Introduction

Critical management studies (CMS) has emerged as a movement that questions the authority and relevance of mainstream thinking and practice. Its focus is 'management' not as a group or as a function but as a pervasive institution that is entrenched within capitalist economic formations. This introduction first outlines the development of CMS before reflecting upon its distinctiveness and the significance of its location within business schools. It then considers some of the directions in which CMS might develop. In each section, passing references are made to the different parts of the book. These references are intended to indicate where ideas and debates are expanded in the course of sketching a context in which to read and appreciate their diverse contributions. The introduction also outlines the organization of this book