“The book is very good. It is well structured, has a clear argument, provides a thorough, varied and comprehensive set of analytical perspectives, brings forth relevant and well-presented empirical examples and has wide-reaching implications.” • Halvard Vike, University of South-Eastern Norway
“The book is an intriguing description of a kind of management consulting and management thought that shows how these are shaped by important currents in contemporary society.” • James G. Carrier, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Drawing on extended ethnographic studies of management consultancies in the Oslo region of Norway, this book seeks to find a richer understanding of their role in contemporary work life and the attraction their practices exert on people. The author shows that management consultancy is an arena of meaning that should be analysed as a ‘cultural space’. With a detailed investigation into consultancy as a cultural phenomenon, Henningsen argues that its services can be viewed as a ‘micro-utopian’ vision which can lead to a happier working environment for individuals.
Erik Henningsen is Research director at the Department of Welfare, Democracy and Governance at the Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research, Oslo Metropolitan University. He has carried out research on topics related to cultural policy, social work, international development aid and social movements.
LC: HD69.C6 H463 2020
BISAC: SOC002010 SOCIAL SCIENCE/Anthropology/Cultural & Social; BUS075000 BUSINESS & ECONOMICS/Consulting
BIC: JHMC Social & cultural anthropology, ethnography; KJL Consultancy & grants for businesses