All in Bain: lost voices in the development of management research

McLaughlin, Hugh and Thorpe, Richard (2000) All in Bain: lost voices in the development of management research. In: Manchester Metropolitan University Business School Working Papers. Working Paper. Manchester Metropolitan University. ISSN 1471-857X

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Abstract

This paper argues that in many fundamental respects management research has lost its way. The growth of Managerialism, particularly in the Public Sector has seen the language of management permeate all aspects of society. There are now few organisations where professional managers are not represented at the top of the organisation and where control is now exerted over professional providers. This paper looks back at the Bain report submissions and analyses the extent to which management academics represent society and the diversity of society. The paper highlights a number of 'silences' we see as indicative of a wider range of areas which managers might need to address. Our conclusions are that management research as currently conceptualised is impoverished.