Management definitions (2023)

Everything you need to know about management definitions. Learn about the different definitions of management given by thinkers, authors, experts, scholars and management gurus.

Also learn the exact and generalized definitions of management.

Definitions of Management From Thinkers, Authors, Experts, Scholars, and Management Gurus

The definitionmanagement– By famous management thinkers

In today's world of complex and rapid internationalization of business, most companies go global. If not managed effectively, they cannot survive in the rapidly changing international business environment. Administration helps to do and get things done through other people. It is the process that optimizes the human, material and financial resources of the organization for the effective achievement of its objectives.

The process includes a set of actions (functions) of managers, optimization refers to obtaining the maximum result (goods and services) from the minimum of inputs (people, materials, money, machines, etc.) want to achieve the parties stakeholders (shareholders, consumers, suppliers, workers, etc.).

Management is defined by some famous management thinkers as follows:

Terry and Franklin- "Management is a distinct process consisting of planning, organizing, executing, and controlling activities undertaken to determine and achieve stated objectives using people and other resources."

Koontz and Weihrich- "Management is the process of designing and maintaining an environment in which individuals, working together in groups, efficiently achieve selected objectives."

F. W. Taylor - "Management is the art of knowing what needs to be done and seeing that it is done in the best possible way."

Henri Fayol - "Administrating means foreseeing, planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating and controlling the activities of others."

Every organization, at all levels, needs management, whether it's a small organization like a family, temple or church, or large organizations like schools, colleges, universities, businesses or even the government. It is important for for-profit and non-profit organizations, as well as manufacturing and service organizations.

Unions and research institutes, hospitals and armed forces are also guided by leadership principles. All these institutions (for-profit or service institutions) regard management as the effective body that plans activities, holds individuals accountable for carrying out these activities, and coordinates and controls their activities through an effective feedback system.

Management is the art of doing things for others. It is an activity that coordinates human and non-human resources (people, materials, machines, etc.). Although there are different views on management functions, the most commonly accepted functions are planning; organize; guys; lead and control.

While governance is essential for both corporate and non-corporate organizations, it is primarily associated with corporate governance.

Arguments in support of this fact are presented by Peter F. Drucker:

I. Of all the institutions of modern society, commercial institutions were the first to be established, and management must continually form a part of these institutions.

ii. While stewardship is also important for non-profit organizations, the main criterion for examining stewardship effectiveness is economic value (although this is not accurate), and this criterion is generally met by corporate organizations.

iii. With the economic reforms initiated in 1991, business at international borders was opened and the economy became free and liberalized. The work of business houses connects nations and the focus on corporate management is therefore evident.

Peter F. Drucker famously explained the importance of management in today's context:

“Without an institution there is no management. But without management there is no institution. Management is the specific organ of the modern institution. It is the body on whose performance depends the efficiency and survival of the institution”.

Given the above discussion, management can be seen as a process by which human and non-human resources are integrated and directed towards achieving organizational objectives, whether profits or services, through the management functions, ie H. Planning , organization, personnel, direction and control.

Management definitions - by different authors

Different authors have defined this management in different ways:

(a) Role-based definitions:

"Management is what a manager does".––Louis Allen

"To administer is to arrange, organize, command, coordinate and control castes and plans". ––Henrique Faial

These two definitions show management as a process and management as what a manager does.

(b) Definitions based on human relationships:

“Management is the art of leading and inspiring people”. –– J.D. Moony and A.C. Railey

“Management is the art of doing things for and with people in informally organized groups.” – Harold Koontz

“Management consists of letting others do things. A manager is someone who achieves goals by directing the efforts of others.” ––George Terry

The above definitions show that a manager works collaboratively with others and through a formal organizational structure.

(c) Productivity-based definitions:

“Management is the art of knowing what you want to do and doing it the best and cheapest way.” –– F.W. taylor

"Administration may be defined as the art of securing the maximum of wealth with the minimum of effort, in order to secure the maximum of wealth and satisfaction for employers and employees, and to provide the best possible service to the public." -- John. F Mei

Thus, the above definitions show that management is an art of increasing the productivity of an organization.

(d) Leadership and decision-based definitions:

"Leading means making decisions". –– more pink

"Management is the art and science of decision-making and leadership." –– Donald J. Clough

Therefore, the above definitions consider management as an art of making qualitative decisions and effectively leading people in formally organized organizations.

(e) Definitions based on the concept of integration:

"Management is the force that integrates man and physical plant into an effective operating entity". –– Keith and Gubellini

The above definition considers administration as the coordination of human and material resources.

Thus, from the above definitions, it is clear that management has been defined in different meanings, emphasizing different aspects of management.

