Management School of Thought

Management School of Thought: During the present century, certain schools of management thought have developed. Each school reflects the problems of the period during which they were popular. Herold Koontz was the first who have attempted to classify the various approaches on the management in the schools of management theory. Based on the writings of some of the scholars and Koontz, the management thoughts, have been classified in the following schools of management theory.
a) Management Process School: This school developed in France. Henri Fayol, a Frenchman is considered as the father of this school. Sometimes this school is referred to as “Traditional or Universalist” or Classical school. It regards management as a universal process. The management process is analyzed, conceptual framework is established, principles are identified and a theory of management in built from it.
Henri Fayol applied scientific approach but looked at administration from the top to down. He focused on a systematic understanding of the overall management process. It holds that management is a process which can best be understood by analyzing its function.
The traditional school is also called the rules of thumb, where workers are not given the chance for decision-making. It is running as usual without any logic. There is not any consideration of scientific method. The traditional school gives rise to:
i) Narrow work specialization; ii) Rigid hierarchical structure of management; iii) Gulf between vision and work due to organizational levels; iv) Salary and perks determining the structure of management rather than work structure.
b) Scientific Management School: Scientific management is the application of the principles and methodology of modern science to problems of administration. Scientific management, in brief, involves certain combination of the following elements-
i) Science instead of rule of thumb; ii) Co-operation instead of individuation; iii) Harmony instead of discord;