Fuzzy Management: Contemporary Ideas and Practices at Work (Hardcover)

However, the book is not written like a practical manual of management (a 'how to' book). A number of real-life examples from the literature are briefly described to illustrate the points; but there are no case studies, or anecdotes based on Grint's experience (he is a career academic). The approach is generally academic, though the tone is light. The content is best described as suggestive, rather than comprehensive.

First Grint introduces the idea of 'fuzzy thinking', based on work in set theory and mathematical logic. The idea that this is the most appropriate type of thinking for real-world management problems is the primary message of the book. Grint goes on to look at why managers embrace a seemingly endless succession of fashionable change programmes. Given that it is a 'fuzzy world', there are many possible explanations available from theory and the prime candidate is by no means rational assessment of effectiveness. Theory also teaches us to be cautious about expending resources on change programmes. Next Grint turns his attention to chaos theory and evolutionary theory and their significance for organizations. He moves on to the benefits and dangers of commitment-based approaches to change, advocating consideration of actor-network theory. The next topics are leadership and appraisal. Grint suggests traditional practice has underestimated both the importance of non-hierarchical leadership and fuzzy perspectives on appraisal. There follows an examination of risk management and a caution against over reliance on a scientific approach. Finally he introduces elements of negotiating theory and applies his fuzzy thinking perspective.

It is possible to extract Grint's main themes from the above summary. One theme concerns the relationship of theory and practice: an ineradicable gulf exists between the elegance of theory and the muddiness of practice; but theory and practice are inextricably linked as theories have consequences. The other themes are: the complexity of real-world management practices, making them intrinsically theory resistant; and, most importantly, the use of fuzzy approaches to cope with the uncertainty and ambiguity consequent upon this complexity.

Grint, though by no means providing a manual of managing under uncertainty, does add a dose of realism not found in many popular management texts on the one hand, or academic literature on the other. Furthermore, some of his suggestions are consistent with recent developments in management theory and practice, implying that the book indirectly has value for the practising manager at the level of its specific discussions