FMS 106 ELEMENTS OF MANAGEMENT

INTRODUCTION Management is as old as a human organization. There are several theories and principles under which the discipline operates. The principles guiding the operations of managers evolved over time. In this unit, we shall be studying the evolutionary process of management as a discipline.

FMS 106 ELEMENTS OF MANAGEMENT II 2 2.0 OBJECTIVES At the end of this unit, you should be able to: · discuss the evolutionary process of management as a discipline from the-industrial period to the modern-day · list and discuss the contributions of the various authors and authorities in management · explain the modern approaches to management · state and explain management process as propounded by the various schools. 3.0 MAIN CONTENT 3.1 Evolution of Management Theory The evolutionary or development of management is divided into several periods. 3.2 Pre-Industrial Period In the pre-industrial period, management was practiced by various parts of the world including Africa. The well-known kingdom of Ghana, Mali and Songhai are known to have had a wonderful administrative system. Ghana’s judicial system, for example, was well organised and managed and had both a lower court and a court of appeal. The army was very efficient and well-disciplined that the King of Ghana put up 200,000 warriors in the field within a short notice. The importance attached to commerce and craftsmanship was evidenced by the lucrative trade between Ghana and other countries such as Spain, Morocco, and all North African countries. The shops of the local craftsmen dotted the market places. Cloth weavers, potters and shoemakers were abundant, and some employed more than two scores of men and apprentices. What is said of Ghana can be said of Mali. Taxes were very efficiently collected from businessmen and craftsmen, wood carvers, silversmiths, goldsmiths, copper smiths, weavers, tanners and dyers. The King’s affairs were so well organised and so efficiently and effectively run that it was devoid of bureaucracy. The Kings planned, organised, and coordinated the international trade that existed between their kingdoms/countries and foreign countries. Another well-documented, properly organised management system was that of the Egyptians who carried out organised activities such as the construction of pyramids, irrigation projects and the building of canals. The Pharaohs and their viziers were the managers who planned, organised and directed and controlled the work of the subordinates.