how management has evolved and a variety of approaches on ho

how management has evolved and a variety of approaches on how to effectively manage others that have been used throughout history. Pick an approach that you have seen used by either your manager, a public leader, or even your parents. Name the approach and how you saw it displayed and the good, bad, or ugly about it.

Solution

An approach to management that I have seen used by a public leader is the “behavioral theory” approach to management. This approach to management has been largely used by public leaders like Nelson Mandela (in Africa) and Mahatma Gandhi (in India). The behavioral approach to management is a neo-classical approach to management and the emphasis of this approach is on the human element. The issues at hand and existing environment is viewed from the point of view of an individual. These public leaders focus on shaping individual attitudes and behaviors to develop a comprehensive and well defined group process.

The good part of this approach is that all the stakeholders feel included and hence are more involved and feel more motivated. The approach helps in making all future decisions and actions inclusive and this helps in strengthening the group process. The only downside of this approach is that it lacks close integration with the overall planning and controlling. For instance Nelson Mandela’s behavioral approach towards management helped him to dismantle the legacy of apartheid that existed in Africa. By shaping individual attitudes and behaviors he was able to tackle and reduce widespread as well as institutionalized racism, poverty, inequality and discrimination in Africa.