Fundamentals of Management, 8th ed

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Part 1: An Introduction to Management

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The Quantitative Management Perspective Today

Like the other management

perspectives, the quantitative management perspective has made important contributions

and has certain limitations. It has provided managers with an abundance of decision-

making tools and techniques and has increased understanding of overall organizational

processes. This perspective has been particularly useful in the areas of planning and con-

trolling. Relatively new management concepts such as supply chain management and

new techniques such as enterprise resource planning, both discussed later in this book,

also evolved from the quantitative management perspective. Even more recently, mathe-

maticians are using tools and techniques from the quantitative perspective to develop

models that might be helpful in the war against terrorism.

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However, mathematical

models cannot fully account for individual behaviors and attitudes. Some believe that

the time needed to develop competence in quantitative techniques retards the develop-

ment of other managerial skills. Finally, mathematical models typically require a set of

assumptions that may not be realistic.

CONTEMPORARY MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVES

It is important to recognize that the classical, behavioral, and quantitative approaches to

management are not necessarily contradictory or mutually exclusive. Even though each

of the three perspectives makes very different assumptions and predictions, each can also

complement the others. Indeed, a complete understanding of management requires an

appreciation of all three perspectives. The systems and contingency perspectives can

help us integrate these earlier approaches and enlarge our understanding of all three.