Management has evolved over centuries as societies developed more complex social structures. Early forms of management can be seen in ancient civilizations like Egypt and China where leaders organized groups and allocated resources. The classical theory of management emerged in the late 19th/early 20th century with contributors like Taylor, Fayol and Weber formalizing concepts of scientific management, identifying managerial functions, and establishing principles of bureaucracy. Management is now seen as a distinct process involving planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling to achieve organizational goals through the effective use of resources.