ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book addresses the perspective on history which is central to the contribution of Manufacturing the Employee. It discusses the gendered nature of management knowledge with an empirical examination of the impact that writings on gender have made upon mainstream thought in the field of management. The book argues that the traditionally masculine sphere of business, shaped by an ethos of competition, remains relatively untouched by the traditionally feminine sphere, which has been consigned primary responsibility for relationship maintenance. It describes as a 'modest and sympathetic' critique of R. Jacques's work. The book focuses on a background in critical realism to follow through some of the implicit consequences of Jacques critique of management knowledge. The poststructuralist turn has thus provoked intellectual endeavour and has attracted derision in equal measure.
