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The Practice of Management [Paperback]

Peter F. Drucker
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)

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Book Description

October 3, 2006

A classic since its publication in 1954, The Practice of Management was the first book to look at management as a whole and being a manager as a separate responsibility. The Practice of Management created the discipline of modern management practices. Readable, fundamental, and basic, it remains an essential book for students, aspiring managers, and seasoned professionals.


Frequently Bought Together

The Practice of Management + The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done (Harperbusiness Essentials) + The Essential Drucker: The Best of Sixty Years of Peter Drucker's Essential Writings on Management (Collins Business Essentials)
Price for all three: $40.15

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“His writings are landmarks of the managerial profession” (Harvard Business Review )

” The dean of this country’s business and management philosophers.” (Wall Street Journal )

About the Author

Peter F. Drucker is considered the most influential management thinker ever. The author of more than twenty-five books, his ideas have had an enormous impact on shaping the modern corporation. Drucker passed away in 2005.


Product Details

  • Paperback: 416 pages
  • Publisher: HarperBusiness; Reissue edition (October 3, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0060878975
  • ISBN-13: 978-0060878979
  • Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,725 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Peter F. Drucker (1909-2005) was considered the top management thinker of his time. He authored over 25 books, with his first, The End of Economic Man published in 1939. His ideas have had an enormous impact on shaping the modern corporation. One of his most famous disciples alive today is Jack Welch. He was a teacher, philosopher, reporter and consultant.

Customer Reviews

This classic book is a must read for anyone wanting to learn the best way to practice management. Romeo Richards  |  8 reviewers made a similar statement
I would rate this as one of the best buys I have made this year. Hobbes  |  3 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest management handbooks July 21, 2006
Format:Paperback
The late Peter F. Drucker is the most influential management thinker of the 20th Century. This book was first published in 1955 and consists of five parts plus a proper introduction and conclusion. Drucker, in the Preface, explains that the first aim of this book "is to narrow the gap between what can be done and what is being done, between the leaders in management and the average".

The Introduction - The Nature of Management - consists of three chapters. Within the first chapter Drucker explains that "the manager is the dynamic, life-giving element in every business" and that management "is the organ of society specifically charged with making resources productive, that is, with the responsibility for organized economic advance." In the second chapter Drucker explains that "management is the least known and the least understood of our institutions" and discusses the three functions of management: managing a business, managing managers, and to manage workers and work. The third chapter states that management faces its first test of its competence and its hardest task in the then imminent industrial revolution called `automation'. Drucker does explain that automation is not `technical', but primarily a system of concepts, a concept of the organization of work.

The first of six chapters within Part I - Managing a Business - uses the Sears, Roebuck & Company as an illustration of what business is and what managing it means. Based upon this illustration, Drucker concludes in Chapter 5 that "there is only one valid definition of business: to create a customer. ... It is the customer who determines what a business is." Chapter 6 introduces Drucker's most famous question: "What is our business - and what should it be?
... Read more ›
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant book and still relevant December 2, 2004
By Hobbes
Format:Paperback
What can I say about Peter Drucker that hasn't already been said.

Written in 1954 it is as relevant to today's world (perhaps even more so) as it was back then. Fundamentally what strikes me about the Practice of Management is that it advocates a profoundly ethical view of management and the responsibilities of management.

If you walk away with a just a few of the ideas he presents, you will be a better manager:

1) Management by objectives

2) The imporance of having the right "spirit" in an organisation.

3) The need for managers to feel empowered and have all the authority they need to carry out their job.

4) Appropriate rewards for strong performance and the need for censure when performance is weak.

5) Creating an open culture where mistakes are expected and form a basis for future knowledge.

I could go on.

As a final note, Peter Drucker foresaw one of the most remarkable changes in industry - a change that allowed the movement from vertically integrated industries to a distributed supply chain model - and that strong managers would be needed to deal with it.

I would rate this as one of the best buys I have made this year.
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23 of 26 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The PRACTICE, not THEORY, of Managment October 24, 1998
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Peter Drucker wrote this book at the height of the mis-application of statistics and "science" in areas such as management and economics. Drucker, who had the benefit of experience, saw the flaws decades before the rest of us. I suspect that the reason Drucker was so ahead of his time is that he was able to tap the experience of the great industrialists who probably were unwilling to share the trade secrets of their management knowledge with the general public. It wasn't until the 1980s when the masses began to learn these things.

The book is a classic and is just as valid today as it was in the mid 20th century (why wouldn't it be?).

Drucker explains within the book the reason for the word "practice" rather than "theory" of managment.

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18 of 22 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The Most original work on management ever written June 1, 1999
Format:Paperback
Peter Drucker needs no introduction. His works have shaped the management thought and philosophy for the last half a century. What he discusses in this volume, other management thinkers will find only 40 years later. A must read for understanding- What management and business is all about.
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20 of 25 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The origin of most of today's best sellers June 29, 2001
Format:Paperback
It's really susprising how a book dated 54 can be so modern. Throughout its pages you can see paragraphs that simply are the source of many later killing books. Mac Gregor's theory, Hertzberg's ergonomic factor, the vision of Ted Levitt about marketing myopia, the search for simplicity, the moder concept of ethical behavior of companies and so many others. Really amazing how Drucker already peeked on these points many years ago. what new have all those new gurus been speaking about?.

Nevertheless, the most striking issue it's his lookout for human vertues in managers. Integrity anf character are the main tools of the right manager. We are still on the search for them!!!.

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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly ACTUAL August 23, 1998
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I feel quite stupid when I read the book written in 1954! and noticed that most of the things that today are explained and developed in management books, have already been stated 30 years ago. Not only the author gives the clues to understand the present management techniques but he shows how should be used and why. DO not expend more money in new management books until you haven't read that first
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars love it.
Nothing to complaint about. the item as described, even better for me. great material, .
i would totally recommend this amazing book.
Published 24 days ago by MIFB
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books
Peter is one of the best Marketing Managers in the world, the ideas, the words really helps you with your team.
Published 2 months ago by kikealtamirano
2.0 out of 5 stars very dispointed
Book is in a very poor conditions ... I'm not happy with it ..Its not what it looks like in the picture...very dispointed
Published 3 months ago by MJ
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reference
Not too many fads (in my opinion) to be found padding out these pages. Solid and detailed reference on the problems and challenges of management and the practice of management. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Laurie S. (Australia)
4.0 out of 5 stars Christmas gift
A friend requested these as a Christmas gift and a group of us got together and bought virtually all that he has written, even his older books are still relevant today. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Michael J. Burton
5.0 out of 5 stars loved it
Great depth on a ton of different subjects on business, personal and political matters. nice glimpse into all his works for people who dont necessarily have time for ALL his books.
Published 6 months ago by Stephen K. Mbugua
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!
This classic book is a must read for anyone wanting to learn the best way to practice management. This book covers several topics including management by objectives, having the... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Romeo Richards
4.0 out of 5 stars Solid Information
The book is dated, but that is just fine with me.
It is filled with essential information which instantly helped at the office.
Published 22 months ago by Offshore B
4.0 out of 5 stars The Practice of Management
The book is older but came as promised in the advertizement and in better shape than expected.

Mike
Published on April 24, 2011 by Mike Braml
5.0 out of 5 stars If you are a manager you should know something about management...
There is a lot of self-centered managers thinking they are very good, but in reality they are below average human beings both intellectually and ethically. Read more
Published on December 3, 2010 by Jackal
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