About Management
According to Harold Koontz, “Management is an art of getting things done through and with the people in formally organised groups. It is an art of creating an environment in which people can perform and individuals can cooperate towards the attainment of group goals”. As a manager, one has to effectively manage the employees to get better outcomes. Practises implemented by the managers for better management are known as Recent Trends in Management.
Emerging Trends in Management
Managerial trends keep changing from time to time based on dynamic market conditions. Some of the emerging trends in management are :
Total Quality Management
Total Quality Management (TQM) is a systematic approach followed by the entire organisation to efficiently achieve the company's objectives to provide services and products with a high level of quality that satisfies the customer. TQM aims at continuous improvement of practises in the organisation.
The Principles of TQM are as follows:
Customer Focussed- Customer satisfaction is the basis for determining the quality. An organisation may perform various methods to promote better quality but ultimately quality is determined by the customer.
Continuous Improvement- Continuous improvement steers an organisation towards creativity to find more ways and become more competitive and meet the stakeholder expectation.
Total Employee Involvement- All employees are committed to performing and accomplishing common goals when an appropriate environment is provided for them.
Process-Centric- The processes are well defined in this approach and are continuously monitored to find variations.
Systematic and Strategic Approach- A systematic and strategic approach is involved to accomplish the mission, vision and goals set by the organisation.
Decision Making- Data collection and analysis play an integral part in performance evaluation and decision making.
Crisis Management
A crisis is any situation that poses a threat to an organisation or its stakeholders. Such situations are something that cannot be predicted or prevented. However, what organisations can control is how they respond to the crisis. Crises can be grouped as follows:
Natural Disasters
Confrontational Crisis
Rumours
Technological Crisis
Workplace Violence
Organisational Misdeeds
Malevolence
Man-made Disaster
Risk Management
A risk is an uncertain event happening in an organisation that may lead to a positive or negative result. It is a future event that has not occurred. A risk that has already taken place is considered an issue.
Risk Management is a process of identifying, assessing and prioritising risks followed by the application of resources to minimise or control or monitor the impact of negative future events or to take maximum advantage of positive risks.
Change Management
Change is to modify or make something different from the previous state of a thing or a condition. Change management is a process in which the organisation implements change by preparing and supporting the employees, taking necessary steps for change, etc. Monitoring the activities before and after the change is implemented to ensure its success.
Change often includes many different entities in an organisation. A systematic approach is to be followed to bring in the transition and alleviate disruption. There can be resistance to change by people or processes or systems that are outdated.
Globalisation
Due to globalisation, various global business practises have emerged. Global management refers to practises followed to manage the international business.
When a business runs in different countries, its managers face challenges in such global scenarios. There is a need to have proper planning, decision making, controlling and organising because of the differences in time zones, distances and cultural factors. Communication is the key to leading the employees across borders.
Global managers must have a thorough understanding of environmental and competitive issues.
Apart from the generic trends, there are specific trends related to operations, human resources and marketing management. A few are mentioned below.
Recent Trends in Operations Management
Supply Chain Management- Supply chain managers have the responsibility to fulfil the end-user needs at a quick pace because of shorter product life cycles, demanding customers and technology expansions. Supply chains are now revamped to incorporate digitalization along with traditional physical operations to create improvement in business outcomes.
Shrinking Product Life Cycle- In contrast to the earlier years where a product developed would stay in the market for a longer period, the need to rapidly change in a short period due to the fast-expanding technologies can be seen nowadays.
Organisations are forced to bring in the rapid development of products to be more competitive and innovative, thus a product gets replaced by a new one quickly.
Computer-aided Design and Manufacturing- In this age of computerization, the design and manufacturing of products with the help of computers make operations more efficient and quick.
Recent Trends in Marketing Management
Customer Relationship Management- This plays a very important role in retaining customers by maintaining a good relationship with them by addressing their grievances on time and offering them desired products and services.
Emphasis on Quality, Customer Satisfaction, and Retention- Marketers emphasise providing the best quality to customers and also intend to “offer more for less” to give utmost satisfaction to their customers. This helps in retaining their customers for the long term.
Recent Trends in Human Resource Management
Workforce diversity is the inclusion of people in an organisation based on various aspects such as age, gender, cultural background, physical abilities, and disabilities, etc.
Organisations that embrace workforce diversity will have a wide pool of applicants to choose from as their employees. When people from different backgrounds collaborate, they bring in innovation and new ideas to solve organisational problems and promote business growth. A problem will be dealt with in different perspectives from different people in contrast to a homogeneous group or an individual's perception which may be limited.
Different people think differently because of the experiences they come from, different backgrounds and having solved problems in different manners in the past. It also attracts diverse customers.
Trends in Leadership Management
Soft Skills Development
As a leader one needs to interact with numerous people. They are experts in different areas and they have different technical skill sets. Soft skills play a vital role in communicating with all these people. Soft skills include time management, interactive skills, communication skills, cultural intelligence, etc. Technical skills also referred to as ‘hot skills’ are specific to a role but soft skills are learnt over time and experience. Soft skills enable satisfaction in the workplace, improve the performance of employees, build a positive work environment, increase leadership potential. Hence firms are investing in soft skills training courses for their employees.
