The Evolution and Core Concepts of Administration

A Historical Background of Administration

Administration is an activity inherent in any social group. It is the coordinated effort of a social group to achieve a goal with the greatest efficiency and the least possible effort.

Primitive Era

In the primitive era, administration was carried out by the workgroup itself.

Agricultural Era

This period was characterized by the development of agriculture and a sedentary lifestyle, where a division of labor based on age and sex prevailed. Population growth also required people to coordinate their efforts within the social group. With the appearance of the state, science, literature, and religion arose. The Code of Hammurabi illustrates the high degree of development in ancient Babylon.

Greco-Roman Antiquity

This era was characterized by slavery and an administration focused on the strict supervision of work.

Feudal Era

Social relations were characterized by servitude. At the end of this era, workshops emerged, which are the origin of modern unions.

The Industrial Revolution

This period originated the factory system, where the employer owned the means of production and labor sold its effort. This led to specialization and serial production.

The 20th Century

The 20th century was characterized by great technological and industrial development and, consequently, by the consolidation of administration as a formal discipline.

Key Definitions of Administration

• Frederick Winslow Taylor: Administration is the coordinated effort of a social group to achieve a goal with the greatest efficiency and the least possible effort.
• Henry Sisk and Mario Sverdlik: It is the coordination of all resources through the planning process.
• Harold Koontz and Cyril O'Donnell: It is the direction of a social organism and its effectiveness in achieving its objectives.
• Isaac Guzmán Valdivia: It is the effective direction of the activities of others to obtain certain results.
• George R. Terry: It consists of achieving a predetermined objective through the efforts of others.
• José A. Fernández Arena: It is a social science that pursues the satisfaction of institutional objectives through a coordinated human effort.

Core Elements and Features of Administration

Elements of the Concept

• Objective
• Efficiency
• Effectiveness
• Social Group
• Resource Coordination

Key Features

• Universality: Applicable in any social group.
• Specificity: Has its own unique characteristics.
• Flexibility: Principles can be adapted to different realities.

Auxiliary Sciences of Administration

Administration is supported by various other sciences, including:

• Sociology
• Psychology
• Law
• Economics