Making Sense of Management A Critical Introduction

by Mats Alvesson; Hugh Willmott

• ISBN13: 9780803983892
• ISBN10: 0803983891
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1996-10-14
• Publisher: Sage Publications

Summary

'A critical-academic-analysis of received wisdom, for serious students of the subject' - Long Range PlanningProvocative and thoughtful, this book provides a fresh perspective on management that is both broad and critical. The authors argue for the importance of subjecting received wisdoms about management to scrutiny. Such scrutiny needs to address not only the means but also the outcomes of management theory and practices as social and ecological problems proliferate in the global economy.The book begins by examining why we should question notions of management as a neutral 'technology' with no moral commitments and consequences, and the role of critical reflection in such questioning. It introduces Critical Theory in the context of other critical traditions in management and the social sciences, and then explores various core management sub-disciplines, examining dominant perspectives within each specialism. In the final section, the authors consider the possibilities for synthesis between the insights and ideals of Critical Theory and progressive elements in current management thinking. They discuss theoretical implications and issues of practice, in teaching and research in the field, and for managers themselves in their organizational settings.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Introduction	1	(8)
Part I: Introducing Critical Theory to Management
Management in Critical Perspective	9	(34)
Critical Theory and Modern Society	12	(13)
Making Sense of Management: Unpacking the Received Wisdom	25	(4)
Making Sense of Management --- Sketching a Critical Perspective	29	(8)
Conclusion	37	(6)
The Power of Science and the Science of Power	43	(24)
The Limits of Science and the Challenge to Technocracy	44	(5)
The Social Production of Sciences	49	(3)
The Unfolding of Critical Thinking about Management and Organization	52	(3)
Four Paradigms for Analysing Management	55	(5)
Incommensurable Paradigms and Complementary Types of Science	60	(4)
Summary and Conclusion	64	(3)
Critical Theory: Development and Central Themes	67	(24)
A Brief History of the Frankfurt School	68	(5)
The Critical Tradition	73	(9)
Critiques of Critical Theory	82	(5)
Conclusion	87	(4)
Part II: Management Specialisms in a Critical Perspective
Critical Conceptualizations of Management	91	(19)
On Metaphors and Metaphorical Understanding	91	(5)
Critical Theoretic Conceptualizations of Management	96	(12)
Conclusion	108	(2)
Critically Assessing Management Specialisms I: Organization Theory, Marketing and Strategic Management	110	(29)
Organization Theory	111	(8)
Marketing	119	(10)
Strategic Management	129	(8)
Summary and Conclusion	137	(2)
Critically Assessing Management Specialisms II: Accounting, Information Systems and Operational Research	139	(20)
Accounting	139	(6)
Information Systems	145	(6)
Operational Research	151	(5)
Conclusion	156	(3)
Part III: Towards an Integration of Critical Theory and Management
Recasting Emancipation in Management and Organization Studies	159	(29)
Management and Emancipation	160	(3)
Critiques of Critical Theory	163	(8)
Reconceptualizing Emancipation	171	(5)
Emancipation: Types and Foci	176	(4)
Reorienting Emancipatory Studies	180	(5)
Summary and Conclusion	185	(3)
Critical Theory and Management Practice	188	(27)
Means of Promoting Progressive Social Change	189	(2)
Ideas for More Reflective Work Methods	191	(3)
CMT as a Source of Inspiration for Working Life	194	(4)
The Reflective and the Unreflective Practitioner: Two Illustrations	198	(3)
A Garbage Can Model of Critical Thought	201	(2)
Situating CMT in the Context of Management Education and Research	203	(9)
Conclusion	212	(3)
References	215	(24)
Index	239