Throughout history scholars and researchers have contributed many varied ideas to management practice. In this paper, we will make an attempt to trace the scholars and their contributions in a systematic way. The purpose is recognizing how past developments has contributed to current management practices. Some knowledge of the theoretical background helps us to understand the concepts and practices of management better. One wonders how organizations came into existence and how they grew. Their existence, growth and modernity can be explained through some theories or schools of thought. While several theories have been advanced in an effort to explain the structure. Functioning and management of organizations, to date, none is considered as complete. Or is accepted as being final.
Each theory has some limitations. And the field of management theory is still in the process of evolving.
However, the various thoughts and views discussed can be included in four schools of thought or theories.
They are:
- The classical or Traditional school
- The Human relations school
- The management science or quantitative school
- Modern management. (Putti, 1987)
Classical School
The Classical school of thought began around 1900 and continued into the 1920s. Traditional or classical management focuses on efficiency and includes bureaucratic, scientific and administrative management. Bureaucratic management relies on a rational set of structuring guidelines, such as rules and procedures, hierarchy, and a clear division of labor. Scientific management focuses on the "one best way" to do a job. Administrative management emphasizes the flow of information in the operation of the organization
Max Weber (1864-1920), known as the Father of Modern Sociology analyzed bureaucracy as the most logical and rational structure for large organizations. Bureaucracies are founded on legal or rational authority, which is based on law, procedures, rules, and so on.Positional authority of a superior......
