• Login
    View Item 
    •   Home
    • Massey Documents by Type
    • Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    •   Home
    • Massey Documents by Type
    • Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Leadership & logology : a scriptive reading of leadership writing : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management at Massey University

    Icon
    View/Open Full Text
    01_front.pdf (1.235Mb)
    02_whole.pdf (19.90Mb)
    Export to EndNote
    Abstract
    Leadership theory has developed alongside management theory since the early twentieth century. The writing of management theory has been subject to critical interpretation as evinced by 'guru' theory. In comparison, the development of leadership theory has received scant critical attention. My inquiry moves into this 'gap', explores it and then asks 'What does a critical reading of leadership writing tell us about where leadership theory is heading?' My thesis argues that leadership theory has moved from the naming of 'managers' to the designation of 'leader-managers' and in the analysis of Drucker's writing, suggests that the 'leader of leaders' has already arrived. I also highlight the multiple meanings attributed to the term 'leadership' and predict that it is becoming a 'god-term'. These observations were the result of several stages of research. Firstly, the literature on leadership indicated two trends that signalled the direction of leadership theory. One trend pointed to the rising 'image' of the manager / leader and the other to an expanding concept of leadership. Burke's theory of logology suggested that these trends were part of the nature of language which inherently tends towards hierarchical 'perfection'. In order to test Burke's theory, several of Drucker's texts were selected for analysis as they spanned more than 50 years of management and leadership writing. Applying a 'scriptive' approach to reading and critically analysing Drucker's texts, I traced the development of the manager/leader and the concept of leadership. I also discovered the concept of knowledge is closely aligned with leadership. In the final analysis, I acknowledged the alternative perspective logology brings to leadership theory and anticipate the exciting possibilities for further research such a perspective provides.
    Date
    2002
    Author
    Teo-Dixon, Poh Lyn (Grace)
    Rights
    The Author
    Publisher
    Massey University
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10179/6463
    Collections
    • Theses and Dissertations
    Metadata
    Show full item record

    Copyright © Massey University
    | Contact Us | Feedback | Copyright Take Down Request | Massey University Privacy Statement
    DSpace software copyright © Duraspace
    v5.7-2020.1-beta1
     

     

    Tweets by @Massey_Research
    Information PagesContent PolicyDepositing content to MROCopyright and Access InformationDeposit LicenseDeposit License SummaryTheses FAQFile FormatsDoctoral Thesis Deposit

    Browse

    All of MROCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Copyright © Massey University
    | Contact Us | Feedback | Copyright Take Down Request | Massey University Privacy Statement
    DSpace software copyright © Duraspace
    v5.7-2020.1-beta1