Executive Leadership: A Practical Guide to Managing Complexity (Developmental Management) [Paperback]

Elliott Jaques (Author), Stephen D. Clement (Author), Ronnie Lessem (Author)

Book Description

Series: Developmental Management | Publication Date: June 14, 1994

Strong managerial leadership is a major factor in competitiveness and effectiveness in business. Companies must establish a managerial organization structure that puts competent managerial leaders into suitable roles. The aim of this practical text is to provide a foundation for leadership at a down-to-earth and understandable level.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is an enthralling read from start to finish and a marvellous addition to the Developmental Management series." Executive Development.

From the Publisher

Jaques and Clement have zeroed in on the most pressing issue of the 21st century, Executive Leadership.

In this new book, Elliott Jaques' remarkable microscope, through which we can examine the internal, personal world of human intent and the external social world of work, is made, for the first time, readily accessible to the reader. Just as Galileo allowed us to look at the stars with a new understanding of our physical universe, Elliott Jaques allows us to look at both our individuality and our human inter-actions in the workplace with a new understanding. The totally new social order available through this remarkable lens shows us our world as it really is - not as we have imagined it to be.

The application of these ideas by Clement and Jaques has had a powerful impact on US Army leadership, training and doctrine. They have now written this very practical book telling you, the accountable manager, how to achieve an organization full of people going along together in the direction you have set. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell (June 14, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0631193138
• ISBN-13: 978-0631193135
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #395,815 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, October 31, 2004

By 

Neal J. Pollock (VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Executive Leadership: A Practical Guide to Managing Complexity (Developmental Management) (Paperback)

Elliott Jaques devised a system for analyzing executive ability based upon an individual's time horizon--the maximum period of time in the future toward which his/her work activities were aimed in their performance. He reached this conclusion during extensive, longitudinal, empirical studies in England. His series of books reflect his elaboration and extension of this finding. He worked, for a time, with Dr. Owen Jacobs of the U.S. Army (and then the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, ICAF). Jaques prior, groundbreaking book, "Requisite Organization" is more pictorial than this volume. The present work is oriented more towards practicing executives. After reading it, I bought a copy and loaned it to my boss! I wish more bosses would read it--and carefully at that. The charts provided are engaging and thought-provoking. A less extensive volume, "Human Capability" follows in sequence. Jaques wrote it with is wife and publisher: Kathryn Cason. It is a fine sequel, adding some additional perspectives and completing the charts that Jaques developed over time. These books are most strongly recommended for serious students and practitioners of management. They go far in attempting to move management into management science.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a whole new view on the topic, June 9, 2010

By 

Alfonso Castro Chiriboga (Ecuador) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Executive Leadership: A Practical Guide to Managing Complexity (Developmental Management) (Paperback)

A total new vision on the matter. Beyond the traditional "do it yourself" and festivalistic view of the topic. It's hard to think that an author such as Elliot Jacques has not received the attention that, with no doubt, he deserves. Recommend this book to anyone interested in leadership specially if oriented to teaching.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Requisite Organization, February 8, 2008

By 

Eric L. Anderson (Bremerton, WA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Executive Leadership: A Practical Guide to Managing Complexity (Developmental Management) (Paperback)

Elliott Jaques is Canada's Peter Drucker but as a psychologist gets stuck in creating nomenclature that is difficult to follow. This work has the benefit of wordsmithing by a coauthor (S. Clement)which releases the valuable content to us in clear discussion. And what insight there is when viewing organization and management from this different point of view. Whatever your beliefs are of management and leadership this book will sharpen and deepen your understanding. At the heart of Jaques discovery is that just as we say some people "run deep" he believes they also have differing time horizons in their operating mode. It follows that higher management positions must be able to "see" further ahead if they are to contribute value to their direct reports. Read this book for its uniqueness and intriguing insight.