Gods of Management: The Changing
Work of Organizations by Charles
Handy
The Gods Of Management
What would the world of business be like if it were run by the Greek gods
of yore? Would Apollo be the right man at the helm of Acme Widget? What
sweeping changes would Athena make if she controlled an ad agency?
While this might merely seem like an entertaining concept, it also happens
to be an extremely valuable framework for understanding management
styles and the corporate cultures associated with them. In The Gods of
Management, best-selling author Charles Handy uses four Greek gods to
illustrate for managers the basic approaches they can use in their own
businesses. When power radiates throughout the company from a top
boss, that would be an example of a Zeus or club organization, one that
investment banks and brokerage firms often adopt for their corporate
climates. An Apollo role culture, on the other hand, results in a stable
bureaucracy, such as a life insurance company or a firm with a long history

of success with a single product. The Athena task environment
emphasizes talent, youth, and team problem-solving, as wed find in ad
agencies and consultancies. And lastly, a Dionysius existential design
exists to let indivduals achieve their purposes, as in a university or group
medical practice. In this thought-provoking volume, Charles Handy
shows managers how to be aware of the cultural choices they can make to
create a more productive and satisfying workplace.
Personal Review: Gods of Management: The Changing Work of
Organizations by Charles Handy
I like Handy's writing style and have read most of his books, what I
particularly like about this publication is that its not his usual commentary
about the way the world of work is changing, rather it provides a framework
for most managers, particularly new managers to understand the cultural
dynamics of their organisation.
Each type of organisation is characterised by one of the Greek gods, its a
useful analogy and he is quite playful with the portrayal of each god type.
Identifying the 'god' type operating within your organisation, then
understanding its character allows any manager to position their work in
way that would be understood and accepted by the hierarchy. It also helps
a manager steer clear of incurring their wrath.
I recommend this book as a great primer for anyone learning about
organisational dynamics for the first time.
It was simply a joy to read and very useful, Excellent.
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