management as a group of managers

(3) Management as a discipline.

(1) Management as an art of getting things done:

        Mary Parker Follett defined management as "the art of getting things done through others". This definition emphasizes that the managers achieve organizational objectives by getting work from others. However the scope of management is not merely restricted  to getting things done through others.

It include decision making, organizing, staffing, motivation, leading of subordinates and controlling the organizational activities.

(2) Management as a process:

         According to Henri Fayol," To manage is to forecast and plan to organize to command to coordinate and to control". Thus Fayol viewed management as a process consisting of five function namely, planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating and controlling. 

The element or functions of management are stated as follows:

(-) Planning: It means to determine the objectives of unit or activity. It also involves deciding in advance as to what is to be done, how, and when.

(-) Organizing: It refers to identification of activities to be carried out, grouping of similar activities and creation of departments. organization also lead to creation of authority and responsibility  relationships throughout the enterprise.

(-) Staffing: It involves man power planning, employment of personnel and their training, appraisal, remuneration etc.