The Book of Management Wisdom: Classic Writings by Legendary Managers

Citation

(2000), "The Book of Management Wisdom: Classic Writings by Legendary Managers", Work Study, Vol. 49 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ws.2000.07949eae.004

The Book of Management Wisdom: Classic Writings by Legendary Managers

Edited by Peter Krass John Wiley£19.59ISBN: 0 471 35487 2

Keywords Leadership, Management styles, Decision making

Michael Eisner, Jack Welch, Henry Ford, Andrew Carnegie - imagine that you could consult at will with the world's greatest business managers, past and present, whenever you were faced with a crucial management decision. The Book of Management Wisdom is an attempt to let you do just that. This interesting resource offers insight into how these and a large number of other "legendary" business managers have triumphed over the conflicts, challenges, and dilemmas that come with the territory. It is rare to find the views and insights of such a large and diverse group of brilliant managers collected into a single informative and inspiring volume.

The Book of Management Wisdom brings together the essays and speeches of more than 50 of the most successful business managers of all time and presents their ideas, tips, and management secrets in their own words. Drawing on their personal experiences, these world-class managers offer a range of practical advice, case studies, humorous anecdotes, and management philosophy. You will hear from Sam Walton on creating a corporate culture, Lee Iacocca on his famous skip meetings, and Michael Dell on his "campaign of internal evangelism". Klaus Luft details what American CEOs can learn from German management; Harold Geneen describes the essential qualities of great managers; and Thomas Watson weighs in on what growth and change have taught us. These are just a few of the major figures who reveal fascinating details of their characters and personalities as they educate, enlighten, and entertain you with their often surprising views on the most compelling issues faced by managers in every corner of the business world.

For easy reference, these essays and speeches are organised into eight categories, each of which highlights a certain set of management tools and techniques and how to use them. These include essential qualities of great managers; productivity, empowerment, and conflict management; hiring, firing, and day-to-day management; the power of technology; lessons from around the world; evolution of the organisation; bashing bureaucracy; and reengineering and transformation. Helpfully, each essay is preceded by a brief introduction that places it in historical perspective and offers interesting and insightful information about the author's life and career. Highlighted passages call your attention to each author's most pithy, profound, or quirky ideas.

You will have to read it to decide for yourself whether this offers timeless wisdom or just some simple, common-sense, and practical advice. However, you will find it interesting to do so!