Contemporary Approaches

Contemporary Approaches contemporary management approaches have dominated the field of management since the
1950’s. they are still very influential in both theory and practice. All of these approaches need to be taken into consideration by practicing managers when striving to compete in competitive business environment.
Quantitative Management
 A more scientific and quantifiable approach introuduced during the world war 1 by military planners
 It applies a mathematical apprpoaches to managerial problems
 helps management by applying mathematical models of the problem eg, linear programming,simulation,forecasting and breakeven analysis.
 Specific mathematical methods of problem analysis were developed. Helped managers select the best alternative among a set. Models neglect non quantifiable factors. Managers not trained in these techniques may not trust or understand the techniques’ outcomes. Not suited for non routine or unpredictable management.
Organisational Behaviour

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Organisational Behaviour (OB) has its roots in the Human Relations approach.
Theorists believed that the assumptions of the Human Relations approach were too simplistic in nature, failing to adequately explain human behaviour. Under the
Human Relations view happier employees were more productive. However, repeated research studies failed to find a definitive causal relationship between job satisfaction and employee performance. They started to focus more on management activities that encouraged employee effectiveness by exploring individual, group and organisational processes – all of which are critically important roles in contemporary management. OB borrows heavily from sociology, psychology and anthropology.
Key areas studied under OB include: worker stress, job satisfaction, learning and reinforcement, group dynamics, job and organisational design, and organisational change. Systems Theory

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The systems approach to management originated from the work of Barnard
(1938)

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Systems