Nineteenth International Conference on Knowledge, Culture, and Change in Organizations

Abstract

Based on decades of research, Henry Mintzberg (2009) proposed management to be a combination of science (i.e., focus on analysis), art (i.e., vision and conceptualization) and craft (i.e., the practice of management). Today’s business environment is extremely complex and dynamic. In search of efficiency and effectiveness, the digitalization of business models, processes, products, services and customers generate massive amounts of data. Moreover, new digital technologies have evolved to better process and make sense and generate intelligence from data. Over the years, digital technologies have evolved from reporting what happened (descriptive technologies) to recommending and implementing actions (prescriptive technologies). This paper updates Mintzberg view of management, by proposing digital technologies greatly reduce (sometimes automate) the need for the analytical side of management. Hence, management can better focus its energy on the more strategic, visionary and conceptual aspects of the practice (management). In terms of organization, a pertinent literature review is completed. Then, a “new” management framework is proposed and discussed. Furthermore, the validity of the framework, based a survey of managers is assessed. Lastly, a reflection about preliminary findings and opportunities for future research is also provided.