Definition of Management – ​​According to E.F.L. Breech, P. Drucker, Koontz and O'Donnel, Kimball and Kimball, Keith and Gubelline, Oliver Sheldon, Appley L and Hery Fayol

It is very difficult to give an exact meaning of the term "management". The concept of management is as old as humanity itself. Management is not only an essential element of organized society, but also an integral part of life. But what is administration? How do we define it? How can we distinguish between good management and bad management? In the management literature we find a large number of management definitions given by different authors.

(1) According to E.F.L. Breech – “Management can be defined as a social process that involves responsibility for the effective or efficient planning and regulation of the operations of a company”, responsibility that involves (a) the installation and maintenance of adequate procedures to guarantee the accomplishment of the plans and (b) directing, integrating and supervising the personnel that make up the company and carry out its operations.”

(2) P. Drucker, in his book The Practice of Management, defined “Management is a polyvalent body that directs a company, directs a manager and manages workers and manpower”.

Drucker emphasizes three functions of management - (i) running a business; (ii) leadership of a manager; and (iii) worker and labor management. Even if one disappeared, we wouldn't have any administration, and we wouldn't have a commercial company or an industrial society either.

According to Sri P. Drucker, the manager must balance and harmonize three main functions of the company. Therefore, a leader is a dynamic and life-giving element in any organization. Without efficient management, we cannot guarantee the best allocation and use of human, material and financial resources.

(3) According to Koontz and O'Donnell - "Management has been defined as the creation and maintenance of an internal environment within an organization in which individuals, working together in groups, can bring efficiency to the achievement of the objectives of the group".

According to the definition, management is an art of creating a favorable performance environment that allows the group to achieve established goals, and management is the organized body of knowledge, that is, the science that underpins the art. The definition clearly shows that effective management is always emergency or situation management.

Creating a managerial environment conducive to the joint effort of those working in an organization to achieve planned goals requires an intelligent application of managerial knowledge to countless and diverse practical problems. So that we can achieve the best result in a given situation or reality.

(4) "Leadership is defined as the art of applying economic principles that emphasize control of people and materials in the organization in question." -Kimball and Kimball

(5) "Leadership in the troop that integrates people and physical assets into an effective unit".-Keith e Gubelline

(6) "The term management is commonly used to cover policy making, policy implementation, organization creation and employment."-Oliver Sheldon

(7) As Appley L. said in her book: “Management is the achievement of predetermined goals by directing human performance along predetermined lines. It is managing people and not directing things.”

According to Appley L., management is essentially people management. We don't build cars, planes, refrigerators, radios, etc., we build men and women, and these human resources build products. Human resources are our greatest asset. You have unlimited potential. Therefore, it is natural that management should pay special attention to human resource development.

(8) Quote from the American Management Association - "Management directs human and physical resources into dynamic organizational units that achieve their objectives to the satisfaction of those who are served and with a high degree of morale and a sense of accomplishment on the part of those who provide the service. " .

(9) Furthermore, from the book Principles of Industrial Organization written by Kimball and Kimball, we can conclude that - "Management encompasses all duties and functions associated with the establishment of the enterprise, its financing, the establishment of all important policies, the Provision of all the necessary equipment, outlining the general form of organization of the company and the selection of senior management. The person primarily responsible to the control board is commonly called the general manager”.

(10) But it is Henri Fayol, the father of modern managerial thought, who gives a vivid and functional description of management. For him, management means “foreseeing and planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating and controlling”. He tries to describe management in terms of what a manager does, not what management is.

Management Definitions– By management experts

Management has been defined as directing, directing and controlling the efforts of a group of people towards a common goal. This management concept points to the purpose or function of management, but tells us little about the nature of management processes, that is, how the manager achieves results.

One way to look at management is to think in terms of what a manager does. With this approach we can arrive at the management process that describes the work of each leader. Management work can be divided into some basic management functions viz. (1) plan, (2) organize, (3) lead, (4) control. Planning is the setting of goals and the formulation of plans, strategies, programs, policies, procedures and standards necessary to achieve desired organizational goals.

To implement the plans, an organizational structure must be in place. Human and material resources or inputs are assigned to the various units and relationships are established between the subunits. Organizing is the second function of the manager. Organizing is the process of developing a structure among people, functions, and physical facilities to carry out plans and achieve established goals.

The third function of a manager is to encourage and motivate people in the organization to take desired actions in accordance with established plans and goals. Motivation is an integral part of leadership to ensure the desired results.

The fourth and final function of management is control to ensure directed actions in accordance with plans and goals. Controlling includes setting standards, measuring and comparing actual results against the standard, and taking the necessary corrective actions to eliminate deviations from the plan.

