The Nature and Science of Management

Abstract

Management has been since the dawn of time the focal point of the study. Leadership and management have been seen as separate terms in many entities, but those times have passed. In the modern society, many organizations prove the high-quality management and they struggle to ensure that organizations are well managed. Good management depends on the success of the superior leaders, who possess quality characteristics. Thus, poor management brings out the poor outcomes or poor performance in an organization. Responding and knowing the value of history of management, focusing on the management today and looking unto the future management is crucial (Lamond, 2005). The past has been never fully forgotten, because it has been absorbed in the present and future. Many scientists have emerged in providing historical management content of attempting to understand the past, the present and future management.

Main Body

One of the management theories that is significant and needs to be implemented in any current high level management role is the scientific management of Frederick Taylor. This theory of scientific management was introduced by Fredrick Taylor, and it began during the modern management era. Taylor advocated for the change from the old personal management system to the new system of scientific management. Under the old system, the indusial captain was expected to be personally brilliant. Taylor wanted to produce one of the best practices by overthrowing the old management. This is because he wanted to replace the actual observations, thus creating a modernized management system. Therefore, Taylor advocated for systematic training programs of employees as the best practice in management, instead of allowing personal discretion of tasks. His theory should be implemented today in the society, because it is significant in the management of the organization (Ponzoni and Boersma, 2011).

Moreover, Taylor further believed that sharing of workloads amongst workers and management is crucial. Thus, he believed that a cooperation spirit among workers would enable the organization to create the better management. Furthermore, Taylor emphasized that workers should share the work together, but everyone would be left to work where he is best suited, his positive legacy was on the concept of dividing complex tasks down into the sizeable tasks. This positive legacy led to measured time trials that in turn led to the negative legacy. Many critics including the historical, as well as the contemporary ones, try to criticize Taylor. They argue that his scientific management theory dehumanizes workers, but the modern readers are satisfied with his work. This is because most laborers working in an industry, especially in the mechanic, art are capable of specializing of the work, which best suits them (Avis, 2005). Therefore, this theory should be implemented in the current high level management role especially in industrial operations such as industrial engineering or quality control field. This will enable one to work best in the area where he or she is allocated.

Another management theory, which is significant and should be implemented in organizations, is the management theory of Henri Fayol. His theory centers on the administrations arrangement within an organization.  The administration theory of Fayol fit together into the bureaucratic structure, which is described by Max Weber (Kerns, (n.d.). Fayol focuses on the personal duties performed within the structure of administration, especially management duties, which are more in a granular level than that of Weber. The work of Fayol is more directed on the management duties of a manager in a hierarchy, but that of Weber laid out some principles for an ideal bureaucratic organization (Kerns, (n.d.).  This theory is applied today, because workers, especially managers, have their work arranged depending on the administration level. This is arranged from the top level to the bottom level management.

According to Fayol, management has five essential principle roles. These principles include plan, command, coordinate, organize and control. Planning was still employed in the past management, and it is still used in the present management in an organization. This principle is crucial, because without proper planning, an organization would not be able to achieve its goals. Therefore, planning should be done in order to enable the organization to achieve future objectives. Other principles that are still used in the modern society are coordination and organizing. These principles are employed in many organizations, because leaders align and harmonize the efforts of groups in order to produce better results. Additionally, organizing is crucial, because it contributes to the better resource developments. The principle of commanding keeps the actions of the institutions and processing operating. Lastly, control is vital in management, because the controlling activities of the organization are crucial. This is because it will enable the organization to work in accordance with rules and procedures of the organization (Kerns, (n.d.).  However, some of  the five principles of Fayol are still active up to today, thus more emphasize should be laid on the implementation of these principles in an organization.

Conclusion

In conclusion, many scientists have emerged in providing historical management analysis of attempting to understand the past, the present and future management. There are two significant management theories that should be implemented in the organization today. These are the theories of Frederick Taylor’s scientific management and administration theory of Henri Fayol. Taylor’s theory is vital, because it emphasizes on specialization of labor, and employees should be left to work where he or she can perform better. The theory encourages team work in the organization. Fayol explains the way powers are arranged in administration. Every employee is given a task depending on the administration level, thus the work differs from one level to another.