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Myths and Narratives for Management

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  • Ulrich Gehmann

Abstract

Having in mind the social, human, cultural and systemic problems management is confronted with today, but also the intricate relationships between art and technique, the recent predominant understanding of what ‘management’ is settles upon its technical, that is, essentially functional character. The thesis is that this basic character has not changed, despite all attempts to redefine, modify, or even re-think management as a cultural practice. Related to this basic character, some elements of the mind set underlying such an understanding of ‘management’ shall be examined, elements which may be called mythic. For such a mind set, management is primarily conceived as a function, and as in case of every process that is technical in its essence, it finally aims at an objectification and optimization of the entities it has to deal with. That functional character, and out of it, the desire for dominating the respective entities by formatting them rests on certain assumptions about a ‘relevant’ world, assumptions to be examined in this contribution.

Suggested Citation

  • Ulrich Gehmann, 2016. "Myths and Narratives for Management," International Business Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 9(1), pages 123-135, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:ibn:ibrjnl:v:9:y:2016:i:1:p:123-135
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gowdy, John M., 2004. "Altruism, evolution, and welfare economics," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 53(1), pages 69-73, January.
    2. Michael Haynes, 2009. "History, markets, hierarchies and institutions," International Journal of Management Concepts and Philosophy, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 3(3), pages 205-224.
    3. Avgitidou Athina, 2011. "Financial crisis: the myth of free market ideology and current regulatory reforms," International Journal of Management Concepts and Philosophy, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 5(3), pages 218-230.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    management understanding; mythology; functionalism; history of ideas;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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