Resources: ‘Management’ – where did it come from?

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Jim Simpson

Jim is a consultant, researcher, coach and developer.

'Management' is one of the most enduring and pervasive social ideas of our time. For good or ill it pervades working life, organisations, economics and consumption as well as our cherished public institutions and services. 

Management is social idea and social ideal rooted in late industrialisation. Where did it come from? Well the answer is the later industrial revolution of mid-Europe circa 1900 courtesy of the great rationalist and sociologist Max Weber. He observed the emergence of a new managerial class organising industry.  He observed emergent bureaucracy, charismatic leadership and the notion of the protestant ethic that led to capitalist economic activity.  Have a read of the chapter here:  Management the idea where it came from and the model today Other samples are in the boxed-link below:

Back for the Future: Sociological Theory and Today’s Big Issues, Sample Chapters

 

 

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