A Brief History of Management

GreggU

20 Apr 202203:05

Summary

TLDRThis video script delves into the evolution of management theories, highlighting five key approaches: classical, scientific management, administrative, behavioral, and systems theories. It emphasizes the contributions of pioneers like Frederick Taylor, who focused on job efficiency, and Mary Parker Follett, who advocated for worker participation. The script also touches on the administrative theory's emphasis on rules and structure, and the growing trend towards employee involvement in decision-making.

Takeaways

📚 Early management literature was written by practitioners sharing experiences and principles.
🏛️ There are five main management theories: classical, behavioral, management science, systems, and contingency theories.
🔧 Classical theorists like Frederick Taylor focused on job efficiency and management functions.
⏱️ Frank and Lillian Gilbreth used time and motion studies to improve work procedures.
🏗️ Henri Fayol distinguished between operating and managerial activities, outlining five management functions.
👨‍⚖️ Max Weber developed the concept of bureaucracy to ensure fair treatment of employees.
🤝 Mary Parker Follett emphasized the importance of people over engineering techniques and worker participation.
🔄 Follett introduced integrative conflict resolution, promoting shared goals and participation in conflict resolution.
🌐 Behavioral theory developed from contributions like those of Follett, focusing on human behavior in organizations.
🏢 Classical management techniques are still successfully used in large organizations for efficiency.

Q & A

What is the significance of studying the history of management?
-Studying the history of management helps us better understand current developments and avoid repeating past mistakes in the field of management.
Who were the early contributors to the literature on management?
-Early literature on management was written by management practitioners who described their experiences and attempted to establish basic principles.
What are the five management theories mentioned in the script?
-The five management theories are classical, behavioral, management science, systems, and contingency theories.
What is the focus of classical theorists in management?
-Classical theorists focus on the job and management functions to determine the best way to manage in all organizations.
Who is known as the father of scientific management and what was his focus?
-Frederick Winslow Taylor, an engineer, is known as the father of scientific management. He focused on analyzing jobs and redesigning them for greater efficiency.
How did Frank Gilbreth and Lillian contribute to management theory?
-Frank Gilbreth and his wife Lillian used time and motion studies to develop more efficient work procedures.
Who is sometimes referred to as the father of modern management and what was his contribution?
-Henry Fayol, a French engineer, is sometimes referred to as the father of modern management. He made a clear distinction between operating and managerial activities and identified five major functions of management: planning, coordinating, organizing, controlling, and commanding.
What is the bureaucracy concept developed by Max Weber?
-Max Weber, a German sociologist, developed the bureaucracy concept, which aimed to create a set of rules and procedures to ensure fair treatment of all employees.
How did Mary Parker Follett contribute to administrative theory?
-Mary Parker Follett contributed to administrative theory by emphasizing the importance of people over engineering techniques, advocating for worker participation, conflict resolution, and shared goals.
What is the integrative conflict resolution concept proposed by Mary Parker Follett?
-The integrative conflict resolution concept proposed by Mary Parker Follett suggests that all parties agree to a conflict resolution rather than one person dominating and winning while the other loses.
How do classical management techniques still apply in today's organizations?
-Classical management techniques are still used successfully in organizations today, particularly in large organizations aiming to increase efficiency.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Management History

The paragraph provides an overview of the evolution of management practices. It begins with the early days where management literature was primarily authored by practitioners sharing their experiences and basic principles. The narrative then transitions to more recent academic contributions, outlining different schools of thought in management. Five prominent theories are mentioned: classical, behavioral, management science, systems, and contingency theories. The classical approach is highlighted, emphasizing job efficiency and management functions, with notable figures like Frederick Winslow Taylor, Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, and Henri Fayol, who contributed significantly to the field by focusing on job analysis, work procedure efficiency, and defining managerial functions, respectively. Additionally, Max Weber and Chester Bernard's contributions to administrative theory are acknowledged, with an emphasis on bureaucracy and worker participation.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Management History

Management history refers to the evolution of management theories and practices over time. It is crucial for understanding the development of current management approaches and learning from past experiences. In the video, the script discusses how early literature on management was written by practitioners sharing their experiences and basic principles, which is indicative of the historical progression of management thought.

