Classical And Scientific Approach In Management Schools Of Management

The schools of thought try to study management and are based on assumptions about organizations and the human beings who work for the various organizations (Wren, 1987). The study of management began formally in 19th century and has progressed with time as different scholars focus on what they believe to be important aspects of management during their era. There has been voluminous information about management, and various management thinkers have come up with ways of classifying them based on the information collected and distributed. This attempt to classify the information on management is what has brought about the schools of management (Senge, 1990). There are various schools of management which include classical, behavioral, modern approach.

Classical approach This is the oldest approach in management schools of thought. It began way back in 1880’s and it emphasizes more on managing workers and organizations more

This approach tries to bring the issues of morale and productivity together and study their relationship (Senge, 1990). The present scholars believe that there should be equal emphasis between man and machine (Senge, 1990). This approach has streams of thinking which include quantitative approach, systems and contingency approach. Quantitative approach argues that mathematics and scientific techniques have to be applied in analysis and decision making as they can help solve complex situations (Senge, 1990). Systems approach, argues that management should be viewed as a system which is consisting of subsystems which are integrated to make a unit, which is the organization (Senge, 1990). Contingency approach is the latest approach in school of management and was developed in 1970s by J.W. Lorsch and P.R. Lawrence. They argued that the behavior of one sub-system is dependent on the relationship with other units and the environment that have control over the effects desired by that sub-system (Senge,