Critical Management Studies (CMS) is an interdisciplinary field of academic inquiry that aims to critically examine and challenge prevailing assumptions and practices in the domain of management. It emerged in the late 20th century as a response to the dominant, positivist approaches in management studies, which it argues tend to reinforce existing power structures and ideologies.
At its core, CMS seeks to unveil power dynamics, social inequalities, and hidden ideologies within organizations and management practices. It draws on various perspectives, including critical theory, post-structuralism, postmodernism, and feminism, to analyze and critique management practices and their impact on different stakeholders.
By questioning established norms and practices, CMS aims to expose the social, political, and cultural contexts in which management operates. It seeks to bring issues such as workplace exploitation, inequality, environmental degradation, and the implications of globalization to the forefront of management discourse. Through its critical lens, CMS advocates for more inclusive and sustainable management practices that prioritize social responsibility, ethics, and the well-being of individuals and communities.
Some key themes in CMS include the study of power relations, resistance, identities, and alternative forms of organizing. CMS research may involve qualitative methodologies, such as ethnography and discourse analysis, to gain a deep understanding of the complexities and nuances of managerial practices.
Overall, critical management studies provides a critical lens through which to examine and challenge conventional management practices, with the ultimate aim of fostering more equitable, just, and ethical organizational environments.
