Prof. Dr. K.M. Saiful Islam
Dept. of Information Science & Library Management,
Faculty of Arts, University of Dhaka
Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
e-mail: ismk99@yahoo.com

This study delineates subtle distinctions in organization, management and administration which may be equally important for organizers, managers and administrators of all types of institutions and enterprises- either academic, business, industrial or learned, and the study may be useful and applicable not only to library and information science, but also to management. public administration, finance, economics, statistics, mathematics, psychology, sociology, and the like.

Organization vs. Management

‘Organizing’ literally, is a process of doing work or making arrangement for work, while ‘organization’ is a structure in which the work takes place. In this study, however, to avoid confusion, we will refer to organization as a step or method of making logical arrangement of work of an enterprise as a part of management and administration. It is relatively easy for one to separate organization from management and administration, but it may be generally difficult for him to bring a succinct distinction between ‘management’ and ‘administration’ since the later two terms are closely inter-woven, and there is a greater possibility of one being mixed up with the other. The present study, however, is an endeavour to remove such probable confusion and controversy and is intended to establish the distinctions, through appraisal of the thesis of distinguished writers and thinkers in the field, so the study is useful not only to library and information science, but also to other disciplines including public administration, management, finance, statistics, sociology, mathematics, economics, psychology and the like.

Organization may be termed as a process of making logical combination of various units of works to assign them to suitable workers in order to attain the avowed objectives of an enterprise or an institution or a library, whilst management may be briefly termed as a process of getting things done through men and materials. Sheldon defines organization as “the process of so combining the work which individuals or groups have to perform with the faculties necessary for its execution that the duties, so formed, provide the best channels for the efficient, systematic, positive, and co-ordinated application of the available effort.”‘ Hicks and Tillin, while defining organization, give emphasis on (a) human relationships, (b) group work and (c) social structure. They maintain that organization is mainly ‘concerned with human relationships in a group activity that, when taken together, equate to the social structure.’2 It is the most effective method to pool the co-operative efforts of staff and channel them into productive processes.

Library and Society

Society sanctions the organization since it considers the organization capable of satisfying some need. ‘If such a need is reasonably wall satisfied by a particular device, society transmits that device to future generations as integral part of its culture. This has been true of the traditional library, which was basically book oriented, and which has been passed on by society as a useful organization.3 The traditional book library is today unable to meet the increasing multifarious needs of the society. This necessity has given rise to the development of multimedia library to face the challenge of the society through its diversified materials including audio-visual aids, techniques, and contemporary technology including computerization and on-line literature search. An organization is composed of persons who share common interest to attain the same objectives. ‘It is characterized by a management; or leadership which defines the roles and tasks for both the group and its individual members. The roles of these members are structured around the activities or functions necessary to the accomplishment of present objectives. Management furnishes them with the needed tools, equipment, and facilities to achieve the tasks and objectives assigned. The organization creates, through management adequate policies, procedures, authority, accountability, and responsibility for the fulfillment of organizational objective. Organizing is a distinctive basic managerial function which is concerned primarily with formal structure as a means of gaining effective group action.4

Organization vs. Administration

Library organization and library administration are closely related to each other. The distinction between the two is very subtle. Organization comes before administration. The latter starts where the former ends. One lays down theoretical principles, whilst the other puts those principles into practice.

An institution or enterprise is established with the aim of attaining certain determined objectives. But ‘how’ and ‘who’ is to achieve it ? For this, ‘an organizational structure is raised, an administrative machinery is created, and management authority is appointed.’5 The administrative machinery is responsible for laying down the basic policies of the institution; for providing a proper organizational structure; and for appointing the management personnel for achieving the desired aims. Organization is a process of classification and arrangement of various functions and jobs of an institution to assign them to respective, classified individuals in various units or departments, while administration involves setting out of definite methods, plans and policies to carry out those functions to achieve the pro-determined objectives. Administration is that phase of an institution

Library Science
Administration, Library Organization, Management