💡Management Approaches

Management approaches are the various styles or methods used by managers to oversee and direct organizational resources. The video script mentions different classifications of these approaches, highlighting the diversity in management thought and the need for adaptability based on organizational context.

💡Classical Theorists

Classical theorists are individuals who contributed to the early development of management principles, focusing on the structure and functions of organizations. The script refers to classical theorists like Frederick Winslow Taylor, who emphasized job efficiency, and Henri Fayol, who identified five major management functions, illustrating the foundational ideas in classical management theory.

💡Scientific Management

Scientific management is a theory that focuses on improving job efficiency through the scientific study of work methods. The video mentions Frederick Winslow Taylor as the father of scientific management, who analyzed and redesigned jobs for greater efficiency, showcasing the practical application of this theory.

💡Administrative Theory

Administrative theory deals with the structure and management of organizations, emphasizing rules and procedures. The script discusses how Max Weber developed the concept of bureaucracy and how Chester Barnard contributed to the understanding of managerial activities, both of which are key components of administrative theory.

💡Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy is a management system characterized by a set of rules and procedures to ensure fairness and efficiency. The video references Max Weber's development of the bureaucracy concept, which aimed to create a structured and fair management system within organizations.

💡Behavioral Theory

Behavioral theory focuses on the impact of the work environment on the behavior of individuals and groups within an organization. The script mentions that the contributions of Mary Parker Follett and Chester Barnard led to the development of behavioral theory, emphasizing the importance of worker participation and conflict resolution.

💡Integrative Conflict Resolution

Integrative conflict resolution is a method where all parties involved in a conflict work together to find a solution that satisfies everyone's needs. The video highlights Mary Parker Follett's concept of integrative conflict resolution, where the goal is a win-win outcome rather than a dominant party imposing a solution.

💡Employee Participation

Employee participation refers to the involvement of employees in decision-making processes within an organization. The script notes a trend towards higher levels of employee participation, which is a key aspect of modern management practices and a shift from traditional, more hierarchical approaches.

💡Management Functions

Management functions are the tasks and responsibilities that managers perform, such as planning, organizing, and controlling. The video script mentions Henri Fayol's identification of five major functions of management, which are essential for understanding the roles and duties of managers in an organization.

💡Contemporary Management

Contemporary management refers to current practices and theories in managing organizations. The video script suggests that while classical management techniques are still used successfully, there is a shift towards more modern approaches that incorporate employee participation and adapt to the changing nature of work.

Highlights

Early management literature was written by practitioners sharing experiences and principles.

Different classifications of management approaches exist, including five main theories.

Classical theorists focus on job and management functions for efficiency.

Scientific management emphasizes job efficiency through technical skills.

Administrative theory stresses rules and organizational structure.

Frederick Winslow Taylor, known as the father of scientific management, analyzed and redesigned jobs for efficiency.

Frank and Lillian Gilbreth used time and motion studies to improve work procedures.

Henri Fayol, a French engineer, distinguished between operating and managerial activities and identified five management functions.

Max Weber developed the bureaucracy concept for fair treatment of employees.

Mary Parker Follett emphasized people over engineering techniques and contributed to administrative theory.

Follett introduced integrative conflict resolution, focusing on shared goals and participation.

Behavioral theory developed from contributions by Bernard and Follett, emphasizing employee participation.

Classical management techniques are still successfully used in large organizations for efficiency.

The trend in management is towards higher levels of employee participation.

Administrative management includes planning, coordinating, organizing, controlling, and commanding.

The history of management helps us understand current developments and avoid past mistakes.

Recent management literature comes from researchers building on the work of practitioners.