THE CLASSICAL APPROACH IN EVOLUTION OF MANAGEMENT THEORY

Evolution of Management Theory

 The Classical Approach:

The Classical Approach is the oldest formal approach of management thought. Its roots pre-date the twentieth century. The classical approach of thought generally concerns ways to manage work and organizations more efficiently. Three areas of study that can be grouped under the classical approach are:

                                            i.            Scientific management

                                          ii.            Administrative management

                                       iii.            Bureaucratic management

 

Scientific management

Frederick Winslow Taylor was an American mechanical engineer who sought to improve industrial efficiency. He was one of the first management consultants. Taylor was one of the intellectual leaders of the efficiency movement and his ideas, broadly conceived, was highly influential in the progressive Era 1890s to 1920.

His pioneering work in applying engineering principles to the work done on the factory floor was instrumental in the creation and development of the branch of engineering that is now known as industrial engineering. Taylor made his name in and was most proud of his work in, scientific management; however, he made his fortune patenting steel-process improvements.

The scientific method consists essentially of Observation, measurement experimentation and inference. He advocated thorough planning of the job by the management and emphasized the necessity of perfect understanding and cooperation between the management and the workers both for the enlargement of profits and the use of the scientific investigation and knowledge in industrial work.

Administrative management

Administrative management focuses on the management process and principles of management. In contrast to scientific management, which deals largely with jobs and works at the individual level of analysis, administrative management provides a more general theory of management.

Henry Fayol is the major contributor to this approach of management thought. The principles of management are the essential, underlying factors that form the foundations of successful management.  According to Henry Fayol in his book general and industrial management (1916), There are fourteen ‘Principles of management’.

Bureaucratic Management

Bureaucratic management focuses on the ideal form of organization. Max weber was a major contributor to bureaucratic management. Based on observation, Weber concluded that many early organizations were inefficiently managed, with decisions based on personal relationships and loyalty.