Books by Robert Spillane

This book describes how management mutated into managerialism. Original theories of power and purposive managerial ethics are followed by discussions of the rhetoric of managerial authority and its application to boardroom behaviour, managerial leadership, ¿moral intelligence¿ and the misuse of psychology in management. The book closes with essays on the future of management education and practice.

How can we gain insight into and mastery of ourselves? Entering the world of the great philosophers and engaging with them, we become aware of what we are capable of becoming. They speak to us of themselves and the good life and thereby offer the possibility for self-development. While this sounds like psychology, it is what the ancient Greeks called moral philosophy and its main precept is 'know oneself'. To know oneself is to embrace one's personal power. From Socrates to Sartre, from Plato to postmodernism, philosophers have important things to say about the personal power that underpins human existence. This book discusses ten philosophical perspectives, or worldviews, which present original ideas capable of evoking in us values that are guidelines for personal conduct. Harmonising knowledge, values and conduct maximises our personal power and thereby enables us to solve the practical and psychological problems of human existence, or overcome those that cannot be solved. The philosophers discussed in this book embody ideas of considerable fascination and force which can change our lives by penetrating the illusions of appearance and the delusions of common sense. As philosophy is thinking critically about thinking, it is a liberating activity because philosophers confront us with our prejudices and arouse our curiosity without satisfying it.They show us what they were and how philosophy inspired them to live productive lives. They did not seek disciples but encouraged others to philosophise with them. We cannot escape from philosophy because we philosophise when we reflect critically on how well we are living.Philosophy is, therefore, a meditation on who we are and what we can become: it is an eye for an I.

Office politics, power struggles, ulterior motives, personality differences ...all combine to make this cynical poke at the "executive branch" of a typical office highly entertaining. The setting takes you to a management training program where several managers are invited to attend. As we watch form the sidelines we are witness to undercurrent of what really goes on. This is pure entertainment disguised as education! Using extensive research and personality tests for a look into human behavior we are able to glean from this witty and ironic work. Performance versus personality, management versus leadership all play a part in the clever portrayal of the world of executives. As the managers are skeptical about the motives of those who organize and conduct management conferences, they meet to discuss tactics. At the conference they argue with the psychologist who is trying to entertain them. The conference proceeds in the face of questions and arguments which challenge the authority of the psychologist who attempts to control the protagonists. But the conference participants have other ideas... Sit back in your seats, prepare to laugh uncontrollably.