The management of change: a narrative perspective on management development

Examines the role of narrative in management development. It contrasts the characteristics of this genre with the more conventional approach to management development. Using a management of change course delivered to management practitioners as an example, the paper draws attention to the value of narrative in enriching knowledge of the effects of change on individuals. It is argued that narratives express the richness and diversity of human experience and thus challenge simplistic analyses of management issues such as change that can result from adherence to narrow, mechanical models of human nature. Thus, narrative is recommended as a valuable tool for conveying the reality of managerial situations to practitioners engaged in management development.