Define Management. Explain the features that establish it as a social science. [CBSE 2016]

Define Management. Explain the features that establish it as a social science. [CBSE 2016]

Answer: Meaning of Management: It refers to the process of conducting a set of functions (planning, organising, staffing, directing and controlling) to get the work done in an efficient and effective manner.

The Features that establish Management as a Social Science:

i). Principles based on observation and experimentation: Like science, management principles are derived through observation and repeated experimentation. However, since management deals with human beings, the outcome of these experiments are not capable of being accurately predicted.

ii). Universal validity: Scientific principles are based on truth and they can be applied at every time and in every situation. Thus, its universal application is possible. In the field of management too, managerial knowledge and principles of management are considered to be based on truth and they, too, can be applied anywhere and in every situation. But the principles of management are not as

exact as the principles of science as they can be modified according to a given situation.

So, this feature of science is not fully present in management. Therefore, management is considered a social science instead of perfect science.