Aristotle and management

Abstract

Aristotle's writings are scrutinized from the viewpoint of management. The influence that Aristotle has had on research in general extends to management research as well. In his teleological thinking, in his emphasis on action, choice and responsibility and in his treatises on virtue and constitutions, Aristotle presents views that are relevant to management practice. His treatise on household-management comes nearest to what is today called management. Aristotle's conception of the tasks of management is not contradictory to modern formulations of management functions. Although there is not enough evidence to show that Aristotle wrote deliberately about it his writings are relevant to what we now call management.