INTRODUCTION

Management is universal in the modern industrial world and there is no substitute for good
management. It makes human effects more productive and brings better technology,
products and services to our society. It is a crucial economic resource and a life-giving
element in business. Without proper management, the resources of production (men,
machines and materials, money) cannot be converted into production. Thus, management is
a vital function concerned with all aspects of the working of an organization.
Management is a must to accomplish desired goals through group action. It is essential to
convert the disorganized resources of men, machines, materials and methods into a useful
and effective enterprise.
Thus, management is the function of getting things done through people and directing the
efforts of individuals towards a common objective.
Meaning and Definitions of Management:

Management is the art of maximizing efficiency, as a social process, a method of getting

things done through others, a plan of action and its direction by a co-operative group moving
towards a common goal. Effective utilization of available resources to achieve same
objective is management.
Management is a comprehensive function of Planning, Organizing, Forecasting Co-
ordinating, Leading, Controlling, Motivating the efforts of others to achieve specific
objectives. Management can precisely be called the rule – making and rule – enforcing
body.
Definitions:

According to Harold Koontz “Management is the art of getting things done through and
with formally organized groups “.
According to Peter F. Drucker. “A Multipurpose organ that manages a business and
manages managers and manages workers and works “.
According to Lundy “Management is what management does. It is the task of planning
executing and controlling “.
According to Lawrence Appley “Management is the development of people and not the
direction of things “
According to F.W. Tylor “Management is the art of knowing what you want to do in the best
and cheapest way “.
 Meaning of Management

Management is what It is an art of taking It is the art and Deep co-ordination

A manager does work done science of of human resources
through others decision making and and factors of
leader ship production
In nut shell it can be said that management as such is a science of managing men, machines, money
materials and methods. It embraces all duties and functions that pertains to the initiation of an
enterprise, its financing, the establishment of all major policies the provisions of all necessary
equipment, the entailing of general form of organisation, under which enterprise is to operate and
the selection of the principal officers.

Management as a Science 

Management is considered as a science because it has an organized body of knowledge which

contains certain universal truth.

Definition of science in management;

“Science is a systematic body of knowledge of data concerning a selected field of study that contains

general facts which explain a phenomenon.”

Science is the study and knowledge about the physical world and natural laws.

It establishes cause and effect relationship between two or more variables and underlines the
principles governing their relationship.

These principles are developed through the scientific method of observation (experiments) and
verification through testing.

Features of Management as a science

Management as a Science is characterized by the subsequent main features:

Universally acceptance principles –

Scientific principles represent basic truth about a few particular fields of inquiry. These principles
may be applied in all situations, at all times & at all places.

For Example, the law of gravitation can be applied in all countries in the world irrespective of time.

Management also contains some fundamental principles which may be applied universally like the
Principle of Unity of Command i.e., one man, one boss. This principle is applicable to all or any sort
of organization (business or non-business).

Experimentation & Observation –

Scientific principles are derived through scientific investigation & research experiments. i.e., they are
based on facts and logic.

For Example, the universal principle of “Earth goes around the sun” has been scientifically proved.

Management principles are also based on scientific theory & observation and not only on the opinion
of Henry Fayol. They have been developed through experiments & practical experiences of a large
no. of managers and organizations.

For Example, it is observed that fair remuneration to personal helps in creating a satisfied workforce
environment.

Cause & Effect Relationship –

Principles of science lay down cause and effect relationships between various variables.

For Example, when metals are heated, they’re expanded. The cause is heating & the result is
expansion.

The same is true for management, therefore it also establishes cause and effect relationship.

For Example, Disparity between authority & responsibility will lead to ineffectiveness. If you know
the cause of lack of balance, then ineffectiveness can be ascertained easily.

Similarly, if workers are given bonuses and fair wages then they will work hard. But the productivity
of the organization will be reduced if they are not treated in a fair manner. 

It can’t be denied that management is a systematic body of knowledge but it is not considered as that
of other physical sciences such as physics, chemistry, biology, Geology.

The main reason for this ignorance of management as physical science is that it deals with human
beings and groups of people. It is very difficult to predict their behaviour in an organization
accurately.

All these factors denote that it is a social process, hence management falls in the area of social
sciences.

