Published: 2023-08-11
Views: 344
Author: Riley White
Published in: Management

The world of management is characterized by creativity and theoretical concepts that can be applied to real-world situations.

Interestingly, management is officially recognized as an art due to its encompassing nature.

In this article, we will explore the concept of management as an art, including its nature, process, and significance.

Nature of Management

Management is a process that involves bringing together human and material resources to achieve the goals of an organization. It is not a one-time activity but a continuous series of interconnected activities known as the management process.

This process consists of various interconnected functions required to attain desired business objectives.

Understanding the nature and significance of management involves recognizing it as a systematic approach to accomplishing tasks and converting inputs into outputs.

Through a detailed analysis, one can gain insights into the daily functions performed by managers.

Understanding Art

Before delving into how management is an art, it is important to grasp the general meaning of art.

While most people are familiar with the layman's understanding of art and can identify examples of it in their surroundings, there are specific features that define it as a broader category.

These features are relevant to understanding the nature and significance of management as an art.

Features of Art in Management

1. Practical Knowledge: Like any form of art, management requires practical knowledge. Merely learning theoretical principles is not sufficient.

   A painter, for example, needs to understand the practical application of different techniques, colors, and brushes.

   Similarly, a manager cannot rely solely on a degree or diploma but must possess the ability to apply management principles in real-life situations.

2. Personal Skill and Authenticity: While the foundational principles may be similar for all artists, each individual brings their personal style and approach to their work. This uniqueness leads to varying levels of success and quality of performance.

Management, too, is a personalized art. Each manager employs their own methods based on their knowledge, personality, skills, and experience.

They aim to introduce innovative approaches that require a blend of intelligence and imagination.

3. Goal-Oriented: Like other forms of art, management is result-oriented. It strives to achieve concrete outcomes. Managers utilize various resources such as money, machinery, materials, personnel, and methods to foster the growth of an organization.

    

4. Perfection through Practice: The saying "Practice makes perfect" holds for artists, who continually refine their skills through practice.

    

Similarly, managers initially learn through trial and error, but over time, the application of management principles enables them to become adept at their craft.

5. Rooted in Creativity and Custom: Art is a tangible manifestation of intellectual knowledge and creativity.

For instance, music is founded on seven notes. However, an artist's unique interpretation and execution of these notes mark their distinctive musical style.

Management as an Art

Management is considered an art because it requires the application of specific principles. It is an art of the highest order as it involves shaping the attitudes and behaviors of individuals in the workplace towards predetermined goals.

Managers, as individuals responsible for handling organizational management processes, acquire knowledge and skills through the study and practical application of management concepts and principles.

They draw on a vast body of literature in various management areas, which serve as guiding principles and valuable knowledge for their managerial roles.

These principles help managers navigate different situations they encounter in their day-to-day activities.

Essentially, art is the structured use of skills or knowledge to achieve a desired outcome. As Chester I. Barnard puts it, art's function is to realize concrete results and cultivate scenarios that wouldn't naturally occur without intentional effort.

Management is among the most creative arts, necessitating broad knowledge and a variety of innovative, instructive, and integrative skills, particularly regarding production and marketing functions.

The art of management lies in the ability to blend production factors in a way that maximizes profit while minimizing costs.

In summary, Arts Management, also known as Art Administration, applies business administration techniques and processes to the realm of art. It involves the daily business operations of both private and public art institutions.

The purpose of Arts Management is to reconcile business and art, two disciplines that could potentially have conflicting objectives.

The former focuses on the practical aspects of running a business, such as resource management, budget adherence, and efficiency pursuit.

In contrast, the latter serves as a means of expressing the artist's vision and emotions without concerning itself with profit.

Legitimate art management respects the arts by not stifling artists' creativity and freedom of expression.

It should always allow the art the freedom and space to play its role in society: to inspire thoughts, educate, reflect on societal issues and struggles, shape national and personal identities, and create cultural legacies to be passed on to future generations.

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