M anagement as a P rofession You have understood so far that all forms of organised activity need to be managed. You would also have observed that organisations look for individuals with specific qualifications and experience to manage them. It has also been observed that there has been an increase in the corporate form of business on the one hand and increasing emphasis on managed business concerns. Does this imply that management is a profession?
To answer this question let us examine the salient features of a profession see whether management satisfies them. A profession has the following characteristics: (i) Well-defined body of know- ledge : All professions are based on well-defined body knowledge that can be acquired through instruction. (ii) Restricted entry: The entry to a profession is restricted through an examination or through acquiring an educational degree. For example, to become chartered accountant in India candidate has clear a specified examination conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
(iii) Professional association: All professions are affiliated to a professional association which regulates entry, grants certificate of practice and formulates and enforces a code of conduct. To be able to practice in India lawyers have to become members of the Bar Council which regulates and controls their activities. (iv) Ethical code of conduct: All professions are bound by a code of conduct which guides the behaviour of its members. All doctors, for example, take the oath of ethical practice at the time they enter the profession.
(v) Service motive: The basic motive of a profession is to serve their client’s interests by rendering dedicated committed service. The task of a lawyer is to ensure that his client gets justice. Management does not meet the exact criteria of a profession. However, it does have some of the features of a profession: (i) All over the world there is marked growth in management as a discipline.
It is based on a systematic body of knowledge comprising well-defined principles based on a variety business situations. This knowledge can be acquired at different colleges and professional institutes and through a number