Gods of Management: The Changing Work of Organizations

Framsida
Oxford University Press, 1995 - 254 sidor
What would the world of business be like if it were run by the Greek gods of yore? Would Apollo be the right man at the helm of Acme Widget? What sweeping changes would Athena make if she controlled an ad agency? While this might merely seem like an entertaining concept, it also happens to be an extremely valuable framework for understanding management styles and the corporate cultures associated with them.
In The Gods of Management, best-selling author Charles Handy uses four Greek gods to illustrate for managers the basic approaches they can use in their own businesses. When power radiates throughout the company from a top boss, that would be an example of a Zeus or "club" organization, one that investment banks and brokerage firms often adopt for their corporate climates. An Apollo "role" culture, on the other hand, results in a stable bureaucracy, such as a life insurance company or a firm with a long history of success with a single product. The Athena "task" environment emphasizes talent, youth, and team problem-solving, as we'd find in ad agencies and consultancies. And lastly, a Dionysius "existential" design exists to let individuals achieve their purposes, as in a university or group medical practice.
In this thought-provoking volume, Charles Handy shows managers how to be aware of the cultural choices they can make to create a more productive and satisfying workplace.
 

Innehåll

Introduction
3
PART I THE THEORY OF CULTURAL PROPRIETY
11
PART II THE APOLLONIAN CRISIS
125
Notes and References
241
Index
245
Upphovsrätt

Andra upplagor - Visa alla

Vanliga ord och fraser

Hänvisningar till den här boken

Om författaren (1995)

Charles Handy was born in Kildare, Ireland, in 1932, and was for many years a professor at the London Business School. From 1977 to 1981, Handy served as warden of the St. George's House in Windsor Castle, a private conference and study center concerned with ethics and values in society. He is now an independent writer and broadcaster who describes himself, these days, as a social philosopher. Other books by Handy include Waiting for the Mountain to Move, Beyond Certainty, and The Hungry Spirit.

Bibliografisk information