The "unlearning" of management: an ethical challenge

It seems that British managers are forgetting how to manage and that it is irresponsible for them to fail to develop operational management skills. It is deemed unethical for people to do unnecessary work, waste materials, or put others at risk, whether in an economic or physical sense, because of poor competence on the part of management. It is believed that the problem is getting worse and that there appears to be an "unlearning" management crisis. Too few managers know about the fundamentals of operational management; areas that are vital for them to ensure effective use of both human and material resources are increasingly misunderstood. This paper provides guidelines and pathways, which managers at all levels ought to be aware of, and act upon, in order to reverse this trend. Indeed, there is an urgent call for action to face up to the challenge, both operationally and ethically.