Humanistic management – theory based on the pragmatist approach

The article presents a theoretical approach to management seen from the humanistic point of view. This kind of consideration becomes urgent especially in the context of the contemporary economic environment. Its turbulent and rapid changeability and the increasing role of information imposes a reconstruction of the management theory and methodology. The main question of the investigation concerns possible reasons for using the term “humanistic” in the context of management. This term is based on a different kind of knowledge but is very promising as a possible theoretical extra supply. The article proposes to see the process of management as a pragmatic process because it leads to a specifi c result, which is the change of a certain chosen segment of reality. This change is also expedient and pragmatic because it uses conceptual constructions to determine and describe itself. At the same time, the so described theory of management encounters a very important set of theoretical concerns tied with the contemporary discourse on knowledge and its conditions. This kind of discourse played a fundamental role in the second half of last century and changed most of our beliefs about such concepts as knowledge, truth and so on. It also led to the rebirth of crucial epistemological questions. This kind of concerns and questions make theory become humanistic, which also happens with the theory of management which, in this way, acquires the right to be seen as humanistic.

The article presents a theoretical approach to management seen from the humanistic point of view. This kind of consideration becomes urgent especially in the context of the contemporary economic environment. Its turbulent and rapid changeability and the increasing role of information imposes a reconstruction of the management theory and methodology. The main question of the investigation concerns possible reasons for using the term “humanistic” in the context of management. This term is based on a different kind of knowledge but is very promising as a possible theoretical extra supply. The article proposes to see the process of management as a pragmatic process because it leads to a specifi c result, which is the change of a certain chosen segment of reality. This change is also expedient and pragmatic because it uses conceptual constructions to determine and describe itself. At the same time, the so described theory of management encounters a very important set of theoretical concerns tied with the contemporary discourse on knowledge and its conditions. This kind of discourse played a fundamental role in the second half of last century and changed most of our beliefs about such concepts as knowledge, truth and so on. It also led to the rebirth of crucial epistemological questions. This kind of concerns and questions make theory become humanistic, which also happens with the theory of management which, in this way, acquires the right to be seen as humanistic.