Spotlight on Leadership: Peter Drucker
Peter Drucker can rightly be regarded as the father of modern management, who
introduced the new methodology of thinking and practicing management in organizations. Some
of his chief books include The Practice of Management, The Effective Executive and all of these
books remain relevant in the contemporary management theories. Such assertion to treat
management as a profession motivated Drucker maybe due to the great effect that efficient
management bestows on society. He remained convinced that management was not a collection
of techniques useful in improving one’s organizational operation, but a highly essential field
capable of increasing efficiency, inspiring creativity, and raising the general standard of living.
According to Drucker, the management should be considered as the science like any
others in this world with mentioning the need for the manager to be skilled decision maker in
other to help him steer his organization through rapidly changing environments. The article
entitle ‘What Your Business Can Learn From Peter Drucker’ reveals that Drucker had a passion
to put management into a body of knowledge willing to make things better within and among
businesses and societies. His focus on ethical leadership and social corporate responsibility
forms the foundation that he has for the view of management as a societal vocation that is
essential hence its efficiency in the economic outcomes it delivers.
In these textbooks, Drucker’s stand is found therefore to co-synchronize with the Systems
Theory of management; a theory that asserts the connectedness of parts of organizations together
with their environment. It can be stated that the writing of Katz and Kahn aligns well with
Systems Theory and is as such ignores the organization environment, but concentrates on the
organization as a system that needs to change with the environment Coast (2003); Drucker
(2005). A desire to receive tangible results as well as an understanding that organizations should
guide their employees by outcomes instead of the means to achieve them also applies to the
modern concepts of performance management.
There are two today’s managerial practices that can be attributed to Drucker,
Management by Objectives (MBO) and decentralization. MBO makes organizations set
organizational and specific goals and ensures that the Achievement of the goals match
organizational objectives. This practice involves exercising directly from Drucker’s argument
that when the organizational goals are clearly stated, productivity is enhanced, and accountability
is heightened. In addition of decentralization as a way of making employees responsible noting
that decentralization leads to creativity and productivity among organizations. It is still seen
today, due to competition and the need for fast and effective organizations, today many
organizations are trying to adopt a flatter model.
In addition to the provided materials, I consulted Peter Drucker: In the book, The Man
Who Invented the Corporate Society by Robert A. Brady that builds up on Drucker’s ideas and
the applicability of the same in the present day world of business. Accordingly, Brady marked
the availability of Drucker’s visions of knowledge work and change of the work environment.
Such information contributes to the further development of the corresponding management
approaches that enhance the level of employee motivation and learning processes.
It is therefore possible to state that Peter Drucker is one of the fore runners and key
contributors to the management theory and practice. A lifelong spokesman for management as a
profession, his championing of Systems Theory, and the implementation of MBO and
decentralization remain pertinent in today’s management courses. As with any great work, to
comprehend it is the first step, which will prepare the reader to deal with the jigsaw puzzle that is
modern management.
References
Brady, R. A. (1990). Peter Drucker: The Man Who Invented the Corporate Society. New
York: HarperCollins.
Drucker, P. F. (1954). The Practice of Management. New York: Harper & Row.
Drucker, P. F. (1967). The Effective Executive. New York: Harper & Row.