Management by the numbers

Management by the numbers
See also
Decision types in business Operational research Origin and development of the management science Knowledge management Strategic management system Personnel controlling Organization of administrative and office work Behavioral aspects of decision-making Importance of communication

Management by the numbers is broad concept involving using gathering of statistics data, applying mathematical and numerical methods as a main and (sometimes) only technique used by management. This concept is closely related with operations management and both uses same methods and techniques in:

• decision making,
• performance planning and monitoring,
• capacity planning,
• inventory management,
• supply chain optimization,
• scheduling and project management,
• resource planning,
• forecasting and simulation.

The concept of management by the numbers completely ignores aspects of social relations prevailing in the organization, the relationship between employees and management, communication, motivation, etc.

References

• Cesarone, J. (2007). Project management by the numbers: How earned value analysis can keep you on track. Industrial Engineer, 39(11), 36-42.
• Chase, J. (2012). Operations management. Tata McGraw-Hill.
• Hummel, R. P. (2006). The Triumph of Numbers Knowledges and the Mismeasure of Management. Administration & Society, 38(1), 58-78.
• Krajewski, Lee J., Larry P. Ritzman, and Manoj K. Malhotra. Operations management. Vol. 8. Prentice Hall, 2001.