Concept of the Corporation

Rating:
Summary: Book Summary of "Concept of the Corporation"
Review: Business primarily functions to make a profit. However, due to the permanent and integral role that the corporation plays in modern industrial society, there exists a corresponding level of duty and responsibility toward society at large. Peter Drucker's goal is to articulate the management practices that made General Motors so successful. In this manner GM's efforts could be communicated and duplicated to ensure continued success for American industry and capitalism in general.

After World War II capitalism and communism began to compete for the hearts and minds of the world. This placed an onerous burden on capitalist countries. This burden largely fell upon America. America must demonstrate that capitalism is in fact the best economic system in terms of both efficiency and social equity. Drucker also realized that only an objective yardstick for measuring success would prove the intrinsic worth of capitalism. Conceding that perfection is unattainable, Peter Drucker nonetheless maintains that the harmonious integration of the corporation into the social fabric depends at the very least on its ability "to realize society's promises and society's beliefs" (117).

In America, this means that the corporation must appeal to and in some degree satisfy the basic American beliefs in individuality and opportunity. Those duel beliefs later served and were substantiated by historian John Kindgon. For the capitalist system to succeed it is imperative for the corporation to parallel these beliefs by promoting the role of justice as the means for recognizing equality of opportunity. This notion differs from communism's belief in equality of rewards.

The economic growth experienced during the early 20th century became possible only through improvements in business organization modeled after Henry Ford's assembly line, which efficiently organized and combined the efforts of different specialists into one cohesive effort. The general message was that the whole was in fact worth more than the sum of its parts. This accomplishment was primarily attributable to improvements in organization and marshalling talent and resources. Drucker describes the new decentralized model of corporate success, "The teamwork organization of management, the assistance rendered by the service staffs, and the constant check against base price, market quota, and consumer's opinion make it possible for ordinary human beings to run this enormous machine" (79). This approach necessarily focuses on the preeminence of human capital, and the need for greater social organization to maximize profits.

Drucker believes that business is ultimately about people, not resources, and managing people so that they give forth their greatest potential effort. Promotion should be based on performance, ability, and character. Management may use price elasticity to determine what proportion of profits should be divided into wage increases or decreases in pricing. Drucker believes that leadership must be cultivated from within the corporation, and whose facilitation should include early testing and training glued together with a cultural espirit. Most importantly, imagination and a great understanding of the big picture in regards to the corporation's functioning must be taught. Finding common grounds for self-interest and building from that best solves conflict, such as that between management and worker's unions.

In conclusion, Drucker believes that the corporation is here to stay in the service of mankind, "The central problem of all modern society is not whether we want Big Business but what we want of it, and what organization of Big Business and of the society it serves is best equipped to realize our wishes and demands" (18). Drucker's uniqueness stems from his belief that the social and political components of modern industrial society are just as important than the much-touted economic component. The responsibility placed on modern industrial society is to create harmony by correlating our political beliefs with what is best for the corporation and the individual. The corporation's role to play is big, as it is the "representative institution of American society." Ultimately, government must create policy that encourages capital expenditure, rather than consumer consumption, resulting in a harmonious balance between increased corporate profits and maximum social good through high employment.

Rating:
Summary: Historically Very Important - Still Relevant, Parts Outdated
Review: REVIEW: This book has had a tremendous impact on management thinking and practice worldwide. As the first book to take an analytical study of a business corporation (GM) from the inside, many consider it to be the catalyst of the management boom that followed. It is certainly the first book to examine the business corporation as a social structure that brings together human beings for economic and social needs. The book is also a sort of bridge from Drucker's more political and social writings in "The End of Economic Man" and "The Future of Industrial Man" to his later more managerial writings. It is credited with having established management of organizations as a discipline and a distinct field of study. However, as a book originally published in 1946, is it still relevent and worth reading today? Yes, but not for everyone.

