MANAGEMENT THEORY AND PRACTICE

Management Theory and Practice Has Changed Over Time

Management Theory and practice has changed over time.

Introduction

Many management theories were developed when large groups of people worked together, however technology has changed the workplace. These organizational management theories still work today. (Gomez-Mejia, Luis R.; David B. Balkin and Robert L. Cardy 2008, 55-67)

Organized activities directed by people responsible for planning, organizing, leading, and controlling events have existed for thousands of years. Starting with the Egyptian pyramids there is evidence that projects of remarkable scale were undertaken well before modern times. Someone had to plan what was to be done, organize people and materials to do it, and direct the workers. This example shows that management has been around for thousands of years. It has long been a belief that people were the most important feature of the organization and should be managed accordingly. The organizational behaviour research done in the early 1900's has made up the field of human resources management and modern-day views on motivation, leadership, trust, teamwork, and conflict management. This approach to management is the field of study that is concerned with the behavioural approach and has largely shaped today's current organizations. Group standards were the key determinants of individual work behaviour. We can see elements of the behavioural approach in today's workplace by the way managers design motivating jobs, to the way that they work with employee teams, and to the way that they open up communication channels. The behavioural approach influences decision making, organization structure design, and the types of control tools and techniques used. (Gomez-Mejia, Luis R.; David B. Balkin and Robert L. Cardy 2008, 55-67)

Explanation

There are a lot of demands in today's organizations that were not there years ago. These demands mean that managers must be able to constantly learn, adapt, and change. Managers are transforming themselves from bosses to team leaders. Instead of telling people what to do, they are finding that they are more successful when they listen, motivate, coach, and nurture. This is to a certain extent because of workplace spirituality. People are searching for a deeper understanding of who they are and why they are here on earth. They are looking for meaning, purpose, and a sense of connectedness from their work and their workplace. They want to feel there is some meaning in their lives and that they are part of something greater than just themselves. ...