Business – 2.3 Management – Management and managers | e-Consult
2.3 Management – Management and managers (1 questions)
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Answer:
| Aspect | Fayol’s Administrative Theory | Mintzberg’s Descriptive Approach |
| Nature of Theory | Prescriptive – outlines what managers should do. | Descriptive – observes what managers actually do. |
| Focus | Functions (planning, organising, commanding, coordinating, controlling). | Roles (interpersonal, informational, decisional). |
| Level of Analysis | Broad, applicable to all levels of management. | Based on empirical observation of managers in specific contexts. |
| Time of Development | Early 20th century (1916). | 1970s, based on field studies of managers. |
| Criticism | Too rigid, assumes a universal set of functions. | May overlook the strategic, long‑term planning aspect highlighted by Fayol. |
Both frameworks aim to clarify managerial work, yet Fayol provides a normative blueprint while Mintzberg offers a realistic portrait of daily managerial activity.