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201354713

1. How can science help managers make good decisions for their organizations?
Hale (2011) simplified the goals of science in three: description, prediction, and explanation/understanding.
Science aims to systematically and precisely describe relationships and classifications of a certain
ecosystem or anything around us. It also aims to predict in the form of a hypothesis which is tentative,
tested, and based on historical data. Lastly, there is the aim of science to explain or understand a certain
phenomenon. This, according to Hale (2011), this is the most important goal of science because it has the
most impact, especially on the human race. Being able to understand allows the scientist to solve problems
based on facts, and trigger further discoveries and change. Science can help managers make better decisions
through the scientific method. Using the scientific method in solving a problem allows a manager to come
up with sound alternatives and use empirical evidence that will support the best alternative. Using science
to support decisions made allows managers to predict and measure outcome. Because of science, managers
no longer have to rely only on intuition. Although intuition is important, it must be accompanied by years
of experience and talent. Science has both.
2. Is Management a science? Explain your answer.
In order for one to know whether Management is considered a science or not, we must first answer the
question, “what is science?”. According to Wilson (1999), science is defined as a systematic enterprise that
builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations. The Merriam-Webster dictionary
defines science as a knowledge or a system of knowledge concerned with the physical world and its
phenomena. Dissecting these definitions will lead to two truths which serve as criteria to something being
called a science; (1) science is a systematic collection of truths or knowledge, (2) these truths were
determined through testing or the scientific method, and are evidence-based.
Now that the definition and goals of science are established, it becomes easier to compare the likeness of
Management as a branch of knowledge. Just like science, Management consists of different fields, theories,
practices, and all kinds of information. Management is therefore a systematic body of knowledge. Second,
management as we know today evolved from historical experiments such as the Hawthorne studies which
made use of the scientific method.
Furthermore, the study of Management aims to observe, systematically describe, understand, and explain
the behavior the workforce and resources, and predict the outcome of each decision made by the leader.
The study of management paves way for companies to achieve maximum efficiency and effectivity, without
sacrificing the motivation and wellbeing of human resources. It can therefore be concluded that
management is a science. Its advancement as a science can only be achieved through empirical research
and will lead to discoveries and innovation that will improve the lives of human beings as part of society.

Wilson, E.O. (1999). "The natural sciences". Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge (Reprint ed.). New
York, New York: Vintage. pp. 49–71. ISBN 978-0-679-76867-8.
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Merriam-Webster, Inc. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
Hale, J. (2011, April 17). Understanding Research Methodology 3: Goals of Scientific Research. Retrieved
from PsychCentral: https://psychcentral.com/blog/understanding-research-methodology-3-goals-of-
scientific-research#1