Management can make an impact
Gary Hamel makes the case for reinventing management for the 21st century. He paints a vivid picture of what it means to build organisations that are fundamentally fit for the future—resilient, inventive, inspiring and accountable. “Modern” management is one of humanity’s most important inventions, Hamel argues. But it was developed more than a century ago to maximize standardization, specialization, hierarchy, control, and shareholder interests.
Rethink management
While that style of management delivered an immense contribution to global prosperity, the values driving our most powerful institutions are fundamentally at odds with those of what is needed now—zero-sum thinking, profit-obsession, power, conformance, control, hierarchy, and obedience should not stand a chance against community, interdependence, freedom, flexibility, transparency, meritocracy, and self-determination. It’s time to radically rethink how we mobilize people and organize resources to productive ends.
