Read the text №1: Features of Management

Management is related to channeling human and physical resources in order to achieve organizational goals. The characteristics of management are emphasized as follows:

Management is goal-oriented: Accomplishing predetermined goals or objectives determines the success of management activities. It is a focused activity and an instrument to aid human and physical resources in order to reach the predetermined goals.

Example: Producing goods of high quality and affordable costs is the aim of any enterprise and this is accomplished using sparse resources effectively and also employing capable persons.

Management combines Human, Physical and Financial Resources: In an organization, people carry on their work using non-human resources. Management brings about harmony among human, physical and economic resources.

Management is Continuous: Management is a nonstop process as it constantly handles problems and issues that are related to identifying and also solving them.

Example: In order to achieve the goal of maximum production in a company, it is important to make certain policies and then market and advertise the products. This requires more policies to be made and so it is considered as a continuous process.

Management is all pervasive: Management is needed in all organizations such as political, social, and cultural or business as it helps in achieving a fixed goal. It is required in clubs, hospitals, colleges, political parties, business firms, etc as all of these need it regardless of any type of activity. Hence, management is needed wherever many people work for a common goal.

Management is a Group Activity: Management is mostly concerned with groups managing an enterprise and less with individual’s labors. It makes use of group efforts in order to attain predetermined goals.

Objectives of Management

Securing maximum results using minimum efforts: Management is fundamentally concerned with using human, material and financial resources in the best manner possible which results in reduced costs. Hence, the main goal of management is using least efforts and resources in order to gain maximum outputs.

Increase the efficiency of factors of production: Reducing spoilage, wastage and breakages of any kind saves a lot of time, effort and money. This is needed for a company’s growth and prosperity. Hence, this can be achieved by increasing the efficiency of the various factors of production.

Maximum prosperity for Employer and Employees: Management must run the enterprise in a smooth and harmonized way. This benefits both the employee and the employer by offering the best working conditions, good wages, incentive plans and maximum profits for the employer.

Human betterment and Social Justice: Management ensures improved living standards for the society and also offers a fair dealing through its standardized policies. Hence, it is a means for encouraging the betterment of society.

Read the text №2: Management as an Activity

Management is just an activity that is carried out like we do other activities such as cooking, drinking and so on. The manager achieves the goals by giving proper direction to his employees.

“Management is what a manager does”. - Koontz

Management involves the following activities:

Informal activities: To operate a business enterprise, the manager has to continuously give and also receive certain written or oral information. Hence, for an enterprise to function properly, it is important to establish a contact with your subordinates and your superiors too.

Decisional activities: Any kind of decisions taken are based on all kinds of managerial actions. Hence, this involves the managers to take various types of decisions as his decision acts as a foundation for other managers to act upon. For instance, the sales manager has to take a decision regarding the contents of media and advertising.

Inter-personal activities: Management involves utilizing people’s efforts for reaching its goals and hence, managers need to connect on a personal level and maintain cordial relations with their subordinates and superiors too. These inter-personal relations with their employees ensure that they resolve any issues, for instance, giving them bonuses.