From the Editors

Contemporary thinking about management is still frequently presented as a set of universal, eternal verities. In this fascinating book Roy Jacques presents a discursive history of industrial work relationships in the United States which powerfully demonstrates that they are not.<P></P><P>A central concern of the author is to show that current common sense in management forms a historically and culturally specific way of thinking about work and society which is highly unlikely to be appropriate for the 21st century. He is no less interested in revealing the cultural basis for US management ideas, presently exported round the world as objective science, disconnected from its cultural and historical roots.</P><P></P><P>In a book which is a thought-provoking supplementary text for students, as well as informative analysis for organization theorists, Roy Jacques considers: the Federalist world of the U S (c 1800-1870) and the traces of 19th century `pre-management' notions continuing in 20th century management and industrial discourse; the emergence and development of industrial organization and big business; the profound remapping of the boundaries of social life which occurred with the creation of jobs and wages; and the evolving construction of the employee as increasingly a disciplinary subject of psychological, personnel and general management knowledge.</P><P></P><P>Finally Jacques looks at several major current management and organizational topics such as: motivation, leadership and power in organizations; productivity and efficiency; work and the family; ideas about Total Quality Management, Business Process Re-engineering, `knowledge work' and so on. He applies the historical analysis of the previous chapters to suggest new ways of framing the questions usually asked about these topics by managers and academics, and addresses implications for research and education in the field.</P><P></P><P><B>Manufacturing the Employee </B>is<B> </B>invaluable reading for teachers and students of organization theory, organizational behaviour, human resource management and general management studies.</P>
Product Description

Customer Response

Antidote to Fad of the Month
An enjoyable book based on sound research. It looks at the history of management ideas and helps us better appreciate the whole subject of management. A historical perspective provides a welcome antidote to the cult of the new and the fad of the month.

Others also Liked

Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches
The Six Sigma Handbook: The Complete Guide for Greenbelts, Blackbelts, and Managers at All Levels, Revised and Expanded Edition
The Future of Management