A profession is defined as a body of knowledge gained through intellectual interaction. Usually, an individual has to undergo a course, or formal training and undertake relevant exams in the course before one is certified to practice or serve others. It is also noteworthy that all professions require specialized knowledge and skills, whose execution is bound by an ethical code of conduct.
Sergon et al. (2019) maintain that there has been a controversy as to whether management can be considered a profession. Whereas it involves a formal training and has the specialized training, a representative organization and a code of conduct, critics of the postulation suggest otherwise, considering that most of the practitioners in the field are also registered with other professions and the fact that there is no universally accepted code of conduct.
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Using Principles of Management to Make Management More of a Profession
According to Principles of Management (2015), management adopts a P-O-L-C framework, which stands for planning, organizing, leading, and management. Based on this framework, the following principles can be used to make management more of a profession
Managers should have the authority to give directions and issue orders as needed. Whereas this is a key principle in management, to make management more of a profession. There should be a caveat to it; the authority or power accorded should be within their area of expertise or training ("Management as a Profession," n.d.).
Discipline, as a principle of management, refers to the practice of training people to adhere to a code of conduct. In this regard, those in the management field should have strict regulations prohibiting them from seeking out clients through advertisement ("Management as a Profession," n.d.). Contrarily, clients should be allowed to initiate contact, after which the management professional will use their knowledge to determine what is best for the client.
According to the principle of Subordination of self-interest for a greater good, no individual's interest should be allowed to be more than those of the group. Additionally, all professional duties should prioritize the objective needs of the clients. Therefore, to improve professionalism in the field, individuals practicing should have a "detached diagnosis" approach. What this means is that the professional should strive to achieve moral judgment, irrespective of the client's expectations.
Using Beatitudes in Professional Management
The beatitudes, according to Greek, translate to comfort and peace, both of which have an aspect of timelessness. The seven beatitudes teach about humility, teachability, the intensity of caring for others, discipline, seeking the truth/righteous, merciful, or just and sustaining peace ("Management and the Beatitudes," n.d.). These attributes are collectively depicted by well-adjusted individuals and can be beneficial to any professional, particularly those in the management.
The relevance of the beatitudes in contemporary management practice is heightened because most managers and leaders in organizations portray an attitude of aloofness and pride. Such individuals are rarely teachable and are usually quick to judge others. However, it is such traits that make the commonly observed personality differences that exist between the managerial team and other employees in most organizations, irrespective of their industry.
Despite the beatitudes teaching on humility, there should be considerations on how they apply in Catholic social work teachings, which entitles them to dignity in their work. It can be done by giving weight to beatitudes such as Blessed are They that Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness. It translates to being insatiable to what is considered "just" or "right" ("Management and the Beatitudes," n.d.). It should be noted that being just brings the concept of equality to the construct that is also tied to the dignity of individuals.
Role of Societal Organization Structure on the Move towards Professional Management Practice
According to Hofstede's cultural dimensions, most countries are hierarchical with positive power distance and masculinity index (Vasile, 2016). What this means is that most societies within the country are hierarchical. The same is witnessed at the workplace, where most managers tend to feel more superior to their junior employees, as cited in the previous section on beatitudes. Consequently, most employees view them as proud or selfish, a perception which contravenes the need to move towards a professional management practice.
References
Management and the Beatitudes . (n.d.). Unpublished manuscript, University of Minnesota. Retrieved September 19, 2020, from https://sites.google.com/site/sfuhandouts/management-and-the-beatitudes
Management as a Profession . (n.d.). Unpublished manuscript, University of Minnesota. Retrieved September 19, 2020, from https://sites.google.com/site/sfuhandouts/professional-managers.
Principles of Management. (2015). Retrieved from https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Sx9eibVucKBAdq_lePNTQUu0sSw8v8DJ/view .
Segon, M. J., Booth, C., & Pearce, J. (2019). Management as a profession: a typology based assessment. Management Decision .
Vasile, A. C. (2016). Hofstede's cultural dimensions and management in corporations. Cross-Cultural Management Journal , 18 (01), 35-46.
