Ans - The term ' Management ' has been used in different senses . Sometimes it is used in the sense of managing the group of people in an organisation , at other times it refers to the process of planning , organising , staffing , directing , coordinating and controlling . Management is an activity which is necessary wherever there is a group of people working in an organisation .
According to Henry Fayol , " To manage is to forecast and plan , to organise , to command , to coordinate , and to control .
Nature of Management are as follows -
1. Management is a group activity - Management is an essential part of a group activity . Management makes the people realise the objectives of the group and directs their efforts towards the achievement of these objectives .
2. Management is universal in character - The basic principle of management are of universal application and can be applied in all organisations whether they are business , social , religious , cultural , educations etc.
3. Management is needed at all levels of organisation - Another important feature of management is that it is needed at all levels of organisation , example - top level , middle level , lower level .
4. Management is goal oriented - Management aims to achieve economic and social objectives . Group efforts in management are always directed towards the achievement of some predetermined goals .
5. Management is a dynamic function - Management is a dynamic function and it has to be performed continuously . In real sense it is never ending function .
6. Management is an art as well as a science - Management is a science because it has developed certain principles which are of universal application , Again the art of the manager is essential to make the best use of management science . Thus management is both science and art .
2. What are the objectives of management ?
Ans - 1. Organisational objectives - Organisational objectives aim at the growth and prosperity of the business . These objectives are -
(a) Survival - Every organisation will first aim to survive in the market in the face of competition and earn reasonable profit for survival .
(b) Growth - Every organisation tries to grow and expand its activities , which can be measured by increase in profit , number of branches , increase in volume of sales etc.
(c) Productivity - Productivities is concerned with the improvement in the productivity level , which is the important objective of a business .
(d) Innovation - In order to survive and growth , their is a need to improve the technology and the products as per the needs of customers .
(e) Profitability - Profit is essential for survival , growth and expansion . It is the reward for risk bearing by a businessman .
2. Social objectives - Social objectives deal with the commitment of a business towards a society . These objectives are -
(a) Supply quality goods at reasonable prices .
(b) Controlling environment pollution .
(c) Creating employment opportunities for people .
(d) Helping society by providing educational facilities .
3. Personal objectives - Personal or individual objectives relate to the employees and these objectives are -
(a) Pay appropriate salaries to employees .
(b) Create promotional opportunities for deserving employees .
(c) Offer incentives for hard work.
(d) Provide healthy working conditions .
(e) Treat employees as a part of business .
3. What are the differences between effectiveness and efficiency ?
Ans - (a) Effectiveness refers to completion of task within time .
Efficiency refers to completion of task correctly within minimum cost .
(b) Effectiveness is concerned with end result
Efficiency is concerned with cost - benefit analysis.
(c) Effectiveness is multi-dimensional concept which cannot be measured by a single criteria .
Efficiency can be measures by cost - benefit analysis .
(d) Effectiveness is a very broad concept .
Efficiency is concerned with economic and technological aspects of the organisation.
4. What are the levels of management ? Discuss ?
Ans - An organisation may have various levels of management . The main significance of levels is that they determined authority and responsibility of relationships in an organisation . On the basis of that we can identify three levels of management .
(a) Top management .
(b) Middle management .
(c) Lower / operational management .
(a) Top management - It consists owners, Board of Directors , managing directors , chief executive, and general manager , who establishes policies and objectives . It requires more of conceptual , innovative , decision making skills as compared to the technical skills. The functions of top level management are as follows -
1. Determining the objectives or goals of the organisation .
2. Framing policies and making plans to achieve goal.
3. Setting up an organisational frame work.
4. Assembling the resources of money , men , material , machines and methods .
5. Exercising effective control.
(b) Middle management - This level of management is basically concerned with the policies and plans laid down by the top management . It works as a necessary link between the top management and lower level management . It consists of -
1. Senior Middle Management .
2. Junior Middle Management .
The functions of these levels of management are as follows -
1. Interpreting the policies framed by top management .
2. Preparing the organisational set up in their respective departments .
3. Assigning duties and responsibilities for timely execution of the plans .
4. Motivating employees to achieve higher productivity .
5. Coordinating with other departments to ensure a smooth running of organisation .
(c) Lower level management - It is the lowest level in the hierarchy of management and actual operations lies at the responsibility of this level of management . It consists of superintendents , supervisors and foremen who are in direct touch with the rank and file of workers .The functions of these levels are as follows -
1. To plan day to day work within the goals prescribed by the higher management .
2. To issue instructions for executing the work .
3. To arrange materials and equipment for the workforce .
4. To communicate the problems of workers to higher levels of management .
5. To maintain proper discipline and good relations among workers .
5. What are the functions of management ?
Ans - 1. Planning - Planning is a basic managerial function . It is a decision in advance , what to do , when to do , how to do and who will do the particular task . Planning is a process which involves ' thinking before doing '. Other functions of management are undertaken after planning .
