Definition, Nature And Purpose Of Management Contents

 

1.0 Introduction

This is our first note concerning Management which is one of the courses you have to do to earn your B.Sc in Co-operative Management. It is a professional course and the principles are expected to be
applied in the running of an organization. The Organization can be a business organization or a non business organization. This means that the concepts, principles and theories of management are usually brought to bear on an organization so that the defined objectives of the organization can be attained.

In this note, we shall be looking at some definitions of management. Let me quickly point out that there is no one definition of management people give the definition according to their background, their orientation and interest. We shall also look at the nature of management as well as the meaning of management. All these are necessary so that you will have a firm understanding and on a good foundation too of what you are studying.

This is important because as a potential manager of a cooperative society or as an existing manager of a cooperative organization, the resources must be properly used. Cooperative resources are usually very limited. Consequently, whoever is saddled   with the task of managing a cooperative should be concerned on how the meager resources can be combined to get the desired results?

2.0 OBJECTIVES

By the end of this note, you should be able to:

· Define the word "Management"

· Explain the nature of management

 · Describe the scope of management

3.0 MAIN CONTENT

3.1 Definition of Management: Its nature and purpose

Before we give the definition of management, it is well to point out that one of the most important activities of human beings is managing. And the idea of managing the resources of a group started even since human beings started coming together and working in groups.

This is important so that the objectives of the group can be attained through proper linking of the various activities being performed by the group members. As organizations, particularly formal organization like business organizations, ministries, schools including universities become large the task of the manager starts getting bigger and more complex. And the aim of the manager is to promote excellence. Management is a word used by different people with varying meanings.

The noun management is used as a collective noun to refer to all those who manage within a particular organization. That is why in an organization there are different people occupying different positions and seeing to it that the resources of such organizations are put into effective use. There are also those managers that assist other managers to perform their functions. They are all managers. The word management can also be used to separate a special class of people in an organization from other classes. You should have heard such statement as, `the management of the organization has taken a decision concerning the demand of the workers for higher pay'.

 Such statement is making reference to those people that take decisions, whether a temporal decision or a final decision. In trying to give a precise definition of management, it is always faced with problems. This is because of the interest and background of the person giving such definition. The accountant will like to see management in terms of cash flow: how much the organization is expending in other to get revenue or returns, as well as the timing of  such expenditure and revenue.

 The marketing manager sees management in terms of analyzing the consumer needs with a view to bring out a product or service capable of satisfying the needs and at a profit to the organization. The personnel manager on his own interest will regard management as employing suitably qualified candidates to fill existing vacancies and motivating them to work as a team toward the attainment of organizational objectives. We can go on and on.

3.1.1 Definition

Weihrich and Koontz say that management as a process is designing and maintaining an environment in which individuals, working together in groups, efficiently accomplish selected aims. This is a basic definition which needs to be expanded in the following ways:

(a) As managers, people carry out some functions. And they are employed to carry out the specific functions. These functions are commonly referred to as managerial functions. We shall be looking at these managerial functions one after the other in subsequent notes of this course. These functions are planning, organizing, staffing, leading and controlling among others.

(b) Management applies to any kind of organization. This is another nature and purpose of management: Management is not restricted to any particular organization like the Nigeria Bottling Company Plc. Any organization, as long as human and other resources are there calls for management. Consequently, management is needed in a philanthropic organization, in the church, in the mosque, in the Lion's club, in a football team among others.

4.0 CONCLUSION

 In this note, we have looked at two definitions of management. The first one was given by Weihrich and Koontz and the second one by Sir Reynolds. These two definitions will constitute our working definitions and throughout this course, we may be coming back to them as the situation demands.

From the definitions, we have been able to get the nature of management which include; that managers perform managerial functions, they are creative, have a group of subordinates that report to them; also that management applies to all organizations and it applies to every level in an organization, that is, it cuts across the length and breath  of an organization. The purpose of management is to create surplus through efficient and effective use of organizational resources.

5.0 SUMMARY

We have discussed the definitions of management. This has enabled us to get the nature and purpose of management necessary to discuss other details concerning management. In our next note, we shall be looking at the values of management; that is, we shall be looking at those reasons that make people to study management. We will also be looking at the relationship between management and administration and whether management is an art or science. 

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