Which of the following statements is true about the universality of management?

Universality of Management: Arguments for and Against this Concept!

There has been and still is considerable controversy about the universality of management process and functions. The area of management has a worldwide command and acceptability. Scholars have different views about whether management knowledge is applicable everywhere or not. If are the management knowledge has universal approach then it can be communicated through persons going from one country to another, persons from developing countries going to developed countries and going back after learning management principles or by organising management development programmes in developing countries.

Some scholars opine that management principles and processes have universal application. They feel that managerial principles can be applied in all types of business organisations and in every country. There are different views of management thinkers about universality of management. Authors like Henry Fayol, Taylor, James Lundy, Louis Allen, Dalton F. Mc Farland and Koontz and O’ Donnell are of the view that management has universal application. But there are others who do not subscribe to the view of universality of management. They include Joan Woodward, Ernest Dale, Peter Drucker, W. Oberg.

Arguments for Universality:

The supporters of this view say that basis of management are the same and can be found in all types of organisations situated in any country.

These scholars give the following arguments:

1. Management Process is Universal:

The fundamental functions of management like planning, organising, staffing, leading and controlling are basic and are performed by every manager in all organisations. The management process is similar among managers. In the words of Fayol, “There is a universal science of management applicable alike to commerce, industry, politics, religion, war or philanthropy.

2. Management Knowledge is Universal:

Management uses are as follows:

(i) Management is Culture-Bound:

It is argued that different countries have different cultures and varying levels of economic development. Culture consists of attitudes, beliefs and values of a society. There are differences in personality traits and educational, social, political and economic standards are also different. Since management is people oriented there is always a possibility that application of management principles will be affected by these factors. When the ground rules under which a manager operates are different in different cultures then common strategies of management will not be possible.

(ii) Different Objectives:

The objectives of an enterprise determine the type of management required. Different enterprises have different objectives so these managerial needs are linked to these objectives. According to Peter Drucker, the skills, the competence, and the experience of management cannot as such be transferred and applied to every type of institution. Only analytical and administrative types of skills and abilities can be transferred. Thus, management principles cannot be applied universally.

(iii) Differences in Philosophies:

There are differences in philosophies of different organisations. Philosophies refer to those general concepts and integrated attitudes that are basic to an enterprise. Managers operate with a specific philosophy in a particular enterprise. This philosophy can be different even in same type of enterprises. These philosophies require different kinds of managerial techniques. Earnest Dale says, “No individual could be a good manager in religious, academic, military and business institutions of both communist and democratic countries, because the philosophies that underlie each, are very different and one person could not encompass so much.”

Since philosophies exert different influences on managerial working there cannot be any principles which can have universal application. Common laws, principles and concepts tend to be true in all managerial problems. Management principles can be applied in all types of organised human endeavours. In the words of F.W. Taylor, “The fundamental principles of scientific management are applicable to all kinds of human activities from our simplest individual acts to the work of our great corporations.”

Some people do not distinguish between management fundamentals and techniques. They oppose universality of management on the basis of techniques of management. Management techniques are the tools for performing managerial functions. Management techniques can differ from person to person, organisation to organisation or from country to country but basic principles and theories remain the same.

3. Management Skills and Principles are Transferable:

Management skills and principles are transferable from one person to another, from one organisation to another, from one country to another. When skills and principles can be transferred then it has universal applicability. Managers can be developed through education and training. This knowledge can be acquired by any one and anywhere so it is not related to particular caste, creed or country. All this is possible only if management is universal in nature.

Arguments against Universality:

Some experts feel that management principles and knowledge do not have universal application due to cross- cultural differences. They are also of the view that same management skills cannot be applied in all situations and fields and the skills are not transferable.

Following arguments are given to show that management does not have universal application:

1. Difference in Objectives:

Peter Drucker is of the view that, “the skill, the competence, the experience of management cannot, as such be transferred and applied to the organisation and running of other institutions. A career in management is, by itself, not a preparation for major political office or for leadership in armed forces, the church or a university.” There is a difference in objectives of the organisations. Business organisations exist to maximise profitability whereas social organisations like clubs, educational institutions have social service as the objective. Different organisations with separate objectives will have to be managed differently.

2. Difference in Philosophies:

There is a feeling that same person may not prove to be a good administrator in different organisations. The management of a business enterprise, a church, a hospital, a military academy may riot be the same because of their different philosophies. Even in the same category, the philosophy of enterprises may be different. One enterprise may aim to go for quick profits while the other may aim at long-term returns. The philosophies will exert different influences on productivity, organisation structure, pattern of communication, delegation of authority etc.

3. Difference in Culture:

Some authors are of the opinion that cultural backgrounds of managers do have an influence on their working. Gonzale and Mc Millan concluded in their study that ‘management philosophy is culture- bound.’ They were also of the opinion that external environmental forces affect the management philosophy. W. Oberg also came to the conclusion that the applicability of management principles is limited to a particular culture.

The managers from traditional, religious and cultural bias societies will not have that scientific temperament which the managers from liberal social background may have. The differences in cultural backgrounds also limit the universality of management.

A Critical analysis of the above arguments brings out that every type of organization require management. Managerial functions like planning, organizing, staffing and controlling are to be performed in all types of organizations. The objectives of enterprises may differ but the type of situations to be dealt with by them are the same? Managers shift from one enterprise to another because they have general managerial skills and principles of management work are similar. It is obvious that principles, concepts and skills are universal, only practices change. It can be concluded that basic principles and functions of management are universal in nature. These can be applied in every type of organisation and in every country.