Management as a profession

Profession: -An economic activity, which is conducted by a person, having specialized knowledge, acquired by a course of study and training for serving society.

  1. Service motive:
  • The motive of the legal and medical profession is to serve their client’s interests by rendering dedicated and committed service.
  • The basic purpose of management to help the organization achieve its goals by providing good quality products at reasonable prices, thereby serving society is increasing.
  •  So, presently this feature of the profession is not fully present in management.
  1. Well-defined body of knowledge:
    • All professions are based on a well-defined body of knowledge that can be acquired through instruction.
    • Management too is based on a systematic body of knowledge comprising well-defined principles. This feature of the profession is present in management.
  2. Ethical code of conduct:
    • Legal and medical professions are bound by a code of conduct that guides the behavior of its members. AIMA has devised a code of conduct.
    • But there is no statutory backing for this code. So, presently this feature of the profession is not present in management.
  3. Associations of Professionals:
    • Legal and medical professions are affiliated with a professional association like the bar council and medical council which regulates entry, and grants certificates of practice.
    • There is, however, no compulsion for managers to be members of such an association. So, presently this feature of the profession is not present in management.
  4. Restricted entry:
    • The entry to the above-stated profession is restricted through a prescribed qualification. But there is no restriction on anyone being appointed as a manager in any business enterprise.
    • So, presently this feature of the profession is not present in management.

Conclusion: -The above discussion shows that management does not satisfy all the criteria of a profession. Management is a profession but not a fully-fledged or a true profession.

Management as an Art

The skillful and personal application of existing knowledge to achieve desired results is called art’. In the light of this statement, describe whether management is an art or not.

Ans. “The skillful and personal application of existing knowledge to achieve desired results is called art”. Management is an art because of the following reasons:

  1. Personalized application:
  • Two managers use theoretical knowledge of management in totally different ways, like two singers or two painters.
  • In management too, a manager applies his acquired knowledge in a personalized and unique manner.
  • Students of management also apply these principles differently depending on how creative they are after long practice
  1. Existence of theoretical knowledge:
  • For example, literature on dancing, public speaking, acting, or music is widely recognized
  • As in art, in management too, there is a lot of literature available in various areas of management which the manager has to specialize in like finance, marketing, etc.
  1. Based on continuous practice and Creativity:
  • Like any other art, a manager after studying various situations formulates his theories for use in a given situation. This gives rise to different styles of management
  • Management satisfies these criteria as a manager gains experience through regular practice and becomes more effective.

Management is an art because it has various features of art

Management as a Science

Science: - Systematized body of knowledge that explains certain general truths or the operation of general laws

Ans. Yes, Management is a science but not an exact science. Because of the following reasons:

  1. Based on observation and experimentation:
    • Like science, management principles are derived through observation and repeated experimentation.
    • However, management deals with a human whose behavior is difficult to understand and is not capable of being accurately predicted.
    • Therefore, management can be called an inexact science or a social science
  2. Universal validity:
    • Principles of management like principles of pure science provide managers with certain standardized techniques that can be used in different situations.
    • However, since the principles of management have to be modified according to a given situation, their application and use are not universal. So, this feature of science is not fully present in management
  3. Systematized body of knowledge:
    • Like science, management is a systematic body of knowledge with theories and principles that have developed over a while.
    • So, this feature of science is present in management.