The Definition of management

1. a) What is management? Rank the following according to how important you think they are. Compare your answers with a partner.

i) planning, organization, motivation, control;

ii) an array of different functions undertaken to accomplish a task successfully;

iii) an art and a science;

iv) the process of how one achieves ones target or goals;

v) the managerial process of forming a strategic vision, setting objectives, crafting a strategy and then implementing and executing the strategy.

b) Read the text and compare your answers:

Management is based on scientific theories and today we can say that it is a developing science.

But knowledge of theories and principles doesn't provide prac­tical results. It is necessary to know how to apply this knowledge. Practical application of knowledge in the management area re­quires certain abilities or skills. Here is an example:

Depending on its size, an organization may employ a number of specialized managers who are responsible for particular areas of management. A very large organization may employ many man­agers, each responsible for activities of one management area. In contrast, the owner of a sole proprietorship may be the only man­ager in the organization. He or she is responsible for all levels and areas of management.

What is important to an organization is not the number of man­agers it employs but the ability of these managers to achieve the organization's goals, and this ability requires great skills.

In other words, management is the process of coordinating the resources of an organization to achieve the primary orga­nizational goals.