1. Ancient Management Thought 2

7/28/2019 1. Ancient Management Thought 2

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Management Thoughts

Ancient Period



Lessons from Greek MilitaryManagement

Greece , also known as Hellas. Thus, this period oGreeck civilization is sometimes called as HellenisticAge or Hellenic Civilization.

Greek civilization started from 776 B.C.The military might of Greek developed by thePisistratus (540-528 B.C.).The Greek city states were war states of which Sparta

was the first. So, from the military expeditions andorganization of the Greek, we learn many principles,strategies, rules and functions of management that arequite modern.



Learning from Cyrus- a militaryleader and a ruler of Greece.

Cyrus (400 B.C.) learned from his father thati) make plan in night for the next day, and in day for the next night.

ii) make yourself a contriver of stratagem, that is,make plan, in a clever and elaborate way to deceiveor to counter the opponent.

Cyrus also practiced the specificity of work assignment. He said that it is foolish to give order inthe manner like “let somebody go for water; or letsomebody cleave the wood”. So, he named every one

when he gives his order.



Cyrus Continues

Cyrus also believes in clarity of orders/ instructions.He addressed each of his men by name and gaveinstructions in clear voice and with specificity so thatit would not be misunderstood.He also recognized the need for order, placement anduniformity of actions to get effective performancefrom his men.

He was the first practitioner on record of motionstudy to teach each soldier the best way of doingaction, layout so that each army knows his positonand dimension, and materials handling to army getshis bag of instruments and materials in one baggageand in order.





Lessons from Alexander the Great(Period of reign 336-323 B.C.)

Alexander the Great uses staff in his war machinevery effectively. He maintained a group of officersunder his command and each was entrusted with a

specific function. This men acted as an informalcouncil of the Alexander the Great.The staff was responsible for making plans, puttingthem in writing , and coordinating the subordinates intheir activities.He developed an information network to monitor theactivities of military officers to control carelessness,

jealous, betrayal, selfishness or revolt.



Lessons from Alexander the Great(Period of reign 336-323 B.C.)

He uses decentralization of authority with acoordination and reporting system with thosegenerals who are posted to administer theconquered nations.



Roman CivilisationBegins in 750 B.C.

Roman civilization belongs to the Hellenistic civilization. Itis descendent of Greek legacy.Roman military organisation actually built up the RomanEmpire.

Lessons from Empire OrganisationEarly government was autocratic under a King who exercisedcentralized power. But he was elected by the people nothereditarily.But there was a “Council of Elders” constituted with heads of

the clans and important issues were discussed and decided intothat council. This exhibited a participative management andstaff authority.There was a Popular Assembly known as “Comitia Curiata”,which discussed things that were placed but could not makeany legistation.




Romans established Senate to decide publicissues.Roman government made a littledecentralization of authority by recognizinglocal autonomy to meet local peculiarities.It formed well designed communication

network and administrative system to maintaincontrol, loyalty and taxes collection withgeographically dispersed empires.Diocletian (284 -305A.D.) became emperor and initiated further delegation of authority.




He divided the empire into 101 provinces that areregrouped into 13 dioceses which further regroupedinto 4 major geographical divisions. This is excellentstructuring of organisation that used the concept of

span of control.He appointed three assistant to rule three divisions.One known as Augustus and others known asCaesar.

He appointed Vicarii to rule the dioceses andgovernors to rule the provinces with civil authority but no military which was directly under theemperor.




This graduated /hierarchical system of authority wastaken to strengthen and solidity the central control- theimperial authority.It was difficult to defy or overthrow the centralauthority by the provincial or other rulers. Thisadministrative style is still in force in our governmentstoo.Roman army followed the “Rule of Ten” as

hierarchical division of forces with different number of soldiers, and horses. 10 horse soldiers constitute acavalry unit known as Decuriones. A Turma has 3Decuriones. 10 Turmae constitute a Legion.Centurions led 100 soldiers and 10 Cohorts made aLegion.




Lessons from Roman Farm ManagementCato (234 – 149 B.C.) has given the followinginstructions to manage a farm:

The owner of the firm should inspect his field toknow the work progress, the methods applied, leftover jobs on regular basis. This is monitoring andconcurrent control.

The owner should summon the overseer and call for areport on the progress of the work and theexplanation about why the job has not been done onright time. This implies reporting as control measure.




The owner should call attention of the overseer to the plan of work and should compare it with the resultsobtained not withstanding the arguments of overseer

for not completing the tasks assigned in the last visit.This is modern controlling.The owner should analyse the reasons with theoverseer and find out ways to complete the job leftundone.The owner should give new orders to completed theneglected jobs. The order should be clear and

thoroughly understood by the overseer.




The owner should check cash account,supplies, price and stock to undertake newactions.

The owner should give overseer in writing awork plan for the year.Cato’s lists of duties for a overseer contains

that he should-1. maintain discipline.2. respect the rights of others and steadfastlyuphold his own.




3. settle all quarrels among the hands and shouldadminister punishment to guilty persons.4. show appreciation of courtesy to encourage others

to practice it.5. keep the hands busy.6. give heed to those whom the master hasrecommended to him and maintain relations with tow

or three other farms so that he can exchange thingsneeded in an emergency.7. go over his accounts with his master frequently.8. pay the highest compliments to the team masters

who keep their cattle in the best condition.




9. plan all the work in ample time for if one thing isdone late everything will be late.Lessons of Varro (116-28 B.C.) who worked on

selection and placement of farm hands and saidthat-1. select farm personnel who are best fit with heavywork and have aptitude for agriculture.

2. take work test and past experience of the hand before selection.3. the foreman should have some education, a gooddisposition and economical habits and be older than

hands to have respect from hands.




4.the foreman should be very experienced inagricultural work so that workers may appreciate himfor greater knowledge and skill that entitled the

foreman to command.5. the foreman should never use whip to enforce

discipline but with words.6. the foreman should be married for marriage makesa man more steady and attach to the place.7. foreman should work cheerfully if rewards aregiven.

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1. Ancient Management Thought 2