Change is the distinguishing characteristic of the business environment across the world and it affects how contemporary organisations operate. While organisations need to do more with less, they also have to satisfy the needs of their customers who, with more exposure to local and global markets, have higher expectations relating to the cost, quality, speed and innovation of the services and products they purchase from these organisations. In response to the changes in their business environment, organisations are becoming flatter, networked, global, more flexible and diverse and managers have to acquire the skills to face the challenges associated with these features. 

The contemporary management principles offered in this publication integrates discussions on vital managerial competencies and skills with information on traditional and essential managerial concepts that have been effective in the past and are still relevant. The first part of the book deals with the evolution of management theory, the management process, and the features of contemporary organisations.

The next six chapters deal with the internal environment of contemporary business organisations, including a discussion on the composition of the management environment; managing change, corporate culture, power, politics conflict resolution and negotiation; business ethics; CSR and corporate governance; and workforce diversity.  The rest of the chapters focus on the management functions of planning, organising, leading and control. An additional chapter deals with the role of management in the implementation of project management and a second chapter provides an overview of organisational value chains and the impact of electronic media and e-business on organisational efficiency and effectiveness.

The authors of Contemporary Management Principles are experienced lecturers in the field of business management from various universities in South Africa and Africa

Key Features and Benefits 

• each chapter features a relevant opening case study to illustrate the specific contents of the chapter
• appropriate South African examples are provided throughout to contextualise the various concepts
• in cases where the effects of the coronavirus pandemic are evident at the time of writing this book, such information is provided and applied to various business management activities
• at the end of each chapter a summary is provided that links to the learning objectives related to the chapter

• each chapter concludes with relevant review question for students to test their understanding of the chapter contents

PART I: INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1 The Evolution of Management Theory    

Chapter 2 The Management Process

Chapter 3 Features of Contemporary Organisations and New Management Challenges

PART II: MANAGEMENT IN A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT

Chapter 4 Composition of the Management Environment

Chapter 5 Managing Organisational Change and Individual Stress

Chapter 6 Corporate Culture

Chapter 7 Power, Politics, Conflict Resolution and Negotion

Chapter 8 Business Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility,

Chapter 9 Workforce Diversity

PART 111: PLANNING

Chapter 10 Principles of Planning

Chapter 11 Strategic Management

Chapter 12 Decision Making

Chapter 13 Information Management

Chapter 14 Project Management

PART 1V: ORGANISING

Chapter 15 Principles of Organising

Chapter 16 Value Chain and E-Business

PART V: LEADING

Chapter 17 Individual Behaviour in Organisations

Chapter 18 Work Groups and Teams

Chapter 19 Principles of Leading

Chapter 20 Workforce Motivation

PART V1: CONTROLLING

Chapter 21 Principles of Control