In reception/shipment management of articles (1), reception/shipment management marks (2) are printed on each article. Each management mark (2) consists of a two-dimensional code symbol which includes a plurality of nested polygonal elements of different sizes, each of which represents information for management. Each side of each polygonal element is selectively cut or left uncut so as to represent a binary digit. Examples of the information for management includes a product name, a product number, a delivery destination, and a product origin. When each article is received, the management marks are detected and decoded so as to obtain the above-described information, based on which articles are to be shipped.