Nature of Management: Science, Art and Profession (ISC Class 12 Commerce)

What Nature of Management: Science, Art and Profession is about

Weightage: Nature of Management: Science, Art and Profession is part of the unit Management, which carries 33 of the 80 theory marks, shared with 9 other chapters. Questions on it can appear in any section of the paper.Source: CISCE ISC Commerce syllabus, examination year 2027, distribution of marks

Key concepts

Management as a science

Science is a systematised body of knowledge that explains general truths, based on observation, experiment and cause-and-effect relationships, whose principles are universally valid.

Features of science in management

• Systematised body of knowledge: management has its own theories and principles (Taylor, Fayol) built over time.
• Principles based on observation and experiment: developed by studying many organisations and testing practices.
• Cause-and-effect relationship: for example, lack of unity of command causes confusion.
• Universal validity: principles apply widely, but not exactly, because results depend on human behaviour and situations.

Hence management is an inexact (social or behavioural) science, unlike physics or chemistry.

Worked example

Why is management called an inexact science? [1 mark]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. It deals with human behaviour, which is unpredictable.

Answer: Its principles deal with human behaviour, so results are not exact or universally the same as in natural sciences.

Management as an art

Art is the skilful and personal application of knowledge to achieve desired results.

Features of art in management

• Existence of theoretical knowledge: there is literature on management that managers study.
• Personalised application: each manager applies the knowledge in his own style; two managers may handle the same problem differently.
• Based on practice and creativity: skill improves with practice, and good managers find creative solutions.
• Result-oriented: the aim is to achieve goals effectively.

So management is clearly an art: success depends on the manager's skill, judgement, imagination and experience.

Worked example

Suppose two managers with the same MBA training handle a strike differently, one through negotiation and one through firm deadlines, and both succeed. Which nature of management does this show? [1 mark]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Same knowledge applied in personal styles.

Answer: Management as an art (personalised application).

Management as a profession

A profession is an occupation backed by specialised knowledge and training, with restricted entry, a professional association, an ethical code and a service motive (doctors, lawyers, chartered accountants).

Feature of a profession	Present in management?	Why
Well-defined body of knowledge	Yes	Management has principles and theories taught widely
Restricted entry (qualifying exam/licence)	No	Anyone can be a manager; no compulsory degree or licence
Professional association	Partly	Associations exist (for example, the All India Management Association) but membership is not compulsory
Ethical code of conduct	Partly	Codes exist but are not legally binding on all managers
Service motive	Partly	Managers serve society, but profit motive remains important

So management does not fully satisfy the features of a profession, mainly because entry is not restricted: there is no compulsory qualification or licence to become a manager. However, with management education, associations and ethical expectations growing, it is emerging as a profession, especially in large companies that hire qualified managers.

Worked example

Give the main reason why management is not a full profession. [1 mark]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Compare with doctors or lawyers, who need a licence.

Answer: Entry is not restricted: no compulsory degree or licence is required to become a manager.

Science and art are complementary

Management is both a science and an art, and the two support each other:

• Science provides the knowledge: principles, techniques and theories.
• Art provides the skill: applying that knowledge to real, changing situations.

A manager who knows all the principles but cannot handle people (science without art) fails; one who relies only on instinct without principles (art without science) makes avoidable mistakes. As the saying goes, the art of management begins where the science ends.

Basis	Science	Art
Concerned with	Knowing (why)	Doing (how)
Basis	Principles, experiments	Practice, creativity
Application	General	Personalised
Learnt through	Study	Practice and experience

Worked example

Explain how science and art in management are complementary. [3 marks]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Science gives the manager a systematic body of principles and techniques.
2. Art is the skill to apply them creatively to particular people and situations.
3. Knowledge without skill, or skill without knowledge, both lead to poor results; together they make an effective manager.

Answer: Science gives knowledge; art gives skill to apply it; both are needed.

Management: an emerging profession

Trends that move management towards a profession:

• Formal management education: degrees and diplomas in management are widely available, and large firms prefer to hire qualified managers.
• Professional associations (such as the All India Management Association) promote standards and development.
• Ethical codes and corporate governance rules expect managers to act honestly and in the interest of stakeholders.
• Separation of ownership and management in companies creates a class of professional managers.
• Social responsibility is increasingly expected of managers.

But until entry is restricted and a binding code is enforced, management remains a profession in the making.

Worked example

State two developments that show management is becoming a profession. [2 marks]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Large companies increasingly hire managers with formal management degrees.
2. Professional associations and ethical codes are being developed for managers.

Answer: Formal management education; associations and ethical codes.

