The Oxford Handbook of Critical Management Studies

Critical Management Studies (CMS) has emerged as a movement that questions the authority and relevance of mainstream thinking and practice. Critical of established social practices and institutional arrangements, it challenges prevailing systems of domination and promotes the development of alternatives to them.

CMS draws upon diverse critical traditions. Of particular importance for its initial articulation was the thinking of members of the Frankfurt School of Critical Theory. From these foundations, CMS has grown into a pluralistic and inclusive movement incorporating a diverse range of perspectives - ranging from labour process theory to radical feminism. In recent times, a set of ideas broadly labelled 'poststructuralist' have been developed to complement and challenge the insights of Critical Theory, giving new impetus for scholars seeking to challenge the status quo and articulate a more inclusive and humane future for management practice.

The Oxford Handbook of Critical Management Studies provides an overview of theoretical approaches, key topics, issues, and subject specialisms in management studies, as well as a set of reflections on the progress and prospects of CMS. Contributors are all specialists in their respective fields and share a concern to interrogate and challenge received wisdom about management theory and practice. Given the rapid growth of the CMS movement, its ever increasing theoretical and geographical diversity, and its outreach into the public sphere, the Oxford Handbook of Critical Management Studies is a timely publication. In addition to UK contributors, where CMS has developed most rapidly, there is strong representation from North American contributors as well as from areas where CMS has taken hold more recently, such as Australasia.

Mats Alvesson is Professor of Business Administration at the University of Lund, Sweden. Research interests include critical theory, gender, power, management of professional service (knowledge intensive) organizations, organizational culture and symbolism, qualitative methods and philosophy of science. Recent books include Understanding Gender and Organizations (Sage, 2009, 2nd ed with Yvonne Billing), Reflexive Methodology (Sage, 2009, 2nd ed, with Kaj Skoldberg), Changing Organizational Culture (Routledge 2008, with Stefan Sveningsson), Knowledge Work and Knowledge-Intensive Firms (Oxford University Press, 2004), Postmodernism and Social Research (Open University Press, 2002), Understanding Organizational Culture (Sage, 2002).

Hugh Willmott is Research Professor in Organization Studies, Cardiff Business School, having held professorial positions at the Universities of Cambridge and Manchester and visiting appointments at the Universities of Copenhagen, Lund and Cranfield. He has a strong interest in the application of social theory, especially poststructuralist thinking, to the field of management and business. His recent books include Critical Management Studies: A Reader (OUP, 2005), Introducing Organization Behaviour and Management (Cengage). He currently serves on the board of Academy of Management Review, Organization Studies, Journal of Management Studies, and Organization.


Todd Bridgman is Senior Lecturer in Organizational Behaviour at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. He was previously an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellow at Judge Business School, University of Cambridge and Junior Research Fellow of Wolfson College, University of Cambridge. His PhD, completed at Judge Business School, was judged best doctoral thesis in Critical Management Studies at the Academy of Management 2005. His research interests include poststructuralism, management education, and the role of the university in society. Todd is one of the founders of the CMS website http://www.criticalmanagement.org.