Management redeemed

by Frederick G. Hilmer

Frederick G. Hilmer and Lex Donaldson challenge five of the most widely held beliefs about management. Drawing on examples from GE, Microsoft, Nike, Ford, Gillette, and other corporations, as well as on years of research from top business scholars, Management Redeemed argues that multiple layers of management and formal hierarchical structure actually help to make organizations more productive. Supporting another equally contrarian position, the authors demonstrate that reflection, analysis, and intellectual activity are as important to managerial success as quick action and intuition. They also warn against the dangers of corporate culture and quick-fix solutions such as TQM, reengineering, value-based planning, benchmarking, niche marketing, and gainsharing. And finally, in one of their most surprising revelations, Hilmer and Donaldson rebut the notion that independent boards are necessary to ensure that management works in the best interest of the shareholders. In fact, their eviden