Title: Starting out: ethics and the nature of Peter F. Drucker's intellectual journey

Authors: Peter Starbuck

Addresses: Peter Starbuck Ltd, Plas Waen, Llanforda, Oswestry, UK

Abstract: This paper considers the intellectual origins of Peter Drucker|s |Ethics|, developed before he went to America. Although Drucker is recognised as a management guru, his first research objective was to discover a purpose for |life| which evolved into his |Ethics|. Once he had achieved this objective he then took his next step, which was to discover a |workable society| that would provide the basic human requirements of |freedom, status and function|. After identifying a |workable society| he then considered |economics| as the driving force of society. However, after extensive examination of what economics had to offer he concluded that it was in effect only a theoretical subject and that it was |management| that was and is |the dynamic element| and that |the manager is the dynamic, life giving element| (Drucker, 1954, p.3).

Keywords: Drucker; management gurus; ethics; corporate social responsibility; CSR.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMCP.2009.027615

International Journal of Management Concepts and Philosophy, 2009 Vol.3 No.4, pp.332 - 348

Published online: 04 Aug 2009 *

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