Simply Managing: What Managers Do–and Can Do Better

Simply Managing distills the essence of Henry Mintzberg's classic book Managing into 176 pages of text. The book draws on Mintzberg's observations of twenty-nine managers working in diverse settings, from a refugee camp to a symphony orchestra. The book examines the intense dynamics of management work and its central challenges. It addresses questions such as how managers can think strategically amid constant demands, whether leaders differ fundamentally from managers, where sound judgment fits in modern management, whether email affects management practice, and how managers can stay connected to the work they oversee. Mintzberg acknowledges that managers operate under significant time pressure and have structured this condensed version accordingly. The book considers both the realities of the managerial role and the inherent tensions managers face.