Mary Parker Follett and Management Theory

Pioneer in Psychology and Industrial Management

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Dec 13, 2008 Ruth Mortimer

The theories of an early 20th century political philosopher, Mary Parker Follett, have added much to modern day management theory, organisations, and leadership.

Leadership is multi-faceted containing numerous qualities, function, and styles. It is a construct that continues to be debated during a revival in interest of the ideas of Mary Parker Follett. Her thoughts on management and leadership have been informative and inspirational. Indeed, management theoretician Peter Drucker called her the 'prophet of management' and his 'guru'. Follett's ideas are certainly relevant in contemporary society, not only for organisations, but also for the individual, as they continue to challenge the lay ideas of leadership.

Mary Parker Follett's Background

Mary Parker Follett was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1868 and had one younger brother. Her childhood was not happy as her mother was disabled and her beloved father died when she was still in her teens. At this young age, Follett was already running the household and, upon her father's death, took over the family's financial affairs. At a later stage she became estranged from her mother, although did become financially independent.

She studied at Thayer Academy in Braintree and then the Society for the Collegiate Instruction of Women in Cambridge, an earlier version of Radcliffe College, Harvard University. She graduated from Radcliffe College in 1898, summa cum laude, in economics, law, philosophy and government. After graduating she went on to do postgraduate work in Paris.

While still studying, she published The Speaker of the House of Representatives which detailed the legislative process of the U.S. Congress. Her study examined the methods used by effective Congress speakers to exert influence and power over others. Her research involved detailed examination of records and documents and interviews with former speakers, "a novel undertaking for an undergraduate woman at the turn of the century" notes Pauline Graham in her 1995 Mary Parker Follett: Prophet of Management.

Key Concepts of Mary Parker Follett

The key concepts that underpin Follett's philosophy are:

interrelatedness - 'coactive' as opposed to coercive power with an emphasis on 'power-with' rather than 'power-over' people; where the

'situation' will dictate the action that needs to be taken a community-based approach with the idea that natural leaders are born within the

group the leader guides and in turn is guided by the group teaching is carried out by leading a skillful leader influences by stimulating others the idea of fluid leadership where leaders and followers are in a relationship and the

role of leader flows to where it is needed - informal leadership is in the workplace

Achievements and Further Publications

1900 - voluntary social worker

1908 - chair of Women's Municipal League Committee on Extended Use of School Buildings

1911 - co-founder of the East Boston High School Social Center and other social centers

1917 - vice-president of National Community Center Association

1918 - published The New State - on community, democracy, and government

1924 - published Creative Experience - about the creative interaction of people in group process

1927 - moved to England and studied at Oxford

1928 - consulted with the League of Nations and International Labour Organization in Geneva.

1933 - lecturer at the London School of Economics

Mary Parker Follett died in 1933, leaving a valuable legacy of her business organisation and management philosophy still applicable in today's business world. A woman far ahead of her time, Follett was variously a political scientist, pioneer in social work, popular speaker and writer in the business environment, as well as advisor to leaders involved with labour-