ESSAY title: “What is Management: is it an Art or a Science?”
Number of words: 1860

What is Management? Is it an Art or a Science?
The objective of this essay is to settle the old argument that whether management is an art or a science. It aims to give a deeper and brief view about the topic of ‘Management’ and the point to which management fulfills the criteria for being a science as well as an art have been outlined. Management characteristics have been stated and discussed in relation to the characteristics of science as well as art by use of classical theories and principles which were derived by experts who are related with the study of management.
It is difficult to define the word management since neither accurate nor approved definition is found yet. However, it has a traditional definition which states that management is “the art of getting things done through people” (Mary Parker Follet, 1868-1933). Still, this definition does not perfectly describe management therefore the meaning cannot be relied on; this is because the definition views the term management as an “art” while management may be both either a science or an art. Secondly, the definition does not consider the functions of management which were introduced in a new definition by Henry Fayol defining management as “to manage is to forecast and to plan, to organize, to command, and to coordinate and control”(Fayol, 1916).
Every firm exists with some objectives or goals; in order to achieve these objectives firms carry out certain tasks which are indicated on how and when to be performed, in organizations this is known as process of planning and forecasting. The responsibility of these tasks is on the groups or an individual associated within the business, the process of assigning these tasks to groups and individuals is known as Organizing. Success of these objectives is based on how well the