Principles of management are fundamental concepts and advisory guidelines for managerial decision making. By using management principles, managers can more easily achieve the objectives and avoid making mistakes in their activities. Management principles can be applied to any kind of organization and to managers at all organizational levels.
A principle can be defined as a fundamental statement of truth providing a guide to thought or action. Principles help to understand what results can be expected when a particular management principle is applied. These management principles emerge based on certain qualities/characteristics that have relevance to management theory and practice.
Principles of management are to the manager as a guidebook of strengths and weaknesses which provides fundamental truths, expressed as quantitative data based on years of experience and testing. The manager can use these principles to take timely guidance for various management issues as these management principles have been developed from years of experience and testing, in public and private, in big and small organizations. By using management principles, managers can effectively achieve business objectives and avoid making fundamental mistakes in their actions and decisions. They are basic guides and a framework for reference but not absolute as managers need to take actions based on the context in which they operate. They are like working hypotheses that are reasonably well established, accepted, and used in many successful organizations, and managers must adapt them to their specific situation.
As more research is conducted, we gain more understanding of the way management principles operate; new principles will emerge, some existing management principles will get modified, and some others will be discarded not being truly representative of management practice in today’s context.
Henri Fayol (1849-1925), a French industrialist and a prominent European management theorist, developed a general theory of management. Fayol outlined the fourteen principles of management. Given below are some of the other attributes of good management principles:
Therefore, management principles are a guiding key to actions that should be taken in a particular business context. They provide the guidelines from which the manager can understand the situation and recommended action and apply that in his particular context. They represent the major considerations in current management thought.
Given below are some of the important principles of management that will help you to build a better understanding of the management process:
Management is always purposeful focused on the achievement of specific business objectives and goals. Managerial success is measured by the extent to which these objectives have been met. Management should keep a continued focus on the work needed to be accomplished.
Management is responsible for making things happen and meet business goals. Managers should focus their efforts on bringing about successful action as per the vision and mission of the organization. They must provide direction to set goals, keep things moving, follow through to ensure members of the group accomplish the task they have been assigned.
Management is accomplished by managing the team. The manager needs to relinquish the natural tendency to perform all things oneself and should focus on getting the tasks accomplished through the efforts of the group members. Management is thus associated with the efforts of the group. A group is necessary to accomplish business goals as an enterprise comes into existence to attain these goals, and these goals can be achieved only through group effort rather than by one person alone.
Management is an outstanding means for exerting a real impact on human, social, and political life. A manager can do much to improve the work-environment he operates in and the resources he deals in. A manager must stimulate and motivate people to do things better, and in the process should assist favorable organizational actions to take place. A manager can achieve progress, bring hope, and help group members acquire the better things in life.
These principles of management will definitely help you in discharging your roles and responsibilities as a manager. Understanding these principles will also broaden your understanding of the theories of management that every manager should be aware of.
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Behavioral Approach to Management
The behavioral management theory had a profound influence on management by focusing on understanding the human dimensions of work. It is also called human relations movement as behavioral theorists focused on managing productivity by understanding factors of worker motivation like their needs and expectations, personality, attitudes, values, group behavior, conflict, and group dynamics. It advocated the use of psychological techniques to motivate employees.
Team Foundation in Forming Stage
This is the first stage of team development. This is the stage when the foundation of the team is laid. During the Forming stage, team members have a high dependence on their leader for guidance. Learn the practical strategies you can use during this stage to help your team develop into a highly effective performing team.
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Investment Theory of Creativity
Sternberg in the year 2006, proposed the investment and confluence theory focused on understanding creativity. According to the investment theory, creativity requires a confluence of six distinct but interrelated resources known as intellectual abilities, knowledge, styles of thinking, personality, motivation, and environment. It emphasizes that creativity is not about one thing, but about a system of things.
Power is the ability to exercise influence or control over others. Leadership involves authority and it is very important for leaders to understand what type of power they're using. The 5 Types of Power in Leadership are Coercive power, expert power, legitimate power, referent power, and reward power. Authority is the right to command and extract obedience from others. It comes from the organization and it allows the leader to use power.
Tools for Developing Your Team
If a manager has too many weak spots in the talent of the team, the ability to empower the team members to independently execute the project is impaired. Assignments fall behind schedule or stretch out because the needed skills or knowledge are not in place when needed. To successfully execute important projects, hiring talented people, and increasing the talents of existing staff are most important.
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