The father of modern management is widely considered to be Henry Fayol, a French engineer and management theorist who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Fayol is credited with developing a comprehensive theory of management that is still studied and applied today.
Fayol's theory of management was based on his experience as a manager and his belief that management principles could be universal and applied to any type of organization. He believed that management was a distinct discipline that involved a set of activities and functions that were essential for the smooth operation of any organization.
Fayol identified five key functions of management: planning, organizing, coordinating, commanding, and controlling. These functions, according to Fayol, were necessary for the efficient operation of any organization and could be applied to businesses, governments, and other types of organizations.
Fayol also proposed 14 principles of management, which he believed were essential for successful management. These principles included division of work, authority, discipline, unity of direction, unity of command, subordination of individual interests to the general interest, remuneration, centralization, scalar chain, order, equity, stability of tenure of personnel, initiative, and unity of command.
In addition to his contributions to management theory, Fayol is also credited with developing the concept of "administrative management," which focused on the management of organizations as a whole rather than just individual departments or units. This approach emphasized the importance of coordinating the activities of different departments and units in order to achieve the overall goals of the organization.
Fayol's contributions to management theory have had a lasting impact and continue to be studied and applied in organizations around the world. His ideas have formed the basis for many of the management theories and practices that are used today, making him a true pioneer and the father of modern management.