Overview

Why do just a few management ideas become hugely popular, while many others remain virtually ignored? What distinguishes a management guru from just another consultant? Why are we such dedicated followers of management fashion? Since the 1980s, popular management thinkers, or management gurus, have promoted a number of performance improvement programs or management fashions that have greatly influenced both the everyday conduct of organizational life and the preoccupations of academic researchers. This book provides a rhetorical critique of the management guru and management fashion phenomenon with a view to building on the important theoretical progress that has recently been made by a small, but growing, band of management researchers. Fantasy theme analysis, a dramatistically-based method of rhetorical criticism, is conducted on three of the most important management fashions to have emerged during the 1990s: the reengineering movement promoted by Michael Hammer and James Champy; the effectiveness movement led by Stephen Covey; and the learning organization movement inspired by Peter Senge and his colleagues. In addition to its rhetorical and empirical contributions, this book aims to stimulate a much-needed critical dialogue between practioners and academics about the sources of the underlying appeal of management gurus and managementfahions, and their effect upon the quality of management and organizational learning.

Full Product Details

9780415249461

Table of Contents

Reviews

'This stunning book makes sense out of the enigma of Management Gurus..' - Educational Book Review 'Jackson offers insightful accounts of recent management history ... interesting and original critical readings for advanced students in management studies.' - Scandinavian Journal of Management

'This stunning book makes sense out of the enigma of Management Gurus..' - Educational Book Review<br><br>'Jackson offers insightful accounts of recent management history ... interesting and original critical readings for advanced students in management studies.' - Scandinavian Journal of Management

Author Information

Dr. Brad Jackson is a Senior Lecturer with the School of Business and Public Management at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand and an Associate Professor of Continuing Education at the University of Calgary in Canada. He has presented his research to academic and business audiences throughout the world and has published articles in the Journal of Management Studies and the Journal of Applied Behavioural Sciences.

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