The human side of management : management by integration and self-control /

Although there is little new or revolutionary in Odiorne's book, the author does a good job of pulling together his best thoughts on a variety of issues ranging from supervisory development through individual career planning to management by objectives. Drawing on 20 years of research and consulting experience, Odiorne offers managers valuable insights on how organizations can improve employee productivity and successfully cope with a multitude of people management problems. Readable and full of common sense, Odiorne's book is a practical addition to the growing productivity improvement literature. Its 14 chapters are arranged into four topical headings-Managing Managers as a Resource; Successful Goal Setting; Competence: The Goal of Training; and, The Superior-Subordinate Relationship. All in all, a book that managers, professionals, and students will enjoy reading and may even be able to apply. Academic and professional collections.-T. Gutteridge, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

A text for managerial students, as well as managers and supervisors. Odiorne acknowledges that he is not presenting a new idea, but rather restating the concept of Management by Objectives (MBO). Here the emphasis is on the critical aspect of integrating corporate and individual employee goals without compromising either side. This process of negotiation then allows the employee to operate freely and successfully under his or her own self-control and motivation. This emphasis on the integration of of goals is a result of the emergence of the ""knowledge worker."" During the last two or three decades, the US labor force has changed from a largely production-oriented work fume to a service-industry work force. This new, diverse composition reflects the entry of women, minorities, and white-collar workers, who have different job expectations. Taking these demographic trends into consideration, Odiorne provides a comprehensive overview of the basic management principles: theories, styles, MBO goal-setting, productivity, management development, mentoring, and commitment to goals. He draws upon not only his own personal research and experience for specific examples, but also on numerous professional sources to supplement and support his ideas. He also provides many guidelines and anecdotes to explain each major point under discussion: for example, how to hire qualified staff, or how to set meaningful, yet challenging, goals. Easy to read, well stated, and well suited to a management library. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.