On Management

Three well established Schools of management thought  classical, behavioral and  quantitative  have contributed to managers understanding of organizations and to their ability to manage  them. Each offers a different perspective for defining management problems and opportunities and for developing ways to deal with them. In there current  state of evolution however each approach also overlooks or deals inadequately with important aspects of organizational life.  The newer systems approach based on general systems theory , and contingency approach have already been developed to the point where they offer valuable insights for the practicing manager. Eventually these most recently evolved perspective may lead to the integration of the classical, behavioural and quantitative schools ,on the other hand some new approach not yet perceived on the horizon may accomplish this end. Five possible directions for the evolution of management theory: ...

LEADERSHIP Leadership is an important subject for managers because of the critical role played by leaders in group and organisational effectiveness. Leadership may be defined as the process of influencing and directing the task related activities of group members. Approaches to Leadership Three approaches to to the study of leadership have been identified: the trait,behavior and contingency approaches. The trait approach has not proved useful,since no one combination of traits consistently distinguishes leaders from nonleaders or effective leaders from ineffective leaders. The behavior approach has focussed on leadership functions and styles. Studies have found the both task related functions and group maintenance functions have to be performed by one or more other group members in order for a group to function effectively. Studies of leadership styles have distinguished between  a task oriented ,authoritarian or initiating structure on the one hand and an employee cente...