Management and Michael Polanyi’s thought
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand the role of management ideas as a resource for developing a new understanding of science and society.
Design/methodology/approach
Three important articles of Polanyi are studied in detail.
Findings
That writings of Graicunas, Foch and Liddell Hart definitely influenced the development of Polanyi’s thinking and writings of Gulick, Mooney among other management/organization theorists also likely contributed to Polanyi’s thought.
Research limitations/implications
The study opens a new seam for Polanyi intellectual – historical scholarship.
Practical implications
The article sheds light on facets of scientific life, including how scientists themselves participate in the overall management of science.
Social implications
This discussion of Polanyi deepens the appreciation of Liberal society’s functioning.
Originality/value
No other Polanyi scholar has dug deeply into the history of management, considering its intellectual value to Polanyi.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Producing this article, the author incurred debts to a number of people: Phil Mullins for commenting on a draft of the article and answering questions the author puts to him about its content, Richard Moodey and Jere Moorman for clarifying several technical issues, the interlibrary loans staff at Deakin University Library for obtaining the author materials essential to the investigation and peer reviewers for suggesting several stylistic and substantive improvements.
Citation
Jacobs, S. (2015), "Management and Michael Polanyi’s thought", Journal of Management History, Vol. 21 No. 3, pp. 372-387. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMH-02-2015-0012
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited