Speaking Management: How to Spot Language Traps and Resolve Contested Management Terms

This book identifies ten linguistic traps in our everyday language usage and provides a method for determining internally consistent definitions of groups of related terms that avoid all ten traps. It demonstrates how the understanding of the meaning of words can have major implications for the exercise of power and offers a lexicon of 70 commonly used but confused or contested management terms. The book explores how disagreement can be resolved using these new clear definitions and extends this into an analysis of who 'good ethics are good for.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 342 pages
Publication date: 07 January 2023
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate realm of linguistics, unveiling ten linguistic traps that permeate our everyday language usage. It offers a philosophical framework for establishing internally consistent definitions of groups of related terms, thereby avoiding these traps. Throughout, numerous examples and applications of this method are presented, highlighting its practical significance.

The book demonstrates how our understandings of word meanings can profoundly impact the exercise of power. This insight emerged from management research into project governance, where a lack of consensus on key terms such as "governance" became apparent. To address this, the book explores the influences of evolution, philosophy, and linguistics on our language usage. It reveals that while language excels at describing physical objects, it struggles to produce a common understanding of the meaning of concepts, a problem not limited to the management field but permeating our personal, religious, and political lives.

This book is a treasure trove of knowledge, featuring a lexicon of 70 commonly used but confused or contested management terms, along with an additional 18 project management terms, all developed through the application of its definitional method. The terms encompass governance, power, ethics, leadership, and their associated groups, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding these critical concepts.

The book delves into the resolution of disagreements using these new, clear definitions, extending this analysis to explore the benefits of "good ethics" for individuals and society. Additionally, it offers practical guidance on "how to speak managem," empowering readers to communicate effectively in management contexts.

In conclusion, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in linguistics, philosophy, or management. It offers a profound exploration of the linguistic traps that hinder our understanding and provides a path to overcome them. By embracing the insights and methodologies presented herein, readers can enhance their communication skills, improve decision-making processes, and contribute to a more ethical and effective management landscape.

Weight: 557g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811622151
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021