The Half Life of Management Theory

Course content, theory, history

What is the half-life of theory? In our courses we teach a large amount of theory that was developed in the 1950s, 60s, etc when typical organizational members participating in the studies were far more homogeneous, carrying different values with regards to work and when technologies did not permeate their experiences in and with work. At what point to we shelve those theories as quaint elements of the past until they are either retested or replaced? Come join a discussion about the appropriate half-life of our course content.

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