The following content presents information about the people who made significant contributions to the administration so that it will evolve according to the needs of their time, problems, technology and knowledge.
The information will be explored through a timeline that highlights the approximate dates on which the gurus made their contributions, according to the stage in which they lived.
1. Definition of guru and administration
In order to understand the topic presented, the formal definitions of the two main concepts must first be considered.
Definition of guru according to the following authors:
- He is a person who explains what things are, how to understand them and how to learn to do them. (Valencia, 2015)
In Hinduism, spiritual teacher or religious chief and, in general, a person who is recognized as a teacher or guide in a certain area. (RAE, 2005)
According to the following authors, administration is defined:
- Science composed of principles, techniques and practices, whose application to human groups allows establishing rational systems of cooperative effort, through which common purposes can be achieved that individually cannot be achieved in social organisms (Jimenez, 1990). the coordination of men and material resources to achieve organizational objectives, which is achieved through four elements: Direction towards objectives, through people, through techniques and within an organization (Kast, 1990).
According to the above, the following pages will describe the people who served as pioneers of knowledge to apply, experiment and disseminate principles and techniques of a science that allows the fulfillment of objectives based on the planning, organization, direction and control of their means.
2. Prehistoric Period
At the starting point of this research, the important ice age has been indicated between 10,000 to 9000 BC, this era was marked by the adaptation of man to live in Mesolithic culturesIt was when the tribes joined forces to hunt and protect themselves from threats, however little is known about these primitive men. The only things that they left as a mark in time are simple tools, some remains of bones and cave paintings, so you can only guess how they learned and evolved.
3. Ancient civilizations
In some ancient civilizations such as Sumeria, there are very old documents that revealed how they practiced administrative control, due to the fact that the priests of the temples collected material goods, flocks, income and properties, they also had to render accounts of what they managed, then it was here where they found the need to look for a system that reflected these operations, so they could no longer depend solely on their memory, so they developed a data writing or recording system that could practically be defined as one of the first practices administrative control.
3.1 Egypt
Close to the Sumerian development, came the rise of Egypt, with its architecture, government and writing, leaving evidence of its administrative development.
3.1.1 Ptah-Hotep
Vizier of King Issi, composed an instruction book for his son, where he mentions (George, 2005):
- If you are a boss who handles the affairs of the crowd, pursue every beneficial action yourself, until the matter is free from injustice. It deals with business without dissimulation… One should fully say what one knows and what one does not know (Requirement of honesty in administrative treatment) The boss should keep in mind the days that are to come. (Need for planning).
3.2 Babylon
3.2.1 Hammurabi
The contribution of the king of Babylon was the Hammurabi code, since practically all its laws were of a commercial nature, dealing with sales, loans, contracts, partnerships, agreements and promissory notes.
Commercial transactions were documented on tablets to maintain control, the first principles of non-delegation of responsibilities were found, in addition to establishing minimum wages.
3.2.2. Nebuchadnezzar
After the reign of Hammurabi, this king took the throne digesting Babylon. Here the production controls began, which was carried out through the use of colors to specify the weekly linen threads that entered a factory, as well as the jars of grain that were harvested identified by a color for each year, thus determining the storage time they maintained. On the other hand, they determined the wages of women who did the spinning and weaving according to their production, so this could be considered as an incentive principle.
3.3 China
3.3.1 Mencius
His writings make it assumed that the Chinese were aware of behavior about organization, planning, direction and control. He believed that the laws to regulate business needed a model of operation that should be used as a pattern to govern, so he emphasized the need for a system, a methodology and models for an administration, where it should also consider the job specialization.
3.3.2 Sun Tsu
Known for his military treatise The Art of War, which has been regarded by modern military chiefs and administrators as a valuable guide, as it deals with planning and management.
Around 120 BC it established that the selection of workers would be by means of tests, which would classify the applicants in nine different degrees, depending on the knowledge, experience, character and ability.
3.4 Greece
3.4.1 Socrates
In his discussion with Nicomachus, he exposes his view on management as a personal skill separate from technical knowledge and experience. Mentioning that a good administrator was partly one who made his subordinates have service and obedience, in addition to placing the right man for each position.
3.4.2 Plato
Disciple of Socrates, he analyzed the political and social problems derived from the sociocultural development of the Greek people. He established the first theory on the specialization or division of labor.
