Management theory Jungle

Koontz describes six schools of management theory as follows:

1. The Management Process School
The management process school views management as a process of
getting things done with people working in organized groups. Fathered
by Henri Fayol1, this school views management theory as a way of
organizing experience for practice, research and teaching that begins by
defining the functions of management.
2. The Empirical School
The empirical school views management theory as a study of experience.
Koontz mentions Ernest Dale's comparative approach as an example
which involves the study and analysis of cases. The general idea is that
generalizations can be drawn from cases that can be applied as guides in
similar situations.
3. The Human Behavior School
The central thesis of the human behavior school is that since
management involves getting thing done with people, management
theory must be centered on interpersonal relations. Their theory focuses
on the motivation of the individual viewed as a socio-psychological being.
This school is also referred to as the "human relations", "leadership", or
"behavioral sciences approach". This school places emphasis on the study
of inter - and intra-personal phenomena from the personality dynamics of
individuals to the relations of cultures. Tannenbaum, Weschler and
Massarik are the only authors referenced in this section.
4. The Social System School
The members of the social system school of management theory view
management

as

social

system.

March

and

Simon's

1958

bookOrganizations4 is used as an example, but Koontz indicates that

Chester

Barnard

is

the

spiritual

father

of

this

school

of

management.5 The social system school identifies the nature of the

cultural relationships of various social groups and how they are related
and integrated. Barnard's work includes a theory of cooperation which

underlies the contributions of many others in this school. Herbert Simon,

and others expanded the concept of social systems to include any
cooperative and purposeful group interrelationship or behavior.
5. The Decision Theory School
The decision theory school of management concentrates on the rational
approach to decisions where alternative ideas or courses of action are
analyzed. This school is believed to have grown from the theory of
consumer's choice associated with Jeremy Bentham and tends to be
oriented toward economic model construction and mathematics. It grew
out of economic analytical techniques such as utility maximization,
indifference curves, marginal utility, and economic behavior under risk
and uncertainty. The decision is the central focus.
6. The Mathematical School
The mathematical school of management views management as a system
of mathematical models and processes. This includes the operations
researchers and management scientists. But Koontz points out that in his
view mathematics is a tool, not a school.
The Major Sources of Mental Entanglement that create the Management
Theory Jungle

Five sources of entanglement or confusion include the following:

1. The Semantics Jungle - There is no agreement on the meaning of the
words

management,

organization,

leadership,

communication,

and

human relations to give a few examples.

2. Differences in the Definition of Management as a Body of Knowledge What is management? Who is a manager? If everything is management
and everyone is a manager, how can management theory be regarded as
a useful or scientific?
3. The a priori Assumption - Ignoring the work of Fayol, Mooney, Brown,
Urwick, Gulick and others on the grounds that they are universalists.

4. The Misunderstanding of Principles - For example, confusion over the

validity of principles such as unity of command, and span of control.
5. The Inability or Unwillingness of Management Theorists to understand
each other - The roadblock to understanding is unwillingness.

How to Disentangle the Management Theory Jungle

1. Definition of a Body of Knowledge - The first need is to define the field.
Koontz defines management in terms of the practitioner's frame of
reference as "the art of getting things done through and with people in
formally organized groups, the art of creating an environment in such an
organized group where people can perform as individuals and yet
cooperate toward attainment of group goals, the art of removing blocks
to such performance, the art of optimizing efficiency in effectively
reaching goals." In defining the body of knowledge management theorist
must not confuse tools with content. For example, mathematics,
operations research, accounting, economic theory, sociometry, and
psychology are significant tools of management, but they are not part of
the content of the field.
2. Integration of Management and other Disciplines
3. The Clarification of Management Semantics
4. Willingness to Distill and Test Fundamentals
Criteria to Remember in Clarifying Management Theory
1. Management theory should deal with a manageable area of knowledge
and inquiry.
2. Management theory should be useful in improving practice.
3. Management theory should not be lost in semantics, jargon not
understandable to the practitioner.
4. Management theory should provide direction and efficiency to
research and teaching.

5. Management theory must recognize that it is a part of a larger

universe of knowledge and theory.