In 'The Visible Hand,' Alfred Dupont Chandler reveals the powerful role of management in shaping modern business practices. He argues that the rise of large corporations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was driven not just by market forces, but by innovative management strategies.Through compelling case studies, the book explores how these strategies transformed industries and economies. Chandler's insights challenge the traditional narrative of free markets, emphasizing instead the importance of organized coordination in achieving efficiency. This groundbreaking work invites readers to reconsider the visibility and influence of managerial decision-making in our capitalist system.
By Alfred Dupont Chandler
Published: 1977
"In the intricate dance of commerce, it is not merely the market forces that lead; it is the resolute hand of management that shapes the trajectories of industries and defines the very essence of competition."
The role of large-scale business enterprise—big business and its managers—during the formative years of modern capitalism (1850s–1920s) is delineated in this pathmarking book. Alfred Chandler, Jr., sets forth the reasons for the dominance of big business in American transportation, communications, and central sectors of production and distribution.
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“In the intricate dance of commerce, it is not merely the market forces that lead; it is the resolute hand of management that shapes the trajectories of industries and defines the very essence of competition.”
The Visible Hand
By Alfred Dupont Chandler
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Alfred Dupont Chandler Jr. (1918-2007) was a prominent American business historian renowned for his influential works on the history of American enterprise. He is best known for his seminal books, 'Strategy and Structure: Chapters in the History of the Industrial Enterprise' and 'The Visible Hand: The Managerial Revolution in American Business,' both of which explore the evolution of management practices in the context of American capitalism. Chandler's writing is characterized by rigorous research and a clear, analytical style that translates complex ideas into accessible narratives. His contributions have profoundly shaped the field of business history and the understanding of corporate strategy.
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