Nature and Significance of Management — Part 2: Science, Art, Profession, Importance and Levels: visual lesson, ISC Class 12 Commerce

Lesson

Is Management a Science, an Art or a Profession?

Part 2: the nature of management, its importance, and the three levels of management.

In this lesson you will

Evaluate how far management fulfils the features of a science, an art and a profession
Explain the importance of management for an organisation and for society
Describe the functions of top, middle and supervisory levels of management

Part 2 at a glance

Concept

A science is a systematised body of knowledge with principles that explain cause and effect.

So management is an inexact, or soft, science.
Feature of science	Does management have it?
Systematised body of knowledge	Yes: organised principles and theories
Principles based on observation and experiment	Yes, though people cannot be tested like chemicals
Universal validity	Only partly: results vary with people and situations

Concept

An art is the skilful and personal application of knowledge to get results.

Table of three features of art and how each appears in management
Feature of art	In management
Theoretical knowledge exists	Many books and principles on managing
Personalised application	Each manager applies them in an own style
Practice and creativity	Skill grows with practice and fresh ideas