False Prophets: The Gurus Who Created Modern Management And Why Their Ideas Are Bad For Business Today (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780738207988)

According to Jim Hoopes, the fundamental principles on which business is based-authority, power, control-are increasingly at odds with principles of life in a democratic society-freedom, equality, individualism. False Prophets critically examines the pioneering theories of the early management thinkers, such as Taylor, Follett, Mayo, and Deming, which intended to democratize corporate life yet have proved antithetical to the successful practice of business. Hoopes challenges popular management movements that followed in the wake of these thinkers and accuses today's business theorists of perpetuating bad management in the name of democratic values. He urges executives and managers to recognize the realities of corporate life and learn to apply the principles of power. He also unveils a new management agenda that will be of paramount significance to modern organizations. A rich and lively read, False Prophets provides a refreshingly new and original overview of the history of management in the larger context of the American culture, brilliantly illustrating its evolution-from the ivory tower to the shop floor.

Author: James Hoopes
ISBN-10: 0738207985
ISBN-13: 9780738207988
Publisher: Basic Books
Language: English
Published: 04/17/2003
Pages: 352
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.09lbs
Size: 9.04h x 6.03w x 0.80d

Review Citation(s):
Harvard Business Review 05/01/2003 pg. 24
Publishers Weekly 04/28/2003 pg. 58
Library Journal 05/15/2003 pg. 98
Booklist 05/15/2003 pg. 1623