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Schools of Management Thought

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Schools of Management Thought

SCHOOLS OF MANAGEMENT THOUGHT
Structure 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Objectives Introduction Historical Perspective Theory in Management Classification of Management Theories Classical Management Theory 4.5.1 Scientific Management 4.5.2 Administrative Management 4.5.3 Bureaucratic Organization 4.5.4 Criticisms on Classical Management Theory 4.6 Neo-Classical Theory 4.6.1 Human-Relations School 4.6.2 Behavioural Schools 4.7 Modem Management Theory 4.7.1 Systems Theory 4.1.2 Contingency Theory 4.7.3 Organizational Humanism 4.7.4 Management Science 4.8 Other Schools of Thoughts, Styles and Approaches 4.9 Problems and Conflicts in Management Theories 4.10 Summary 4.11 Key Words 4.12 References and Further Reading 4.0 OBJECTIVES

After reading this Unit, you will be able to • know the historical development of schools of management thought; • explain what a theory in management is; • outline the classification of management theories; • describe important schools of management, their contributions and limitations; • elaborate problems and conflicting issues in management theory; and 4.1 INTRODUCTION

In the preceding three units of this block you have learnt various scientific principles of management, management functions and what constitutes managerial quality and leadership as propounded by management experts. In this Unit you will have a historical perspective of management approaches or thoughts. The block in toto will set the background about various schools of management to enable you to have a better understanding of the management of information centres. The purpose of studying various schools of management thought is to enable you to recognize and appreciate how developments in the field of management could contribute to current practices. An examination of these past and present approaches can help to discover the strengths and

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