Features of Classical Approach to Management

The classical approach, also known as the traditional or empirical approach, encompasses several key features:

  1. Systematic Network of Interrelated Functions: Management is seen as a systematic network of interconnected functions. The focus lies in understanding the nature, content, and interrelationships of these functions within an organisation.
  2. Development of Principles: Principles are derived from the experiences of practising managers. These principles serve as guidelines for executives in their decision-making and management practices. The principles, functions, and skills of management are considered universal and applicable in various situations.
  3. Universal Applicability: The principles and practices developed through the classical approach are believed to have universal applicability. They can be applied across different organisations and industries, providing a consistent framework for managerial actions.
  4. Importance of Education and Training: Formal education and training play a significant role in developing managerial skills among aspiring managers. Case study methods are often utilized to enhance their understanding of practical management scenarios.
  5. Emphasis on Economic Efficiency: The classical approach emphasizes achieving economic efficiency within organisations. The focus is on optimizing resources and improving the organisational structure to enhance productivity and effectiveness.
  6. Motivation through Economic Incentives: Economic gains and incentives are seen as the primary motivators for individuals within an organisation. The classical approach suggests that organisations should design control systems that align with economic incentives to drive employee motivation and performance.

Classical Approach to Management: Features, Uses and Limitations

The classical approach, also known as, the traditional or empirical approach, emerged through three main streams: scientific management, administrative theory, and bureaucracy.

  • Scientific management was pioneered by engineers and technicians like E.W. Taylor, Harrington Emerson, Henry Gantt, Frank Gilbreth, and Lillian Gilbreth. Their primary focus was on improving efficiency by applying scientific methods to analyze work processes and enhance the utilization of human resources and machinery. They approached management from a technical perspective, aiming to boost productivity and minimize wastage.
  • Administrative theory, also known as the functional approach, was developed by management practitioners and thinkers such as Henry Fayol, Lyndall F. Urwick, James D. Mooney, Allan C. Reiley, and others. They expanded the viewpoint beyond technical aspects and emphasized the development of managerial functions and principles that could be universally applied. Their objective was to enhance overall efficiency in organisations, taking into account various factors beyond technical efficiency alone.
  • Bureaucracy, formulated by the German sociologist Max Weber, envisions organisations as structured machines with a hierarchical system of authority, a set of rules and regulations, and impersonal control over individuals. It portrays the organisation as a well-defined entity with clear lines of authority and standardized procedures. Bureaucratic systems strive for consistency, predictability, and efficiency by establishing a network of rules and regulations that guide decision-making and actions.

To sum up, the classical approach to management encompasses scientific management, administrative theory, and bureaucracy. It combines technical efficiency, managerial functions, and hierarchical control to enhance productivity and effectiveness in organisations. These different streams have contributed to the development of management principles and frameworks that continue to shape contemporary management practices.

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