Management is a universal process in all organized social and economic activities. It's not just limited to the factory, shop or office. It is an operating force in all complex organizations trying to achieve specific goals. Management is required for a corporation, government enterprise, education and health services, military organizations, trade associations, etc.

Therefore, managerial skills are transferable and a manager can successfully apply his knowledge and skills in a variety of companies. Obviously, situational factors will influence the appropriate mix of managerial skills.

Experts agree that management is a distinct type of activity, primarily responsible for getting things done through other people and distinct from all other types of human activity. Likewise, they also agree that all leadership roles are universal and all managers in all areas of human endeavor exercise these typical leadership roles regardless of what they manage. However, we do not have a unified view from the authorities on what management functions are and what exactly management is.

The different opinions and approaches are reflected in the following frequently cited definitions of management:

“Management is knowing exactly what men ought to do, and then seeing to it that they do it in the best and cheapest way.” – F.W. Taylor. This definition deals essentially with operational management.

"Administration is foreseeing, planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating and controlling." -Henry Fayol. He tries to describe management in terms of what a manager does, not what management is.

“Management is a social process involving responsibility for the effective and economical planning and regulation of the operations of an enterprise in the fulfillment of a specific purpose or task, which responsibility includes: (a) judgment and decision in determining plans and developing processes to support control or performance and progress against plans, and (b) direct, integrate, motivate and monitor the personnel that make up the entity and conduct its business.”–– Brech.

Brech sees management as an umbrella term for the general process of executive control in industry and commerce. Brech also points to the role of management as a social process that essentially involves managing people and not just managing material resources.

"Administration is a polyvalent body that directs a company, directs managers and manages workers and labor." -- P. Drucker.

Drucker emphasizes three tasks of management:

(i) running a business;

(ii) leadership of a manager; AND

(iii) Management of Workers and Manpower.

Even if one disappeared, we wouldn't have any administration, and we wouldn't have a commercial company or an industrial society either. According to P. Drucker, the manager must balance and harmonize three main functions of the company. Therefore, a leader is a dynamic and life-giving element in any organization. Without efficient management, we cannot guarantee the best allocation and use of human, material and financial resources.

"Management is the development of people, not the direction of things."–– Appley L.

According to Appley L., management is essentially people management. We don't build cars, planes, refrigerators, radios, etc. We build men and women, and these human resources build products. Human resources are our greatest asset. You have unlimited potential. Therefore, it is natural that management should pay special attention to human resource development.

“Leadership is primarily a task of planning, coordinating, motivating and controlling the efforts of others towards a specific goal.” –– J. Lundy. This definition encompasses the three main functions of management, namely planning, implementing and controlling. It emphasizes that management is what the administration does, that is, H. Plan, execute and control the group's activities.

"Leadership is decision making." Decisions are needed in all functional areas of a company, for example B. Production, Marketing, Finance and Administration. Profession manager is a decision maker. All managerial functions are performed by resolution. All human behavior involves the problem of choice. The selection process is called decision making.

We have two different levels of performance in management – ​​coordination and supervision. The coordinative function is decision-making, the process of choosing an action among alternative actions. Management in the coordinative sense is the central concept of management theory.

Decision making is at the heart of the management process. In short, decision making permeates all managerial functions. This definition neglects the supervisory and guiding function.

“Leadership is defined as the creation and maintenance of an internal environment within an organization where individuals, working together in groups, can efficiently and effectively contribute to the achievement of group objectives.” –– Koontz and O'Donell.

According to this definition, management is the art of creating a favorable performance environment that allows the group to achieve established goals, and management is the organized body of knowledge, ie. H. the science that underlies art.

The definition clearly shows that effective management is always contingency or situational management. Creating a management environment favorable to the joint effort of people working in an organization to achieve planned objectives requires an intelligent application of managerial knowledge to countless and diverse practical problems, so that we can achieve the best results in given situations or realities.

Management Definitions -widespreadand precise definitions of management

General definition of management:

“Management is a distinct and continuous process of allocating an organization's inputs (human and economic resources) to typical administrative functions (planning, organizing, directing and controlling) with the objective of achieving specific objectives, that is, H. the desired output of goods and services for its customers (environment). It involves working with and through the organization's employees in an ever-changing business environment.

This definition encompasses the main ideas of each school of management thought:

1. The functional school understands management as a planning, organization and control process.

2. The behavioral school is not only interested in the process, but how the process affects the organization, i. H. with and through personnel or human resources.

3. The quantitative school wants to improve the quality of decision-making, that is, the fulfillment of the stated objectives of the company.

4. The systems approach focuses on the entire organization, i. H. Inputs-Process-Outputs. Indicates interconnected management functions and interconnected company functions.

5. The contingency approach emphasizes the dynamic nature of the management process in an ever-changing business environment.

Precise definition of management:

Let's formulate an exact definition of management. It must be the basis of our study of the principles of management. The substance of management should be identified as a process. A process is something a person does. A process also implies continuous and incessant cyclic operations.

In management we have a planning-action-control cycle. Our definition must include this management cycle. A process indicates the dynamic nature of management. It also implies that change is a constant reality of organizational life and management is the management of change.

Finally, management is seen as a social process, as it is directly concerned with the management of human resources to ensure people's collaboration and teamwork in their performance.

There are two objectives of the management process:

(1) Maximum productivity or profitability and

(2) Maximum human well-being and happiness.

A definition of management as a process has three parts: first, the coordination of resources; second, the performance of managerial functions as a means of achieving coordination; and the third, which establishes the objective or purpose of the management process, that is, H. must be a purposeful management activity.

Let's describe each part individually:

1. Management is coordination:

The manager of a company must efficiently coordinate all activities and resources of the organization, namely people, machines, materials and money - the four M's of management. It's a group process. Coordination has a unique status within the systems approach to management and organization.

2. Management is an ongoing activity or process:

The manager achieves proper coordination of resources through the management functions of planning, organizing, staffing, leading (or directing and motivating), and controlling.

3. Management is a goal-oriented process:

It is aimed at achieving predetermined goals or objectives: without a goal, we have no goal to achieve or a path to follow to reach our goal, that is, a goal, both in terms of management and organization, must have a purpose or purpose be goal oriented.

4. An art of letting other people do things:

Management is an art of getting things done by collaborating with other motivated people in an organized way. It is the fulcrum of a shared enterprise in all human activities.

5. Management cycle:

Management represents the replanning cycle of planning action control to achieve planned goals.

Based on the five aspects of management above, we can have a good definition of management as follows:

"Administration is a social process that involves the coordination of human and material resources through the functions of planning, organizing, personnel, directing and controlling to achieve established goals."

This definition of management as a coordinated and goal-directed process is universally applicable - applicable to all forms of group effort in all forms of organisations, i.e. H. For-profit or non-profit company. It also applies to all levels of management in an organization.

Management definitions - with roles

No management definition is universally accepted. Different people looked at management from different perspectives.

Here are some management definitions:

Management is seen as the art of getting things done for others - The following definitions call attention to the fact that managers achieve organizational goals by making sure that others perform all required tasks - not by performing the tasks themselves.

"Management is the art of doing things for people." -Mary Parker Follett

"Management is getting results through the efforts of other people." - Lawrence A. Appley

Management is seen as a goal-oriented function - Regardless of the stated goals of a given organization, management is seen as the process by which goals are achieved.

"Management is the function of a company that deals with the direction and control of the various activities to achieve the objectives of the company." - Wilhelm Spriegal

Management seen as a process - A manager must plan his actions, organize resources, direct and motivate his subordinates and ensure the execution of the plan to achieve the company's objective.

"Management is a distinct process consisting of planning, organizing, directing and controlling performance to determine and achieve goals through the use of people and resources." - George R. Terry

Management considered as decision-making and leadership – The following definitions consider decision-making and people control as the main function of management. "Management is the art and science of decision-making and leadership." - Donald J. Clough.

"Management is simply the process of making decisions and controlling the actions of people with the express purpose of achieving predetermined goals." -Stanley Vance

Management is seen as the coordinator of human and material resources – management is the force that integrates people and physical assets into an effective operating entity.” – Keith and Gubellini

Management includes the coordination of human and material resources to achieve corporate objectives, as well as the organization of productive functions that are essential for achieving declared or accepted economic objectives. —Barry M. Richman

Note that no definition of management is capable of capturing its meaning in isolation.

However, after going through the above definitions, certain features of management emerge.

1. Management is an effort to pursue organizational purpose.

2. It happens through people.

3. It is an autonomous process in which managers perform planning, organizing, directing and controlling functions to achieve established goals.

4. It is a unifying force. Integrates human and other resources to achieve desired goals.

5. We seek to maximize the use of resources in relation to results.

6. It is universal. Its principles are equally applicable in all areas of business, industry, education, government, etc.

Definitions of Management - by Mary Parker, Ivancerich, John A. Pearce, Richard B. Robinson, Harold Koontz, and Heinz and Weihrich

Mary Parker defines management as "the art of doing things for others." However, research studies have concluded that management is a field of activity that combines art and science.

Ivancerich, Donnelly, and Gibson define management as "the process undertaken by one or more people to coordinate the activities of others in order to achieve results that cannot be achieved by one person acting alone." Managers perform a range of activities beyond coordination. Furthermore, this definition covers only one resource, namely human resources, and does not cover material and financial resources.

John A.Pearce and Richard B.Robinson have included all kinds of resources in their definition of management. Thus, "Management is the process of optimizing human, material and financial contributions to the achievement of organizational objectives." This definition neglects the integrated aspect of contributing all resources to achieving organizational goals.

According to Harold Koontz and Heinz and Weihrich, management is "the process of creating and maintaining an environment in which individuals, working together in groups, efficiently achieve selected objectives." This definition ignores the external environment through which most stakeholders interact with the organization.

We now define the term management as designing, providing and maintaining a favorable internal environment, aligned with the opportunities and challenges of the external environment, through planning, organizing, directing and controlling all resources and operations, in order to efficiently achieve effective corporate strategies.

The analysis of the above definitions provides the following aspects of management:

I. The purpose of management is to formulate effective (correct) organizational strategies and achieve them efficiently (productively) based on mission goals and objectives.

ii. Management is concerned with the internal and external environment.

iii. Management deals with all types of resources, namely people, finance, materials, machinery, technology and technical know-how.

4. Administrative functions include: planning, organizing, directing and controlling.

v. Managers must have different skills to perform a variety of roles.

saw. It applies to leaders at all levels of an organization.

vii. Management is applicable to all types of organizations, i. H. for for-profit and non-profit organizations.

VIII. Management vs. Administration.

ix. Management is both an art and a science to create value.

X. Management must be a profession to continuously achieve goals with increasing efficiency.

Management definitions from different management thinkers

Management is as old as humanity. Administration is the most critical aspect of organized business activity. It is universal and has become a central social institution in today's society. It serves a social purpose. The well-being of society largely depends on the skills and quality of managers. Management is the engine of growth. Promotes prosperity. Urwick and Brech correctly observed that no ideology, no "ism", no political theory can get more output out of a given complex of human and material resources with less effort than good management.

And upon this greater achievement must inevitably be founded a higher standard of living, more leisure and more convenience for all. Marshall Demock also stated that “management is not a matter of pushing a button, pulling a lever, giving orders, examining income statements, enacting rules and regulations.

Rather, it is the power to determine what should be done with the personalities and fortunes of all people, the power to shape the destiny of a nation and of all the nations that make up the world." McFarland writes, "Administration is one of mankind's most remarkable discoveries."

define management:

Management can be defined in several ways:

“Creating an Effective Environment to Achieve Corporate Goals”; or

“The organization of human resources in pursuit of objectives”; or "a coordinated group effort by an individual to accomplish a plan or task."

All these definitions do not reflect the functional nature of management. Basically, management is a process by which organizational goals are achieved through others. Management is tasks, activities and functions. As a process, management refers to what management does, i.e. the function that management performs.

Management is seen as a process that can encompass a variety of functions, principles, techniques, skills and other measures of carrying out the work and activities of an organization. Management as a process implies a set of actions or elements. These are planning, organizing, staffing, managing, coordinating, etc.

Peter Drucker says, “It seems appropriate to emphasize that the first criterion for identifying people with managerial responsibility in an organization is not authority over people. It's compulsory. Function, rather than power, must be the distinguishing criterion and organizational principle.”

Therefore, management is leadership or a rational activity exercised by managers through a specific process of planning, organizing, coordinating, directing and controlling human and material resources in a dynamic work environment.

Definition of Management - 7 Key Definitions of Management

1. “Leadership is a social process that involves the responsibility to plan and direct the operations of an enterprise effectively and efficiently to fulfill a specific purpose or task, where this responsibility includes:

(i) Use judgment and decision when establishing plans and using data to monitor performance and progress against plans.

(ii) Guidance, integration, motivation and supervision of the personnel who are part of the company and conduct its business.”

2."Administration may be defined as the art of achieving the maximum results with the minimum effort, in order to secure the maximum prosperity and satisfaction for both employer and worker, and to provide the best possible service to the public." - John F. Mee

3."Management is the process by which managers create, direct, sustain, and operate purposeful organizations through systematic, coordinated, and collaborative human effort." - Dalton E. McFarland

4.“Management directs human and material resources to dynamic organizational units that achieve their objectives with the satisfaction of service providers and with a high level of morale and motivation on the part of service providers. – American Management Association

5."Management is the art of getting things done by people in formally organized groups." - Harold, Koontz and O'Donnell

6.“Management is a function of the executive board. It is the job of planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of the organization to achieve its objectives.” – R.C. Davis

7."Administration is foreseeing and planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating and controlling." —Henry Fayol

Definition of management– The 17 most important management definitions from management gurus

Although management as a discipline is close to a hundred years old, there is no consensus among thinkers and practitioners on its specific definition. In fact, this is equally true of all social sciences such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, etc. changes in management practices.

