Q.What is meant by management?

Management is the process of getting things done through others with the aim of achieving organisational goals effectively and efficiently. The NCERT textbook defines it as a set of activities that includes planning, organising, staffing, directing, and controlling. These activities are performed to coordinate human and material resources.

• Effectiveness means completing the right tasks to achieve the desired goals.
• Efficiency means completing tasks with minimum waste of resources like time, money, and effort.

Management is both an art and a science. It is essential in all organisations — whether business, government, or non-profit — because it helps in achieving group goals, increases efficiency, creates a dynamic organisation, and helps in personal development.

Management is not a single act but a continuous process. Think of it as the engine that drives any organisation — whether it’s a school, a hospital, a factory, or a cricket team. Without management, resources like people, money, materials, and machines would remain scattered and unproductive. The NCERT textbook defines management as the process of getting things done with the aim of achieving goals effectively and efficiently.

Let’s unpack that definition. “Getting things done” means management is about action, not just planning. But it’s not done alone — it is always done “through others.” A manager does not personally perform every task; instead, they guide, motivate, and coordinate the work of their team. This is why management is often called the art of getting work done through people.

The two key words in the definition are effectiveness and efficiency. Effectiveness means doing the right things — completing tasks that actually help achieve the organisation’s goals. Efficiency means doing things right — using minimum resources (time, money, effort) to get the job done. A good manager balances both. For example, a factory that produces high-quality goods (effective) but wastes raw materials (inefficient) is not well-managed. Similarly, a factory that saves costs (efficient) but makes defective products (ineffective) also fails.

Management is also a process — a series of interrelated functions. These functions are planning, organising, staffing, directing, and controlling. Each function feeds into the next. You plan what to do, organise resources to do it, staff the positions with capable people, direct their efforts, and then control by checking if things are on track. This cycle repeats continuously.

Finally, management is goal-oriented. Every managerial action is directed towards achieving specific objectives — survival, profit, growth, and social responsibility. Without clear goals, management becomes aimless activity.

Concept: Management Definition

Method: Functional Definition Approach

This method defines management by what it does — its core functions and purpose — rather than by who does it.

Steps

1. Identify the core purpose

   Management is the process of getting things done through and with people to achieve organisational goals efficiently and effectively.

2. List the key functions (the “what”)

   Management involves five interrelated functions:

   • Planning — setting objectives and deciding how to achieve them
   • Organising — arranging resources (people, money, materials) to execute plans
   • Staffing — recruiting, training, and placing the right people
   • Directing — leading, motivating, and supervising people
   • Controlling — monitoring performance and taking corrective action

3. Highlight the two essential dimensions

   • Efficiency — doing things right (minimising resource waste)
   • Effectiveness — doing the right things (achieving goals)

4. Combine into a single definition

   Management is the process of planning, organising, staffing, directing, and controlling organisational resources to achieve stated goals efficiently and effectively.

Why this method works for exams

• It matches the NCERT framework of five interrelated functions (planning, organising, staffing, directing, controlling)
• It presents management as a goal-oriented, continuous process, which is exactly how the chapter defines it
• It clearly separates management from mere administration or leadership

Key exam tip: Always mention both efficiency and effectiveness — examiners look for this distinction.

Here are the most common mistakes students make when answering “What is meant by management?”* in Indian board exams (CBSE, ISC, State Boards), along with how to avoid each.

✗ Mistake 1: Giving only one definition (e.g., only “getting things done through others”)

Why it’s wrong:

Management is a multi-dimensional concept. A single phrase is incomplete for a full-mark answer. Examiners expect you to show that management is both an art and a science, a process, and a discipline.

How to avoid:

Always structure your answer in three layers:

1. Process definition – “Management is the process of planning, organising, staffing, directing, and controlling.”
2. Goal-oriented definition – “It is the art of getting things done through others to achieve organisational goals efficiently and effectively.”
3. Resource-based definition – “It involves coordinating human, financial, physical, and information resources.”

Tip: Use the classic definition by Harold Koontz & Heinz Weihrich as your anchor:

“Management is the process of designing and maintaining an environment in which individuals, working together in groups, efficiently accomplish selected aims.”

✗ Mistake 2: Confusing “efficiency” with “effectiveness”

Why it’s wrong:

Students often use these terms interchangeably. In management theory, they are distinct:

• Efficiency = doing things right (minimising resource waste)
• Effectiveness = doing the right things (achieving goals)

How to avoid:

When defining management, explicitly mention both:

“Management aims to achieve organisational goals effectively (goal achievement) and efficiently (with minimum cost/waste).”

✗ Mistake 3: Forgetting the “universal” nature of management

Why it’s wrong:

Many answers imply management is only for businesses. This loses marks because management applies to all organisations — schools, hospitals, government, NGOs, families.

How to avoid:

Add a sentence like:

“Management is universal — it is required in every organisation, regardless of size, nature, or location.”

✗ Mistake 4: Writing a vague, memorised paragraph without structure

Why it’s wrong:

Examiners look for clarity and organisation. A rambling paragraph hides key points.

How to avoid:

Use a bullet-point or numbered structure in your answer:

1. Definition (process + goal + resource)
2. Key characteristics (goal-oriented, continuous, universal, multidimensional)
3. Importance (briefly — 1–2 lines)

✗ Mistake 5: Ignoring the “multidimensional” aspect

Why it’s wrong:

Management is not just about people. It involves work, people, and operations. Students often skip this.

How to avoid:

Mention the three dimensions explicitly:

• Management of work – tasks and processes
• Management of people – motivation, leadership, communication
• Management of operations – production, technology, systems

✓ Quick Revision Checklist (for your answer)

Final tip: Write your answer as if you are explaining the concept to a classmate who knows nothing about management. Start with the why (purpose), then the what (definition), then the how (characteristics). This ensures completeness and clarity — exactly what examiners reward.