Management is both an art and a science.

Management combines features of both sciences as

well as art. It is considered a science because it has an organized body of knowledge containing
certain universal truths. It is called an art because managing requires certain skills which are
personal possessions of managers. Science provides knowledge & art deals with the application
of knowledge and skills. To be successful in his profession, a manager must acquire the
knowledge of science & the art of applying it. Therefore management is a judicious blend of
science and art because it proves the principles and how these principles are applied is a matter
of art. Science teaches to ’know’ and art teaches to ’do’. It is not sufficient for the manager to
first know the principles he must also apply them in solving various managerial problems that is
why, science and art are not mutually exclusive but they are complementary to each other (like
tea and biscuit, bread and butter etc.). The old saying that “Managers are Born” has been
rejected in favour of “Managers are Made”. It has been aptly remarked that management is the
oldest of art and the youngest of science. To conclude, we can say that science is the root and
art is the fruit.

It is believed that management could be more effective if there is a combination

of an art and a science. As Minrzberg has stated “Effective managing happens where art,
craft, and science meet” (2004, p.10). Management combines the features of both science as
well as an art. Science provides knowledge and art deals with the application of knowledge and
skills. . It is not sufficient for the manager to only know the principles. He should be able to apply
them in solving various managerial problems that is why, science and art are not mutually
exclusive but they are complementary to each other For example, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO
of Facebook, who did something that was very fundamental. He had the knowledge to
do the work and the art to discover what the company needed to focus with, which
was photos. He had noticed that people were changing their profile every day,
therefore, he decided to focus on that particular issue that there was very strong
demand for people to share more photo. Management is a judicious blend of science and art
as it proves that the principles and these principles are applied is a matter of art.