The Evolution of Management: From Classical Administration to the Digital Age: A Narrative Review
Abstract
Objective: Critically analyse the historical evolution of management theories, from classical foundations to contemporary approaches, identifying patterns of transformation and contributions to current organizational practice.
Methodology: Narrative review of the literature based on 47 reference works, covering the period from 1900 to 2024, using inductive qualitative analysis for thematic synthesis, complemented by quantitative content analysis and interpretation of evolutionary patterns.
Results: The evolution of management reveals a progression from mechanistic paradigms (scientific management) to humanistic, systemic, and digital approaches. Eight main schools have been identified that have progressively shaped contemporary organizational practices, with behavioural theory making the most contributions (16 authors), followed by classical theory (15 authors).
Practical implications: They guide managers in choosing management approaches, from a focus on human factors to contingency structures, depending on the organizational context. They highlight the importance of integrating information systems and analytical tools for more agile and effective decisions.
Originality/Value: This study combines an inductive qualitative analysis of thematic synthesis with quantitative content analysis in a historical review of management theories, mapping the main schools and their contributions. It offers an integrated methodological framework and practical guidelines for future research and application in diverse organizational contexts.
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