`Ann Cunliffe has produced a quite brilliant critical introduction to the study of management. This lucid, innovative and thought-provoking book takes a much needed look at the ethical and philosophical issues facing managers in contemporary organizations. A readable, thoughtful and intelligent book that students will love' -
John Hassard, University of Manchester
Written to inform, challenge and entertain, this book explains alternative ways of thinking about management and managing people in a way that is easy to understand and enjoyable.
The book covers topics that are central to management, organizational behaviour or leadership courses: what managers do, motivation, communication, and ethics. Ann Cunliffe breathes fresh air into these topics, emphasizing the importance of relations when thinking about management and drawing on a range of disciplines such as philosophy and linguistics.
A trusted and respected academic who has written widely on management, Ann Cunliffe's book will stretch, surprise and reward undergraduate, postgraduate and MBA students.
Ann Cunliffe is Professor of Organization Studies at the University of Leeds. She previously held positions at the University of New Mexico, California State University, the University of New Hampshire, USA and the University of Hull, UK. She is also a Visiting Professor at Fundação Getulio Vargas, Brazil and the University of Strathclyde, Scotland. Ann’s current research interests lie at the intersection of organizational studies, philosophy and communications, to examine how organizational life, identities and action are shaped in living conversations. In particular, she is interested in exploring how we can engage in collaborative, responsive and ethical ways of managing organizations. Other interests include: leadership; self-work; sensemaking; collaboration; developing reflexive approaches to management research, practice and learning; and expanding the reach and ‘rigor’ of non-positivist qualitative research. Her recent publications include the co-authored book Key Concepts in Organization Theory with John Luhman (2012), and articles in Organizational Research Methods, Human Relations, Management Learning, the Journal of Management Studies, and Organization Studies. In 2002 she was awarded the Breaking the Frame Award from the Journal of Management Inquiry for ‘the article that best exemplifies a challenge to existing thought’. Ann is currently co Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Management Learning and Consulting Editor of Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management. She is a member of 8 international editorial boards, was Division Chair of the Critical Management Studies Division of the Academy of Management (2010) and organizes the biennial Qualitative Research in Management and Organization Conference. She received her PhD. and M.Phil. from Lancaster University, UK.
