MANAGEMENT AS AN ART
Art is the skillful and personal application of existing knowledge to achieve desired
result. It can be acquired through study, observation and experience.
The basic features of an art are as follows:
(i)
Existence of theoretical knowledge
(ii)
Personalized application and creativity
(iii)
Based on continuous practice.
Let us see how far management fulfills these requirements:
(i)
Existence of theoretical knowledge:- In every art, there is systematic and
organized study material available to acquire certain theoretical knowledge
on the basis of which certain principles are derived For example, literature,
dancing, public speaking, acting or music is widely available.
IN MANAGEMENT TOO THERE IS A LOT OF LITERATURE AVAILABLE IN VARIOUS
AREAS OF MANAGEMENT LIKE MARKETING, FINANCE AND HUMAN RESOURCES
WHICH THE MANAGER HAS TO SPECIALISE IN.
SO, THIS FEATURE OF ART IS PRESENT IN MANAGEMENT
(ii)
Personalized application and creativity:- In the field of art, theoretical
knowledge is not enough. The use of basic knowledge of art varies from
individual to individual. For example, two dancers, two speakers, two actors,
or two writers will always differs in demonstrating their art.
IN MANAGEMENT TOO, A MANAGER APPLIES HIS ACQUIRED KNOWLEDGE IN A
PERSONLISED AND SKILLFUL MANNER DEPENDING UPON THE SITUATION. THE
EFFICEIENCY OF THE MANAGER DEPENDS UPON HOW WELL THEY USE THESE
PRINCIPLES UNDER DIFFERENT SITUATIONS BY APPLYING PERSONAL
SKILL,IMAGINATION AND INITIATIVE. THIS GIVE RISE TO DIFFERENT STYLES OF
MANAGEMENT.
SO, THIS FEATURE OF ART IS PRESENT IN MANAGEMENT
(iii)
Based on continuous practice:- Every artist becomes more and more efficient
through constant practice of existing theoretical knowledge. A dancer, for
example, learns to perform better by continuously practicing a dance.
SIMILARLY, A MANAGER GAINS EXPERIENCE THROUGH REGUALAR PRACTICE
AND BECOMES MORE EFFECTIVE. AS IT IS RIGHTLY SAID ,’THE MORE YOU
MANAGE, THE BETTER YOU MANAGE’. MANAGERS ACHIEVE PERFECTION AFTER
LONG PRACTICE.
SO, THIS FEATURE OF ART IS PRESENT IN MANAGEMENT
CONCLUSION:-AS ALL THE CRETERIA OF ART ARE SATISFIED BY
MANAGEMENT, IT QUALIFIES AS AN ART. ALL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ARE
BASED ON THE SAME SET PRINCIPLES; WHAT DISTINGUIESHES A
SUCCESSFUL MANAGER FROM A LESS SUCCESSFUL ONE IS THE ABILITY TO
PUT THESE PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE.
MANAGEMENT AS A SCIENCE
Science is a systematized body of knowledge that explain certain general truths or the
operation of general laws.
The basic features of Science are as follows:(i)
Systematized body of knowledge
(ii)
Principles based on observation and experimentation.
(iii)
Universal validity.
Let us see how far management fulfills these requirements
(i)
Systematized body of knowledge:- Science is a systematic body of
knowledge. Its principles are based on a cause and effect relationship. For
example, the phenomenon of an apple falling from a tree towards the ground
is explained by the law of gravity.
LIKE SCIENCE, MANAGEMENT HAS SYSTEMATISED BODY OF KNOWLEDGE AND
HAS ITS OWN THEORY AND PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE DEVELOPED OVER A PERIOD
OF TIME. PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT TOO ESTABLISH CAUSE AND EFFECT
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIFERENT VARIABLES.
SO, THIS FEATURES OF SCIENCE IS PRESENT IN MANAGEMENT.
(ii)
Principles based on experimentation :- Scientific principles are first developed
through observation and then tested through repeated experimentation under
controlled conditions.
THE PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT ARE ALSO BASED ON REPEATED
EXPERIEMENTATION AND OBSERVATION. IN DIFFERENT OUTCOMES OF THESE
EXPERIMENTS ARE NOT CAPABLE OF BEING ACCURATELY PREDICETED .
THEREFORE, MANAGEMENT CAN BE CALLED AN INEXACT SCIENCE.
SO, THIS FEATURE OF SCIENCE IS NOT FULLY PRESENT IN MANAGEMENT.
(iii)
Universal validity: Scientific principles have universal validity and application.
SINCE THE PRINCIPLES OF NAMAGEMENT ARE NOT AS EXACT AS THE
PRINCIPLES OF SCIENCE, THERE APPLICATION AND USE IS NOT UNIVERSAL.
THEY HAVE TO BE MODIFIED ACCORDING TO A GIVEN SITUAITION.
HOWEVER, THEY PROVIDE MANAGERS WITH CERTAIN STANDARDISED
TECHNIQUES THAT CAN BE USED IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. THESE
PRINCIPLES ARE ASLO USED FOR TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF
MANAGERS.
SO, THIS FEATURE OF SCIENCE IS NOT FULLY PRESENT IN MANAGEMENT.
CONCLUSION: THUS, MANAGEMENT IS UNDOUBTEDLY A SCIENCE,
HOWEVER, IT IS NOT AS EXACT OR AS COMPREHENSIVE AS PURE SCIENCE
LIKE PHYSICS OR CHEMISTRY.
THIS IS BECAUSE MANAGEMENT DEALS WITH PEOPLE AND IT IS VERY
DIFFICULT TO PREDICT THE BEHAVIOUR OF HUMAN BEINGS
ACCURATELY. THREFORE, MANAGEMENT IS CONDISERED TO BE AN
INEXACT, SOFT, SOCIAL OR BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE.