Management theory presents concepts on effective organizational management. The topic covers various theoretical underpinnings of management which in turn form the basis of leadership and management approaches used to guide organizations into growth and sustainability. The topic begins by establishing the classical viewpoint of management on scientific methods used to improve the productivity of workers in organizations. The viewpoints presented are original works of various pioneers in the field of management, including Fredrick Taylor with the four principles of scientific management and Charles Clinton Spaulding with administrative management. Next, this chapter focuses on human relations and behavioral science. Understanding human behavior and what motivates them is key in enhancing individual productivity and alignment towards organizational objectives. Furthermore, various systems of management and their sustainability are discussed in the chapter.
As an aspiring manager and a leader, knowledge of management theory is of high relevance considering that managers are entrusted with the implementation of strategies and effective people and resource management to accomplish organizational goals. By learning management theories, leaders gain a comprehensive understanding of workplace dynamics, people and become better at decision making (Kinicki & Denise). Making decisions based on intuition or on impulse could be catastrophic to both people and organizations hence the need for a reliable reference for decision-makers. Management theories offer a framework on which managers could base justification for their actions and decision-making.
An important takeaway from scientific management theory is that people become more productive when assigned tasks that match their skills and abilities. Therefore leaders should facilitate training and supervision of employees to maximize the human resource asset. While Taylors’ theory ensures organizational efficiency, it does not incorporate the human aspect, which is equally important in attaining productivity. However, this shortcoming is well covered by the human relations theory, which suggests that employees are more motivated to work when they feel valued and given special considerations as human beings (Kinicki & Denise). Administrative management theory, on the other hand, elaborates the roles of managers or rather leaders, which include forecasting, leading, coordinating, commanding, planning, and control. As such, leaders’ responsibilities are highlighted, giving them clarity and a sense of duty.
In the near future, I intend to utilize knowledge from management theory to get the best out of my team to enhance organizational performance. Administrative management theory argues that no single management strategy is effective in all situations, and therefore leaders should be flexible in their application (Kinicki, & Denise). This assertion is true considering the various workplace dynamics, people, different cultures, and unforeseeable situations that arise in the course of business operation. Lastly, the issue of sustainable development is highlighted. Scarcity of resources coupled with environmental changes being witnessed demand businesses globally to operate on a different mode and not just on profit-making. As such, organizations are encouraged to resort to strategies that will ensure current needs are met without compromising the survival of future generations.
In general, management theory informs learners of the various concepts and ideas that could be applied to effectively manage formal organizations. It would be disastrous if the manager made decisions based on personal intuition and impulse as such decisions are never reliable, to state the least. In my opinion, with knowledge of various management theories and practices, a manager is more knowledgeable and is likely to implement effective strategies and make informed decisions which would, in turn, lead to the betterment of organizational performance.
Work Cited
Kinicki, Angelo and Denise, Soinet. Management: A practical introduction. McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2011.