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The Myth of Management: Direction and Failure in Contemporary Organizations

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Human Relations

Abstract

Life in organizations and society appears tomany social commentators as increasingly more demandingand insensitive to the needs of people. In this paper,the Myth of Management is explored to investigate some of the key beliefs and images throughwhich contemporary management is practiced. Myth, inthis context, is understood as consisting of beliefs andvalues which serves to provide meaning for human action. The adoption of a particular mythicframe is argued to direct the management oforganizations to particular ends and purposes. Centralto a Myth of Management are the doctrines of SocialDarwinism and Function Rationality, and these are brieflyevaluated in their impact on organizational life. Anarchetypal approach, with particular reference to thearchetype of the hero, is employed to explore the depth dimensions which underpin the formulationand exercise of the Myth of Management. The conclusionreached is that the myth of management exacts a criticalcost on people and society which can only be addressed through a reflectiveconsciousness.

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  1. Martin Bowles
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Bowles, M. The Myth of Management: Direction and Failure in Contemporary Organizations. Human Relations 50, 779–803 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016912507723

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