Principles of Management

Reviewed by Melissa Polen, Instructor, Rogue Community College on 11/9/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

I thought this book offered a great overview of management. There was a good chapter on the history of management and how practices have evolved. I found this very interesting and helps students see patterns of management from years ago.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

I have not come across any errors in my review although there is an updated errata list.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

I found the content to be fairly up-to-date. I appreciated the different managerial decision exercises at the end of the chapter.

Clarity rating: 5

I found the textbook fairly easy to understand.

Consistency rating: 5

From what I reviewed, the text was consistent throughout.

Modularity rating: 5

The sections through the textbook are set perfectly so that it provides the reader with breaks to digest what was just read.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

I found this textbook organized although I was surprised by the layout of some of the chapters. Nothing that would impact using this textbook though.

Interface rating: 5

I have used many modalities of this book and all have been easy to use. I have not experienced any interface issues.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I have not noticed any grammatical errors in my review.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

I found the textbook to be culturally appropriate.

I am looking forward to using this book!

Reviewed by BAnn Dittmar, Instructor, Clarke University on 12/14/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This text covers all of the relevant and appropriate management topics that other Principles of Management texts cover.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

It appears to be accurate and detailed, as well as error-free and unbiased.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The book is relevant and has long-standing content, yet incorporates some more current content as well. The PowePoints include video links and they appear to have be within the last 5 years. I'm not sure how often they update this content, but it was all still relevant. The TEDTalks are long-standing and could be used for many years to come.

Clarity rating: 5

This book is clear and concise and has appropriate terminology for a principles of management text. The vocabulary is very similar to other texts I have used for this course, and there is a nice resource at the end of the chapter providing definitions for various terms.

Consistency rating: 4

The book's style, content and framework are consistent from chapter to chapter. This makes for predictability and ease of readability. I would like to see more imagery and adding in some more color for interest for the student's as research proves that those two aspects improve engagement with the material.

Modularity rating: 5

The text has manageably sized chapters and the text is split up with subheadings, which assists with being able to take in chunks of material at a time.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The chapters build on each other and they are organized well. I like the resources that are available to professors and students in each chapter, as well as the Instructor and Student manuals.

Interface rating: 5

I appreciated seeing that there are multiple modes of access options for students- an online option, an app (which I think is GREAT!), and they can access a PDF, or they can order a copy of a printed book. This is wonderful to provide these options, as not all students prefer the same interface. The online interface is easy to navigate as well.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

As expected in a text, it was free of grammar errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

I always like to see imagery with a variety of cultures and races, and since this book doesn't have a ton of imagery, I think this could be added and it's an opportunity to be intentional and inclusive.

I really liked the excellent resources provided. The PowerPoints had videos embedded, with discussion questions that follow, which is so helpful and time-saving, plus it makes a lecture interactive and more engaging. It includes review questions and a test bank. I just wish there was an easy way to get the tools that I use with my current textbook provider, which includes things like video case studies with questions, practice questions that are scored immediately and provide feedback on learning to the student. The discussion questions and tests appeared to me that they would be more paper-based and labor intensive than the online graded alternative that I currently use. Overall, if that isn't something that a professor is looking for, this text looks like a great option!

Reviewed by Martha Lovett, Lecturer II, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on 12/17/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This book is very detailed and covers most of the essentials in every principle of the management discipline. I specially noted the detailed vocabulary and conceptualized content.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

This book's accuracy is very high, although when it comes to contemporary issues most publications are challenged.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

This book's relevance is good but it could be challenging to introduce updates. It has a lot of content and it is a bit packed with so many objectives that will be a lot of work to introduce updates.

Clarity rating: 5

This book is well written and adequately defined. Probably its best feature is the vocabularies section at the end of every chapter.

Consistency rating: 5

The consistency of this book is very good. Although the objectives are more than effectiveness principles recommend.

