Life in organizations and society appears to many social commentators as increasingly more demanding and insensitive to the needs of people. In this paper, the "Myth of Management" is explored to investigate some of the key beliefs and images through which contemporary management is practiced. Myth, in this context, is understood as consisting of beliefs and values which serves to provide meaning for human action. The adoption of a particular mythic frame is argued to direct the management of organizations to particular ends and purposes. Central to a "Myth of Management" are the doctrines of Social Darwinism and Function Rationality, and these are briefly evaluated in their impact on organizational life. An archetypal approach, with particular reference to the archetype of the "hero," is employed to explore the depth dimensions which underpin the formulation and exercise of the "Myth of Management." The conclusion reached is that the myth of management exacts a critical cost on people and society which can only be addressed through a reflective consciousness.
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