Earlier an article was posted on this blog regarding the applicability of theories in the real world. But that article was not successful in considering all the points related to that topic, and there are critics of that post too. One critic of that post was that we don’t have any research in this field then how can we emphasize on that the theories are of no use in the real situations. Yes, I agree on that point that really we have no research or facts to prove the same as it was merely a hypothesis which is yet to be proved. So, in this post I would like to write in the favor of applicability of theories in practical situations.
Management is not a science. The theories of science are applicable in every condition and have the same results and conclusions where ever they are implemented. Our mind must make it clear that science is completely different from management. Management is the soft science and not the complete science. Means to say that management have some theories; approaches and system, founded by some great people who by experience learn it of invent it. But these theories are not applicable everywhere and may not result in same conclusions in every organization.
Management is the subject based on personnel desires and knowledge. The meaning of management and the system of management is different from person to person and organization to organization, even if they are in same industry. For example, according to the Maslow’s Hierarchical Need Theory, basic needs to be filled up for motivational purpose. If a beggar is asked to work for two hour daily and promised to serve two time food in exchange of that work, most of the beggar will agree to work.
Let’s move on to my example in earlier post where I quoted that will a person be ready to open a tea shop? Here I believe that no one will open a tea shop. Here the point was that people will directly look for the esteem needs instead of basic needs. But a person who is pursuing MBA is already fulfilling his basic needs social needs. He is getting food to eat, clothes to wear, shelter to live and even more like laptop to use and mobile phones to talk etc. So his basic needs are already fulfilled. About his social needs, he has friends, family and some of them even have lovers too. Then how can we say that a person is not interested in basic needs and is directly looking for esteem needs, and Maslow’s Theory is irrelevant?
If a person don’t get food for 3 days and on 4th day if he is given 2 options, one to eat food and other to watch movie in PVR. If he has to choose one, just think which one he will opt for, obviously he will choose food. So, the thing is clear that the theories are the experiences of great thinkers and have significance in real life.
Actually the problem is not with our thoughts and perceptions but with our management courses or I will say with our whole education system that they make students book worm and not the expert mind without any scope for creativity. Our faculties insist students to think in the same direction as they think and not in the now direction. Because they fear, it will create problem for them and may disturb their comfortable life as they are teaching the same theories, topics and subjects from a long time, they have leant them thoroughly and do not want to make any more efforts. In short they resist change. Just visiting the institute delivering lectures and warning the students to study hard and pay attention on books otherwise they might fail or score less, this is the routine of most of the faculties. In a few institutions emphasis on making research on existing theories is given.
Management is like the top of the iceberg. There is a long process to implement it and the results may be favorable of may not be. I will end up by saying that management theories are not irrelevant but does not produce the results in every conditions. Their applicability is restricted.
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