Resources for Management Theory

When you decide to go into business for yourself — to "be your own boss" — it's common do so hoping to be a different kind of manager. You may want to be more efficient, more approachable, more productive and more compassionate than most corner-office types. For those who are serious about being a better boss, there's a science to being a good manager. Known as management theory, it can convert good intentions into great results. Management theories dissect the ways in which managers run their companies; taken to heart, they can give you a proven system for:

1. Planning
2. Organizing
3. Leading
4. Coordinating
5. Controlling

Scientific theories

Scientific, or classical, approaches to management emerged at the turn of the 20th century and promote hierarchies based on performance and productivity. The idea is to hire and train employees based on their unique skills, and to promote their growth within a narrowly defined job description.

Contingency theories

A contingency approach to management, also known as a situational approach, is designed to be flexible; different problems are solved using different strategies and success relies on shared goals and values rather than power structures.

Behavioral theories

The behavioral theory of management, or the human approach, became important during the Great Depression and proposes that employee job satisfaction hinges not only on salary, but also on working conditions and attitudes. Everything from friendly peer groups to clean office space influences employee happiness and productivity.

Contemporary theories

Modern management theories include the collaborative approach, whereby organizations rely on their political power and influence to form external alliances; the systems approach, where managers keep an entire organization in mind when making management decisions; and chaos theory, which managers use to find patterns in seeming chaotic business situations. One of the most widely used management theories is Total Quality Management. TQM's goal is ever-improving products and always satisfied customers.

Beyond the theories

Management is more than theory; it's style, personality and leadership, too. Knowing your management style, your leadership IQ and your personality type can make you a more effective manager regardless of the management theory you choose to follow.

• Your management style may be people-oriented, idea-oriented or process-oriented.
• You don't have to be married to a single theory. Draw from several different theories to create your own brand of management.
• Make sure all new managers understand your management theory and embrace it.