Nature of Management: Science, Art and Profession in real life

Each concept, met in an everyday situation. Read the situation, answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Topics in this chapter

• Management as a Profession
• Management as a Science and an Art

Nature of Management: Science, Art and Profession: key facts

Science

Systematised knowledge + observation/experiment + cause-effect + (inexact) universality

Art

Theoretical knowledge + personalised application + practice + creativity

Profession

Knowledge + restricted entry + association + ethical code + service motive (management lacks restricted entry)

Conclusion

Both science and art; an emerging profession

How the board asks Nature of Management: Science, Art and Profession

The question patterns to expect, and the method that works for each.

Tricks to remember Nature of Management: Science, Art and Profession

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

• Science knows, art does

  Science = knowing why; art = doing how.

  Use it when: Complementary nature.

• KRACS for profession

  Knowledge, Restricted entry, Association, Code, Service motive.

  Use it when: Testing management as a profession.

Nature of Management: Science, Art and Profession: board-level solved questions

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Cover the solution, write your own, then compare step by step.

Case-study practice (Section C style)

Read the situation, then answer every part. In the board paper this is a 8-mark question split into 1 + 3 + 2 + 2 marks.

Where the marks are

How a typical answer is split into step marks. Show every step: a right final answer alone rarely earns full marks.

Where students lose marks in Nature of Management: Science, Art and Profession

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

• ✗Mistake: Confusing "discipline" with "science"

  CISCE examiners' comments, 2024: for management as a systematised field of study, candidates wrote science or profession instead of discipline.

  ✓Do this: A field of study is a discipline (meaning of management); science is about its nature (principles, experiments, cause-effect).

  Usually costs: 1 mark.

• ✗Mistake: Calling management an exact science

  Answers that give management universal, exact principles like physics miss the key qualification.

  ✓Do this: Say "inexact or social science" and explain why.

  Usually costs: 1 mark.

• ✗Mistake: One-sided conclusion

  Concluding that management is "only an art" or "a full profession" ignores the balanced view expected.

  ✓Do this: Both science and art; an emerging profession.

  Usually costs: 1-2 marks.

• ✗Mistake: Features listed without testing them

  Listing the features of a profession without saying whether management has each one earns little.

  ✓Do this: For each feature, say present, absent or partly present, with a reason.

  Usually costs: 2 marks.

Practice questions on Nature of Management: Science, Art and Profession

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

   Personalised application of knowledge is a feature of:
   (a) science
   (b) art
   (c) profession
   (d) discipline

   Hint

   Own style.

   Answer

   (b)

2. Q2 · 1 mark · Very short answerBoard level

   What is a profession?

   Hint

   Doctors, lawyers.

   Answer

   An occupation based on specialised knowledge and training, with restricted entry, an association, an ethical code and a service motive.

3. Q3 · 1 mark · Very short answerHarder board level

   Why is management called a social science?

   Hint

   People.

   Answer

   It studies and deals with human behaviour in organisations.

4. Q4 · 1 mark · Very short answerHarder board level

   Name one professional association for managers in India.

   Hint

   All India.

   Answer

   The All India Management Association.

5. Q5 · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

   State three features of science present in management.

   Hint

   Knowledge, experiment, cause-effect.

   Answer

   Systematised body of knowledge; principles based on observation and experiment; cause-and-effect relationships.

6. Q6 · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level

   Explain why management principles do not have universal validity like those of physics.

   Hint

   Human behaviour.

   Answer

   Management deals with people whose behaviour, needs and reactions differ and change; situations also vary. So the same principle can give different results, unlike physical laws that hold everywhere.

7. Q7 · 4 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

   Suppose the government made a management degree compulsory for anyone managing more than 100 employees. How would this change the status of management?

   Hint

   Restricted entry.

   Answer

   It would introduce restricted entry, the main missing feature, moving management much closer to a full profession; with binding ethical codes it could become a true profession.

8. Q8 · 5 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

   The art of management begins where the science ends. Explain.

   Hint

   Knowledge to action.

   Answer

   Science provides general principles but cannot cover every situation; the manager must then use judgement, creativity and experience (art) to apply them. Hence art takes over where principles stop, and both are needed.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1. 1.Is management an exact science?Show answer

   No, an inexact (social) science.

2. 2.Main missing feature of a profession?Show answer

   Restricted entry.

3. 3.Science gives knowledge; art gives?Show answer

   Skill to apply it.

4. 4.Overall conclusion?Show answer

   Both science and art; an emerging profession.

Quick revision checklist

The night before the exam: can you do each of these without looking?

• ☐Science: systematic knowledge, experiments, cause-effect; inexact.
• ☐Art: personalised, creative application improved by practice.
• ☐Profession: lacks restricted entry and binding code; emerging.
• ☐Conclusion: both science and art; partly a profession.

Nature of Management: Science, Art and Profession: frequently asked questions