Evolution of Management Theory and Practices

Describe the historical foundations of management practice, and understand  the three major approaches to management theory.

     Though management owes much to ancient cultures, management theory only came of age with the industrial revolution. Scientific management evolved during the unprecedented economic growth of the nineteenth century. The accepted view today recognizes three approaches to management: classical, human relations, and quantitative. Systems theory and contingency management are also important approaches to management theory.

Discuss the concepts of scientific, bureaucratic, and administrative management.

     Scientific management holds that there is "one best way to accomplish any task which can be determined through scientific research. This "optimal" method can be used to define jobs, refine processes, and organize systems of work. Administrative management holds that there are certain principles of management that have universal application. Max Weber used the term rational bureaucracy to describe an ideal system in which positions are well defined, the division of labor is clear, objectives are explicit, and a clear chain  of authority exists. Standardized systems provide a consistent approach to decision making. Perhaps the most influential approach to modern management administrative management proposed fourteen important management functions that pertain to every manager in an organization. From these original fourteen functions, modern theory has distilled four: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.

Explain the focus of the behavioral approach and the human relations movement.

     Behavioral studies have focused on leadership roles for managers who must motivate employees to accomplish work in the most productive ways. Theorists within the human relations movement have studied situational variables&-&-&- the complex interactions of individuals within work environments&-&-and the nature of work itself.

Define systems theory and contingency management concepts.

     Systems theory requires managers to define their role within the entire system which is made up of individual but interrelated parts that must be coordinated. Contingency management stresses that managers should adjust their leadership behavior to meet different situations or be assigned to positions more appropriate to their leadership styles.

Describe quantitative approaches to management and the role of information systems.

     Quantitative approaches are based on the concepts of management science, of theoretical field on the cutting edge of high&-powered mathematical molding that provides managers with information for making decisions. A specific management area called  operations management is an applied discipline of system control and decision making encompassing operational activities such as inventory control, scheduling, forecasting, budgeting, and  materials  management. Most of the models used are grounded in, statistics and relay on computer technology increase in microelectronic and microelectronic computer innovations has resulted in a comparable growth in information systems. Information is a resource that managers require for daily decisions; with advanced systems, information is changing the way manager interact and how their organizations function.