The Foundations of Management Knowledge Examining Complex Relations Between Theory and Practice

Brings together a group of leading academics from Europe, North America and Australasia to address a question of considerable contemporary concern - the nature of management knowledge in relation to rapidly changing arenas of theory and practice. At the core of the debate is the problematic nature of the intellectual and operational adequacy of management knowledge. The contributors examine the relationships between management theory, management education and managerial practice as complex exchanges that bring theory and practice together to answer key questions such as: is the theory which managers learn of any use? If so, does it make any difference? Why has there been an explosion of management training, such as MBAs, at a time when there is doubt over the validity of what is taught?;By contributing to the reframing of management as a dynamic, creative and versatile field of knowledge that is both multidisciplinary and multi-contextual, it seeks to provide a structured and informed set of readings for management educators as well as students and researchers in the fields of critical management, organizational behaviour, human resource management and management development.