Is Management an Art or Science?

Introduction

Management has many definitions by different authors or theorists. The term management in the business world could be defined as the functions performed such as planning, organizing, coordinating, directing and decision making (Ackerman, 1985; Shenhar and Renier, 1996). During the late 19th century, after the industrial revolution took place, owners of businesses in different sector of the markets were looking for ways to satisfy consumers' needs. Craft production was replaced and machineries were being used, but managers and owners were facing problems as they were only engineers and had no social experience. They were not prepared for the social problems which occurred when people worked in large groups in a factory or shop system; hence they started searching for different ways to manage their organizations and techniques to increase efficiency (Jones and George, 2011, P. 76).

Management is considered to be related to science, art, or even both. It should be noted that thwe teachings of art distinguishes from science. Science contains principles while art consists of continuous practice (Brake, 2009). Different theorists since then have emerged with theories regarding scientific management and its efficiency. According to Mary Crushing Nile, it is classified as science and it is specified that ‘Good Management, or scientific management, achieves a social objective with the best use of human and material energy, time and with satisfaction for the participants and the public’ (Shenhar and Renier, 1996). Before the 1950s, management was mostly considered to be a scientific approach (Brown, 1996).

However, in the past four or five decades, organizations realized the essentiality of art in the managing process. F.W. Taylor, a famous theorist and also known as the father of scientific managemenyt, states that management is an art and defines it as ‘Management is the art of knowing what you want to do and then seeing that they do it in the cheapest and the best way' (Shenhar and Renier, 1996). For example, thinking in an art based way encourages understanding of human activity and logic by picturing the relationship between the self and society on various levels, from informal personalized interactions to the elucidation of formalized relationships between people and establishments (Levinson, 1979, pp. 232-250). Art is one of many channels that lead to a more realistic view of the world; it distinguishes itself from science as it can show the world in a different perspective (Irgens, 2014). According to Irgens, "Science is dependent on classification of our sense perceptions and as such leads to a simplified world, art's channel is through illumination and intensification, and leads to richness". The above definitions of management stated by both the theorists, even though having different point of view, suggests that it can be both an art or science.

This essay will talk about how management is both an art and science. Firstly it will discuss both the types separately, with different type of theories and methods taken place and how effective they were. Then it would show how management is useful if it looked up in both a scientific and artistic way.

Management as a science

Science can be defined as an organized structure of knowledge and which is related to a specific field containing general facts which assists to understand the phenomenon (Hoppenstedt, 2005). Just like science, the nature of management keeps on evolving as time passes. This is due to different researches and theories which have been conducted. Managers are assumed to use proper analysis and that their decisions are based on skills knowledge and experience rather than guesswork. They are expected to use objective measures and analysis, which can be achieved by scientific management (Waters, 1998). This implies that management as a science considers all the facts and realities, which helps businesses to make decisions based on ongoing situations.

Moreover, as mentioned above, management has many different principles and theories just like science. For example, F. W. Taylor wanted an improvement in the productivity of workers. He analysed the motions and the tasks given in any job using the concept of time study and wanted to develop the most efficient ways to carry out those tasks. He then gathered and linked these job requirements to both training of the employees or workers and help from the managers in the form of work assistance, relevant and correct direction and monetary incentives (Schermerhorn, 2011). This means that according to Taylor’s theory, supervisors and workers need to work together. Carrying on, scientific management gives importance to workers training, for example, they are being trained the correct way to work efficiently and effectively, and the supervisor must provide support to achieve the best results.

The theories and benchmarks of management are based or an outcome of examination, recognition and exploration. They are reliably shown and attempted. It obviously shows why individual support management as a science; it relies on upon years of examinations to exhibit the hypotheses which is not a simple job. Management qualities and theories are not made on perspectives, yet rather have attempted and tried on distinctive representatives and supervisor's encounters and actions (Welhrich, 2009). People might argue using this point that management is based on examinations, exploration and recognition, which tends to seem more scientific rather than artistic.

As said before, science is