Concept of the corporation /
Peter F. Drucker ; with a new introduction by the author.
- New Brunswick, N.J., U.S.A. : Transaction Publishers, c1993.
- xxvii, 329 p. ; 23 cm.
"Originally published in 1946 by John Day Company"--T.p. verso.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of Contents Introduction to the 1983 Edition Preface to the 1983 Edition Preface to the Original Edition Part 1: Capitalism in One Country Part 2: The Corporation as Human Effort 1. Organization for Production 2. Decentralization 3. How Well Does It Work? 4. The Small Business Partner 5. Decentralization as a Model? Part 3: The Corporation as a Social Institution 6. The American Beliefs 7. The Foreman: The Industrial Middle Class 8. The Worker Part 4: Economic Policy in an Industrial Society 9. The "Curse of Bigness" 10. Production for "Use" or for "Profit"? 11. Is Full Employment Possible? Epilogue
Concept of the Corporation was the first study ever of the constitution, structure, and internal dynamics of a major business enterprise. Basing his work on a two-year analysis of the company done during the closing years of World War II, Drucker looks at the General Motors managerial organization from within. He tries to understand what makes the company work so effectively, what its core principles are, and how they contribute to its successes. The themes this volume addresses go far beyond the business corporation, into a consideration of the dynamics of the so-called corporate state itself.
When the book initially appeared, General Motors managers rejected it as unfairly critical and antibusiness. Yet, the GM concept of the corporation and its principles of organization later became models for organizations worldwide. Not only businesses, but also government agencies, research laboratories, hospitals, and universities have found in Concept of the Corporation a basis for effective organization and management.
Because it offers a fundamental theory of corporate goals, this book is a valuable resource for business professionals and organization analysts. It will also be of interest to students and professionals in economics, public administration, and political science. Professional and technical readers who admire Peter Drucker's work will want to be certain this volume is in their personal library. At a time when everything from the size to the structure of corporations is being questioned, this classic should prove a valuable guide.