What will you learn from this book
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The Culture of Power (Zeus): Organizations with a strong hierarchical structure and centralized power. Decision-making authority resides at the top, and there is a clear chain of command.
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The Role Culture (Apollo): Emphasizes specialization and a bureaucratic structure. Employees have clearly defined roles, and tasks are divided based on expertise.
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The Task Culture (Athena): Focused on getting the job done. Teams are formed to solve particular problems or tasks, and they dissolve once the task is completed.
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The Person Culture (Dionysius): This culture values the individual and places importance on personal development and fulfillment. Individuals have a high degree of autonomy.
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Shamrock Organization: Handy introduces the concept of the "Shamrock Organization," which is characterized by a core of essential executives, a flexible workforce, and outsourced non-core functions.
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The Jargon of Survival: The book discusses the importance of understanding and using the language of your organization, as it helps in navigating and influencing the corporate culture.
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The Portfolio Worker: Handy introduces the idea of individuals becoming portfolio workers, engaging in a variety of roles and projects rather than committing to a single, long-term job.
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Changing Organizational Dynamics: The book highlights how organizations are evolving, moving away from traditional structures towards more flexible and adaptable models.
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Adaptability and Flexibility: Handy stresses the importance of adaptability and the ability to embrace change in the rapidly evolving business environment.
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Understanding Organizational Culture: The book encourages readers to critically analyze and understand the culture of their organizations and how it influences the behavior of individuals within the organization.
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10 | 0143102850 |
| ISBN-13 | 9780143102854 |
| No of pages | 268 |
| Font Size | Medium |
| Book Publisher | Penguin India |
| Published Date | 15 Aug 2008 |
About Author
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‘It was always a myth that there is one best way to manage, but it has been a pervasive myth and a damaging one, to both individuals and organizations. The Greeks at least recognized a variety of gods, even if each had his or her favourite. We need a law of requisite variety in management as well as a theory of cultural propriety.’ The four gods of the title symbolize the very different styles of management and culture to be found in today’s organizations. Zeus is the dynamic entrepreneur who rules over companies of the club cluture, characterized by speed of decision and rapid, intuitive communication. Apollo, god of order and bureaucracy, is the patron of the role culture, based not on personalities but on definition of the jobs to be done. Athena, goddess of craftsmen, recognized only expertise as the basis of power and influence: hers is the task culture. Dionysus is the god preferred by artists and professionals within the existential culture, people who owe little or no allegiance to a boss. Under this witty and sparkling allegory, Charles Handy, Britain’s foremost business guru, makes a serious analysis of the changing patterns of work and business. Gods of Management is a world bestseller which is required reading for managers, business students and everyone who wants to be a survivor on a world of constantly changing organizational culture.