3.4.3 Aristotle
Disciple of Plato, gave the first impulse to Philosophy, Cosmology, Gnoseology, Metaphysics, Logic, Natural Sciences, and opened horizons to human knowledge. In his book Politics, he deals with the organization of the State, distinguishing three forms of public administration:
- Monarchy or government of one (which can become tyranny) Aristocracy or government of an elite (which can become oligarchy) Democracy or government of the people (which can become anarchy)
3. 5 India
3.5.1 Brahman Kautilya
He was an important person who played a role in the establishment, growth and preservation of the Hindu empire. His main work is the Arthasastra, a contribution that defines the science of the political, social and economic state, which detailed the obligations of the king, his ministers and advisers, on council meetings, war and peace issues, where he also did reference to the organization of businesses, laws, courts, municipal government, social custom, marriage, divorce, women's rights, income, taxes, mines and actors, markets, among others, grouped all these aspects in order to achieve the political success although it was pointed out as an element that had no human compassion and much less morality.
3. 6 Rome
3.6.1 Diocletian
The greatest contribution known to it is that of managing a population of approximately 50 million people, through control and management strategies such as the one applied in 284 AD. C. by Diocleciano that consisted of the delegation of authority, by means of the division of its territory in provinces, dioceses and geographic divisions.
4. Medieval Period
With the fall of the Roman Empire, the peoples of Western Europe were reduced to meeting the elemental needs of conservation, due to murder, robbery and violence. To ensure protection, individuals sought people more powerful than him, losing individual freedom and the birth of a feudal relationship.
The organization of feudalism was characterized by its hierarchy, defined as degrading since the goods and life they possessed were better according to the level they maintained.
4.1 Italian Renaissance
4.1.1 Luca Pacioli
As mentioned (Sánchez de Idrobo, 2017) Pacioli was an Italian mathematician. He was a professor in various cities, including those of Naples, Milan and Rome. His legacy, which leads him to be called the 'father of accounting', is summarized in Tractus XI- Particularis de computis et scripturis where he defines the rules of the mathematical principle of double entry:
- There is no debtor without a creditor. The amount owed to one or more accounts must be equal to what is paid. Everyone who receives owes to the person who gives or delivers. All value that enters is debtor and all value that leaves is creditor..All loss is debit and all credit gain.
4.1.2 Andrea Barbarigo
Merchant from which records of his commercial transactions in Venice were obtained, which made use of two legal relationships: co-ownership and agency. The first was a limited company in which the owners had limited liability, but they participated proportionally in the expenses and profits of the company. The agency or agents were people that Barbariago appointed to do business abroad.
4.2 16th century writers
4.2.1 Nicholas Machiavelli
Born in Florence, at the age of 29 he managed to position himself in the bureaucracy of the city-state, as a diplomat he had the opportunity to observe the relationship between man and government in action. He lost his power in 1512 and could not regain it, which is why he wrote his works The Prince and the Speeches, thus obtaining the following principles:
- Dependence on mass approval: Any form of government will need the support of the masses for its proper functioning. Cohesion: Ensuring that the people knew what they can expect from the government and in turn what it can expect from them. Leadership: He defined two classes of leaders: the innate and the one who uses the techniques to be one. A good steward must inspire the people to the pursuit of higher goals. Right to survival: Any organization must be constantly alert to disorders in order to face them while they can be remedied.
5. Precursors of modern administration
5.1 Adam Smith
Scottish economist, father of economic liberalism, his work was taken from his great work "Wealth of Nations", in which he emphasizes the division of labor that the same number of people is capable of doing based on three characteristics:
- The increase in skill of each individual worker The saving of the time that is commonly lost when moving from one area of work to another The invention of numerous machines that facilitate and shorten the work, in addition to training a man to do the work several.
It also established the following economic-administrative principles:
Economic freedoms benefit the total society, under the premise that each individual will maximize his own interest.
The invisible hand of the market and competition restrict individual interests, thus ensuring the maximization of social interest.
Work is the generator of wealth.
The law of supply and demand determines the prices of goods.
Any government interference would tend to break the natural balance. Smith pondered the concept of free enterprise; this trend based on the liberal principle of "letting go" fitted admirably with technological and industrial thought and gave impetus to industrial development.
5.2 Richard Arkwright
This character is credited with Know How , which prepared the arrival of the large company in the industry, this administrative technique provided a successful coordination of men, money, materials and machines in large-scale production, it was also a promoter and practitioner of concepts in personnel management.
