Preview
  • The Management Myth

  • Why the 'Experts' Keep Getting It Wrong
  • By: Matthew Stewart
  • Narrated by: William Hughes
  • Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (158 ratings)

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The Management Myth

By: Matthew Stewart
Narrated by: William Hughes
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Publisher's summary

Alongside his devastating critique of management "philosophy" from Frederick Taylor to Tom Peters, Stewart provides a bitingly funny account of his own days in a management consulting firm. Combining hands-on experience with the theoretical underpinnings of contemporary fads in efficiency improvement, empowerment, and strategy, Stewart knows his stuff, and thus he lays bare how consultants really have done very little for the business of others - while making a killing for themselves.
©2009 Matthew Stewart (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
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What listeners say about The Management Myth

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    3 out of 5 stars

This book is good, an achievement even, but it is missing something

This book is pretty interesting, because the author understands the philosophical ideas of which he speaks. He uses them to analyze and criticize the ideas of a wide variety of management thinkers. And this is quite useful. However, on the whole, he fails to provide a positive alternative. He’s so interested in criticizing and knocking down everyone that his attempt to present something positive in the last chapter comes across as half hearted.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Obviously written by a philosopher

My title is 50% criticism and 50% praise. The main thing this book teaches you is to question dogma and look at things considered scientific in business with skepticism.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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My thoughts on this book

This has been the one of the best and most enjoyable learning experiences I have had through my avid audio book career. I highly recommend this read.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent!

A good perspective on the business of management and strategy especially well suited for current graduate/MBA students who will undoubtedly find the authors opinions thought-provoking in challenging the current business education model.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A punch on MBAs' faces

What made the experience of listening to The Management Myth the most enjoyable?

I always had a weird feeling regarding the stuff I "learned" at business school and always had a lot of criticisms regarding general "management theory" and Matthew managed to voice them in a well written and funny way, going through the history of the matter, pointing out their failings and even some positive points, while using his background in philosophy to provide interesting references and contrast to the subject.

I didn't expect to like the book so much but I highly recommend it, for people with business education to get a different non-status quo view and for anybody else as an antidote to "business guru magic".

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Excellent

If you are like me and have read most of the business gurus and come away unsatisfied this book is for you. Stewart lays bare the vacuous nonsense and incoherence of much of it. Very enjoyable!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The best yet

The future of management is to unlearn the faulty science of management developed in the last hundred years, go back to the roots of human behaviour as individuals and groups. This means unlearning the look-aid taught in the business schools and aiding multi disciplinary learning for organizations to compete, thrive and build resilience. Matt’s book is a required reading for that. If you are in the world of management or big ticket BS consulting then this book is a must read.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Been recommending this to everyone who’ll listen

I think it’s great. I’m an hour away from the end, and it’s been great — informative and humorous — all the way through. Really shreds some concepts covered in business school in an entertaining way. The author eloquently gives voice to my own less sophisticated and less refined criticism of theories preached to me in my MBA program years ago.

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Truth revealed

Once you can get past your biases this book will open you up to the harsh realities.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Mgmt consultants won't allow you to read this

I found this book highly entertaining and couldn't stop listening to it till I was done. For anyone that has had the "pleasure" of working with those high paying consultants hired by senior management, you know the ones that borrow your watch to tell you the time and then keep your watch as compensation, the author reaffirms what you and anyone that actually runs a business for real have always known was BS. The author's style is easy-going, funny and his arguments are cohesive, making for a really easy read or listen. I highly recommend this book for anyone who's been tortured or worse been downsized as a result of contact with a high-paying consultant.

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