Unmasking The False Prophets and False Prophecies of Management: Challenging Orthodoxy in A Complex World

• Author(s): Wokoma, Harcourt Opubo
• Paper ID: 1710703
• Page: 1916-1924
• Published Date: 07-10-2025
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 9 Issue 3 September-2025

Abstract

Management as a field of study and practice has long been shaped by competing theories, models, and prescriptions that claim universal applicability. Over time, many of these have solidified into orthodoxies—rigid schools of thought that elevate partial truths into grand solutions. Such doctrines, often celebrated as timeless principles, can be likened to “false prophets” delivering “false prophecies”: ideas that promise clarity yet obscure the realities of organizational life. This paper critically examines these false prophets of management by interrogating the limitations of dominant paradigms, including overly deterministic classical models, mechanistic quantitative frameworks, and managerial fads that prioritize rhetoric over substance. It argues that management cannot be reduced to dogma without sacrificing its capacity to address the complexity, uncertainty, and contextual variability that define modern organizations. Drawing on a cross-disciplinary critique, the paper highlights how uncritical acceptance of managerial orthodoxies produces false prophecies—simplistic predictions and prescriptions that fail in practice. By challenging these assumptions, the paper calls for a more reflective, context-sensitive approach to management, one that privileges adaptability, critical inquiry, and responsiveness over rigid adherence to outdated formulas. Ultimately, the paper contends that unmasking the false prophets of management is essential for advancing a discipline that remains relevant in a rapidly changing world.

Keywords

False Prophets, Management Orthodoxy, False Prophecies, Critical Management Studies, Organizational Complexity, Managerial Fads, Theory And Practice.

Citations

IRE Journals:
Wokoma, Harcourt Opubo "Unmasking The False Prophets and False Prophecies of Management: Challenging Orthodoxy in A Complex World" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 9 Issue 3 2025 Page 1916-1924

IEEE:
Wokoma, Harcourt Opubo "Unmasking The False Prophets and False Prophecies of Management: Challenging Orthodoxy in A Complex World" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 9(3)