Management is both an art and a science

Welcome to Advanced Management.

The basic principles of management have been stable for some time. When organizations are new, the energy and excitement of innovation and creativity often mask the challenges that are faced when the organization begins to mature. It is at that stage that systems are needed in order to keep growing and maintain effectiveness.

In fact, many people involved in an organization’s early stages don’t like the discipline necessary for a mature organization to flourish. This is true even for founders. They long for the ‘early days’ and descry the need for shared authority and structures as an imposition on their creativity and control.

Mature organizations, just like any mature organism, sometimes show signs of internal weaknesses that need attention. It’s good to have a checkup now and then. Too often managers wait until radical surgery is needed to save the organization. But if they learn to pay attention to the signs, such extreme measures can be avoided.

Finally, every organization, in spite of itself, reaches a stage where it is no longer in a position to continue as it has. New technologies, new methods, and new needs cause older solutions to become obsolete and need to be replaced.

The Genesis of Management as an Art and a Science

The concept of management as an art and a science emerged in the early 20th century. Henri Fayol, a French mining engineer, played a significant role in introducing the principles of management. He emphasized the importance of a well-defined organizational structure and identified five key functions of management: planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating, and controlling.

Fayol’s ideas laid the foundation for the development of management as both an art and a science. The art of management focuses on the human element, emphasizing leadership qualities, creativity, and intuition. It recognizes that effective managers must possess the ability to inspire and motivate their teams, think outside the box, and adapt to changing circumstances.

On the other hand, the science of management emphasizes the systematic approach to achieving organizational goals. It involves planning, organizing, and controlling processes to ensure efficiency and effectiveness. The science of management emphasizes the use of data, analysis, and evidence-based decision-making.

Understanding the Art of Management

The art of management encompasses the intuitive and creative aspects of leadership. It involves qualities such as effective communication, empathy, and the ability to inspire and motivate others. Managers who excel in the art of management possess strong leadership skills and understand the human element of organizational dynamics.

Can the ART be developed? Yes. With any art, if an underlying talent exists, it can be developed. Intuition, creativity, insight and communication skills can be identified and learned.

Future Blog Posts

In the future we will post blogs that can be used as guidance for the basic science of management, including planning, organizing, directing, controlling and coordinating the enterprise. We will also provide very in-depth descriptions of how to make tactical and strategic decisions under stress. This will also include explanations of how effective managers can use behavioral science to improve employee and systems functioning.

Also, we will be offering insight on how you can build intuitive and cognitive skills to enhance the ART of management.

The benefits of using advanced management practices include improved functioning of any type of organization: for profit, not for profit, government.