Evolution Of Management Thought 5x142

The origin of management can be traced back to the days when man started living in groups. History reveals that strong men organized the masses into groups according to their intelligence, physical and mental capabilities. Evidence of the use of the well recognized principles of management is to be found in the organization of public life in ancient Greece, the organization of the Roman Catholic Church and the organization of military forces.

Evolution of management thought may be divided into four stages: 1. Pre-scientific management period. 2. Classical Theory (a) Scientific Management of Taylor (b) istrative Management of Fayol (c) Bureaucratic Model of Max Weber 3. Neo-classical Theory or Behaviour Approach 4. Modern Theory or Systems Approach

Pre-scientific Management Period The advent of industrial revolution in the middle of the 18th century had its impact on management. Industrial revolution brought about a complete change in the methods of production, tools and equipments, organization of labour and methods of raising capital. During the period following the industrial revolution, certain pioneers tried to challenge the traditional character of management by introducing new ideas and character of management by introducing new ideas and approaches. The notable contributors of this period are:

A Professor Charles Babbage (UK 1729 -1871): He was a Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University. Prof Babbage found that manufacturers made little use of science and mathematics, and that they (manufacturers) relied upon opinions instead of investigations and accurate knowledge. He felt that the methods of science and mathematics could be applied to the solution of methods in the place of guess work for the solution of business problems.

(B) James Watt Junior (UK 1796 - 1848) and Mathew Robinson Boulton (1770 - 1842):

James Watt Junior and Mathew Robinson Boulton contributed to the development of management thought by following certain management techniques in their engineering factory at Soho in Birmingham. They are:Production Planning  Standardization of Components Maintenance  Planned machine layout Provision of welfare for personnel  Scheme for executive development  Marketing Research and forecasting  Elaborate statistical records

(C) Robert Owens (UK 1771 - 1858):

Robert Owens, the promoter of co-operative and trade union movement in England, emphasized the recognition of human element in industry. He firmly believed that workers' performance in industry was influenced by the working conditions and treatment of workers. He introduced new ideas of human relations - shorter working hours, housing facilities, training of workers in hygiene, education of their children, provision of canteen etc.

He came to be regarded as the father of Personnel Management.

(D) Henry Robinson Towne (USA 1844 -1924): H.R Towne was the president of the famous lock manufacturing company "Yale and Town". He urged the combination of engineers and economists as industrial managers. This combination of qualities, together with at least some skill as an ant, is essential to the successful management of industrial workers. He favoured organized exchange of experience among managers and pleaded for an organized effort to pool the great fund of accumulated knowledge in the art of workshop management.

(E)

Seebohm Rowntree (UK 1871- 1954):

Rowntree created a public opinion on the need of labour welfare scheme and improvement in industrial relations. The Industrial Welfare Society, The Management Research Groups and the Oxford Lecture Conferences in the U.K owed their origin and progress to the interest and zeal of Rowntree.

Prof. Charles Babbage, James Watt Junior and Mathew Robinson Boulton, Robert Owen, Henry Robinson Towne and Rowntree were, no doubt, pioneers of management thought. But, the impact of their contributions on the industry as a whole was meagre. The real beginning of the science of management did not occur until the last decade of the 19th century.

During 19th CENTURY, stalwarts like F.W. Taylor, H.L. Gantt, Emerson, Frank and Lillian Gilberth etc., laid the foundation of management, which in due course, came to be known as scientific management. This epoch in the history of management will be ed as an era in which traditional ways of managing were challenged, past management experience was scientifically systematized and principles of management were distilled and propagated. The contributions of the pioneers of this age have had a profound impact in furthering the management know-how and enriching the store of management principles.