Management Gurus And Management Fashions

Since the 1980s, popular management thinkers, ‘gurus’, have promoted a number of performance improvement programs and management fashions which 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, building on the important theoretical progress that has recently been made by a small, but growing band of management researchers. Fantasy theme analysis, a dramatically-based method of rhetorical criticism, is conducted to critique three of the most important management fashions to have emerged during the 1990s: * the re-engineering movement promoted by Michael Hammer and James Champy * the effectiveness movement led by Stephen Covey * the learning organization movement inspired by Peter Senge and his colleagues. In addition to its rhetorical and empirical contributions, this book stimulates a much-needed critical dialogue between practitioners and academics on the sources of the underlying appeal of management gurus and management fashions, and their effect upon the quality of management and organizational learning.

Stimulates a much-needed critical dialogue between practioners and academics about the sources of the appeal of management gurus and fashions, and their effect on the quality of management.

Building on the success of the first edition, Huczynski identifies the essential ingredients of popular management ideas and brings his analysis of gurus into the twenty-first century.

For over a hundred years organisations have sought the advice of gurus such as Taylor, Fayol, Mayo, Maslow and Peters, and have been willing to pay handsomely for it. Why have the ideas of these consultants become so popular and profitable? What is the secret of their success and can it be emulated? Andrzej Huczynski identifies the essential ingredients of the few popular management ideas of the twentieth century. He shows how company managers, business school academics and management consultants all have the possibility of attaining guru status by following the guidelines contained in this book.

Management gurus have existed for as long as the leaders of large, complex organizations have had intractable problems to solve. This seminal text asks key questions such as: What is the secret of the success of management gurus and how can it be emulated? In this revised edition, Andrzej Huczynski brings his analysis of gurus into the twenty-first century. He identifies the essential ingredients of popular management ideas and contends that company managers, business school academics and management consultants all have the possibility of attaining guru status by following the guidelines contained in this book. It includes an additional chapter by Brad Jackson (Department of Management and Employment Relations, The Auckland University Business School, New Zealand) and Eric Guthey (Department of Intercultural Communication and Management, The Copenhagen Business School, Denmark). Management Gurus is a must read for all those studying organizational behaviour, leadership and organizational psychology or for those who wish to attain guru status.

"Building upon some rather unusual sources in postmodern theory, the author argues that management fashion might encourage the practitioner to engage in philosophical self-examination and to adopt alternative forms of understanding. However, it is also argued that management fashion often fails to keep up to this promise because it remains paradoxically incapable of laying off its rationalist cloak."--BOOK JACKET.

"Management gurus continue to exert tremendous influence over management thinking and strategy, not only through their published works, but more significantly via the international management lecture circuit. Research suggests that public performances are critical to their popularity and success, and that the "best" gurus are all highly skilled in persuasive communication techniques. This book examines techniques, both verbal and non-verbal, used by gurus to communicate their messages and identifies several additional techniques which enhance the gurus' reputations as highly effective orators. It focuses on video recordings of public lectures given by Tom Peters, Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Kenneth Blanchard, Daniel Goleman, Gary Hamil, Charles Handy and Peter Senge who are all renowned for their public performances and the impact they have had on organizational life. Challenging and original, this text provides a unique insight into the management guru industry and the persuasive skills of some its leading proponents." -- Jacket.

This book provides a concise, critical expert overview of the elite group of consultants, analysts and commentators known as ‘management gurus’. Often dismissed as lacking in substance, this volume demonstrates that gurus must be taken seriously given their impact on the world of management. Noting that the gurus are very much products of the 1980s, the book accounts for the rise of this group while challenging those who have attempted to personify – to name and acclaim – the gurus. Reviewing the research on management gurus the book proceeds from a consideration of ‘guru theory’ to offer an analysis of ‘the guru industry’ and ‘guru speak’. Building upon this analysis the book offers a critical engagement with those who have sought to understand gurus as performance artists. Concluding with a radical agenda for future research which situates management’s gurus within the frame of stand-up comedy, this book will enlighten and entertain scholars across the business disciplines and beyond.