Class 12 Business Administration Notes · GSEB
Introduction to Management
Introduction to Management — trace management from ancient group effort to modern enterprise and learn its definitions and seven characteristics. GSEB Class 12 Commerce notes with timelines, definition cards and exam-focused explanations.
Last updated: 23 Oct 2026
Notes
From Ancient Practice to the Modern Company
Notes — the key lines
- Management is as old as group work — hunting, fishing and farming already needed planning, supervision and co-ordination.
- One person alone is limited; getting work done through others is the beginning of management.
- Growth of the company separated ownership from management and created the professional manager.
Ancient time
Stone-age beginnings
Management exists since ancient time. In the primitive era of the stone age, human beings were getting their food by hunting, fishing etc. Planning, supervision, co-ordination and guidance were used by them for accomplishment of their work. This process means management.
Trap — Management did not begin with factories — dating it to the industrial revolution loses the marks that the "ancient practice" argument earns.
Defining Management
Notes — the key lines
- Management is the art of getting things done through others — the work happens through people, not instead of them.
- Every definition points at predetermined objectives reached with minimum time and cost.
- Terry adds the 6Ms — men, machine, material, method, money, market — plus leadership, co-ordination and direction.
Synthesis
Trap — "Getting things done through others" is not delegation of your responsibility — the manager still answers for the result.
The Seven Characteristics of Management
Notes — the key lines
- Seven characteristics, one idea: management is a universal, goal-oriented, group activity.
- It is continuous and human — done by people, for people, never a one-time act.
- It is a decision process and a blend of science, art and profession.
Management is a universal process. Management is required where people are working in group for the accomplishment of objectives. Management is not only required in industries but also can be applied in various social and religious fields and activities like agriculture, army, education, etc. Management activity is seen in the units of each field and different departments of these units.
Management is a tool and not the attainment. Every business unit is established to achieve certain objectives. Management is necessary to achieve these objectives in a competent and economical way.
Management is a collective activity carried out by two or more people. Management is required where two or more people are working together for the accomplishment of pre-determined objectives.
Management is a continuous process. Once begun, it becomes difficult to discontinue it. Management is goal-oriented yet it does not stop after the achievement of objectives. New objectives and targets are decided by the business unit. The cycle of defining objectives, achieving them and re-defining them continuously goes on.
Management process is limited to human activities in spite of its universality. Human element is the most significant element in management. Other means of production are useless without man. Management is done by the human being and for the human being. Man is in the centre of management. Thus it is a human process which is done by and for the man.
Decision process is a function of management. Management has to take decisions constantly while managing business. No work can be done without taking decisions. After taking decisions, management has to proceed to implement it. Thus decision process is a function of management.
Like Science, management has its own rules or principles. Hence many writers consider management as a Science. Man is an important factor of management; therefore getting work done from him requires proficiency, intelligence, cleverness and insight. It is known as 'Art' of getting the work done. Management of a modern business unit is handed over to trained and expert people. In recent time, managers have also adopted professionalism like lawyers, doctors, chartered accountant. Thus it is clear that management is a profession too.
Trap — "Universal process" does not mean every employee is a manager — the process is universal; the role is not.
60-Second Recap
Key Takeaways
- Group effort → direction → control → company → trained managers.
- Through others → predetermined objectives → least time and cost → the 6Ms.
- Universal · goal-oriented · group · continuous · human · decision · science-art-profession.
Exam Questions
Exam Questions
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