The Management Theory Jungle Revisited

Abstract

It is apparent that the theory and science of management are far from being mature. In fact, there appears to be a veritable jungle of theories. Currently, there are 11 approaches to the study of management science and theory: 1. empirical or case approach, 2. interpersonal behavior approach, 3. group behavior approach, 4. cooperative social system, 5. sociotechnical systems, 6. decision theory, 7. systems approach, 8. mathematical or ''management science'', 9. contingency or situational, 10. managerial roles, and 11. operational theory.The variety of approaches makes the theory and science of management extremely difficult for the intelligent practitioner to understand and utilize. However, there are signs of tendencies for the various schools of thought to coalesce. Some of the tendencies toward convergence include: 1. a greater emphasis on distillation of the basics within the empirical approach, 2. a new understanding of motivation, 3. the melding of motivation and leadership theory, and 4. clarifying semantics.