The Age of Discontinuity : Guidelines to Our Changing Society

The closing decades of the twentieth century have been characterized as a period of disruption and discontinuity in which the structure and meaning of economy, polity, and society have been radically altered. In this volume Peter Drucker focuses with great clarity and perception on the forces of change that are transforming the economic landscape and creating tomorrow's society. Focuses on the new forces that are creating tomorrow's society. These are the forces of discontinuity in the social, political and economic landscape. Essentially, Drucker asks the reader, «What must we do to shape tomorrow?»Drucker discerns four major areas of discontinuity underlying contemporary social and cultural reality. These are: (1) the explosion of new technologies resulting in major new industries; (2) the change from an international to a world economy―an economy that presently lacks policy, theory, and institutions; (3) a new sociopolitical reality of pluralistic institutions that poses drastic political, philosophical, and spritual challenges; and (4) the new universe of knowledge based on mass education and its implications in work, leisure, and leadership.Peter Drucker brings to this work an intimate knowledge and objective view of the particular and general. The Age of Discontinuity is a fascinating and important blueprint for shaping a future already very much with us. Drucker Discerns Four Major Areas Of Discontinuity Underlying Contemporary Social And Cultural Reality. These Are: (1) The Explosion Of New Technologies Resulting In Major New Industries; (2) The Change From An International To A World Economy - An Economy That Presently Lacks Policy, Theory, And Institutions; (3) A New Sociopolitical Reality Of Pluralistic Institutions That Poses Drastic Political, Philosophical, And Spiritual Challenges; And (4) The New Universe Of Knowledge Based On Mass Education And Its Implications In Work, Leisure, And Leadership. Peter Drucker Brings To This Work An Intimate Knowledge And Objective View Of The Particular And General. The Age Of Discontinuity Is A Fascinating And Important Blueprint For Shaping A Future Already Very Much With Us. Introduction To The Transaction Edition -- Preface To The 1983 Edition -- Preface To The Original Edition -- Part 1: Knowledge Technologies: -- End Of Continuity -- New Industries And Their Dynamics -- New Entrepreneur -- New Economic Policies -- Part 2: From International To World Economy: -- Global Shopping Center -- Making The Poor Productive -- Beyond The New Economics -- Part 3: Society Of Organizations: -- New Pluralism -- Toward A Theory Of Organizations -- Sickness Of Government -- How Can The Individual Survive? -- Part 4: Knowledge Society: -- Knowledge Economy -- Work And Worker In The Knowledge Society -- Has Success Spoiled The Schools? -- New Learning And The New Teaching -- Politics Of Knowledge -- Does Knowledge Have A Future? -- Conclusion -- Index. Peter F. Drucker ; With A New Introduction By The Author. Originally Published In 1968 By Harper & Row--t.p. Verso. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The closing decades of the twentieth century have been characterized as a period of disruption and discontinuity in which the structure and meaning of economy, polity, and society have been radically altered. In this volume Peter Drucker focuses with great clarity and perception on the forces of change that are transforming the economic landscape and creating tomorrow's society. Drucker discerns four major areas of discontinuity underlying contemporary social and cultural reality. These (1) the explosion of new technologies resulting in major new industries; (2) the change from an international to a world economyan economy that presently lacks policy, theory, and institutions; (3) a new sociopolitical reality of pluralistic institutions that poses drastic political, philosophical, and spritual challenges; and (4) the new universe of knowledge based on mass education and its implications in work, leisure, and leadership. Peter Drucker brings to this work an intimate knowledge and objective view of the particular and general. The Age of Discontinuity is a fascinating and important blueprint for shaping a future already very much with us.