The Making of the Modern Manager

Management is a constellation of concepts and ideas. Its many definitions span the boundaries of leadership and strategy on the one hand and business administration on the other; from people management to P&L accounts, to both change and stability, sometimes simultaneously. There are few concepts that have attracted as much business interest as the management of organisations.

Presenting a wide, deep and engaged body of research about management, this book explores how management competencies have developed over time and whether these are still relevant to the management of contemporary organizations. The author addresses this question by tracing the evolution of management competencies from the First to the Fourth Industrial revolution, investigating the role and style of managers in each ‘revolution’ and in multiple geographies. Ultimately, this book suggests that that five ‘core management competencies; will be relevant as the Fourth Industrial Revolution gathers momentum.