The faith of the managers : when management becomes religion

According to Stephen Pattison, managers have become the cultural heroes of our time. In this book, he examines some of the values, assumptions, beliefs and practices they embrace. Managerialism, he argues, is a form of religious faith, and he criticizes the utopianism of those whom managers look upon as gurus.He suggests that managers should apply to their faith some of the critical spirit that theologians have applied to religious belief. His book will be of interest to all who want more from management than manipulative technique and incomprehensible jargon. According to Stephen Pattison, managers have become the cultural heroes of our time. In this book, he examines some of the values, assumptions, beliefs and practices they embrace. Managerialism, he argues, is a form of religious faith, and he criticizes the utopianism of those whom managers look upon as gurus. He suggests that managers should apply to their faith some of the critical spirit that theologians have applied to religious belief. His book will be of interest to all who want more from management than manipulative technique and incomprehensible jargon Intro -- Contents -- Preface -- Introduction: Mystical management -- 1. The nature of management -- 2. Management as religion -- 3. Understanding management as religion -- 4. Words and worlds -- 5. Ideal and reality -- 6. Dualism and demons -- 7. Virtues and values -- 8. Changes and chances -- 9. Prophets and sages -- Conclusion -- Coda: An essay on management to its religious admirers -- Notes -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W Arguing that managers have become the cultural heroes of our time, this book looks at the values, assumptions, beliefs and practices they espouse. It maintains that managerialism is a form of religious faith, and that the gurus of managerialism draw upon the utopian language of religion.