Management can be simply understood as “manage-men”. So management is managing the human resources in the most effective and efficient way. Management is the art of getting things done through the people effectively and efficiently. Management is very important for an organization. Without management, the organization cannot achieve a particular goal. Management has been defined in various ways by various writers from a different point of views. Some of them are as follows:
“Management is a distinct process consisting of planning, organizing, activating and controlling, performed to determine and accomplish the objectives by the use of human beings and other resources”-George R. Terry
“Management is the art and science of decision making and leadership”-Donald J. Clough
The main function of management is not to do things but to get things done through others. Management is very important for an organization. There must be systematic and proper management in an organization.
The major features of management are:
- Management is a goal oriented
- Management as a distinct process
- Management is a unified activity
- Management as a social process
- Management is a group activity
- Management is a universal activity
- Management as both science and art
- Management is a profession
- Management is a multi-disciplinary in nature
- Management is Dynamic
They are explained as below:
- Management is goal oriented: The main objective of management is to attain certain pre-determined goals and objectives. Hence, an effective management is always focused on achieving the desired goals and objectives. Every organization is established with the purpose of achieving a particular goal. So, the management focuses on achieving the goal for its existence.
- Management is a distinct process: Management is a process of planning, organizing, leadership, motivation and controlling. The main function of management is not to do things but to get things done through others. Every activity in the organization is carried out in a process. Hence, management is a distinct process.
- Management is a unified activity: Management is the act of integrating and uniting the efforts of the human resources with the machines and materials to achieve the desired goals. Hence, we can say that management is a unified action of the human efforts, machinery, and raw materials.
- Management as a social process: Management is a social process concerned with the relations between the people. So, management is a social process which involves direction, co-ordination and control of the human beings and their efforts.
- Management as a group activity: Management is not a one man action. There needs to be a coordinated action of many parts of an organization. So, it is a teamwork. Hence, management is a group activity who work together toward the same goal.
- Management is a universal activity: Management is applicable and required by all types of organizations. Management techniques and principles are applicable in all business and non-business organizations.
- Management as both science and art: Management is a science as it has specialized body of knowledge developed through experimentation and observation.
Management is an art ad the practice of management depends on abilities and skill of managers.It applies knowledge for the efficient operation of an organization.
- Management is a profession: Management is emerging as an important profession. There is a need for managers in every type of organizations. Hence, management can be taken as a profession which requires formal training and involvement in an association.
- Management is multi-disciplinary in nature: The ideas and knowledge of the management are the results of many disciplines are Commerce, Economics, Sociology, Psychology etc. The principle based in this discipline are used in management. So, management is multi-disciplinary in nature.
- Management is Dynamic: Environmental forces like political, economic, social, cultural and technological forces are highly dynamic. So, management is flexible in nature and must adapt to the changing environment to get success.