Changes in management styles and practices may have led to changes in managerial thinking. Furthermore, interdisciplinary management has changed due to developments in behavioral sciences, quantitative techniques, engineering and technology, etc.

As it deals with the production and distribution of goods and services, the dynamics of its environments such as social, cultural and religious values, tastes and preferences of consumers, educational and informational explosion, democratization of governments, etc. its theory and practice. However, a privileged definition of management is necessary for its teaching and research, and for the improvement of its existing practices.

Several management gurus have tried to define management. But no definition of management was unanimously accepted by these great thinkers in the field.

Let's talk about some of the most important management definitions:

I. Henry Fayol: "To manage means to foresee and plan, to organize, to combine, to coordinate and to control."

ii. Peter F. Drucker defines it: “Management is an organ; Organs can only be described and defined by their functions.

iii. According to Terry, “Management is not about people; it is an activity like walking, reading, swimming or jogging. Persons involved in management may be referred to as members, officers or directors.”

4. Ralph C. Davis defined management this way: "Management is everywhere the function of running an enterprise."

v. According to McFarland, "Management is defined for conceptual, theoretical, and analytical purposes as the process by which managers create, direct, maintain, and operate a fit-for-purpose organization through systematic, coordinated, and collaborative human effort."

saw. Harold Koontz says, "Management is the art of getting things done by and within a formally organized group."

vii. William Spriegal: “Management is the function of a company concerned with the direction and control of the various activities in order to achieve the objectives of the company. Management is essentially an executive function; deals with the active direction of human effort.

VIII. Kimball and Kimball, “Management includes all duties and functions relating to the formation of a company, its financing, the establishment of all important policies, the provision of all necessary equipment, and the outlines of the general organizational form under which the company will operate. is to operate and the selection of senior personnel.”

ix. Sir Charles Reynold: “Administration is the process of getting things done through the agency of a community. Management functions are to deal with the community in order to fulfill the purposes for which it exists”.

X.E.F.L. Brech: "Management ensures that the work is done, their tasks are all focused on planning and controlling the processes that occur in the company."

XI. Koontz and O'Donnel, "Management is the creation and maintenance of an internal environment within an organization in which individuals, working in groups, can efficiently and effectively contribute to the achievement of group objectives. It is the art of doing work by and with people in formally organized groups”.

xiii. James Lundy: “Management is primarily a task of planning, coordinating, motivating, and controlling the efforts of others to achieve a specific objective. It's about the combination ofto pay the traditional factors of production of land, labor and capital optimally according to needsof course, taking into account the particular objectives of the organization.”

xiii. Wheeler: “Management focuses on the administrators or managers of the company whoIntegrate people, materials and money into an effective operational boundary.”

xiv. Oliver Sheldon, "Management proper is the function in industry concerned with carrying out policy within the limits set by management and employing the organization for the specific purposes set for it."

xv. Newman, Summer, and Warren: “Management's job is to make collaborative efforts to function properly. A manager is someone who gets things done by collaborating with people and other resources to achieve a goal.”

xv. Mary Parker Follett defines management as "the art of getting things done through people." This definition draws attention to the fundamental difference between a manager and other employees in an organization. A manager is someone who indirectly contributes to the organization's goals by directing the efforts of others - not doing the task himself. On the other hand, a person who is not a manager contributes directly to the organization's objectives by performing the task himself.

Sometimes, however, one person in an organization can play both roles at the same time. For example, a sales manager has a leadership role in directing his sales force to achieve the organization's goals, but does not have a leadership role when personally approaching a large account and negotiating a deal. In the first role, he directs the efforts of others and indirectly contributes to the organization's goals; In the latter role, he directly applies his skills as a salesperson to achieve the organization's goals.

xvii. George R. Terry gives a somewhat more detailed definition of management. He defines management as a process “consisting of planning, organizing, executing and controlling, which is carried out in order to determine and achieve objectives through the use of people and other resources”. According to this definition, management is a process – a systematic approach.

The four managerial activities included in this process are planning, organizing, executing and controlling. Planning means managers think about their actions in advance. Organizing means that managers coordinate the organization's human and material resources. Taking action means that leaders motivate and direct subordinates. Controlling means that managers try to ensure that there is no deviation from the norm or plan. When part of their organization is off track, managers take action to correct the situation.

