Abstract: The landscape in which modern organizations operate is rapidly changing and requires managerial agility, and this necessitates a frequent review of how managers are developed. The objective of this study was to present a contemporary and comprehensive definition of management development, and to identify the elements affiliated with management. Employing a qualitative approach, systematically selected journal articles, textbooks and editorials published after 2015, with management development its primary discussion, were analyzed for their own content and the seminal works they referred to. The data was thematically grouped where both prominent and less central themes were identified. Management development is a recognized concept, defined as a process comprising planned and systematic formal and informal approaches aimed at developing crucial capabilities, specifically skills, required by a manager to be effective in their role, to the benefit of the organization they are employed in. It often involves a mix of formal and informal approaches. Contemporary approaches emphasize methods such as reflective and action learning interventions, with tailored goal-setting interventions geared towards enhancing relevance. These approaches are customized to the workplace context, taking individuals' skill sets and personalized needs into account. Though complex, literature on management development can be consolidated to present both an inclusive definition of the concept as well as the elements associated with it. A broad base of academic literature was captured and integrated towards a comprehensive understanding of management development.