Definition Management System - Definition of

With the current focus on "integrated management systems", some of us in the UK thought that it would be useful to establish if there is a simple, commonly understood definition of the term "Management System". [We have already discovered some surprising diverse views on what we thought was a well established concept]. Obviously, if people have differing views of what basic terms mean, there is a risk of all sorts of confusion when one person uses a term in a different way from what a reader expects or understands.

I have my own definition, which I will post in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, how would you explain the term (in one sentence?) to someone who understands how an organisation works in principle, but doesn't necessarily know a lot of management theory?

I take it that you don't like the ISO 9000:2005 definition. It is simple.

3.2.2 management system
system (3.2.1) to establish policy and objectives and to achieve those objectives

NOTE A management system of an organization (3.3.1) can include different management systems, such as a quality management system (3.2.3), a financial management system or an environmental management system.

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Sidney Vianna said:

I take it that you don't like the ISO 9000:2005 definition. It is simple.

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Sidney

Yes, it is simple, so I like it. But the problem we have found is when some folk explain what they think "the system" consists of.