Administrative philosophy
Subtitle: values and motivations in administrative life
By: by Christopher Hodgkinson.
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: Pergamon
Published: 1996
Place of publication: [S.l.]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 320
Subjects: Management -- Philosophy.; Power (Social sciences) -- Philosophy.; Organizational behavior -- Philosophy.
Description: This book is a bridge between the technical literature of administrative theory and philosophical discourse. It is needed because an adequate axiology (value theory) of administration is ignored by the former and lacking in the latter. That value theory is necessary to leadership and administration follows directly from decision making and policy formulation, and indirectly from postmodern conditions and context. Moreover, leadership requires self-knowledge and motivational insight.

The knowledge of good and evil as a critical component of administrative though ought not to be denied by any technocratic asepsis.

Central themes include organization and administrative theory, decisions and policy making, hierarchy, leadership, power, values, interests. Particular attention is paid to pathologies, ideologies, and the problem of praxis. A robust value theory is presented together with its implications both for the common interest and for personal value auditing. A unique feature of the book is its concurrent presentation in aphoristic form of a general propositional logic of administration.

The work is the consolidation of a quarter-century of research, teaching, and publication in the subject field. Drawing upon this body of knowledge the author reconstructs a definitive along with extensive new material, notably in the areas of polemic management, ideology, value auditing, and leadership critique.

It is a non-dogmatic philosophical treatment of a universally important area of human experience and is intended for a primary audience of all administrators, executives, managers, politicians and leaders, as well as those either aspiring to these ranks or engaged in a study of them.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 295-304) and indexes.