It is a flexible science & that is why its theories and principles may produce different results at
different times. Therefore, sometimes it is considered behavioural science.

Business Management Professor, Ernest Dale has called Management a Soft Science.

Management as an Art
Management is an art because, in management, a manager applies his skills to manage and
coordinate the effort of their people to perform his duties within the organization.

Definition of Art in Management

Art refers to the application of knowledge (methods and principles) & skill to get desired results.

According to the definition of management, Management is the art of getting things done through
and with people in an organization.

 This art may be defined as a personalized application of principles (accepted universally)

for achieving the best possible results.
 Managerial art is the activity or skill of managing functions such as planning, organizing,
leading, staffing, and controlling. 
 The manager develops this art through his knowledge and experience of working in the
organization. 

Features of Management as an Art

Management as an Art is characterized by the subsequent main features:

Practical Knowledge:

Every art requires practical knowledge therefore learning of theory isn’t sufficient. it’s vital to
understand the practical application of theoretical principles.

For Example, A good painter is a person who may not only be knowing different colours and brushes
but different designs, dimensions, and situations to use them appropriately.

A manager can never achieve success just by obtaining a degree or diploma in management. He must
have also known how to apply various principles in real situations by functioning within the capacity
of a manager.

Personal Skill:

Although the theoretical base may be the same for every artist (Manager), each one has his own style
and approach towards his job (Skill).

This is the reason why the level of success and quality of performance differs from one person to
another.

For Example, there are several qualified painters in the world but painters like Leonardo da Vinci,
Pablo Picasso, and M.F. Hussain have their own legacy. They are recognized for their style.

Similarly, management as an art is also personalized and every manager has his own way of
managing things based on his knowledge, experience, and personality.
That’s why some managers are known as good managers (like Aditya Birla, Rahul Bajaj) whereas
others as just average or bad.

Creativity: 

Every artist has a component of creativity in line. That’s why he aims at producing something that
has never existed before which requires a mixture of intelligence & imagination.

Management is also dynamic and creative in nature like any other art.

It combines human and non-human resources in a useful way so as to achieve desired goals.

Perfection through practice: 

Practice makes a man perfect is a well-known proverb that simply means every artist becomes more
and more proficient through constant practice.

Similarly, managers learn through the art of trial and error initially.

But the application of management principles over the years makes them perfect in the job of
managing and problem-solving.

Goal-Oriented: 

Every art is result-oriented as it seeks to achieve desired results.

In the same manner, management is also directed towards the accomplishment of pre-determined
goals of the organization.

Managers use various resources like manpower, money, material, machinery & methods to promote
the growth of an organization.

Thus, we can say that management is an art therefore it requires the application of certain principles.

It’s an art of the highest order because it deals with moulding the attitude and behaviour of people at
work towards desired goals.

Management as both Science and Art

It’s true, Management is a science as well as an art.

The above-mentioned points in this article clearly reveal that management combines features of both
sciences as well as art.
  It is considered as a science because it has an organized body of knowledge (principles)
which contains certain universal truth.
 It is called an art because managing requires certain skills which are the personal ability of
managers.
 In Management, Science provides knowledge & art deals with the application of
knowledge and skills.
 Skilled or talented managers can be considered an intangible asset of the organization.

Any manager can be successful in his job role if he must acquire the knowledge of science
(management principles) & the art of applying it.

Management is a perfect blend of science as well as art,

In view of the fact that science proves the principles and the way these principles are applied is a
matter of art.

Science simply teaches us to ’know’ (Theory) and art teaches us to ’do’ (Practical).

For Example, a person can’t be a good singer unless he has knowledge about various melodic
frameworks (raga) and he also applies his personal skill in the art of singing.

In the same way, it is not enough for the manager to first know the principles but he must also apply
them in solving various managerial problems in real situations.

Science and art with respect to management, are not mutually exclusive but they are complementary
to each other. (like tea and biscuit, bread and butter, etc.).

There is an old saying, “Managers are Born” which has been rejected in favour of “Managers are
Made” by various management authors.

It has been aptly remarked by many researchers that management is the oldest of art and the
youngest of science. In short, we can say that science is the root and art is the fruit.