Question

The art of getting things done through the efforts of other people.” Based on your own experiences, how would you improve or expand upon the definition of management? What characteristics make a management process a good one?

Answer 1

“The art of getting things done through the efforts of other people” is the traditional definition of management. The statement indicates that management is an art; managing requires coordinated efforts of other people; manager is the leader of the group and the manager does not operate the equipment or sell a product directly instead he guides and leads others in operating the equipment and selling the products or services.

Personally speaking, the above traditional definition is not sufficient to meet today’s dynamic environment. The definition should include-

• Management is a science because it is based on several principles of management.
• The definition should include the skills and functions of a manager.
• Managing through the effort of other people should indicate the feelings, emotions and needs of other people.
• The definition should be apt for strategic decision making of the management.

The characteristics that make a management process a good one are:

• Creative thinking – important for take strategic decisions and effectively handle the people
• Intuition- Decisions based on intuitions is right most of the time.
• Commitment- in work makes the manager to be the role-model for the team members
• Taking responsibility- creates trust among the employees
• Flexibility and Versatility- These values help in speedy responsiveness of the manager.
• Organizational structure – limitations and guidelines enable the manager to be organized.
• Knowledge- A thorough knowledge of the process is essential to guide employees.
• Disciplined in action- since the manager is the role-model for his employees, he should abstain from doing wrong things