There seems to be a tendency in management literature to over-complicate the practice of management. As a result, many managers (supervisors, executives) work too hard and spend too much time managing, or else they seem to avoid the task altogether in favour of the other technical parts of their jobs which they can master. In part this is because most management texts review research which is primarily "descriptive", and the researched causes of human behavior are naturally complicated and multivariate. Human behavior is complex. Management doesn't have to be.
Successful management of people does not require that the manager psycho-analyse employees and fully understand all the complicated influences which determine human behavior. What a practising manager does need, however, are practical tools -- "prescriptive" theories or models to follow, which will help the manager to lead, direct and motivate employees. After reading a management text or attending a seminar, how often have you said to yourself, "That was interesting but how am I supposed to apply this knowledge on the job?" Commonly what's missing is the application, and what managers really need is that bridge between descriptive theory and prescriptive application. And to be successully used, the application needs to be simple and straightforward. Remember the KISS principle? Keep It Simple and Straightforward -- one of the best guidelines for management.
And so this show, Management Success, is directed towards explaining some of the practical fundamentals of good management in hopefully a clear and entertaining way. There are three parts to the show every week.
Part One: The Week's Principal Topic. A selection of key management topics are presented along with guests on a few of the shows, who are experts in that week's selection. Check on this web site each week for further information on each topic, such as articles, which you can download and reproduce as required. All we ask is that you give full credits for each article used, referencing the author and this show. Time is very limited for the presentation of each subject, so we are only touching the "tip of the iceberg." The intent is to interest the viewer in the subject matter, and not to teach or review the material in any depth. Further references are suggested, typically books you might purchase from a book store or borrow from a library.
Part Two: The Week's Book Review. Each week an invited guest will briefly review a recommended book. The reviewers are all Certified Management Consultants, experienced and highly qualified practitioners in management consulting. They review books found to be useful and practical for both their clients and themselves. These professionals go beyond and above transient fads of the day and direct our attention to many of the fundamentals required for successful management.
Part Three: Recipes for Success. For a bit of fun and some practical value, our "kitchen" segment uses this theme to explain each week's recipe (formula or tip) for successful people management. Each recipe is simple and practical, yet supported by quality research and a wealth of experience. The host (or chef) is my other brother Bob, whose resemblance to me is purely coincidental, if not disturbing.
Communication with our guests can be done through the show's email address mgtsuccess@aol.com. Recommendations and ideas are welcomed, but please appreciate that time and opportunity may not permit immediate responses to all inquiries. We'll do our best.
Thank you to the volunteer crew who put this show together, and especially to the Producer Colleen Alksnis and to Marv Thiessen, Production Manager of Videon. Thanks also go to the Kitchen Craft Connection for the use of their kitchen and to Smith Books for the use of their store.
Managing can be a challenging and rewarding career and an opportunity to develop and use an organization to improve the quality of life for both its members and its clients. I hope that Management Success helps you to see management in a favourable light and gives you some insights and tools to help you wherever you find yourself in the role of a people manager.
Robert (Bob) Kent,
Host of Management Success
PS Here's an interesting critique of many of the recent gurus and their philosophies (and fads) of management, which overflow our bookstores and complicate (or clarify) our lives:
John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge, The Witch Doctors: Making Sense of the Management Gurus, Times Books, 1996, ISBN 0-8129-2833-4.
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