The reinvention of management

Abstract

Purpose

The author believes that business leaders and writers are increasingly exploring a fundamental rethinking of the basic tenets of management. This paper aims to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyzes five shifts: the firm's goal (a shift from inside‐out to outside‐in); role of managers (a shift from controller to enabler); mode of coordination (from command and control to dynamic linking); values practiced (a shift from value to values); and communications (a shift from command to conversation).

Findings

Among the most important changes being proposed are five basic shifts in management practice.

Research limitations/implications

This paper offers a creative analysis of current business thinking.

Practical implications

The raison d'être of the firm shifts from reducing transaction costs to scalable collaboration, learning and innovation.

Originality/value

By adopting a people‐centered goal, a people‐centered role for managers, a people‐centered coordination mechanism, people‐centered values and people‐centered communication the leaders of a firm can focus on the people who are its customers.

Citation

Denning, S. (2011), "The reinvention of management", Strategy & Leadership, Vol. 39 No. 2, pp. 9-17. https://doi.org/10.1108/10878571111114428