Towards an Agreed Body of Knowledge, Understanding, Skills and Expertise for Managers: Managing in Turbulent Times

The purpose of this paper is to set out the state of knowledge and understanding to date on what constitutes the expertise of management, how this works, and what it is required to deliver in terms of performance, profitability and sustainability. There have been numerous attempts to clarify, define and codify this expertise. The contention is that there is a capability and understanding in specific activities relating to people, performance, profit, finance and organisation, that if understood, learned and implemented, set organisations apart from others, and deliver sustainable performance, both is steady state and also turbulent times.This paper covers these issues from the point of view that it is essential to define and develop a professional body of skills, knowledge, approaches and expertise for managers and leaders. This is in order to establish the key deliverables and performance that can then be expected and insisted on.This paper starts with a review of the immediate and present state of what management is and is understood to be. This is in order to define the foundation for developing and addressing key concerns of the present. From this it goes on to emphasize the lessons for the future and the actions that must be taken in order to ensure that the leadership, direction and management of organisations of all sizes, locations and activities, delivers performance which is sustainable and effective, to a much greater extent than at present.