Management as science

The focus of the science of organization and management is different than other forms of organized human activities. Its purpose is to initiate research and the integration of cognitive achievements, methodological, organizational and technical developments in the organization.

Functions of management science

Science of organization and management has following functions and research objectives:

• diagnostic, if the aim of the research conducted in the framework of this discipline is the study of fragments of reality - in this case the organization (company, enterprise) - which is the subject of its interest,
• explanatory - the research focuses on explaining the relationship between the characteristics of organized human activities and their changes, for demonstrating the correctness of the changes, their functional, structural and causal relationships,
• prognostic, also called projection, where the attention of researchers is directed to detect dependencies and organizational trends that can be used to transform reality.

General methodology of managerial science

The general methodology of management involves various areas:

• management process analysis,
• business planning and organization theory,
• organizational structures,
• methods of organization and management,
• decision making,
• organizational control,
• analysis of the effectiveness of management.

Science of management specific areas

Specific areas of management science are:

• strategic management,
• operational research,
• logistics management,
• quality management,
• ergonomics,
• human resource management,
• organizational behaviour,
• management of change,
• research and development,
• knowledge management,
• innovation management,
• communication management,
• information management,
• financial management,
• marketing management,
• project management,
• risk management,
• and others.

See also:

• Origin and development of the management science

Examples of Management as science

• Organizational behavior: This involves studying how individuals, groups, and organizations interact and how they work together to achieve a common goal. It explores topics such as leadership and decision-making, team dynamics, communication, motivation, and job satisfaction.
• Human Resource Management: This involves the management of people in an organization, including recruitment, selection, training and development, appraisal, compensation, and labor relations.
• Strategic Management: This is the process of creating and implementing plans that help an organization achieve its goals. It involves analyzing the organization's environment, identifying opportunities and threats, formulating strategies and tactics to capitalize on opportunities and mitigate threats, and monitoring progress.
• Operations Management: This involves the management of the processes and resources that produce a company's products and services. It includes topics such as process design, inventory management, and quality control.
• Change Management: This involves managing the process of change in an organization in order to achieve its desired objectives. It includes topics such as planning, coordination, communication, and implementation.

Advantages of Management as science

The science of organization and management has many advantages. In particular, it offers:

• A systematic approach to understanding and improving human organizations. Through the use of research and data, it can help organizations better understand their current situation and identify areas where they need to improve.
• A better understanding of organizational dynamics and how to best manage them. The science of organization and management can help managers to better understand the internal and external factors that affect an organization, such as the stakeholders, the environment, and the organization's culture.
• The ability to design and implement management systems that are tailored to the specific needs of the organization. The science of organization and management can help managers to create management systems that are tailored to the unique needs of the organization, thus providing a more effective management system.
• Improved decision-making. By understanding the dynamics of the organization and its environment, managers can make more informed decisions, leading to better organizational outcomes.
• Increased efficiency. By using the science of organization and management to design and implement effective management systems, organizations can reduce costs, increase productivity, and improve quality.

Limitations of Management as science

Management as a science has its own limitations. These limitations include:

• Inadequate knowledge of the organization's objectives and environment: Management as a science is unable to provide a comprehensive understanding of the organization's goals and the external conditions in which it operates.
• The inability to accurately measure performance: Management as a science is often unable to accurately measure and assess the performance of the organization.
• Limited ability to predict future outcomes: The science of management is limited in its ability to predict future outcomes and results.
• Lack of a unified theory: There is no unified theory of management that can provide a comprehensive understanding of the field.
• Limited applicability of scientific methods: The applicability of scientific methods to management is limited and may not be suitable for all contexts.
• Difficulty in demonstrating the impact of management: It is often difficult to demonstrate the impact of management decisions on the overall success of an organization.

Management as science — recommended articles

Strategic management principles — Importance of strategic management — Organizational diagnostics — Strategic planning functions — Burke-Litwin model — Nature of strategic management — Strategic management system — Strategic information system — Strategic management

References

• Cole, G. A. (2004). Management theory and practice]. Cengage Learning EMEA.
• Drucker, P. F. (1959). Long-range planning-challenge to management science. Management science, 5(3), 238-249.
• Likert, R. (1967). The human organization: its management and values.
• Pidd, M. (2009). Tools for thinking; modelling in management science. John Wiley and Sons Ltd.
• Taylor, F. W. (1914). The principles of scientific management. Harper.

Author: Krzysztof Wozniak