ABSTRACT
The emergence of managerial hierarchies for the co-ordination and control of economic activities is one of the most distinguishing features of late capitalism (Chandler 1977; Williamson 1975). The importance of managers, therefore, as a distinctive occupational category for organisational decision making has long been recognised (Taylor 1911; Fayol 1949; Barnard 1966). However, despite the increasing centrality of managers in the co-ordination of complex organisational activities, and the enhanced visibility of their tasks and functions, it has not been easy to answer the question: ‘What is management?’
