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History in management learning: A multi-temporal reflexive approach

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Mhairi MacLean, Professor Charles Harvey

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

Abstract

This article explores the role of history in management learning. Our starting point is the notion of historical reflexivity, which promotes a non-linear analysis of what becomes taken-for-granted, acknowledging that past, present, and future are bound up with the historical development of management and organization. Our analysis recalibrates historical reflexivity to emphasise ifs multi-temporal character, examining how multi-temporal reflexivity impacts on the practice, performance, and future-directed vision of individual managers. We approach this from the perspective of three practising managers: entrepreneurs based in Northeast England, who built up a business which they later sold, before turning to philanthropy. All three had experienced in their personal history lingering painful episodes that exerted ongoing influence in the present and future. We show multi-temporal reflexivity is intrinsically multi-level, as reflexive learning gleaned from formative personal experience is redirected towards the organization, community, and society; harnessed to build positive social futures for others.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Maclean M, Harvey C

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Management Learning

Year: 2025

Volume: 56

Issue: 1

Pages: 22-31

Print publication date: 01/02/2025

Acceptance date: 26/08/2024

Date deposited: 27/08/2024

ISSN (print): 1350-5076

ISSN (electronic): 1461-7307

Publisher: Sage Publications

URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/13505076241282741

DOI: 10.1177/13505076241282741

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