Management: Evolution, Functions, and Future Directions

Abstract

Management, both as a practice and discipline, has changed rapidly in the last hundred years. In its purposeful definition, management is "planning, organizing, leading, and controlling use of organization resources to achieve organizational goals." The article provides an insight into the management literature's history and its classical theories along with contemporary theories and its everyday practices with strategic management, human resources, operations, and digital transformation. As globalization and technology is transforming industries, management is shifting in the direction of agility, innovation, and sustainability. While this article engages directions in theory, the major contexts in management, and modern day management practices with increasing complexities of the digitalization, cross-cultural management, and corporate social responsibility. The future movement considers adaptive leadership, artificial intelligence, and sustainable practices. Understanding patterns helps to establish a rich understanding of management as a multi-disciplinary discipline that continues to change with increasing globalization and organizational complexities.