Henri Fayol, practitioner and theoretician – revered and reviled (original) (raw)

To read this content please select one of the options below:

Please note you do not have access to teaching notes

[ Mildred Golden Pryor ](/insight/search?q=Mildred Golden Pryor) (Department of Marketing and Management, Texas A&M University‐Commerce, Commerce, Texas, USA)

[ Sonia Taneja ](/insight/search?q=Sonia Taneja) (Department of Marketing and Management, Texas A&M University‐Commerce, Commerce, Texas, USA)

Abstract

Purpose

–

Fayol's theories were the original foundation for management as a discipline and as a profession. Also Fayol was the first to advocate management education. Yet he has critics who revile him (or at least disparage his work) as well as followers who respect and revere him. This paper intends to enlighten today's practitioners and academicians about the relevance and value of Fayol's theories today.

Design/methodology/approach

–

The paper addresses Fayol's contributions as well as the disparagement and the reverence. It compares Fayol's work with that of Follett, Mintzberg, Taylor, and Porter. In addition, it demonstrates the original and current interpretation and application of his theories. Finally, it indicates the alignment of Fayol's theories with strategic leadership and management.

Findings

–

Fayol's theories are valuable and relevant for organizational leaders because Fayol was a practitioner who documented theories that worked best for him and his co‐workers. While there are those who criticize Fayol's theories, there are many others who respect them and find them useful as academicians and as practitioners. The theory of management functions aligns well with strategic leadership and management models and theories.

Originality/value

–

The paper is the first to integrate Fayol's theories with a strategic leadership model.

Keywords

Citation

[Golden Pryor, M.](/insight/search?q=Mildred Golden Pryor "Mildred Golden Pryor") and [Taneja, S.](/insight/search?q=Sonia Taneja "Sonia Taneja") (2010), "Henri Fayol, practitioner and theoretician – revered and reviled", Journal of Management History, Vol. 16 No. 4, pp. 489-503. https://doi.org/10.1108/17511341011073960

Publisher

Emerald Group Publishing Limited