Business Managment

Justin Buckley

Business Management

One of the most lasting questions in Management is whether it is an art or science. The dictionary explains art as skill conducting in any human activity, and on the other side science as any skill or technique that reflects a precise application of facts or a principle. Reflected in the differences in these definitions is the use of science, in that there is a certain way in which a manager should act. Thus, management as a science would indicate that in practice, managers use a specific coalition of information and facts to guide their behaviors, but that management as an art requires no certain body of knowledge, only skill. Those who believe management is an art are likely to believe that there is no specific way to teach or understand management, and that it is a skill borne of personality and ability which in my personal opinion the art of management is vaguely more important do fact of personal experiences. Having past experiences to help you solve a particular problem is far more efficient then using a hypothesis analysis. Those who believe in management as an art are likely to believe that certain people are more predisposed to be effective managers than are others, and that some people cannot be taught to be effective managers. That is, even with an understanding of management research and an education in management, some people will not be capable of being effective practicing managers. Both the science and the art of management have huge roles on the full development of an exceptional manager.

Practicing managers who believe that management is more based on a science are more likely to believe that there are model managerial practices for definite situations. That is, when faced with a managerial predicament, the manager who believes in the scientific foundation of his or her craft will expect that there is a rational and objective way to determine the correct course of action. These are the manager’s main...