Management as Practice: A Look at the Nature of Managerial Work

This article reflects on the nature of managerial work, which historically has been approached as a theory, a practice, or a technique. The work of three authors, Henry Mintzberg, Ikujiro Nonaka and Alasdair MacIntyre, is analyzed in order to show how the evolution of this discipline's theoretical study demonstrates its eminently practical nature. Mintzberg provides an excellent introduction to the phenomenon, perceptively combining practical observation with reflection on what managers actually do. Nonaka, on the other hand, highlights the dynamism of the business firm and its ability to innovate, create and share knowledge. Finally, MacIntyre revives the Aristotelian perspective in the study of organizational life, revitalizing the idea of practice. We conclude by emphasizing that conceiving of managerial work as a practice implies the acceptance of a normative theory of organizations.