It also has contributions such as continuous production, planning for the location of the plant, the coordination of machines, materials, man and capital, manufacturing discipline and the division of labor, which is why it is known as a pioneer in the use of efficient principles of administration.
5.3 Robert Owen
Welsh businessman who at the beginning of the 19th century, became the precursor of human relations in the workplace, since due to liberalism the working hours were more than 16, with 10-year-old apprentices without safety conditions and hygiene. He focused on improving personnel management.
5.4 Charles Babbage
English mathematician who developed the analytical and differential calculus, creator of the first mechanical calculation device that allowed to generate the first computer, proposed production in processes, for which he established the cost-per-process technique.
6. Gurus and their contributions to administrative theories
6.1 Frederick Winslow Taylor
This American, started the so-called school of scientific management that sought to increase the efficiency of the company, through management methods between the worker's tasks and production. Change the initiative of the worker side, by the initiative of the administrator. I develop increased productivity through rules, rewards and punishments. He put emphasis on the front line of the production areas. He tried to solve the problems from the workshop floor up. His main contributions include s (Hernandez and Rodriguez, 2006):
- Calculation rules: I generalize its use to save time. Instruction cards: Machinery operation manuals. Standardization: Of all the tools and instruments used. Mnemonic systems2: To memorize the classification of products in warehouses. Production route systems. Classification of costs: In raw materials, labor, direct and indirect expenses.
6.2 Frank Bunker Gilbreth and Lillian Moller
Marriage who managed to combine their knowledge in a unique way, Lillian specialized in psychology and her husband was an expert in engineering. They carried out work that included an understanding of the human factor and knowledge of materials, tools, machines and installations.
With these elements, they developed ergonomics, also known as human engineering, which is the study of effective methods that best combine human anatomy with machines, materials and other means of production, in addition to the physical workspace. His contributions also include (Hernández and Rodríguez, 2006):
- Use of the film camera to film the worker and study their movements Use of statistics in administration Development of a code of symbols for diagramming Development of an Administrative Process model called work process Development of micro-movement studies: Therblings (symbols to represent manual work).
6.3 Henry Lawrence Gantt
His contribution was the Gantt charts or schedules that indicate the activities to be carried out and the adequate time to do them, he also gave importance to psychology in the company, to be able to know the motivations, strengths and weaknesses of the collaborators, considering the training as a good progress of the company.
6.4 Henry Ford
Development of administrative practices, such as the reduction of production times through the efficient use of machinery and raw materials, reduction of inventories in process, increased productivity through the specialization of the operator.
It was the first to achieve comprehensive development, both vertically and horizontally. Vertically, when producing from the raw material to the final article; horizontally from manufacturing to distribution.
6.5 Henry Fayol
Geological engineer of French nationality, born in Istanbul (formerly Constantinople). He is the most recognized author in the field of world administration. He fundamentally worked on the universal rules that govern the management of companies. I develop the classical theory that focused more on the structure that an organization should have to be efficient and effective.
He considered it necessary to introduce the scientific (experimental) method to the management of companies, to obtain general rules that would allow forecasting situations to foresee them before they happened (negative) or before they happened (positive).
Fayol organized the management, while Taylor ordered the work and its processes. His most significant contributions are according to (Hernandez and Rodriguez, 2006):
- Administrative process General principles of administration:
- Manage: foresee, organize, direct, coordinate and control. Anticipate: Structure the future with an action program (management plan or guiding project). Organize: Constitute the organic structure (organization chart) and social (integration of the human factor). This stage encompasses social integration. Lead: Make staff work. Coordinate: Unite and harmonize all acts and all efforts. Control: Verify that everything is developed in accordance with the rules (according to the master plan) established and orders given.
6.6 James D. Mooney
He did an investigation on the structuring of the Catholic Church, showing its organization over time, its hierarchy of authority and its coordination, the church had such a simple and efficient hierarchical organization that it could operate satisfactorily, under the command of a single executive head. So this served as a model for many organizations.
6.7 Luther Gulick
Considered the author who knows the classical theory best, he proposes seven elements of administration as the main functions of the administrator: planning, organization, advice, direction, coordination, information and budgeting.
6.8 Mary Parker Follet
American born in Boston. She was the first woman with professional studies in psychology and sociology to study the human factor in business and how to run it.
He also thoroughly analyzed the role of the boss (supervisor, manager, etc.). Follet wrote Administration as a profession, a book in which he emphasized the importance of the application of the scientific method applied to psychosocial and organizational aspects and the relevance of man in the organization. Other works of his are Freedom and coordination and Constructive conflict, power and administrative dynamics.
