Is Management an Art or Science?

According to Paul Hawken,
 
"Good management is the art of making problems so interesting and their solutions so constructive that everyone wants to get to work and deal with them."

Management as an Art

The word art includes the systematic relevance of theoretical knowledge as well as

personal skills in order to accomplish desired results in an effective and appropriate manner. For

instance, art involves academic principles to achieve best probable results. Along with this, art

fetch the desired results with the help of conscious efforts and make various changes to complete

the goals and objectives in an effectual way. Management is also an art.

There are numerous reasons behind it. The management process also includes knowledge

& skills to achieve the goals of the business organization. For instance, every manager applies

knowledge & skill in order to deal with the people in an effective manner. Additionally, the

management also requires practical knowledge in order to apply several principals in the

business organization. Practical knowledge of the theoretical principals is essential for the

management like an art. A manager would be successful due to his/her practical knowledge

in spite of theoretical knowledge. Practical knowledge is the key of success and a business

organization would be successful with the help of practical knowledge in this competitive era


An art involves personal skills in order to perform the duties & responsibilities of a person

in a significant manner. In the same manner, management also focuses on the personal skills

of the manager. For instance, every manager has experience, knowledge, skills, personality,

etc. In order to manage the necessary things effectually. These personal skills also make the

management as an art. The other characteristic that makes management as an art is its creativity.

In addition, art involves a mixture of aptitude and imagination in its creation. Management is

also artistic in nature. For instance, it joins human and non-human resources in a functional way

in order to realize the desired results.

Art is goal oriented as well as result oriented. Along with this, management is also

Focusing its attention to achieve the pre-determined goals. For instance, a manager uses

numerous resources such as: men, material, equipment, money, methods, etc., To induce the

growth of an organization and to achieve the goals of the business corporation.

Management as Science

Science is a methodical body of knowledge that is related to a precise field of study. It

also includes general facts to explain an incident in an effective manner. Apart from this, it also

institutes cause and effect relationship between two or more variables and also emphasizes the

principles leading their relationship. Management is also as a science. There are several reasons

that make it science. Science involves a universal accepted principle. These principles would be

appropriate in the entire situation, at all places and at all time. In the same manner, management

also involves a fundamental principal.

 These fundamental principals would be appropriate for all types of organizations

effectually. Science includes testing and scrutiny in its principal. At the same time, managing

principal also depends on the scientific inquiry as well surveillance to create a healthy workforce

for the organizations. Management also creates a cause and effect relationship between various

aspects of the organization that makes it as a science.