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The cuckoo clock syndrome : addicted to command, allergic to leadership

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Grint, Keith. (2010) The cuckoo clock syndrome : addicted to command, allergic to leadership. European Management Journal, Vol.28 (No.4). pp. 306-313. ISSN 0263-2373

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2010.05.002

Abstract

This article considers the extent to which we are addicted to particular ways of configuring the world and responding in a culturally appropriate way. It suggests that the original Tame and Wicked problems typology of Rittell and Webber (1973) can be usefully expanded to provide a heuristic for explaining this addiction and then focuses upon the most common approach an addiction to Crisis and Command. Some likely explanations for this addiction are discussed and some illustrative examples provided. It concludes that not only does our predilection for Crisis and Command undermine our attempts to address Wicked problems adequately, but also that 'Leadership' (defined as persuading the collective to take responsibility for collective problems) is often regarded not just as difficult and dangerous, but as the enemy of the people'. We are, then, not only likely to be addicted to Command but also likely to be allergic to leadership.

Item Type:

Journal Article

Subjects:

H Social Sciences > HM Sociology

Divisions:

Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School > International Centre for Governance & Public Management
Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School

Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):

Management -- Philosophy, Leadership -- Philosophy

Journal or Publication Title:

European Management Journal

Publisher:

Elsevier Science Ltd.

ISSN:

0263-2373

Official Date:

August 2010

Dates:

Date	Event
August 2010	Published

Volume:

Vol.28

Number:

No.4

Number of Pages:

Page Range:

pp. 306-313

Identifier:

10.1016/j.emj.2010.05.002

Status:

Not Peer Reviewed

Publication Status:

Published

Access rights to Published version:

Restricted or Subscription Access

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