To summarize the diverse conventionalization of the term, it can be said that different definitions of management do not contradict each other. Management is the sum of all activities that (i) determine goals, plans, policies and programs; (ii) cheaply secure labor, material and machinery, (iii) put all these resources into operation through a solid organization, (iv) direct and motivate men at work, (v) monitor and control their performance and (iv) obtain the maximum prosperity and happiness they bring to employers and workers, as well as to the general public.

Definition of management

The term management has been defined in different ways by different people - some have defined it simply and others in a complex way.

Management means the way a specific task is performed and monitored. It also implies accomplishing a task using the limited resources available and the ability to manage those resources.

Many times, management is seen according to its own way of thinking. For a designer, it might mean designing products, utilities, and equipment. To a techno-economist or a cost calculator, it might seem like a matter of numbers that, in monetary terms, could mean loss or gain. For a research chemist, it might mean formulas, chemical reactions, and processes.

The fault lies not with these individuals, but with the environment in which they grew up and the organizations that keep them isolated and unfamiliar with the various aspects of management. Unknowingly, a technical bias of the work they do settles in their subconscious.

This is mainly because no one has taught them what management really means. When these people rise to senior positions based on their years of experience, they find themselves in a predicament due to their technology bias and lack of understanding of professional standards. Due to their lack of foresight and initiative, they fail to capture the essence of other disciplines around them.

Defined administration:

Since management is responsible for completing the assigned task within the given time, with the given resources, and in a given way, an acceptable definition of our way of doing things might be: "Managing means doing things for people through the effective use of resources to do, time and environment". The environment includes government policies, legal frameworks, economic and social factors, competition, etc.

We will try to justify and evaluate what management does, rather than citing some readily available definitions to make the meaning of the term "management" clear.

For example, let's identify the work involved in building a mini steel plant. What are the main work items involved?

Broadly these are:

(i) Preparing a Feasibility Report

(ii) Preparation of a detailed project report

(iii) Design the schedule or PERT network for project completion

(iv) organization and allocation of resources;

(v) Selection of personnel and acquisition of equipment

(vi) Erection

(vii) Commissioning

(viii) Transportation, marketing financing and other commercial aspects

Management definitions - by various scholars

Different scholars have defined management from different angles, but some definitions are commonly accepted to convey the meaning of management.

Some of these definitions are as follows:

Mary Parker Follett: "Management is the art of doing things for others." This definition is popular because it is short and simple. Each manager directs the activities of the others to achieve organizational goals.

Henry Fayol: "To manage means to foresee and plan, to organize, to command, to coordinate and to control."

George R. Terry, "Management is an independent process consisting of planning, organizing, performing, and controlling activities performed to establish and achieve stated objectives using people and other resources."

These definitions emphasize the roles that management must play to achieve organizational objectives.

Donald J. Clough. "Management is the art and science of making decisions and leading."

Rose Moore, "Management is Decision Making."

In these definitions, management is associated with decision-making and leadership. Every manager, no matter what level, has to make decisions and direct subordinates to implement them.

F.W. Taylor, “Management is the art of knowing what one wants to do best and cheapest”.

Taylor championed the best way of doing things, avoiding traditional and outdated ways of working.

Henry L. Sisk, "Management is the coordination of all resources through the process of planning, organizing, directing, and controlling to achieve specified objectives."

This definition emphasizes the coordination of various management functions to achieve specified business objectives. The organization's resources must be used in a way that contributes to the achievement of objectives.

The definitions discussed above have defined management from different perspectives. No one can adequately define the nature and scope of management. Therefore, studying different definitions is necessary to understand management from the right perspective.

Management Definitions - By Hick, Taylor, O'Donnell, Stanley Vance, Henry Fayol and Haimann

There are several definitions for the term "management".

Some of them are defined as follows:

Hick – defines management as “the process of doing things by people and for people”.

In the words of F.W. Taylor, “Management is the art of knowing what you want to do and seeing to it that it is done in the best and cheapest way.”

Koontz and O'Donnell - state that management means "doing things for and with people".

According to Stanley Vance - "Management is simply the process of making decisions and controlling the actions of people to achieve established goals".

According to Henry Fayol – “To manage is to foresee and plan, to organize, to command, to coordinate and to command”.

Haimann states that "Management is the function of doing things for people and directing the efforts of individuals towards a common goal".

Management Definitions

"Leadership cannot be defined or understood - except in terms of its performance dimensions and the performance requirements for it." These words by Peter Drucker place a lot of emphasis on managers getting results. The results of a manager's actions must benefit the customer or the customer as the ultimate beneficiary.

