In China, Peter Drucker, who died in 2005 at the age of 95, is the man of the moment.
In the past few years, devotees have created 14 Drucker academies, in Beijing, Shanghai, Xian and other Chinese cities. Their curriculum draws extensively on Mr. Drucker's writings. This allows thousands of students to quickly grasp the management essentials needed for China's booming economy.
Drucker's old-school values like integrity and humility play well in China, says Henry To, chief executive of the Drucker academies. Mr. Drucker spent much of his career as a consultant and professor studying big, well-known American companies. Based on their experience, he urged managers to set clear objectives, to value employees and customers, and to define their mission as more than just making a profit.
"When Drucker writes about leadership, he says that integrity must come first," Mr. To observes. "He says leaders need to listen to their employees and be followers, too. That matches our Confucian heritage."
At the Drucker academies in China, Mr. Drucker's fondness for business history is considered a virtue, not a fault. "I tell students:'The truth will not be outdated,'" Mr. To says.
Source: The Wall Street Journal, June 18, 2008