Evolution of Management

History of management

Management itself is as old to humanity as the pyramids are to Egypt. Managers have been an important part of history since ancient times all the way up to the present day. A manager’s role is always relevant, because all organizations, small or large, at one point or another, require assistance in the supervision of projects and the implementation of new undertakings. However diverse, these projects require a manager to ensure their proper completion, allocate responsibilities, and provide accountability. As a leader, the manager sees the best in others and seeks to harness their potential.

“The manager is not the most powerful person in the organization. The manager is the most empowered person in the organization and can bring out the best in others.” -Sharad Bajaj

Project and people management’s history

In the project and people management’s history, some significant developments and events illustrate how much and how far the manager has come. A manager’s duties have always been seen as essential, and some may refer to a manager as a “game-changer” in project management. Project management has been in existence since early civilization. In 2570 BC, the Great Pyramid of Giza was completed. The Pharaohs built the pyramids through taskmasters and workers and, to date, archaeologists argue how they were able to achieve this feat. This much is clear, though: ancient records show that the taskmasters, who can be viewed as forerunners of modern managers, were responsible for overseeing the completion of each of the four faces of the Great Pyramid. It is apparent that the Pharaohs combined planning, organizing, and control—characteristic tasks of the manager—in order to bring the project to fruition.

Historic example of management

Another example of a remarkable historic project in which managers played a critical role was the construction of the Great Wall of China in 208 BC. According to historical data, the Great Wall’s construction was a massive project requiring a large labor force.

The labor force consisted of:

• Soldiers
• Commoners
• Criminals

There is evidence in historical records that, among these, the soldiers acted as taskmasters or managers. They supervised daily work, allocated duties, and made sure that the common goal was achieved.

While the taskmaster’s role may be obsolete now, new roles of the manager, including budgeting and scheduling, have increasingly gained importance over the years.

In recent times, the need for a more pronounced structure has led to the birth of project management in the 19th century.

The manager’s job is not new

It’s true that the word manager may not have been coined back in the day. But to say that there weren’t any managers, for this reason, is the same as saying that the color orange didn’t “exist” until the inception of its name. However, we know for a fact that even before the color orange was defined as orange, orange fruits, orange flowers, and other orange things still existed. The need for managers in personal and professional projects is everlasting. Presidents, senators, law enforcement officials, and many other individuals all fall under the category of managers.

A manager’s job is crucial and necessary for growth and development in a given organization. It can almost be said that management is an essential requirement for a company’s survival.

There have been so many historical events leading up to why it can be historically proven that a manager’s job isn’t “new on the block,” as we like to put it.

Managers have and will always be required personally and professionally. Presidents, senators, law enforcement officials, and many more individuals in leadership positions are said to be managers.

Management is an essential tool in surviving, and that is why a manager’s job is crucial and necessary for growth and development in a given organization.