Lecture 5

PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCE

12 March 2012

The main aim of this lecture is to discuss the second structural

element of a science the foundational assumptions with specific
reference to management science
In the last class we have established the subject matter of
management science: organization as an idea, organization as an
activity (process, systematization), organization as a product;
human members of the organization; human qualities required;
tools of management (tangible and conceptual); environmental
factors involved
Our immediate goal is to increase our knowledge about the subject
matter.
[1] In order to achieve this goal, we have to study in detail the
various entities that constitute the subject matter.
[2] However, the study has to be carried out within a certain
theoretical framework that is, epistemologically speaking, subject to
certain limitations. These limitations are dictated by the
assumptions we make about the entities in the subject matter under
study. The most important assumptions are about the human
entities treated by management science
[3] Assumptions have also to be made about concepts that have
been developed relating to the entities, for example, concept of
leadership and followership
Assumption 1: about mans social nature (man is a social being);
management science does not have to prove this statement; it is
proved in social philosophy; some consequences of this assumption
are also not necessary to be proved in management science
[1] Man has a natural liking for organization: he is aware that he is
not totally independent; he depends on others for many things he
needs; thus the importance of mutual help and cooperation;
organization is a pre-condition for social progress
[2] There are many types of organization: management chooses the
particular type of organization it wants to study in accordance with
its objectives and methods of study (specific organization to produce
a specific product)
[3] Man as a group has a potential capacity to overcome problems
and make progress (man is a problem-solving animal, which is a

corollary of man is a rational animal): management science makes

assumptions about human capital in accordance with its
perspectives (e.g. instinct for survival; thinking ability, intellectualrational power; creativity; knowledge-capital: categorizations and
commodification of knowledge; expertise as a precious commodity)
[4] Man has both positive and negative qualities (intellectualrational and ethical-moral): this statement is established in
philosophy of psychology (metaphysical psychology as contrasted
with scientific psychology); management science again selects the
key qualities it needs for itself; social or group psychology is
therefore an important aspect of management
[5] Positive qualities that strengthen organizations: sincerity,
honesty, loyalty (related to sense of belonging), patience, diligence,
generosity (spirit of wanting to give more than what one receives),
good capacity for sharing both in good and bad times, truthful,
intelligence, wisdom, good thinking ability (analytical mind, holistic
thinking, broad-minded), humility towards knowledge (prepared to
acknowledge mistakes and correct them and to learn from others)
[6] Negative qualities that weaken organizations: the opposite of the
qualities mentioned above