Living Bibliography

Gods of Management: The Changing Work of Organisations

Charles Handy

In The Gods of Management, best-selling author Charles Handy uses four Greek gods to illustrate for managers the basic approaches they can use in their own businesses. When power radiates throughout the company from a top boss, that would be an example of a Zeus or “club” organization, one that investment banks and brokerage firms often adopt for their corporate climates. An Apollo “role” culture, on the other hand, results in a stable bureaucracy, such as a life insurance company or a firm with a long history of success with a single product. The Athena “task” environment emphasizes talent, youth, and team problem-solving, as we’d find in ad agencies and consultancies. And lastly, a Dionysius “existential” design exists to let individuals achieve their purposes, as in a university or group medical practice.

In this thought-provoking volume, Charles Handy shows managers how to be aware of the cultural choices they can make to create a more productive and satisfying workplace.