A Taxonomy of Management Theories

Merriam-Webster defines a theory as a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena. Social science theories endeavor to explain relationships between variables and few such theories, if any, are amenable to testing in laboratories; therefore, the term “theory” is in this paper taken to mean a contemplative and rational type of abstract or generalizing thinking, or the results of such thinking.

For instance, it goes without saying that effective management played a role in, say, the construction of pyramids in Egypt; administration in the Roman Empire; the conduct of business by the Phoenicians; the Muslim Agricultural Revolution of the 8th–13th century; and the legal framework for commerce in Venice in the 14th century.

Every two years since 2001, Thinkers50 has published its ranking of the world’s top 50 management and leadership thinkers. Thinkers50 ranking is based on a combination of voting at the Thinkers50 website and input from a team of advisors. The criteria are (a) relevance of ideas; (b) rigor of research; (c) presentation of ideas; (d) accessibility/dissemination of ideas; (e) international outlook; (f) originality of ideas; (g) impact of ideas; (h) practicality of ideas; (i) business sense; and (j) power to inspire. Criteria 1–5 are based on how the thinker has performed over the last two years (since the last ranking); Criteria 6–10 are evaluated based on the thinker’s performance over the long term (the last 20 years). Those recognized previously have included, alphabetically, Richard Branson, Peter Drucker, Clayton Christensen, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Tom Peters, and Michael Porter.