Management

2 Pages 540 Words

In order to answer the question, is management an art, a science or both, a person must understand the definitions of all three terms. Management can be thought of as the process of working with people to accomplish a set of goals or objectives for a specific company or organization. According to Zimmerman (2001), management is the act or art of managing. A manager carries out activities such as directing, conducting, administrates, provide guidance, and controls all aspect of their organization. Nordwall (1998) stated that the term science is the collection of information gained through experimentation, observation and studying. The purpose for science is to understand/seeing how things behave and interact through observation and comparison. Some sources define art as an advanced expertise that you can learn by studying, practice and observation (Princeton, n.d.). Some people believe that management/leadership is innate but it is something that can be learned. Customarily, McNamara (1999) stated, management is thought of by four general activities which include planning, organizing, leading and coordinating of resources. There are many areas of knowledge and skills that are required in order to carry out the main functions of management. McNamara (1999) stated that “managers work toward the organization’s goals using its resources in an effective and efficient manner.” This definition is true in all forms of management, whether it’s in the corporate world or in healthcare. Levin (2001) stated that healthcare management teams are “tasked with crafting strategic direction and deciding upon major initiatives their organization needs to implement to maintain strategic advantage in the healthcare marketplace.” These managers must practice existing goals of the organization, study to improve those goals and make observation for future goals or plans for their organization. Today’s managers must be politically savvy, flex...