Postmodern Program Management
Abstract
The Modernist worldview took root during the so called Scientific Age of the late 19th century, which was marked by a belief that the newly industrial and mechanized world had reached a permanent apex. Even the name Modernism conveys a sense of having arrived at a goal and having achieved a sort of optimal understanding of the way the universe works, particularly as compared with the primitives who came before. Modernist thought was a key contributor to 20th century industrialization worldwide and continues to influence organizational behavior up to the present day, though not always with positive results. Among other interesting characteristics, Moderns believe in the discoverability of universal principles, the virtue of standardization to an optimized standard, and the long-term value and viability of absolute certainties. While the Modernist influence on architecture, politics, art, and religion might be interesting topics for discussion in other places, this article focuses instead on Modern expressions in management and organizational dynamics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- AD1016359
Entities
People
- Chris Quaid
- Daniel R. Ward
- Gabe Mounce
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology