ESCUELAS E INTERPRETACIONES DEL PENSAMIENTO ADMINISTRATIVO (Article published in Spanish)

Abstract

The following article portrays the evolution of managerial thought throughout the twentieth century. Three stages are highlighted - each associated with a particular school of thought. First is the Classical School, corresponding to the period from 1900 to 1930 in the western world, and in the cultural context of the Unites States, France and Germany. Secondly we have the School of Human Relations and Behavior, corresponding to 1930 - 1960, and thirdly the Holistic School, which made its appearance from about 1960 onward. These last two schools developed with a primary focus in the North American context. The theoretical foundations underlying the work of each school´s most outstanding apologists are duly noted, as well as the most salient features of the paradigm characterized by each author. The article also highlights the changes that led to the establishment of each school, and lastly it presents a metaphorical analysis that serves to interpret and distinguish among the diverse schools of thought.