Modern Theory of Management (2024)

Managers deal with a variety of problems. They constantly improvise and react to different situations to run an organization. The modern theory of management is key to the adaptability of managers. This article will be a complete guide to the modern theory of management, including the answer to the modern theory of management, its benefits and its types.

  1. What Is The Modern Theory of Management?

  2. Benefits Of Modern Theory of Management

  3. Types Of Modern Theory of Management

  4. Become A Better Manager

What Is The Modern Theory of Management?

The Classical Management Theory asserts that only money motivates employees. That, however, is an inadequate proposition, and the Modern Theory of Management came up in response to it. According to the concept of modern management, employees are motivated by several different factors.

It’s important to understand what is the modern theory of management in a larger sense. The modern theory of organization uses mathematical analysis combined with an objective understanding of the range of human emotions and motivation. A manager then can use mathematics and statistics to gauge an employee’s motivation and measure their performance. Essentially, it is about understanding what makes an employee tick.

There are three parts in the modern theory of management: Quantitative, Systems and Contingency.

Benefits Of Modern Theory of Management

Here are the benefits of the modern theory of management:

  1. Increases Productivity

    The different theories of modern management educate leaders on maximizing the value of their human resources. In other words, rather than spending money on new equipment or a new marketing strategy, businesses should focus on training their employees.

  2. Strengthens Decision-Making Abilities

    When evaluating an organization or a department, managers can use modern management theories as a guide. Managers who know what to look for are better able to spot issues and begin formulating solutions. They can also use mathematical techniques to help them come to final decisions and support their solutions.

  3. Increases Employee Engagement

    The concept of modern management looks at motivational elements other than money. Through this, managers can identify and implement processes that take into account the needs and wants of their employees. As a result, employees’ morale and engagement will rise and they’ll be more likely to stay on with the organization.

  4. Gives Managers An Objective View of Things

    Mathematics plays a vital role in modern management theory. Objective data that’s appropriately analyzed never lies. On the other hand, using personal feelings to make decisions can backfire. Moreover, managers can test a variety of options to see which one best serves the organization. As a result, managers will be much more equipped to implement efficient and effective solutions after studying the modern theory of management.

  5. Increases Adaptability

    Modern management theory understands that organizations today frequently operate in dynamic environments. According to this theory, managers should be prepared to use various methods and approaches to deal effectively with their organizations’ internal and external influences. New technology and statistical modeling can be used to improve processes and develop solutions, for example.

These benefits have made this approach a popular practice for many organizations and their managers. Usually, a manager would apply one of the three prominent types within their organization.

Types Of Modern Theory of Management

There are three types of modern theories of management:

  1. Quantitative Theory

    Amid World War 2, military leaders from the United States and the United kingdom assembled a team of managers, government administrators and scientists to help them determine how to make the most efficient use of available resources. Experts used Taylor and Gantt’s mathematical and statistical approaches from various fields to solve these logistical issues. Thus, the quantitative theory of management was developed.

    In this modern theory of organization, managerial decision-making is aided by the use of statistical methods. However, this concept of modern management isn’t sufficient to run an organization. A humanistic approach and an understanding of human motivation are also needed to make the best use of the workforce.

  2. Systems Theory

    The Systems Theory of Management opens up a new world for managers and gives them a new management approach. This modern theory of organization proposes that a business comprises different parts that have to work in synergy to perform efficiently. Thus, it emphasizes synergy and interrelation between the various limbs of an organization.

    According to this concept of modern management, having a good workforce is critical to an organization’s success. All the departments and sub-units of an organization are crucial to its long-term viability and growth. Managers in the real world are expected to analyze their organization’s patterns and events to figure out the best management strategy. As a result, they can work together on a variety of projects.

  3. Contingency Theory

    The contingency theory of management says that no single management strategy works for every organization. Instead, many internal and external factors have an impact on the management strategy that’s ultimately chosen. This modern theory of organization believes that there are three things at play when figuring out a management strategy: the size of an organization, the technology it uses and the leadership style.

Fred Fiedler developed this concept of modern management. According to Fiedler, leadership qualities are directly linked to how well a leader manages their team. Every situation has its own set of leadership traits, according to Fiedler’s theory. Furthermore, it implies that a leader must be agile enough to change with the times. It can be summarized as follows:

  • There is no one-size-fits-all approach to running a business
  • A leader must be able to quickly determine which management style is best suited to a given situation
  • The least-preferred coworker scale (LPC) is the foundation of Fiedler’s contingency theory. LPC is used to evaluate a manager’s orientation

Now that we’ve covered the basics of these theories, let’s learn how to apply them in your professional life.

