"Management is the process of working with and through others to effectively achieve organizational objectives by efficiently using limited resources in the changing environment". Who gave this definition of management?

Question

Three friends, Aman, Ashish, and Ashi, after completing their MBA from a reputed management institute, formed a startup named ’Solutions’. The goal of the startup was to make a social and environmental impact through its services. ’Solutions’ supports social business ideas to improve living conditions in slums of Mumbai. As all the three friends are specialised in social work, they adopted three different slums of Mumbai and started educating the slum dwellers in their own creative manner. Aman used ’playway method’, Ashish used ’music’ as a method of learning while Ashi used ’activity-based method of learning’. They used basic knowledge in their unique manner and were able to educate the slum dwellers. It implies that skillful and personal application of acquired knowledge varies from individual to individual in achieving desired results.

(a) Identify and state the nature of management discussed in the above case.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The definition of management has evolved from simple functional descriptions to complex, comprehensive definitions that include resources and the environment.
While different authors emphasize different aspects (functions, interpersonal relations, or systems), modern definitions seek to integrate all these elements.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's analyze the contributions of the mentioned scholars to see how they define management:
1. Henry Fayol: His definition is purely functional: "To manage is to forecast and plan, to organize, to command, to coordinate and to control."
2. Harold Koontz: He focused on the interpersonal aspect: "Management is the art of getting things done through and with people in formally organized groups."
3. Robert Kreitner: His definition is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive because it includes four critical pillars:
- Working with and through others: The human/social aspect.
- Achieving organizational objectives: The goal-oriented aspect.
- Efficiency and Effectiveness: The performance aspect (using limited resources).
- Changing environment: The situational/dynamic aspect.
The phrasing in the question is a verbatim match for Kreitner’s definition.
Most older definitions ignored the "limited resources" and "changing environment" components, which are essential in today’s volatile and competitive global economy.
Kreitner’s approach recognizes that management doesn't happen in a vacuum but is constrained by resource availability and external environmental shifts.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Due to the inclusion of "limited resources" and "changing environment," this definition is attributed to Robert Kreitner. Therefore, (C) is the correct answer.

"Management is the process of working with and through others to effectively achieve organizational objectives by efficiently using limited resources in the changing environment". Who gave this definition of management?

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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

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