Customers can be outside or inside the organization, e.g. H. Sometimes the results of the manager's actions can affect internal customers such as employees of another department in the organization. A manager's internal customers may also include the company's shareholders and board of directors.

Mary Parker Follett (1868-1933) defined management as "the art of getting things done for people". Peter Drucker, hailed as the father of modern management theory, discovered Follett's work in the 1950s and is said to have referred to Follett as his "guru".

This simple but compelling definition captures the essence of management, although it could be argued that management is as much an art as it is a science. Therefore, it would make sense to shorten the definition of management to "doing things for people".

Interestingly, in this definition, the manager is not expected to do things himself, but is expected to relieve others of work. These individuals may include subordinates, supervisors, suppliers, contractors, shareholders and other interested parties.

When we merge Drucker's emphasis on managers achieving results for the benefit of the client/client with Follett's definition, it becomes "Management is doing things for people for the benefit of the client/customer."

Management Definitions– By various management thinkers

The definition of managingSeveral management thinkers are as follows:

"Management is an art of doing things for others," says Mary Parker Follet. This is a traditional definition which implies that managerial functions are performed to enable people to get work done. However, the definition does not take into account important aspects of management such as material management, finance, etc.

As Henry Fayol says: “To manage is to predict, plan, organize, command, coordinate and control”.

Henry Fayol emphasized management roles through his definition. It involves not only getting the work done by others, but also how to do the work systematically. For him, it is equally important to guide people and coordinate all activities.

According to F.W. Taylor, “Management is the coordination of resources through the process of planning, organizing, directing, and controlling to achieve stated objectives.” Taylor sees management as a procedure (process). The various activities that are part of the management process are planning, organizing, directing and controlling.

According to J.D. Mooney and A.C. Reiley, “Management is the art of directing and inspiring people.” This definition goes beyond functions as it encompasses the aspect of inspiring and motivating people to perform their tasks effectively. According to him, a manager plays an important role in motivating people to achieve the goals set, guiding them and motivating them without putting pressure on them.

Management Definitions

Managers exist in all organizations - at least in organizations that want to succeed. These individuals sometimes have the unenviable task of making decisions, solving difficult problems, setting goals, planning strategies, and winning people over.

In fact, managers manage and coordinate resources effectively and efficiently to achieve an organization's goals. Essentially, managers let other people do the work.

Management has been defined in different ways by different people, such as: B. Plan of action, the art of maximizing efficiency, a social process, a method of doing things through other people's efforts, a direction of action of a cooperative group towards a common goal, art and science of decision-making and leadership, etc.

In a broader sense, it denotes the use of available resources to achieve specific goals. It is seen as a method, system or discipline that brings effectiveness and order to human activities.

In a more specific sense, management is defined as including the functions of planning, organizing, staffing, forecasting, coordinating, commanding, controlling, and motivating the efforts of others to achieve specific objectives. Administration can properly be described as the rule-making and enforcement body.

Management is the process of carrying out activities efficiently and effectively with and through other people.

It is the process of designing and maintaining an environment in which individuals working together in groups efficiently achieve chosen goals. Management is an art. It's about doing things in light of the realities of a situation. Managers can work better using the organized knowledge of management. This knowledge constitutes a science. Therefore, managing is an art; The organized knowledge underlying practice can be called science.

According to Henri Fayol – “Administration means foreseeing and planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating and controlling, foreseeing and providing means to study the future and make the plan of action. Organizing means building the dual structure. Leading means keeping the team active. Coordinating means sticking together. To control means to make everything happen according to established rules and given orders”.

F. W. Taylor - "Management is the art of knowing exactly what you want to do and making sure it gets done in the best and cheapest way."

Harold Koontz - "Management is the art of doing things for and with people in formally organized groups."

Management is the degree to which objectives are achieved by making the right decisions and executing them successfully and doing the right things at the right time in the right way, which can be defined as effectiveness. Efficiency, on the other hand, is using minimal resources wisely and economically to achieve the desired production volume without wasting resources.

Management concept from different perspectives:

I. Productivity – The art of ensuring optimal productivity

ii. Human Relations - The art of getting things done through people

iii. Decision making – art of making the right decisions

4. Leadership – the art of executive leadership

v. Coordination – a manager is what a manager does.

Management focuses on the entire organization, both in the short and long term. Management is the managerial process of forming a strategic vision, setting goals, crafting a strategy, and then implementing and executing the strategy.

Management goes beyond the internal workings of the organization and includes the industry and the general environment. Emphasis is placed on issues related to environmental scanning and industry analysis, assessment of current and future competitors, assessment of core competencies, strategic governance, and effective allocation of organizational resources.