by Gary Hamel
Management guru Gary Hamel presents The Future of Management as a window into a possible new era in the way in which corporations are managed and run. Bumpy Western economies combined with growing competition from industrial powerhouses such as India and China have revealed cracks in the way many large firms choose to operate. Hamel claims that while the world is changing, management practices have remained disappointingly static.
Using a unique approach, Hamel gives readers a glimpse into the management practices of three different companies which he feels personifies the movement away from stiff business models with the hope of inspiring others to follow suit.
High-end supermarket retailer Whole Foods is one of the companies that Hamel examines in-depth. The rapidly expanding retailer takes a decidedly unconventional approach to management with each store being divided up into teams. Each team acts as its own sovereign entity with the right to hire and fire as it chooses.
Instead of a top-down approach where there is one management team overseeing the stock, shelving and re-ordering activities, each team is responsible for each of these items. The result is a much more heavily engaged and invested staff which benefits highly from collaborative efforts, according to Hamel.
The case-studies included in The Future of Management are thorough, and Hamel has clearly researched them well. Ultimately, the book brings up good points on the current state of business management, and lays out his findings in an easy-to-read fashion that allows readers a window into three radically innovative companies. .