2. Organising - Every business enterprise needs the services of a number of persons to look after its different aspects .The functions of organisation is to arrange , guide , coordinate and directs and control the activities of various persons working to achieve organisational goals .
3. Staffing - It involves manning the positions created by the organisation process . Staffing is related to recruiting , selecting , appointing the employees and assigning them duties . It also maintains the training and development of employees , their remuneration etc.
4. Directing - Once the employees are appointed their is a need to direct their activities for undertaking organisational work . Directing is also concerned with giving instructions to employees , motivating them, supervising their activities and communicating with them .
5. Controlling - Planning of various activities doesn't ensures automatic implementation of policies . Control is the process which enables management to get its policies implemented and take corrective actions if performance is not according to the predetermined standards .
6. Management is an Art - Discuss ?
Ans- An art is often regarded as the systematic application of skill or knowledge in accomplishing the desired task . An art has the following essential features -
(a) Personal skill .
(b) Practical knowledge .
(c) Result oriented approach .
(d) Regular practice .
(e) Creativity .
Let us apply these features to management for determining whether it is an art or not .
(a) Personal skill - In this sense , management is an art as one has to use his personal skill and knowledge is solving complicated managerial problems. It is an art of dealing with people .
(b) Practical knowledge - Management is concerned with achieving of organisational with achieving of organisational targets of profits, sales , etc . A person cannot be called a good manager until he put his knowledge into practical use and attempt to achieve business goals by applying various principles of management .
(c) Resulted oriented approach - Management is concerned with accomplishment of goals . It ensures that every type of work is completed in time so that targets are reached .
(d) Regular practice - Like an artist , a manager always tries to attain higher goals in order to reach perfection . Only the regular use of managerial principles will help a manger to bring perfection to his acts.
(e) Creativity - Management is the most creative art . One has to find newer ways if motivating in thinking and practices is an essential element of management .
It has been seen in the above discussion that management has all the features that an art has . Therefore we can consider management as an art .
7. Management is science - Discuss ?
Ans - The word science literally means knowledge . Science is a systematised body of knowledge pertaining to a particular field of enquiry . To be called a science , the management should have the following characteristics -
(a) It is a systematised body of knowledge .
(b) The principles are evolved on the basis continued observation .
(c) The principles establish cause and effect relationship .
(d) The principles are exact and have universal application .
(e) The principles can be verified and provide a basis for future prediction .
Let us apply these features to management for determining whether it is science or not -
1. Systematised body of knowledge - Management is a systematised body of knowledge built by management thinker and practitioners .
2. Continuous observation - The principles of management have been developed after prolonged observations in various organisation .
3. Universal application - The principles of management are universally applied like the principles of physics and chemistry .
4. Cause and effect relationship - Like science , management principles also establish cause and effect relationship between different factors .
5. Predictions - The predictions of management are not as exact and definite as in the case of natural sciences .
It has been seen in the above discussion that management has a systematised body of knowledge relating its field . But it is not an exact as science as other sciences like physics , chemistry , etc. Thus we can say that management is behavioural science and it belongs to a group of social sciences .
8. Management as a profession . Discuss ?
Ans - A profession may be defined as an occupation backed by specialised knowledge and training and to which entry is regulated by a representative body .
A profession has the following essential features -
(a) Specialized knowledge .
(b) Formal education and knowledge .
(c) Professional association .
(d) Code of conduct .
(e) Service motive .
Let us examine whether management is a profession as per the criterion given below -
(a) Specialised body - Management has an organised body of knowledge built by management thinkers and practitioners over a period of time .
(b) Formal education and training - It is essential that managers acquire formal management education and training for the application of managerial principles .
(c) Professional Association - For the regulation of any profession, their should be a representative body . In India , Indian Institute of Chartered Accountants regulates the entry into this profession.
(d) Code of Conduct - A Code of Conduct provides rules and regulations , norms of honesty , etc. In management their is no code of conduct for managers except that they have responsibilities towards their interests groups like employees , investors , consumers etc.
(e) Service motive - A profession involves the application of expert knowledge for the service of society . Management aims at providing maximum efficiency at the lowest cost so as to serve their employees , consumers , society at large .