Gender Balance
Nowadays women are seen in leadership roles and they are very successful. In the workspace, gender equality is seen, it leads to professional growth and overall development. Many female managers have set an example for successful leadership Programs.it improves the economic growth of the country. It increases performance and enhances the reputation of the organisation. It helps in talent recognition and retaining employees. Many companies are trying to reach gender equality.
Remote Working
Post pandemic, the entire world shifted to remote working and It is very flexible. Before the pandemic, people used to work remotely for various reasons like health, child care, etc. The latest technologies smoothen the process of remote work. work-life balance is achieved. It helps in recruiting people from different countries, backgrounds and also helps in having a pool of talent that promotes the growth of the business.
Flat Organisational Structures
Flat organisational structures enhance the communication between the employees, morality, and help in decision making. It enhances the responsibility of employees and improves job satisfaction.
Self-development
As the world is progressing with the latest technologies, competition increases. So there is a need to update yourself. At every stage of your career path, master your role and don’t be outdated.
External Consultants
When leaders accept that they don’t know about these specific topics, then consultants from outside are given an opportunity. They can share their experiences and knowledge. They can facilitate communication skills, leadership skills, interactive skills, time management and other technical skills.
FAQs on Recent Trends in Management Practices
1. What are the key recent trends in management practices for 2025-26?
The key recent trends in management practices focus on adaptability, efficiency, and human-centric approaches. The most significant trends include:
- Total Quality Management (TQM): A commitment to continuous improvement across all organisational processes.
- Change Management: A structured approach to guide teams through transitions in business processes or strategies.
- Risk and Crisis Management: Proactively identifying threats and reactively managing unexpected negative events.
- Workforce Diversity and Inclusion: Building teams with varied backgrounds to foster innovation and a wider talent pool.
- Remote and Hybrid Work Models: Offering flexibility in where and how employees work to improve work-life balance.
- Flat Organisational Structures: Reducing layers of management to empower employees and improve communication.
- Focus on Soft Skills: Emphasising skills like communication, collaboration, and emotional intelligence.
2. What is Total Quality Management (TQM) and what are its core principles?
Total Quality Management (TQM) is a management philosophy where the entire organisation commits to long-term success through customer satisfaction. It involves continuous improvement in all aspects of the business. Its core principles are:
- Customer-Focused: The customer is the ultimate judge of quality.
- Total Employee Involvement: All employees are empowered and committed to common goals.
- Process-Centric: Focus on well-defined processes to minimise variations and errors.
- Continuous Improvement: A constant drive to find better ways to work and enhance competitiveness.
- Strategic and Systematic Approach: Using a clear strategy to achieve the organisation's vision and goals.
- Fact-Based Decision Making: Relying on data and analysis to guide decisions and measure performance.
3. How does implementing Total Quality Management (TQM) give a business a competitive advantage?
Implementing TQM creates a strong competitive advantage by embedding quality into the company's culture. This leads to superior products and services, which directly increases customer satisfaction and loyalty. By focusing on continuous improvement, TQM helps to reduce waste and operational costs, making the business more efficient. Over time, this builds a powerful brand reputation for reliability and excellence, allowing the company to stand out from competitors and secure a stronger position in the market.
4. What is the primary difference between Risk Management and Crisis Management?
The primary difference lies in their timing and approach. Risk Management is proactive; it involves identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential future events before they happen. Its goal is to prevent a problem from occurring. In contrast, Crisis Management is reactive; it is the process of responding to an unexpected negative event that is already underway. Its goal is to control the damage and recover as quickly as possible. Essentially, risk management tries to prevent the fire, while crisis management is about putting the fire out.
5. Explain the concept of Change Management and its importance in modern business.
Change Management is a structured approach for guiding an organisation and its employees through a transition from a current state to a desired future state. It involves preparing, supporting, and equipping people to adopt change successfully. Its importance in modern business is paramount because it helps to:
- Minimise resistance from employees by addressing their concerns.
- Ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption to operations.
- Maintain productivity and morale during periods of uncertainty.
- Build an adaptable and resilient organisational culture that can thrive in a dynamic environment.
6. Why is promoting workforce diversity now considered a crucial management practice for innovation?
Workforce diversity is crucial for innovation because it brings together employees with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. When a diverse team tackles a problem, it avoids the limitations of groupthink and explores more creative solutions. Different viewpoints challenge existing assumptions and lead to breakthrough ideas. This variety in thought is a direct catalyst for innovation, better problem-solving, and a deeper understanding of a diverse customer base, ultimately driving business growth.
7. How do modern trends like remote working and flat organisational structures challenge traditional management hierarchies?
Remote working and flat organisational structures directly challenge traditional, top-down management hierarchies by shifting the focus from control to empowerment. Remote working requires managers to trust employees and measure performance based on output, not physical presence. Flat structures remove layers of middle management, forcing communication to become more direct and decision-making more decentralised. These trends challenge the old model by promoting employee autonomy, faster collaboration, and a culture where leadership is based on influence rather than authority.
8. Beyond technical ability, why is the development of 'soft skills' becoming a critical focus for effective management?
The development of soft skills is becoming a critical focus because modern workplaces are more collaborative, diverse, and dynamic. While technical skills are job-specific, soft skills like communication, empathy, and cultural intelligence are essential for managers to lead diverse teams effectively. These skills enable managers to build trust, foster a positive work environment, resolve conflicts, and motivate employees. In flat or remote structures where direct oversight is limited, strong soft skills are what truly drive team cohesion and high performance.
