the growth of management philosophies and China's case

In the early 20th century, Frederick Winslow Taylor preached that there was one way to manage, and he called it Scientific Management. By teh mid-20th century, another one best way had emerged, with proponents espousing various philosophies we lump into the "behavioral approach to management." In the last third of the 20th century, many management theorists said there was no one best way, but that the appropriate style was contingent upon the situation.

Now in the 21st century, we see similar issues raised and discussed in China. Is there one best way? Until the economic reform, there was one way, even if not the best way. Now, many flowers bloom. The results of this study are clear that all the styles have a place in China's transitional period -- this point in time. What does the future hold? The answer is yet to be found.

---- Anne S. Tsui, Hui Wang, & Katherine Xin et al.