It has been seen in the above discussion that management in some respect qualify as a profession but it doesn't have certain features which constitute a recognized profession . Therefore , management cannot be called a profession but their is no doubt that it is emerging as a profession.
9. What are the importance of management ?
Ans - (a) Proper utilisation of resources - Management enables the best use of various factors of production . It finds out the ways of making best use of physical resources and human resources to achieve common goals .
(b) Better quality goods - A good management helps in producing better quality goods at minimum of cost . It also creates quality consciousness among people connected with production .
(c) Increasing profits - Profits can be increased in any organisation either by increasing sales or reducing costs and management can only help in reducing costs through various measures .
(d) Growth and development of business - Every business aims at growth and development . Proper planning and control by the management helps a business to grow and develop.
(e) Helps in achieving business objectives - It is the management which makes the people realise the objectives of the group and channelizes their energies for achieving them .
(f) Social benefits - Management is beneficial not only to a business enterprise but also to the society as a whole through providing quality goods at reasonable rate , controlling pollution etc .
10. What do you mean by Coordination ? What are the nature of Coordination ?
Ans - Coordination is the process of synchronising activities of various persons in the organisation in order to achieve goals . Coordination is undertaken at every level of management . At the top level the chief executive will coordinate the activities of functional / departmental managers . Similarly no department will be able to function without a proper coordination with finance department . If their is lack of coordination between the different departments then their production sells even entire activities will suffer . The purpose of coordination is to create teamwork and harmony in the enterprise . It is the blending of human efforts in order to achieve organisational goals .
Characteristics - 1. Part of every function - Coordination is not a separate function but is inherent in every function . The activities of every function need coordination to complete them.
2. Responsibility of every manager - Managers are given the responsibility of achieving certain targets , they have to synchronised the activities of every subordinates for achieving goals.
3. Continuous Activity - Coordination is an activity carried on every manager at all the times . So coordination is an activity which is undertaken continuously .
4. Involves cooperation - Coordination involves synchronisation of activities of various persons so it can be achieved only with their cooperation .
5. Group effort - Where their are more persons working then their activities will be coordinated . It harmonises the efforts of two or more persons or department .
6. Achieving common objectives - When different functions work in harmony then common goals will be easily achieved .
11. Coordination is the essence of management ?
Ans - Coordination brings unity of action and every managerial function needs coordination and synchronisation of various activities . Coordination is necessary for the following reasons -
1. Coordination needed to perform all functions - Managerial functions are performed in a better way with the help of coordination such as -
(a) Planning needs coordination among main plan and sub-plans.
(b) While performing organising function their is a need to have coordination between authority and responsibility .
(c) Coordination in staffing function is needed between nature of job and employees qualification.
(d) In directing function coordination is required between superior and subordinate .
(e) In controlling function coordination is required between standard set and actual performance.
2. Coordination needed at all levels -
(a) At top level coordination is needed to synchronise the activities to achieve organisational goals.
(b) At middle level coordination is needed to balance the activities of different departments .
(c) At lower level the activities of workers are needed to coordinate to achieve departmental goals.
3. Coordination is the most important function -
It is the most important function of every organisation . In the absence of coordination their will be chaos and mismanagement . There will be a need of coordination for setting the things right .
12. What are the differences between coordination and cooperation ?
Ans - 1. Meaning - Coordination is synchronisation of various activities .
Cooperation is willingness of individuals to help each other .
2. Nature - Coordination is conscious and deliberate attempt of a manager .
Cooperation is a voluntary effort of individuals .
3. Relation - Coordination is both formal and informal relationship .
Cooperation arises out of informal relationship.
4. Need - Coordination is essential to achieve organisational goals .
Cooperation arises only when people arises to work together .
5. Scope - Coordination is a wider term which includes cooperation .
Cooperation is a narrow concept for establishing coordination .
13. What are the importance of coordination ?
Ans - 1. Essence of management - The increase in the size of organisation has brought a number of complex cities . Coordination helps in bringing unity of action for achieving business goals.
2. Good Personnel Relations - Management and staff create cordial human relations through coordination . The points of conflict among different persons , between staffs , etc. can be settled by mutual discussion .
3. Unity of Direction - Coordination helps in creating unity of direction . The coordination process helps in synchronising various efforts of employees to motivate them to achieve business goals .
4. Efficiency in economy - By coordinating the activities the efficiency is brought in the working . It also helps in avoiding delays and eliminating duplication of efforts .
5. Helpful in developing personnel - Coordination by synchronising various activities helps in promoting team spirit and job satisfaction among organisational personnel .
