Is Management an Art or a Science?
Is management an art or a science?
In general sense, management is the art of handling the different aspects of the organization. And it is also a type of science like the mathematics is a formal science then management is also came in the category of the formal science. But if take a look keenly then, management is totally an art. This is an art that how we communicate with the general people, which came in the management. It is the ability and art of a manager that handles the organization in well manner and keeps growing the organization level because of using his abilities.
Let us suppose that a person came to a manager in very angry mode, and after taking to the manager, he is convinced according to the manager point of view, then it was the art of a manager that he has handled the customer in a friendly way. Management is not totally depend upon the manager’s ability, it also the team work of the other organization members, who contribute there effort for the organization. Again it is an art that a group of people work together for so long time and reach to some high level, because of there managerial skills and abilities.
It is believed that management is both an art as well as science. The reason is that different sources justify it with different reasons. According to Webster’s College Dictionary, management is an art because it provides the skills for conducting human activities and it is a science because the skills and techniques which are used in management are precise applications. Scientific principles which are used in management, give the managers specific body of information to guide their behavior. It is also considered an art by the people who think that it is a skill borne of personality and ability.
Also depends on what you’re managing. Business management is a science. Nuclear dynamics is a science. Managing the calories you put in your body is a science (you are using data to make a decision). Managing (or deciding) the next color to apply to a painting is an art. Or an art form.
The previous answer was pretty good, but lacked in practical application. And each application will determine which result it is. Management is art as well as science because it involves the element of arts like the capability of the person and their approach towards the given task. Management is science because it involves the logic and principle behind the things done. Science and art both plays an important role in management.
The word Manage id taken from Italian word “Maneggiare” means to handle, especially to handle or train horses. Here management refers to an Art because managing or training horses is not a science or profession. Managing originally used to indicate other process for managing, training or directing. Management has been called other art of geeting things done through people.
The art of management is a personal creative power plus skill in performance. The contemplation of problems, events and possibilities develops personal creative power, while experience, observation, and study of results contribute to skilled performance. In other words management art involves envisioning orderly whole from chaotic parts, communicating other vision, and acheiving other goal. It is other “art of arts” because it organizes and uses human talent.
The scientific method has played an important role in building managment knowledge and improving managerial skills. The field of management has taken long forward steps since other begining of this century. There is now adequate knoledge for a solid foundation, but it should not be assumed that other scientific method will soon provide all other answers. Managers have to contend with uncertainties that cannot be removed by scientiific endeavour.
An important argument for other accumulation of scientific knowledge about management is other need to develop large number of executives. Even though such knowledge is limited, other student can be some significant insights in to other nature of other management problem.
Science and technology are today coming to their full fruition. Hardly a business can continue its affairs without some reference to other scientific and technological systems. The harnessing of science and technical knowledge is for ‘management’.
Among other many persons who are occupationally engaged in management, most have qualified earlier in their industrial or commercial cases in specialized technical or professional fields as engineers, chemists, accountants etc. They have risen to higher executive positions through years spent in other specialized pratice of their profession of technology.
Ultimately management is both, science and art… Management is incomplete without anyone…
The concept of management is universal and very old. That is why different views have been expressed about its nature by different writers from time to time. The continuous and rapid development of management principles and practices in organization has changed the nature of management. The main points of view about the nature of management are given below:
Management as an Inborn or Acquired Ability
In the pre-scientific management period, i.e., prior to 1880 there has been a leading concept that management is an inborn ability. It is a traditional approach. The supporters of this concept believe that the hereditary characteristics, inborn talents and natural aptitudes of a man make him an efficient manager. Some people are so efficient and talented since their birth that they lead and get success in the field of business. To our mind, this concept was used when the ownership and management were not separated. But later on the researches and development in the field of science, technology and training etc. changed this old concept. Today management is considered not only as an inborn ability but also as an acquired ability. In the words of Ordway Tead, “Managers are both born and made.” Today, in large-sized business organizations, ownership and management are separate identities. The management lies in the hands of professional managers who are educated and trained. Thus, now the management can be considered as an acquired ability.
Management as an Art, Science or Both
A lot of controversy arises whether management is an art or science or both. It is said that the management is the oldest of arts and youngest of science. This explains the changing nature of management. But to have an exact answer to this question, it is necessary to understand both these aspects separately and combined, as given below:
Management as an Art: Art refers to the way of doing specific things; it indicates how an object can be achieved. In the words of George R. Terry, “Art is bringing about of a desired result through the application of skill.” Art is, thus, skilful application of knowledge which entirely depends on the inherent capacity of a person which comes from within a person and is learned from practice and experience. In this sense, management is certainly an art as a manager uses his skill, knowledge and experience in solving various problems, both complicated and non-complicated that arise in the working of his enterprise successful. In the words of Ernest Dale, “Management is considered as an art rather than science mainly because managerial skill is a personnel possession and is intuitive.”
Management as a Science: Science may be described as a systematized body of knowledge based on proper findings and exact principles and is capable of verification. It is a reservoir of fundamental truths and its findings apply safely in all the situations. In this sense, management is a science as it has also developed some systematized knowledge. Like other sciences, management has also developed certain principles, laws, generalization, which are universal in nature and are applicable wherever the efforts of the people are to be coordinated. But management is not as exact science as other physical sciences like physic, chemistry, biology, astronomy etc. The main reason for the inexactness of science of management is that it deals with the people and it is very difficult to predict their behavior accurately. In this way, management falls in the area of ’social sciences’. Thus, it is a social science.
Conclusion- Management is an Art and Science Both
From the above study, we conclude that management is an art and science both. According to American Society of Mechanical Engineers. “Management is the art and science of preparing, organizing and directing human efforts to control the forces and utilize the material of nature for the benefit of men. “Thus, it has now been accepted that management is an art as well as science. It has the elements of both arts and science. In the words of Dean Stanley, “Management is a mixture of an art an science – the present ratio is about 80% art and 20% science.”
*************************** SHIVASHANKAR V. JIRLI.

