MAN 102- Management

INTRODUCTION The Development of Management thought is basically the historical background of management; management yesterday and management today. This unit introduces you to the early management 10 practices of the division of labour to the industrial revolution up to the scientific management era, which established the framework for many of the contemporary ideas in organizations today.

2.0 OBJECTIVES By the end of the unit you should be able to: 1. Describe the early management practices in the history of the development of management 2. Enumerate the historical events that played a role in the study of management 3. Explain the nature of the influences these events had on management

3.0 MAIN CONTENT 3.1 Historical Background of Management Management has been practised as far back as the olden days when the only means of livelihood was Agriculture (Subsistence Agriculture). At that time people lived in a communal setting made up of fathers, wife or wives, sons, daughters, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, children etc, so there were enough farm hands or workers. Regardless of what managers were called at that time, someone had to plan what was to be done, organize the family members and the farming tools and other materials, lead and direct the workers and impose some controls to ensure that everything was done wel . This task usualy fel on the head of the family, the father, who organizes the men and lead the way while the women follow after them. The building of the ancient Egyptian Pyramids and the great walls of China gives credence to the fact that organized endeavours directed by people responsible for planning, organizing, leading and controlling activities have existed for thousands of years. The construction of a single pyramid occupied more than 100,000 people for 20 years. There were people, who were in charge; who ensured that there were enough stones at the site, told the workers what was to be done and organized them. With the ancient Egyptians, the whip, ball and chain were effective ways of getting things done through people. Also in the olden days when the feudal system was practised in the Roman Empire, the landowners needed no other principles to guide their management of the serfs but their hereditary title. This was a period of enormous extremes, characterized by the lords and the peasants, the emperor and the slaves, the haves and the have-nots etc. During this pre-scientific –management period, all that was needed was for one to be in a position of authority, for authority meant power and control in the social and economic systems of the period