Thinking About Management : A Reflective Practice Approach

Annotation This book invites the reader to explore the more puzzling aspects of those processes called 'management'. It provides a focused collection of readings to support and encourage wider consideration of alternative ways of thinking about management and its effectiveness in contemporary organisations. Key features of this text include:* a selection of contributions which derive from historically grounded and politically aware considerations, examining alternative approaches, and drawing on a wider source of perspectives than those currently dominating management literature* an exploration of the uncertainties and apparent contradictions encountered in management action, grounded in the reflective practices of the contributors, employing examples and experiences from a wide range of organizations* ideas fundamental to understanding the complexities of management which will extend students' own ways of thinking* an informed contextual approach to the study of management, grouping together themes and ideas which shed light upon the contested arenas of management action. By placing emphasis on the development of improved critical abilities in management practice, this book will be an invaluable text for all management studies and MBA students Preliminaries......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 Notes on contributors......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 1 The nature of management......Page 14 2 Encountering management......Page 30 3 Treading treacle at parties and parapets......Page 47 The enactment of political tensions in management......Page 64 5 Reconstructing the study of management......Page 78 6 Teaching management through reflective practice......Page 94 7 Circles of uncertainty in management learning......Page 111 8 Promises, promotion and pristine porcelain......Page 124 9 Nothing starts from nowhere......Page 138 Reflective......Page 158 Name index......Page 160 Subject index......Page 163 The purpose of this chapter is to provide an introduction to both the content and the learning approaches to be adopted in this book. Edited By David Golding And David Currie. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.