The Main Definitions of Management - Essay Example

?Management Introduction Management is the art and skill of getting the work done on time and as per the requirements of the organization so that organizational objectives can be achieved. Management is fundamental to the achievement of organizational objectives. While the owners can acquire new projects and arrange the resources required for work, work cannot be done unless things are properly organized and supervised. These are some of the responsibilities that fall in the domain of management. This paper explores different definitions of management and analyzes their significance in creating the concept of management. This paper also discusses the challenges faced by management in a multicultural work setup which has become omnipresent in the contemporary age. Management as a complex process There are myriad of definitions of management in the literature. However, this is not something particular of management. Literature also has myriad of definitions of all kinds of topics including leadership, organization and supervision. Different definitions of management emerge from different kinds of ideologies that exist with people. People interpret management with respect to their individualistic experiences. No two people can manage a system alike. This happens because of no two people have the same kind of psychology and personality traits. An individual’s skill to manage is fundamentally an outcome of the individual’s personality traits. The individual’s experience in a certain setup also contributes a lot to the individual’s management skills. A person who is a successful manager in a particular culture may not be equally successful in a different culture. There are a number of internal and external factors that guide the individual’s management skills. This explains why different people interpret management differently. Definitions of management Management can be defined as, “The act or art of managing; the manner of treating, directing, carrying on, or using, for a purpose; conduct; administration; guidance; control; as, the management of a family or of a farm; the management of state affairs” (BrainyQuote, 2012). This definition elaborates different functions of management and refers to management as an art. Another definition of management is, “The organization and coordination of the activities of an enterprise in accordance with certain policies and in achievement of defined objectives” (BusinessDictionary, n.d.). This definition promotes the concept that management in an organizational setup is guided by the policies established by the owners. Organization and coordination of the activities conducted in the organization in due compliance with those policies is the job of management. The definition of management proposed by Reddy (2004) focuses upon the psychological aspect of management. “Management is the process of designing and maintaining an environment in which individuals, working together, in groups efficiently accomplish selected aims” (Reddy, 2004, p. 3). From this definition, it can be inferred that management is essentially a process of creating such an environment in the organization which is psychologically appealing to the workers so that they may be satisfied and achieve their optimal potential in work and thus, contribute to the achievement of the organizational objectives. Significance of multiple definitions of management The existence of myriad of definitions of management in the literature is of a lot of significance. One definition of management provides limited insight into the depth of the concept of management. The audiences can only understand management from the viewpoint of the person who has given the definition. In order to gain a firm understanding of the term, it is imperative that the audiences read a whole range of definitions of management and look at the term from the perspectives of many philosophers rather than one. The rule is simple; the more the definitions, the clearer the concept. Contemporary issues of management: Cultural differences in a multicultural setup Management in a multicultural work setup is one of the contemporary challenges that millions of organizations are facing particularly in the technologically advanced countries. Today, management not only has to streamline the efforts of the employees for the achievement of organizational objectives, but also has to eradicate the cultural differences between the workers and resolve their interpersonal conflicts arising from the differences of their cultures. Management assumes the responsibility to make the organizational culture so powerful and dominating that it outweighs the effects of cultural conflicts between the organizational personnel. Communication plays a fundamental role in effective management in such a work setup. In fact, management takes place through communication as this is the way of exchange of information (Mehta, n.d., p. 4). The manager communicates his/her ideas to the subordinates and proposes ways for their effective implementation along with providing the subordinates with the necessary resources for compliance. However, communication is also intrinsically related to culture as it takes place through language which differs between one culture and another. Difference of language between organizational personnel is one reason why management in a multicultural work setup may be more challenging than in a monocultural setup. With the diversity of cultures comes the diversity of languages. This diversity creates linguistic barriers between the manager and the subordinates which negatively affects the process of management. Communication helps the parties involved in a system understand and address one another’s needs and build a mutually beneficial relationship. “Wal-Mart, Microsoft, Intel, American Express, Southwest Airlines – without exception, these corporations cultivate their reputation through stellar business conduct and consistent communication with relevant audiences” (The Mount Vernon Report, 2005, p. 4). Therefore, the importance of communication cannot be overemphasized. While a manager in a multicultural work setup has to seek help from such factors as interpreter, manager in a monocultural work setup communicates with the subordinates directly which not only saves time and energy of the manager, but also of the subordinates. Conclusion Management is an art. Although it can be learned, but it can never be mastered specially when the manager’s psychology, culture and personality is not accorded with the organizational culture. To much an extent, management is an in-born skill. While the multicultural work setup has benefited the organization in numerous ways, it has also exposed the managers to myriad of challenges. The productivity of workers in a multicultural setup may be declined because of the need to participate in short courses for improving competence in language. References: BusinessDictionary n.d., Management, viewed, 9 March 2012, . BrainyQuote 2012, Definition of Management, viewed, 9 March 2012, . Mehta, A n.d., Communication in Project Management, viewed, 9 March 2012, . Reddy, RJ 2004, Management Process, New Delhi: APH Publishing Corporation. The Mount Vernon Report 2005, The Role of Communication in Management, viewed, 9 March 2012, . Read More