He introduced the law of the situation: each concrete situation is the one that must determine what is right and what is wrong. Every decision is a moment of a process and it is important to know the context of it. (Hernandez and Rodriguez, 2006).
6.9 Elton Mayo
He developed the Theory of human relations in the United States, this author became famous for his interventions in Western Electric (WE), which was a scientific basis for human behavior in the company. Homogeneous experimental and control groups established independent production points to determine the correlation between various physiological elements and the effectiveness of the work.
6.10 Kurt Lewin
American psychologist of German origin, he stood out for his research on work teams and techniques to improve communication between members, as he studied all the forces that promote cohesion and cooperation. The central element is the leadership of the administrator, or manager, of a functional area of the company, which sometimes requires changing the culture or vision of the group on how to approach problems.
6.11 Max Weber
Famous German sociologist and economist. His contributions are valuable for his sociological approach and his analysis of authority structures in social organizations. The most significant contributions in administrative theory are:
- Concept of bureaucracy Ideal model of bureaucracy Classification of authority
7. Contemporary gurus and their contributions
7.1 Walter A. Shewhart
American physicist, creator of the quality cycle, his main contributions were the statistical control of production, the quality cycle, the control chart and the quality measurement departments.
7.2 Herbert Simon
American scientist known for his contributions to broad fields, such as psychology, mathematics, artificial intelligence, among others, but his contributions to the administration were really of the utmost importance, since he was a forerunner of Operations Research; linear programming, queuing theory and theory of constraints, probability theory and administrative econometrics.
7.3 Michael Porter
An American professor at Harvard School, he creates the Strategic Planning administrative tool, which serves to support the long-term decisions of companies and institutions that allows them to govern their future and continuous adaptation to changing circumstances of the environment (Hernandez and Rodriguez, 2006), within this it also proposes the value chain to analyze the competitive advantage of the company.
7.4 Eliyahu M. Goldratt
Author of the goal, improves the critical path by detecting important activities of the project, defining that they should be the supervision of time, to carry them out in a shorter period, since no secondary activity should alter the process, which was known as chain review. I also managed to identify the problems generated by the bottlenecks, to achieve their improvement.
8. Conclusion
With the research presented above, it is possible to analyze how the administration came to be as we know it today.
In this content, only some of the characters that contributed to the administration something that was significant but relative for its improvement have been presented, however, many are the individuals who created tools, knowledge and theories that at the time of their emergence did not relate to this science, but in view of their needs they adapted to renew it.
At each stage, fundamental characters were found who built theories, experiments and knowledge to adapt the administration to the problems that arose, managing to provide feedback, looking for other alternatives to achieve their objectives.
It is necessary to know these antecedents, because when you want to know, create, evaluate or modify a company, we will know that the contribution of each of the gurus will be useful to implement it.
9. Bibliography
Ferri, J. (February 15, 2016). History traveler. Retrieved from
George, C. &. (2005). History of administrative thought. Mexico: Pearson Education.
Hernandez and Rodriguez, S. (2006). Introduction to administration. Mexico: Mc Graw-Hill.
Jimenez, W. (1990). Introduction to the study of administrative theory. Costa Rica: Economic Culture Fund.
Kast, F. (1990). Administration in organizations: systems and contingency approach. McGrawHill Interamericana.
Lara, JM (22 of 05 of 2011). Hm contemporary. Retrieved from
Pereira, E. (2017). Marketing. Retrieved from
Portillo, L. (April 2009). Universal history. Obtained from
RAE. (2005). Pan-Hispanic Dictionary of Doubts. Obtained from
Sánchez de Idrobo, R. (March 6, 2017). National Institute of Public Accountants Colombia. Obtained from
Silva, AM (2005). The so-called industrial revolution. Caracas: Andrés Bello Catholic University..
Valencia, N. (2015). Seo technique. Obtained from
Vazquez, A. (November 9, 2009). Blog Ana Vazquez. Retrieved from
_____________
They were nomads, who had characteristics such as gathering, fishing development, construction of first villages, the beginning of human sedentarism. (Portillo, 2009)
a position equivalent to that of prime minister, assistant or valid of a monarch. (Vazquez, 2009)
It is a neologism of the English language, dating from 1838. It is defined as: "knowing how to do something easily and efficiently: experience". (Pereira, 2017).
Download the original file
