Introductory article. The history of managerial thought: Reflecting on and clarifying its journey, some terms, and the prospects of greater visibility for the field

Abstract

In this introduction, we try to clarify and expand on some aspects of the history of managerial thought: its methodology, its epistemology, the different types of works produced under this heading, and the contribution it can make to the epistemology of management science. We explain, in particular, that the history of managerial thought is not synonymous with the history of business, although there is an obvious intersection between these two fields. We also argue in favor of using the term “history of managerial thought” and call for the constitution of a research community to advance this subject, the vast majority of which still remains to be explored.