A company finds that a principle of management used in its unit in In…

A company finds that a principle of management used in its unit in India has to be modified before it can be used in its unit in Japan, as the people there respond to it differently.

Which feature of science does management not fully meet in this case, and for what reason?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 4

The correct answer is Option (4) → Universal validity, because management deals with human beings and human behaviour

Option (1) Universal validity, because management draws on other disciplines such as economics and psychology — Incorrect. The feature is right, but other subjects only feed its body of knowledge.

Option (2) Systematised body of knowledge, because management deals with human beings and human behaviour — Incorrect. Management does have a systematised body of knowledge.

Option (3) Systematised body of knowledge, because management draws on other disciplines such as economics and psychology — Incorrect. Both parts miss the case: management does meet this feature.

Option (4) Universal validity, because management deals with human beings and human behaviour — Correct. A scientific principle holds good everywhere: universal validity. Management deals with human behaviour, and people respond differently, so its principles must be modified for each situation.

NCERT (2026-27 Edition): “Management as a Science … Based on the above features, we can say that management has some characteristics of science.
(i) Management has a systematised body of knowledge. It has its own theory and principles that have developed over a period of time, but it also draws on other disciplines such as Economics, Sociology, Psychology and Mathematics. Like all other organised activity, management has its own vocabulary of terms and concepts. For example, all of us discuss sports like cricket and soccer using a common vocabulary. The players also use these terms to communicate with each other. Similarly managers need to communicate with one another with the help of a common vocabulary for a better understanding of their work situation.
(ii) The principles of management have evolved over a period of time based on repeated experimentation and observation in different types of organisations. However, since management deals with human beings and human behaviour, the outcomes of these experiments are not capable of being accurately predicted or replicated. Therefore, management can be called an inexact science. Despite these limitations, management scholars have been able to identify general principles of management. For example, scientific management principles by F.W. Taylor and Functional Management principles by Henri Fayol which you will study in the next chapter.
(iii) Since the principles of management are not as exact as the principles of science, their application and use is not universal. They have to be modified according to a given situation. …”