PETER DRUCKER: MORE RELEVANT THAN EVER FOR TODAY’S LEADERS

Abstract

The author, Research Director of the Management as a Liberal Art Research Institute, has studied directly under Peter Drucker and has written books about him. In assessing Drucker’s work and legacy in a context for today’s leaders, she notes that he “was shaped by the disruptions of World War I, the rise of Nazi Germany, the Great Depression, World War II, and the growth of the United States as a post-war industrial powerhouse. Given the degree of uncertainty he experienced in the first 35 years of his life, it is not surprising that Drucker sought a path to navigate the rough waters of instability and change.” Regarding his personal/career longevity, “his devotion to lifelong learning and his genuine interest in the lives of so many people helped him produce timely and important work well into his eighties and nineties.” She further discusses Drucker’s work as a social theorist, in management as a human activity, evolving views on leadership, the knowledge society, innovation, the public sector, technology, and the future. Regarding the latter, “decisions regarding advancement must be made with an eye on social costs and benefits, the limitations of technological innovations, and the historical, social, and cultural context of technological innovation.”