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From International Socialism, No.10, Autumn 1962, p.32.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for ETOL.
The Manager and the Organization
Eric Moonman
Tavistock Publications-21s.
Like many managerial handbooks this book is, one presumes unintentionally, quite amusing. We are told that ‘strength of character and an appreciation of ethical standards are the essentials for a manager rather than genius. A manager must have a conscience and he must be prepared to act by it’ (p.23) We are also led to believe that most managers in industry are indeed highly moral beings, whilst trade unionists are ‘so often’ lacking in social responsibility. The latter, says Mr. Moonman should turn their attention to ‘general social service’. So much for the author’s political commitment. Unfortunately Mr. Moonman’s ‘handbook’, unlike some studies in the field of theory such as those of Peter Drucker, has no sociological value at all. No new light is cast upon the problems of communication and control in large-scale organizations, which deficiency probably arises from the author’s failure to discuss the findings of the precursors of modern analyses of industrial organizations, such as Weber and Durkheim. Many of the most valuable contributions of recent years are omitted also.
The book contains a large number of examples, of interviewing techniques, guides to faster reading etc., most of which are irrelevant to the major problem of the relationship between the manager and the organization. All in all, an unfortunate hotch potch.
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Last updated on 27.10.2006