Why investing in first-line leaders yields greater returns than C-suite training
In a thought-provoking analysis, Henry Mintzberg underscores the critical importance of developing first-line leaders rather than focusing disproportionately on C-suite executives. Despite the overwhelming investment in executive development, Mintzberg argues that frontline managers – those closest to employees and customers – are the true force multipliers in any organization.
Henry Mintzberg reflects on 50 years of management insights
In a special interview marking the 50th anniversary of his iconic article "The Manager's Job: Folklore and Fact," Henry Mintzberg revisits his groundbreaking work, offering fresh perspectives on organizational structure, management, and leadership.
International Master’s Program for Managers encourages leaders to reflect and learn from their experience
Writing in the early 19th century, the introspective British poet William Wordsworth coined the phrase ‘spots of time’ to describe the moments that are especially memorable and influential in one’s life. Reflecting on the importance of such moments can help leaders thrive in the 21st century.
Chinese strategic consultancy looks to work of Prof. Henry Mintzberg to understand domestic context
Shanghai-headquartered KMIND provides strategic consulting advice to billion-dollar companies. Its success is built on a blend of both Eastern and Western philosophies, according to President Noah Xie. “Utilizing Eastern wisdom doesn’t mean we can get rid of the Western theories,” says Xie in a Forbes interview with Professor Karl Moore.
In making AI strategies, organizations need to consider a holistic approach
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to streamline inefficient processes, a common issue in many government organizations. To adopt AI effectively, a comprehensive strategy is necessary. And organizations like the United States Office of Management and Budget have already done so.
Organizational restructuring is a visible sign of change but often not effective
Changes to an organization’s structure are tangible but don’t necessarily bring about any concrete results. Consider the example of the UK’s National Health Service. It regularly reorganizes but doesn’t change much. “The reason is simple,” says Professor Henry Mintzberg in an interview with Business People.
Two McGill Desautels professors amongst recipients of the President’s Prize for Public Engagement through Media
McGill University's President’s Prize for Public Engagement Through Media recognizes outstanding achievement among those who share their knowledge with the public. In 2024, McGill Desautels was well-represented among the winners.
McGill Desautels faculty members and researchers celebrated at Bravo Gala
McGill University hosted its annual Bravo Gala on Thursday, March 21, which honours its faculty members and researchers who have won special awards, memberships and prizes over the past year. McGill Desautels is proud to announce 14 of its faculty amongst the distinguished honourees this year. Congratulations to our deserving laureates! Full list below. #Bravo2024
MBA studies sharpen management skills, but can’t create managers on their own
Some scholars have argued that MBAs serve business school bottom lines more than they benefit students, writes Ann Peng in the Kansas City Business Journal. Other studies have quantified significant financial benefits for those who hold these degrees. But the MBA doesn’t make the manager, and Peng suggests that recruiting MBA students based on their leadership experience instead of their years of general work experience can facilitate their leadership development.
Universities must go beyond the ivory tower
The ivory tower sits on a solid foundation, but it could use a little shaking up, writes Professor Henry Mintzberg in a University World News article co-authored with his daughter Susan Mintzberg, a doctoral candidate in social work at McGill University. They argue that an overemphasis on a few top journals is one of the issues of the current model.
Raising tuition for out-of-province students risks undermining world-class academic programs, writes Prof. Henry Mintzberg
Funding for universities is not a zero-sum game, writes John Cleghorn Professor of Management Henry Mintzberg in a LaPresse op-ed. And the Quebec government’s plan to increase tuition for out-of-province students risks undermining the very source of funding it hopes to leverage.
A combination of approaches results in better decisions
Navigating decision-making complexities is no easy feat, but Henry Mintzberg, John Cleghorn Professor of Management Studies at McGill University, and Frances Westley, J.W. McConnell Chair in social innovation at the University of Waterloo, have crafted insightful methods to ease this process.
The Five Mindsets of a Manager continues to influence management practices twenty years after its original publication
Today’s leaders don’t only face managerial and business challenges. There are geopolitical, social, and environmental obstacles too. The way they respond will define their organization’s success. In 2003, Prof. Henry Mintzberg provided a framework for leadership in the modern global economy when he published “The Five Mindsets of a Manager” in the Harvard Business Review.
New book by Prof. Henry Mintzberg brings together decades of observation and analysis
Prof. Henry Mintzberg has been observing, advising and researching organizations since the early 1970s, and has had a profound influence on their study. The most recent book from the John Cleghorn Professor of Management Studies is Understanding Organizations…Finally! Structure in Sevens, and it synthesizes decades of analysis to understand the forces that shape organizations.
Fady Dagher plans to flatten the hierarchy of Montreal police force
As chief of the Service de police de l’Agglomération de Longueuil (SPAL), Fady Dagher (EMBA’12) carried out a real revolution in the force, and he has now taken the reins of the Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) as its new chief, writes McGill Alumni News. In Longueil, Dagher took the concept of “community policing” one step further by creating a “partnership police force” that works hand-in-hand with social services. Dagher credits McGill Desautels Prof.
