Management science or art?

Muhammad Salem Al Ali

January 12, 2023

There is no doubt that sound management is the pillar of success, and it is the only way for institutions to achieve goals and aspirations, and it carries within it recipes and remedies for every matter and issue;

In terms of strategies, it is responsible for perceiving opportunities and anticipating threats, as well as setting paths for competition and marketing in the business world.

From a financial point of view, she is responsible for planning the use of the company's financial resources in the most effective manner, in order to achieve growth and translate the aspirations of investors.

Perhaps all of this would not be achieved without its success in managing the human element within the organization, as it is the most important element and it is the strength and the foundation, and the management here must understand the needs and meet them, and spread friendliness and happiness in the work environment in all its corners and angles, and monitor talents and distinguished capabilities, support and motivate them, and manage everyone from above pyramid and to its base in a way that stimulates motivation and pushes towards creativity and excellence.

However, many people argue and debate about the subject of management in terms of understanding and perspective. Some of them see it as an authentic art that depends on the application of knowledge and skill in order to achieve the best possible results. The manager is like a painter whose painting is the foundation, its colors, its resources and its employees, while his brush is his administrative wisdom that brings the best decisions and the most effective solutions. ;

On the other hand, some see it as knowing that it involves scientific techniques in all its aspects and methods.

The manager here is a scientist who devises theories according to a scientific methodology and applies them in logical ways. As it is said, sound premises only lead to sound and effective results.

The two-opinion arguers continue to present the facts and evidence, so the first-opinion holders go on listing their evidence and cite that the manager, no matter how big or small his responsibilities are, must practice the art of management based on his unique way of working, that is, his handling of problems based on his own opinions, judgments, and understanding of the situation, so it is possible Saying that management is an individual skill

As for those of the second opinion, they insist that management has the advantages of science, because it uses scientific methods in decision-making and evaluating results, which is a cognitive approach that comes in the form of theories, concepts, and principles related to various forms of science, such as economics, mathematics, psychology and social sciences, and since management deals with behaviors Humanity, which is difficult to predict, adopts systematic procedures and scientific methods for monitoring and analysis, and this is what makes it a social science whose tools and vocabulary are people’s performance and behavior.

By reflecting on the two opinions, we find that administration, in fact, combines both the advantages of science and art. Science provides knowledge, while art deals with the methods of applying it to achieve the best results.

The successful manager is the one who carries two faces, as he is a scientist who acquires knowledge through study, experience, observation and analysis, and then applies it practically in order to manage and deal with employees;

On the other hand, he is an artist who relies on his creative imagination, intelligence, and experience honed over the years, in addition to his intuition and insight in dealing with the various problems facing the organization and employees.

The two aspects here are not contradictory, but complementary to each other.

Because the successful manager is the one who mixes art with science, and moves the organization forward towards a harvest of success and harvesting the most brilliant results and fruits.

Founder of «Suhail Smart Solutions»

To read the previous articles of the writer please click on its name.