Drucker raised many new issues and concepts basic to organizations. For example, he touched upon: dignity and status of the worker, corporate purpose, corporate contribution to and harmonization with community, management compensation and succession, worker training and development, workers as resources not costs, etc. Since new ideas will tend to seep into the popular consciousness over time, many of the ideas he introduced have long since become popularized and accepted (e.g. the benefits of decentralization, suggestion plans, and reengineering). However, there are also a number the concepts which are not fully appreciated today or which we tend to just give lip service. For example, the basic concept of corporations as both economic and social institutions is still not fully appreciated or understood (neither by those on the "right" or the "left"). For me, the book was worth the read for these insights alone. In summary, I very much recommend this book if you've read some of Drucker's other writings and are interested in reading Drucker's founding writings on the corporation as both an economic and social organization. One option you may want to consider is to skip Part II which mostly discusses GM decentralization as a model.

STRENGTHS: Great thinking and understanding from Drucker on corporations as social structures. First thorough analytical look at a business corporation from the inside. Important economic concepts explained too (e.g. monopoly, profit motive).

WEAKNESSES: Some parts are rambling and others more concise. Part II of the book (more specific to 1940s GM and decentralization) is more outdated. Never a graph or equation to help understanding.

WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK: Those interested in understanding corporations as both economic and social organizations.

FOR SIMILAR/RELATED TOPICS, CONSIDER: Any of Peter Drucker's other books still in print. "My Years with General Motors" by Alfred Sloan. "Maslow on Management" by Abraham Maslow. "First Break All the Rules" by M. Buckingham & C. Coffman.

[feedback welcome]

Rating:
Summary: Historically Very Important - Still Relevant, Parts Outdated
Review: REVIEW: This book has had a tremendous impact on management thinking and practice worldwide. As the first book to take an analytical study of a business corporation (GM) from the inside, many consider it to be the catalyst of the management boom that followed. It is certainly the first book to examine the business corporation as a social structure that brings together human beings for economic and social needs. The book is also a sort of bridge from Drucker's more political and social writings in "The End of Economic Man" and "The Future of Industrial Man" to his later more managerial writings. It is credited with having established management of organizations as a discipline and a distinct field of study. However, as a book originally published in 1946, is it still relevent and worth reading today? Yes, but not for everyone.

Drucker raised many new issues and concepts basic to organizations. For example, he touched upon: dignity and status of the worker, corporate purpose, corporate contribution to and harmonization with community, management compensation and succession, worker training and development, workers as resources not costs, etc. Since new ideas will tend to seep into the popular consciousness over time, many of the ideas he introduced have long since become popularized and accepted (e.g. the benefits of decentralization, suggestion plans, and reengineering). However, there are also a number the concepts which are not fully appreciated today or which we tend to just give lip service. For example, the basic concept of corporations as both economic and social institutions is still not fully appreciated or understood (neither by those on the "right" or the "left"). For me, the book was worth the read for these insights alone. In summary, I very much recommend this book if you've read some of Drucker's other writings and are interested in reading Drucker's founding writings on the corporation as both an economic and social organization. One option you may want to consider is to skip Part II which mostly discusses GM decentralization as a model.

STRENGTHS: Great thinking and understanding from Drucker on corporations as social structures. First thorough analytical look at a business corporation from the inside. Important economic concepts explained too (e.g. monopoly, profit motive).

WEAKNESSES: Some parts are rambling and others more concise. Part II of the book (more specific to 1940s GM and decentralization) is more outdated. Never a graph or equation to help understanding.

WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK: Those interested in understanding corporations as both economic and social organizations.

FOR SIMILAR/RELATED TOPICS, CONSIDER: Any of Peter Drucker's other books still in print. "My Years with General Motors" by Alfred Sloan. "Maslow on Management" by Abraham Maslow. "First Break All the Rules" by M. Buckingham & C. Coffman.

[feedback welcome]

Rating:
Summary: worth to be read
Review: Since it has only words, no graphics. it is really hard to read through. but I have to say, i's opion is great