Littera Scripta (Jan 2018)
Finding the Appropriate Balance between Hard and Soft Management Principles: Filling the Gap to Resolve some Unsolved Management Problems
Abstract
This paper presentsmanagement theory in terms of “hard”and “soft”principles, and puts forward proposals for future management theory development. The purpose is to open up a discussion about the theoretical divide between these two streams of thinking. Within this context, theprinciples underlying management theory are discussed in terms of the presentand the future, namely in relation to:a)functional management:general management,HRM,leadership (with job engagement and management innovation);organisational structuresm,b)improvements in future management theory (management theory innovation)and their possible application inactualplanning,organisation, HRM, leadership andcontrolling.The methodologiesused were literature review, reflection and conceptualisation. The main findings revealedthat in future,integratedmanagement theory (which integrates “hard and soft” managementprinciples)should show how to effectively manage to achieve techno-economic rationalisation (“hard” management), how to effectively manage to achieve psycho-social rationalisation (“soft”management),and finally how to find a good balancebetween both “hard and soft” in order to develop an organisational strategy and achieve a desired level of organisationalstability. On this basis, a number of solutions are put forward foractualmanagement problems (organisational hierarchy, organisational innovation and organisational discipline).The contribution this papermakes to the field is the insightsit provides intomanagement theory problems,which will act as guidelines for: researchers conducting future empirical research(testing concepts and principles); management theoristsby offering them aframeworkwithin which togeneratedeeper discussions and newheuristics;practitioners/managersby offering them“good” theory which can be implemented at the organisationallevel;decision makers at both the social and societal levels by offering them the tools with which tohumaniseand de-alienatework through theapplication of the principles of“soft” management.
