“Stubborn things: evidence, postmodernism and the craft of history.”

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the recent book A New History of Management (NHM) and to discuss the strengths and limitations of the book versus traditional management history as practiced by Wren and Bedeian.

Design/methodology/approach

I analyze NHM by looking at the evidence presented in the book versus the historical record.

Findings

Although there are some strengths to NHM, the scholars often fail to address the larger historical evidence, which reduces the value of their work.

Originality/value

The value is to start a discussion of the nature of management history by discussing traditional versus postmodern history. Hopefully, the authors can commence with a dialogue to further historical research.

Citation

Muldoon, J. (2019), "“Stubborn things: evidence, postmodernism and the craft of history.”", Journal of Management History, Vol. 25 No. 1, pp. 125-136. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMH-09-2018-0046