Every field of study and practice is nurtured over time by eminent thinkers. This is an attempt to list the eminent management thinkers (arranged in alphabetical order) along with their contributions to management science and practice.
- Cyert, Richard
- Deming, Edwards
- Drucker, Peter
- Fayol, Henri (1841‐1925)
- Gantt, Henry L(1861‐1919)
- Juran, Joseph M
- March, James
- Maslow, Abraham
- McGregor, Douglas
- McNamara, Robert
- Pfeffer, Jeffrey
- Shewhart, Walter
- Taylor, Frederick W
- Weber, Max (1864‐1920)
- … <More to be added>
McGrath, R. G. (2014) has organized the history of management thought into three eras: execution, expertise and empathy. A few extracts from this article below for quick reference.
“Frederick Winslow Taylor, Frank and Lillian Galbreth, Herbert R. Townes, and Henry L. Gantt – developed theories that emphasized efficiency, lack of variation, consistency of production, and predictability” (McGrath, R.G. (2014)).
“The mid-twentieth century was a period of remarkable growth in theories of management, and in the guru-industrial complex. Writers such as Elton Mayo, Mary Parker Follett, Chester Barnard, Max Weber, and Chris Argyris imported theories from other fields (sociology and psychology) to apply to management. Statistical and mathematical insights were imported (often from military uses) forming the basis of the field that would subsequently be known as operations management.” (McGrath, R.G. (2014)).
The next phase according to McGrath saw the rise of what is referred to as “knowledge work”. “.. new theories of management arose that put far more emphasis on motivation and engagement of workers. Douglas McGregor’s “Theory Y” is representative of the genre. The idea of what executives do changed from a concept of control and authority to a more participative coaching role” (McGrath, R.G. (2014)).
References
- McGrath, R. G. (2014). Management’s three eras: A brief history. Harvard Business Review, 30, 2-4.
Dr. Selvaraj Vadivelu 