Gods of Management: The Changing Work of Organizations - Softcover

Handy, Charles

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0195096177 ISBN 13: 9780195096170

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1996

Synopsis

What would the world of business be like if it were run by the Greek gods of yore? Would Apollo be the right man at the helm of Acme Widget? What sweeping changes would Athena make if she controlled an ad agency? While this might merely seem like an entertaining concept, it also happens to be
an extremely valuable framework for understanding management styles and the corporate cultures associated with them.

In The Gods of Management, best-selling author Charles Handy uses four Greek gods to illustrate for managers the basic approaches they can use in their own businesses. When power radiates throughout the company from a top boss, that would be an example of a Zeus or "club" organization, one that
investment banks and brokerage firms often adopt for their corporate climates. An Apollo "role" culture, on the other hand, results in a stable bureaucracy, such as a life insurance company or a firm with a long history of success with a single product. The Athena "task" environment emphasizes
talent, youth, and team problem-solving, as we'd find in ad agencies and consultancies. And lastly, a Dionysius "existential" design exists to let individuals achieve their purposes, as in a university or group medical practice.

In this thought-provoking volume, Charles Handy shows managers how to be aware of the cultural choices they can make to create a more productive and satisfying workplace.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

In 'Gods of Management, ' best-selling author Charles Handy uses four Greek gods to illustrate for managers the basic approaches they can use in their own businesses.

About the Author:

Charles Handy is a Fellow of the London Business School. His books on management have been translated into over a dozen languages, and have sold over one million copies around the world. His first, Understanding Organizations has been the standard textbook in Britain for many years.

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0195096177
• ISBN 13: 9780195096170
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 268