What is good for General Motors: the contributions and influence of Alfred P. Sloan, Jr

Abstract

Purpose

This paper seeks to provide a review and analysis of the contributions and influence of Alfred P. Sloan, Jr, to contemporary business practices and management thought.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper begins with an introduction and brief biographical sketch followed by an overview of Sloan's administrative principles as applied at GM. The paper continues with a review of empirical evidence supporting the efficacy of Sloan's principles along with some theoretical explanations for their success. The paper then examines some criticisms surrounding Sloan's contributions before concluding with a discussion of the impact that Sloan's ideas have had on organizational and managerial thought in the context of today's rapidly evolving organizational realities.

Findings

Although he was not a management scholar, Sloan's applied work at General Motors resulted in significant and enduring contributions to business practices and management theory. Yet Sloan's contributions are somewhat overlooked today and have not been extensively or critically examined in the current business and managerial contexts.

Originality/value

This paper makes an important contribution to the management history literature by being among the first to offer a comprehensive critical review of the ways in which Sloan has influenced contemporary management thought, theory, and practice.

Citation

Houghton, J.D. (2013), "What is good for General Motors: the contributions and influence of Alfred P. Sloan, Jr", Journal of Management History, Vol. 19 No. 3, pp. 328-344. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMH-04-2012-0024