This is our first unit 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 unit, 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?
In this unit, 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?
OBJECTIVES
By the end of this unit, you should be able to:- Define the word "Management"
- Explain the nature of management
- Describe the scope of management
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.
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:
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.
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:
- 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 units of this course. These functions are planning, organizing, staffing, leading and controlling among others
- 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.
- Management is important to any level in an organization. In other words, whatever position you find yourself in an organization, you will feel the presence of management. Those that practice management by carrying out the functions of management are called managers. Management is also of importance to them. They need to understand it and appreciate it so that they can have depth of what they are doing. Without this, their efforts become shallow and haphazard.
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