Question

"Management principles are evolutionary." Explain.

Answer 1

Management principles are not made in heavens; they have emerged gradually, through an evolutionary process of combining deep observations and experimental studies.

• Observation method : Under this method, practical events are observed and analyzed by managerial researchers to derive management principles.
  

For example, it was observed that by dividing the work into different units, efficiency of employees improved. As a result, it led to formulation of principle of 'division of labour'.

• Experimental method : Under this method, experiments are conducted so that management principles can be derived and their validity can be tested. For example, two units, one unit involving one superior and one subordinate and other unit involving two superiors and one subordinate, were taken. It was found that unit having one superior and one subordinate performed better. As a result, it led to formation of principle of "unity of command."
  

From the above it can be concluded that observations and experiments result in the formulation of management principles which therefore are evolutionary. Hence, derivation of management principles can be said to be a matter of Science. It is worth mentioning here that even though derivation of management principles is a matter of science, their application remains a matter of art. The success of managers depends upon how skillfully they put these principles into practice.