Who is considered the father of modern management?

The designation of the father of modern management typically goes to Peter Drucker due to his substantial contributions to the field and the evolution of management practices. Drucker's innovative ideas in management theory introduced concepts such as "management by objectives" and the importance of decentralization, which reshaped how organizations operate.

His works emphasized the significance of setting clear goals and measuring performance against those goals, promoting accountability and efficiency. Drucker also highlighted the role of the knowledge worker, forecasting the impact of information technology on business operations. This comprehensive view of management as a discipline that involves strategy, organization, and the importance of human capital laid the groundwork for contemporary practices and education in management.

In contrast, while figures like Chester Barnard, Henri Fayol, and Frederick Herzberg made important contributions to management theory, their specific focuses and theories are not as broadly recognized as the foundation of modern management as a whole. Fayol, for instance, is known for his administrative theory and principles, Barnard for his work on organizational theory, and Herzberg for his motivation theory. Their ideas build upon Drucker's foundational work rather than establishing the modern framework by which we understand management today.