Management Principles & Applications is a comprehensive textbook designed as per the National Education Policy (NEP) guidelines. It offers an in-depth understanding of the fundamental concepts of management, enriched with case studies, role-play exercises, skill-building activities, and contemporary issues such as digitalisation, entrepreneurship, and ethics. This Edition seamlessly blends traditional theories with the latest managerial practices, making it a valuable resource for readers.

This book is intended for the following audience:

• B.Com. (Hons.) Students across Indian universities, especially those pursuing the DSC-1 paper on Management Principles and Applications
• The University of Delhi and its associated bodies:
  • Non-Collegiate Women’s Education Board (NCWEB)
  • School of Open Learning (SOL)
• Educators & Professors looking for a well-structured, NEP-aligned textbook
• Management Enthusiasts who wish to gain foundational and contemporary insights into managerial functions, strategies, and applications

The Present Publication is the 4^th Edition, authored by Dr V.S.P. Rao, with the following noteworthy features:

• [Easy-to-understand Format] Concepts are explained lucidly with ample illustrations
• [Practical Aids] Examples, charts, and tables facilitate quick learning and retention
• [Case Studies & Skill-building Exercises] End-of-chapter activities encourage creative thinking and problem-solving
• [Role-play Exercises] Immersive activities allow students to enact managerial scenarios individually or in groups
• [Holistic Evaluation] Summaries, review questions, and practical exercises after each chapter help consolidate learning
• [Inclusion of Contemporary Topics] Covers digitalisation, globalisation, ethics, sociocracy, subaltern management ideas, and workplace diversity
• [Guidance from an Award-winning Author] Written by a seasoned academic and management consultant with four decades of teaching and research experience
• [NEP Alignment] This Edition is carefully curated to meet the objectives of the National Education Policy, ensuring interdisciplinary learning, skill development, and ethical orientation.

The coverage of the book is as follows:

• Fundamentals of Management
  • Classical, neo-classical, and modern theories, importance of management, and Indian ethos
• Planning & Decision Making
  • Techniques for individual and group decision-making, objective setting, business environment analysis (micro, meso, macro), and industry structure (Porter’s Five-forces Model)
• Organising
  • Departmentalisation, organisational structures (traditional and modern), delegation, decentralisation, and interface between formal and informal organisations
• Directing & Controlling
  • Motivation theories, leadership styles (with followership concepts), and control techniques (including accountability, performance measures, Balanced Scorecard)
• Salient Developments & Contemporary Issues
  • Digitalisation, innovation, entrepreneurship, ethics, value-oriented management, sociocracy, workplace diversity, and global trends influencing 21^st-century management

The structure of the book is as follows:

• Divided into five central units, each unit is further broken down into 19 chapters, ensuring a logical flow from fundamental concepts to advanced managerial issues
• Each chapter includes:
  • Introduction of Key Concepts
  • Learning Objectives
  • Charts, Tables & Illustrations
  • Case Studies & Role-play/Skill-building Exercises
  • Summary & Review Questions
  • References to Indian Ethos & Contemporary Business Environment
• Appendices & Additional Materials – Value-oriented holistic management lessons from the Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana, solved examples, and past year question papers.