`The book will appeal to and be most appropriate for students new to the study of management, who wish to be introduced to what it is that the management theorist can offer the practitioner. In this respect this book works very well and I have no hesitation in recommending it for inclusion on the reading list of first-, or second-level management development programmes' - International Journal of Training and Development

An ideal introduction to management and organizational behaviour, this Reader brings together a range of contributions on the art and science of management.
The focus of the book is on the ideas and theories which a manager can use to become more effective. Six sections explore important aspects of the manager's job: management, leadership and conflict; motivation and stress at work; organizational culture; decision-making and teams; staff development; and diversity in organizations. In each section, the reader will find articles which reflect major ideas or debates within the area, including those that challenge traditional views and ways of doing things. Does money motivate? Are teams useful? Does organizational culture exist? What role does sexuality play in the workplace? These are some of the questions asked. Throughout, the book underlines the need for managers to take into account the different contexts of time and culture in which they act.
The book is a course Reader for The Open University course The Effective Manager (B654) .