Mary Parker Follett (1868-1933)


Follett defined management as: "the art of getting things done through people".

Her ideas are contradictory to the idea of scientific management, as she believed that managers and subordinates should fully collaborate. Power is central to her ideas. Power is created and organized by organizations, and according to her it is legitimate and inevitable. Regarding to power Follett used the term "integration," to refer to noncoercive power-sharing based on the use of her concept of "power with" rather than "power over."

Her ideas were formulated in three principles:

1. Functions are specific task areas within organizations. The appropriate degree of authority and responsibility should be allocated to them so tasks can be accomplished.

2. Responsibility is expressed in terms of an empirical duty: People should manage their responsibility on the basis of evidence and should integrate this effectively with the functions of others.

3. Authority flows from an entitlement to exercise power, which is based upon legitimate authority.



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Sources:

Clegg, S., Kornberger, M., & Pitsis, T. (2005). Making sense of management in Managing and Organizations – An introduction to theory and practice (1st edition, pp. 3-39). London: SAGE Publications

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Parker_Follett

http://www.management.com.ua/hrm/hrm146-follett.jpg (photo)