Become A Better Manager

Now that you know the answer to ‘what is the modern theory of management?’, you’ll be able to apply these learnings and create the perfect management strategy for your organization.

Modern managers need to upgrade their knowledge and skills to manage optimally continuously. A growth mindset is a must to climb the ladder of success. The modern theory of management can help managers stay agile. Likewise, Harappa’s Manage Projects Expertly pathway will help you identify the aspects of management that you need to improve on, apply life’s learnings to workplace situations and become as agile and efficient as you wish to be. Sign up today.

Modern Theory of Management (2024)

FAQs

What is the modern theory of management? ›

Modern management theory adopts an approach to management that balances scientific methodology with humanistic psychology. It uses emerging technologies and statistical analysis to make decisions, streamline operations and quantify performance.

What are the limitations of modern management theory? ›

Modern management theory faces several problems in the current business environment. One of the main challenges is the uncertainty and lack of foresight in the market, which leads to unpredictable long-term effects and difficulty in finding sustainable solutions.

Which is the best answer to the question why are theories in management important? ›

One of the reasons why managers should be interested in learning management theories is because it helps in maximizing their productivity. Ideally, the theories teach leaders how to make the most of the human assets at their disposal.

Who is 1 father of modern management theory? ›

Henry Fayol is known as the father of modern management theory. He was an engineer at the Compagnie de Commentry-Fourchambault-Decazeville mining company and worked his way up to become a manager during the peak of the Industrial Revolution in France. Under his watch, the struggling company prospered.

What is the modern theory in simple words? ›

Modern theory considers an organization as an adaptive system which has to adjust to changes in its environment. An organization is now defined as a structured process in which individuals interact for attaining objectives.

What is the modern definition of management? ›

Management is a process of planning, decision making, organizing, leading, motivation and controlling the human resources, financial, physical, and information resources of an organization to reach its goals efficiently and effectively.

What are the strengths of modern management theory? ›

Aids decision-making: Modern management theories often provide managers insights into the factors they need to examine, which they can use to evaluate their organization or department. When managers know what to look for, it can help them identify problems and begin coming up with potential solutions.

What are the criticism of modern organization theory? ›

This theory is too abstract to be of practical use. It does not specify the precise relationships between the organization and the social system. It does not offer a framework which can be applied to all organizations.

What are the criticism of management theory? ›

Three common criticisms of management include the subjective bias of researchers in their approaches and findings, the lack of a consensually validated body of knowledge about the nature of management, and the failure of management theory to provide practical tools for decision-makers.

What are the practices of modern management? ›

“These practices and processes of modern management have been built around a small nucleus of core principles: standardization, specialization, hierarchy, alignment, planning, and control, and the use of extrinsic rewards to shape human behavior.”

What are the three reasons modern management experts believe people work for? ›

Modern management experts believe that people work for three reasons; compensation (pay and benefits), psychological reasons (personal growth and fulfillment), and social reasons (friendships and relationships in the workplace).

Why do you think management theories fail? ›

The critical point to note is that many theories have failed because they have been misapplied. Essentially, a theory in management is reliable only when “its statement describing the actions that must lead to success explains how they will vary as a company's circ*mstance change”.

Who is the mother of modern management theory? ›

In 1924, Mary Parker Follett, the “Mother of Management” (Wren & Bedeian, 2009, p. 321), published the book Creative Experience.

What is the first rule of management? ›

The first rule of management is that successful management is all about managing oneself rather than managing others. Also see: Principles of Management.

Who is the mother of modern management? ›

Mary Parker Follett, the “Mother of Modern Management”

What are modern management techniques? ›

Modern management focuses on a number of basic processes that it considers part of its plan of action: Planning, Organization and Employment Leadership, coordination, documentation, and finally financial management.

What company uses modern management theory? ›

In general, The Coca-Cola Company applies the modern management theory that implies the combination of rational economic and social person views for efficient performance. On the one hand, the company values the division of functions, centralization, and hierarchy.

What is the 21st century management theory? ›

The Goal Of The 21st Century Firm: The Customer Is The Boss

The goal of the firm in 21st management reflects a shift from making money for the firm to an obsession with creating value for the customer. Everyone in the organization is focusing their work on delivering value for the customer.

What are the four types of management theories? ›

' Understanding organizations comes from understanding management theory, and Kimani outlines four major management theories for the basis of organizations: bureaucratic theory, scientific management theory, behavioural management theory, and human relations theory.

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