Question 1

Management is considered to be both an art and science. Explain.

Answer

Management is considered to be both an art and a science because it fulfills the criteria of both an art as well as a science.

Following are the features of management as an art and as a science:

Management as an Art: Management fulfills the following criteria for it to be called as an art.

Existence of Theoretical knowledge: All art forms presupposes the existence of certain the practical knowledge. Similarly, in management also there is a lot of literature available in various areas of management.
Personalised application: Art is concerned with personal application of knowledge. And the use of basic knowledge will vary from individual to individual. For example, two singers, two dancers or two actors will always differ in demonstrating their art. Similarly, A manager applies the scientific method and body of knowledge to a given situation or a problem in his own unique manner. A good manager works with a combination of practice, creativity, imagination initiative and innovation.
Based on Practice and Creativity: All art involves the creative practice of theoretical knowledge. For example music, we all know that there are seven notes in a musician but the musician uses these notes with his own creativity to make the music different. Similarly in management a manager applies his knowledge as per his own creativity and sometimes gives his own theories for use in a particular situation.

Management as a Science: Management fulfills the following criteria for it to be called science.

Systematised body of knowledge: Science is a systematic body of knowledge. The principles of science are based on a course and effect relationship. Similarly in management it is also a systematised body of knowledge, and it has its own theory and principles that developed over a period of time. Communication management has its own vocabulary.
Principles based on Experimentation: The scientific principles are first developed through observation and then tested by experiments. Similarly the principle of management evolved over a period of time on the bases of observation and experiments. The management deals with human beings and human behaviour therefore the outcomes of the experiments are not accurate. That's why management can be called an inexact science. Despite this the management scholars have been able to identify the general principles of management
Universal validity: Scientific principles have universal validity and application. Similarly in management the principles are also valid but their application and use is not universal. Because the principles of management are not as exact as the principles of science. However, they have to be modified according to the situation. These principles are used for training and development of managers.

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