Confronting Managerialism: How the Business Elite and Their Schools Threw Our Lives Out of Balance (Economic Controversies)

Confronting Managerialism offers a scathing critique of the crippling influence of neoclassical economics and modern finance on business school teaching and management practice. Locke and Spender show how business managers who were once well-regarded as custodians of the economic engines vital to our growth and social progress now seem closer to the rapacious "robber barons" of the 1880s. In effect, responsible management has given way to "managerialism," whereby an elite caste of businessmen disconnected from any ethical considerations now call the shots, sending the lives of rest of us "out of balance." The book traces the loss of managers' earlier social concerns, amply encouraged by management education's transformation since the 1960s, especially in the US. It also questions not only the social ethics of the US management caste, but its management efficacy compared to systems of management that are highly employee participative and dependent, such as in Germany and Japan. Today's attempts to "bolt on" ethics and social responsibility courses, the authors argue, are mere window-dressing, a public relations move that cannot get to the heart of the matter. Only fundamental reforms in civil society and business schools can really make a difference.;1. The failure of management science and the US business school model -- 2. US managerialism and business schools fail to find their moral compass -- 3. Managerialism and the decline of the US automobile industry -- 4. Managerialism, business schools and our financial crisis -- Conclusion: back to balance.

Confronting Managerialism offers a scathing critique of the influence of neoclassical economics and modern finance on business school teaching and management practice. Locke and Spender show that responsible management has given way to 'managerialism', whereby an elite caste of businessmen disconnected from any ethical considerations call the shots.The book traces the loss of managers' earlier social concerns, amply encouraged by management education's transformation since the 1960's, especially in the US. It also questions not only the social ethics of the US management caste but its management efficacy compared to systems of management that are highly employee participatory and dependent, such as in Germany and Japan. A unique, topical and controversial look at a subject that impacts us all.

Confronting Managerialism offers a scathing critique of the influence of neoclassical economics and modern finance on business school teaching and management practice. Locke and Spender show that responsible management has given way to 'managerialism', whereby an elite caste of businessmen disconnected from any ethical considerations call the shots. The book traces the loss of managers' earlier social concerns, amply encouraged by management education's transformation since the 1960's, especially in the US. It also questions not only the social ethics of the US management caste but its management efficacy compared to systems of management that are highly employee participatory and dependent, such as in Germany and Japan. A unique, topical and controversial look at a subject that impacts us all. Economic liberalization has failed in the Arab world. Instead of ushering in economic dynamism and precipitating democratic reform, it has over the last three decades resulted in greater poverty, rising income inequality and sky-rocketing rates of youth unemployment. In How Capitalism Failed the Arab World, Richard Javad Heydarian shows how years of economic mismanagement, political autocracy and corruption have encouraged people to revolt, and how the initial optimism of the uprisings is now giving way to bitter power struggles, increasing uncertainty and continued economic stagnation.A unique and provocative analysis of some of the key social and political events of the last decade. Confronting Managerialism offers a scathing critique of the crippling influence of neoclassical economics and modern finance on business school teaching and management practice. It shows how business managers, once well regarded as custodians of the economic engine driving growth and social progress, now seem more like the rapacious "robber barons" of the 1880s. Confronting Managerialism is a unique, topical, and controversial look at a subject that impacts us all. About the series; About the authors; Tables and figure; Acknowledgments; Preface; Introduction Managerialism and business school education, 1920-1970; 1 The failure of management science and the US business school model; 2 US managerialism and business schools fail to find their moral compass; 3 Managerialism and the decline of the US automobile industry; 4 Managerialism, business schools, and our financial crisis; Conclusion Back to balance; References; Index.