Politics and management are often treated as if they are the same discipline, yet they are fundamentally different. A person may be highly skilled in politics, but that does not automatically make them an effective manager. Similarly, a capable manager may not necessarily possess strong political skills. While both areas involve leadership and decision-making, they require different competencies and serve different purposes.
In post-July 2024, Bangladesh’s development experience is such that strong political leadership is not enough to ensure national progress. The quality of public institution management and efficient administration are equally important for delivering quality public services, infrastructure, revenue mobilisation and transparency, etc. To that end, the World Bank’s Strengthening Institutions for Transparency and Accountability (SITA) project is created to support the modernisation of critical government institutions in Bangladesh and enhance its public financial management, procurement, auditing, and governance systems. Politics involves the art of governing, representing, negotiating and the process of setting public policies and winning the consent of the public to policies, decisions and directives. Politicians work in environments characterised by competition among multiple centres of power and authority, varying interests and demands from groups and individuals, and a complex web of formal and informal political structures.
Success in politics is typically a result of effective communication, coalition-building, strategic analysis and skillful negotiation. Looking into Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership style, we can find these political and management traits, even if some critics may dispute them. Many academicians, analysts, and supporters find him to be a political leader of clear vision for Bangladesh’s future and someone who can bring people together to attain common goals.
Yet, a more important question is not about leadership from the top only, but whether he has a solid team that can also be there in the cause. Management is a process of both science and art. The science of combining human efforts in accordance with an objective, to meet the needs of an enterprise, for the achievement of a predetermined objective, with the best possible performance. Good managers can motivate employees, develop teams and teams of individuals, allocate their resources in the most optimal manner, and bring about innovations and creativity. Managers focus on translating vision into action through effective utilisation of resources.
A key factor in the success of an organisation lies in the effective management of its employees. Successful managers need to be able to manage and motivate individuals, build effective teams, allocate financial and material resources appropriately, resolve conflicts effectively, make efficient decisions, and provide a working environment that fosters growth and innovation. Without these core competencies, even well-conceived strategies can falter during execution. Historically, management competence has not been a prerequisite for political leadership. Public policy formulators, legislators, and political leaders historically focused on representing the public will and developing broad policy directions.
However, in today’s complex world, where some political, economic and social issues exist like technological shifts, climate change, financial crises and political turbulence, effective government requires both strategic vision and strong management capacity. Politicians, including legislators, ministers and cabinet officials, in today’s governance are responsible for the management of large and often complex governmental institutions. They manage significant financial and human resources, coordinate programmes across multiple agencies, and are expected to ensure that policies produce results for the public good.
Therefore, they must have sound management skills. A lack of managerial expertise can undermine policy implementation, lead to waste of resources, delays in service delivery and ultimately, ineffective governance. The UNDP emphasises the fact that capable, inclusive, and rule-based governance institutions are crucial to promoting transparency and accountability and to enabling sustainable development in Bangladesh.
Modern governance also necessitates that political leaders have the ability to connect strategic vision with operational effectiveness. This requires an understanding of project management, stakeholder relations, performance evaluation and management, risk management, and organisational leadership. These capabilities are necessary if policy is to translate into real change. Consequently, public service leadership development should be institutionalised. This includes implementing legislative training programs, executive leadership training courses and short courses in management.
These programmes equip elected representatives with essential practical skills in leadership, management and administration, enabling them to manage personnel effectively, allocate resources, make informed, evidence-based decisions and handle crises and changes.
These initiatives should foster stronger leadership accountability, transparency and public sector performance. Investing in management and leadership education of political representatives is not merely a personal enrichment programme; rather, it is an investment in our collective future, in a more capable government that can provide better services, stimulate economic growth, strengthen national institutions, and restore public trust.
In conclusion, politics and management are distinct but complementary disciplines. Political skill alone does not guarantee effective management, just as management expertise alone does not ensure political success. However, in an increasingly complex and interconnected world, political leaders can no longer rely solely on political abilities. To govern effectively and contribute to national progress, they must also develop strong management and leadership skills. Leadership training and management education are therefore not optional luxuries but essential requirements for effective governance and sustainable national development.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author
The writer is a Professor of Strategy, Geopolitics and Leadership Expert, UK
