How important the evolution of management has been on people as well as organizations

This paper is a brief analysis of management history. My analysis will show how important the evolution of management has been on people as well as organizations.

Scientific management theory (1890-1940) mainly dealt with organizations that were large and industrialized. During this time, organizations focused on routine tasks that utilized science and technology for the public in efforts to reduce inefficiency, use of resources effectively by proper organization of men, machines and materials (p. 179); improving municipal administration to reduce costs by way of firing inefficient workers, improving and opening channels of communication between workers and managers, revamping budgeting procedures and expecting cooperation and workplace participation by employees at all levels. Cooke believed that it was not the system, but the public’s confidence in the system that made scientific management effective. (p. 186).

Bureaucratic management theory (1930-1950) was created by Max Weber. His theory was to divide organizations in to hierarchies, establishing strong lines of authority and control. He believed organizations should implement comprehensive, detailed and standardized operating procedures for all routine tasks performed in an organization. These measures would focus on efficiency and reduce costs to maximize savings by way of reforming administrations and management riddled with corruption. Cooke saw the vital gains brought together by bridging the labor and management in mutual collaboration toward improved production leading to higher wages and less unemployment. (p.186)

Human Relationship movement theories (management), (1930-Present) brought a more humanistic approach to a sterile and scientific way of management theo...

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...useful to practicing managers’ to underpin management. I am surprised as I watch the literature, that some people are discovering what we’ve known for years. For example, some things like this: that technology affects management organization. I found that out when I was in the airline industry a few years ago and I never thought it was anything very interesting. Another, that the actual managing depends on the situation….I thought, my gosh, there must be something new there. Only to find, after spending a lot of time reading, that management theory and science should underpin practice, otherwise why develop it?” (420).

Works Cited

Diamond, J (2011) Collapse how societies choose to fail or succeed.

New York: Viking Books.

Wren, D.A. (2009) The Evolution of Management Thought (6th ed.).

New York: Wiley & Sons.