On management frameworks as metaphors

There is nothing new with how the (strategic) management frameworks or paradigms proliferate--there is a flow out there coming from academics and 'high-powered' management consultants. The utility of such flow is unquestionable for the authors , and to some extent, for the general readership as well. For a practitioner or general interest reader, I suggest the following: Look at these as mere metaphors meant to inform your decision making, and exercise your brain. When solving a problem, one may consider elaborating and deploying a hypothesis-based methodology. Such methodology ought to be informed by what one reads / learns (management frameworks included) and, more importantly, must contain elements of the following cycle: observation(s) --> concept --> testing --> implementation --> measurement --> observation. Hypothesizing should take place especially in the observation and concept phases. In the testing and measurement phases, one ought to see how good one's initial hypotheses were. Obviously, one can play with the above elements as one wishes on the condition that they all come down to hypotheses and (in)validation. Just a thought...

No comments: