A
Frederick Herzberg
Although relatively few contemporary management students will have read his books. Herzberg's name is instantly recognizable to anyone who has studied industial organisations. This is because the American psychologist was responsible for introducing the concept of 'motivation' into management thinking.
As a young man. Herzberg became deeply interested in mental illness and the human need for mental and emotional satisfaction. This led him to criticise the approach of many companies to job design, and to argue for the need for 'job enrichment' to stimulate employees' efforts.
B
John Adair
Adair is the pioneering British thinker in the theory of leadership. He was the first person in the UK to hold a professorship in Business Leadership and has published a series of influential books on the subject.
Despite his quiet appearance, Adair has had a colourful life, serving in a Bedouin regiment and working on an Arctic fishing boat! His initial interest in leadership came from his army experience and he used to lecture at the highly prestigious academy where British army officers are trained. He now works as an international consultant.
C
Edward de Bono
De Bono is unusual among major 'gurus' for two reasons; firstly, he was born not in one of the great industrial nations but on the tiny island of Malta. Secondly, his ideas have reached a wider audience than just managers. So that his books have become essential reading in many different disciplines. Most of de Bono's work has been concerned with the way human beings can train themselves to think more creatively. This apparently simple idea has resulted in 37 books and a highly successful career as a lecturer and consultant.
D
Peter Drucker
Probably no other single thinker has done as much as Drucker to establish management as a serious area of study. Certainly, his fellow management thinkers consider him one of the 'founding fathers' of the discipline, and his books and articles are quoted more than those of any other management writer. His first book was published as far back as 1939, yet he is still writing and teaching. His greatest distinction has been his ability to predict coming trends in business and economics. As a result, his ideas are treated with the greatest respect and interest.