Introduction

The term ‘management’ encompasses an array of different functions

undertaken to accomplish a task successfully. The term management may be

recently defined, but it existed at a time when men started learning the art of

organizing, strategizing (during wars) and/or simply planning. At the core of it,

management was quintessentially considered as an art of ‘managing men’ and

hence the term “manage-men-T.”

Definitions of management

Griffin (2002) describes management as a set of activities (including planning

and decision making, organizing, leading and controlling) directed at an

organization’s resources (human, financial, physical and information) with the

aim of achieving organizational goals in an efficient and effective manner.

While for Weihrich and Koontz (1994:6) management is the process of

designing and maintaining an environment in which individuals working

together in groups, efficiently to accomplish selected aims. Similarly,

Schermerhorn (2005:8) defines management as the process of planning,

organizing, leading and controlling the use of resources to accomplish

performance goals. Sharing the same view of management is Starke and

Sexty (1998) who state that management as a process of planning,

organizing, leading and controlling other people so that organizational

objectives are reached.

Differing slightly by concentrating on the human element and while silent on

the non human resources is the definition by Vibert et al (2004:5) that

management is getting work done through others. Management is also a

practice and a process by which managers create, direct, maintain and operate

purposeful organization through integrated and co-operative human efforts

(Kuye, 2009).

Other definitions of management:

Kroon (1995:7) maintains that “management is concerned with the efficient

utilisation of human and other resources to provide services and fulfill

particular needs to achieve the goals of the organization”. Johannsen and Page

(1995:186) supports this view and describe management as “the effective use

and coordination of resources such as capital, material and labour to achieve

the defined objectives with maximum efficiency”.

Bedeian (1993) Management is a process by which we achieve desired results through efficient utilization human and material resources.

Boone, L.E. and Kurtz, D. (2010: 254) management is the process of achieving organizational objectives through people and other resources.

Daft, R.L. and Marcic, D. (1988:7) brand, management as the attainment of organizational goals… through planning, organizing, leading, and controlling organizational resources.

Desslar, G. and Starke, F. A. (2004: 5) describe management as the process of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling other people so that organization objectives are achieved.

Fayol (1949) conceptualized management as forecasting/planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating and controlling.

Follet, M. in Graham, P. (1995) explained management as “the art of getting things done through the efforts of other people”.

For McFarland (1979:5) Management is the process by which managers create, direct, maintain, and operate purposive organization through coordinated, cooperative human effort. A related definition is that of Donnelly et al (1998) which states that management is the process undertaken by one or more individuals to coordinate the activities of others to achieve results not achievable by one individual acting alone.

Hellriegel, D. and Solocum, J. W. (2002:5) opine that management refers to tasks and activities involved in directing an organization or one of its units: planning, organizing, leading and controlling.

Higgins, J.M. (1998:5) management is the creative problem-solving process of planning, organizing, leading and controlling. In the same stance Yalokwu, P.O. (2006:31) reports that management can be best described as a process of achieving organizational goals by engaging in the four functions of planning, organizing, leading and controlling.

Lewis et al (2002:5) define management as the process of administering and coordinating resources effectively, efficiently and in an effort to achieve the goals of the organization.

Management involves the effective use of human, equip, and information resources to achieve objectives, which include making a profit, meeting customer needs, and expanding the firm market share. (Miller, et al 2003:5)

Management is the process of designing and maintaining an environment in which individuals, working together in groups, efficiently accomplish selected aims (Koontz and Weihrich 1990:4).

Peterson, C. and Plowman, E. (1958)” Management maybe defined as the process by means of which the process and objectives of a particular human group are determined, clarified and effectuated”.

Phatak, A. (1997: 2) informs that management is the process aimed at accomplishing organizational objectives by (1) effectively coordinating the procurement, allocation, and the utilization of the human, financial, intellectual, and physical resources of the organization and (2) maintaining the organization in a state of satisfactory dynamic equilibrium with the environment.

Pride et al (1998:154) Management is the process of coordinating the resources of an organization so as to achieve the primary goals of the organization.

Robbins and Coulter (1999:8) management refers to the process of planning, organizing, coordinating and integrating work activities so that they are completed efficiently and effectively with and through other people.

Robbins, et al (2003: 5) management is the process of getting activities completed efficiently with and through other people.

Singla, R.K. (2009) surmise that management is the process of conducting a set of functions (planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling) to get the work done in an efficient and effective manner.

Stoner, et al (1995: 7) view management as the process of planning, organizing, leading, and control of the work of organizational members and of using all available organizational resources to reach stated organizational goals.

Terry, G.R. (1977) “Management is a distinct process consisting of planning, organizing, actuating and controlling; utilizing in each both science and art, and followed in order to accomplish pre-determined objectives”.

Uma, Sekeharan (1989) in Khan, A. (1999:4) “Management is a functional process of accomplishing the goals of the organization through the help of others”.

Williams (2004:7) good management is working through others to accomplish tasks that help fulfill organization objectives as efficiently as possible.

The basic activities that comprise the management process are planning and

decision making (determining courses of action), organizing (coordinating

activities and resources), Staffing (recruiting people), leading (managing

people) and controlling (monitoring and evaluating activities). These activities

are not performed on a systematic and predictable schedule.

Management can be conceptualized in a number ways:

I. As a social function: it is an interrelationship, involving interaction and

communication among people.

II. As a culture: it reflects the way and how people carry out their management

activities

III. As a process: management is a continuous activity; it is not a static action but

an ongoing series of actions.

IV. As a discipline: management is a body knowledge that comprises principles,

theories and concepts.

Management can be differentiated by level and by area. By level we can

identify top, middle, and first-line management. Kinds of mangers by area

include marketing, financial, operations, human resource, administrative and

specialized managers.

Furthermore, in general terms there are two approaches to management:

- The Industrial Organization Approach: This approach is based on economic

theory which deals with issues like competitive rivalry, resource allocation,

economies of scale. This approach to management assumes rationality, self

interested behavior, profit maximization.

- The Sociological Approach: This approach deals primarily with human

interactions. It assumes rationality, satisfying behavior, profit sub-optimality.

Conclusion

From the above definitions, it is clear that management is a creative as well as

systematic flow of processes knowledge that can be applied to produce results by

using human as well as other resources in an effective way. Furthermore,

management combines creative, business, organizational, analytical and other

skills to produce effective goal-oriented results! Some of the key functions in

management includes learning to delegate, planning and organizing,

communicating clearly, controlling situations, hiring and motivating employees,

adapting to change, constantly innovating and thinking of new ideas, building a

good team and delivering results which are not just figure -bound but results that

also focus on overall growth and development.

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