Analysis of Management Theories

Analysis of Management Theories

Colette Foisy-Doll

March 5, 2012

Analysis of Management Theories

Over the past century, theorists have attempted to understand the work of managers in organizations. This has resulted in the development of a multitude of period-specific theories. Many of the lessons contained therein are as salient today as they were decades ago. This paper provides a brief historical review of management theory and highlights the writer's views on the universal applicability of the humanistic perspective in today's work climate.

Historical Theories and Current Relevance

The evolution of management theory was typically driven by societal needs in response to shifting social, political and economic realities. Management theory falls into one of three main perspectives: classical, humanistic or management science perspectives (Daft, 2010). Classical management theories began to surface in the late 1800s and into the 1900s with the advent of massive industrial factory systems necessitating new controlling, organizing and coordinating processes. New concepts in scientific management offered rational, system-centered, prescriptive solutions to increase productivity and optimize tasks. Bureaucracy introduced a structured, impersonal, and authoritative top-down approach while administrative applications dealt with the entire organization, promoting individual empowerment and shared organizational goals (Daft, 2010).

In the late 19th century, humanistic perspectives emerged consisting of three subsets: the human relations movement, the human resource perspective, and the behavioral science approaches. Theorists from the three subsets agreed that the scientific management authoritarian-style control over workers was less effective than humanistic approaches designed to inspire, empower and satisfy higher level needs of employees.

Lastly, theorists inspired by large-scale, sophisticated World War II wartime initiatives developed management science perspectives. These theorists worked to develop mathematical tools for organizations that focused on quality, control and measurement of processes (Daft, 2010). Management science subsets continue to be visible today in operations research, operations management and informational technology.

Universally Applicable Theory

"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants" (Newton, 1676 as cited in Bennett, 2010, para. 7). Contemporary managers must view their current contexts through a broad historical lens that encompasses both old and new ways of thinking. Although threads of past structural, political and symbolic frames of reference are evident in recent theories, Daft states, "Among the many approaches discussed, the humanistic perspective [frame of reference]