The Notion of General Management

Almost one hundred years ago, the French industrialist Henri Fayol claimed that organizations are so much alike that they should all be managed in a similar fashion. This book describes how Fayol’s notion of general management allows for a diverse management literature, even some fanciful genres.

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When it comes to actually managing, the notion of general management seems unrealistic. Managerial practice remains people oriented, organization specific and situation specific, and with no management science in sight. This is a disappointing situation for those who favor the notion of general management. Academics, authors of management textbooks, management consultants and management gurus keep recommending new accounting methods, or more enthusiastic managers – even leaders.
Hardly anybody is unaffected by Henri Fayol’s notion of general management, and many depend on it for their living. But few recognize the immense influence – or the unfeasibility – of Fayol’s top-down perspective. There are many Fayolists, who disown Frederick Taylor’s bottom-up approach to management from sheer habit. What if Taylor was right, after all?

Om författarna
Karin Holmblad Brunsson är ekonomie doktor och verksam vid Uppsala universitet.