DEFINITION OF MANAGEMENT

Management is defined as the process of overseeing and coordinating resources efficiently and effectively in line with the goals of the organisation.

Effectiveness is the attainment of goals that enables the realisation of the objectives of an organisation or, briefly, as "doing the right thing" whereas efficiency is performing a job using minimum effort, cost and wastage or simply put as "doing things right." The end result of an efficient and effective management is the success of an organisation.

A person can be described as efficient but not effective or effective but not efficient in managing a specific task. Both elements are not interdependent. Let's say a factory worker finds a shortcut to doing a task with lower cost but by doing so, he deviates from the ethical objectives of the organisation. For example, he disposes of production waste by dumping it into the river. But one of the organisation's ethical objectives is to preserve local harmony. So, the factory worker, through his action, deviated from the objective although he was efficient. In short, he was efficient but not effective.

In contrast, an employee is considered effective but not efficient if he uses an old method to resolve a management issue even if it could have been resolved efficiently without deviating from the objectives of the organisation. For example, in delivering information, the employee sends a letter via post instead of e-mail. Although it does not affect or clash with the organisation's objectives, the employee has wasted a part of the resources allocated to him.

Both efficiency and effectiveness cannot be excluded from the definition of management as these are essential elements in defining management.