Management, administration, leadership: What's in a name?

Abstract

In summary, I have argued that while research and publications in the field have tended to deal with management and administration--examining issues as if they were predominately structural, organizational and authority-oriented, the area that cries out for further attention is that of leadership. For, while managers can do, and administrators oversee--it is only leaders who can move us ahead. The field is in for a turbulent, difficult, but I suspect, exhilarating next new years. Our work is truly very different from that in most businesses--and while good "managers" may make money for business enterprises, for us, leadership is the critical ingredient. (I'm not even so sure that despite some experts disclaimer of the lack of importance of leadership in business, a closer look would not inevitably reveal a Kroc, Hewlett, DiLorenzo or Iacocca behind every successful corporate initiative anyway). With that in mind, we should increase both our study of the development of leaders and our attention to their development. To do less is to increase our difficulties, court further new disasters, and have even less control over our work and our future. We deserve and can achieve a better destiny.