Modularity rating: 4

The content in the chapters have plenty of subheadings. Although once again the objectives are too many to maintain the balance among reading and organization.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Organization in this text is very well designed and definitely an asset in this book.

Interface rating: 3

Interface is goo enough. I have seen better online interface books. But his one is good enough for a free material.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I couldn't find one error in this regard.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

I definitely did not see any cultural mishap. The text maintains a consistent objectivity.

My only observation is that the pictures and charts are not the best I have seen, and also they could be located better in the layout for accessibility purposes.

Reviewed by Leslie Jackson, Associate Professor, Drake University on 12/11/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The OpenStax version of Principles of Management addresses a range of areas that managers in a variety of settings and industry are likely to face. While it is focused on business, the information in this text are appropriate to healthcare managers and people new to management.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

From my quick read of the text, it appears to be unbiased and error-free.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The book has a 2019 publication date so the content is recent enough to be relevant. It should be relatively easy to update the information as needed.

Clarity rating: 4

It was easier for me to read the downloaded version of the book rather than online. I was able to follow and understand the content with very little difficulty.

Consistency rating: 5

The text appears to be consistent in its formatting, framework and use of terminology.

Modularity rating: 5

Each chapter is organized in subsections that could lend themselves to dividing into smaller reading sections or topics within a course.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The book's organization is easy to follow.

Interface rating: 4

The online version of the book was harder for me to follow and I had more difficulty navigating it. The downloaded version was much easier for me to use and navigate.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I did not find any grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The book includes chapters devoted to international management and diversity within organizations. Examples, pictures, and scenarios used in other chapters also reflected a range of races, ethnicities and backgrounds.

I am new to using open educational resources and am exploring what is out there for the kinds of courses I teach. Thank you for making this publication available.

Reviewed by Lori Duus, Instructor, Midlands Technical College on 4/29/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The text is comprehensive, all relevant subjects are covered thoroughly. There is no specific index or glossary, however the entire text is searchable in the e-book and definitions are provided.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

There were no inconsistencies found within the text. All information seemed to be accurate.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The examples in the text are relevant, however, some have become outdated and require revision. Due to the recent rapid changes in virtual environments and work settings a meaningful amount of content should be updated. Updates should be easy to implement.

Clarity rating: 5

The text incorporates most commonly used terms and jargon which it fully defines in accessible language. It also incorporates jargon and terms progressively so that students build a working “language” in the field of management.

Consistency rating: 5

The text uses consistent terminology and is framed throughout by learning objectives.

Modularity rating: 5

I believe the text is very divisible by learning objective, each of which is thoroughly covered. The objectives could be re-organized and assigned independently to meet the needs of a typical MGT 101 course without any disruption.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

Although the topics are very clear and logical, the order in which they are presented is somewhat jumbled in my opinion. To use this text I would need to re-arrange the chapters in a more progressive pattern.

Interface rating: 5

The text is very easy to navigate, all images are clear and include proper descriptions.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

To my knowledge, the text has no grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The text is culturally inclusive; examples of diverse populations are represented throughout.

Reviewed by Norman Thomas, Professor, California State University, Dominguez Hills on 7/18/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The Principles of Management text is very comprehensive compared to the McGraw Hill textbook Management: Leading and Collaborating in a Competitive World 12 ed. As I compare the chapters it has all the topics that I teach in my Principles of Management class (MGT: Management Theory) and its Table of Contents mirrors my existing textbook very well.
1. Managing and Performing (same)
2. Managerial Decision-Making (maps to Chapter 3)
3. The History of Management
4. External and Internal Organizational Environments and Corporate Culture (maps to Chapter 2)
5. Ethics, Corporate Responsibility, and Sustainability (same)
6. International Management (same)
7. Entrepreneurship (same)
8. Strategic Analysis: Understanding a Firm's Competitive Environment
9. The Strategic Management Process: Achieving and Sustaining Competitive Advantage
10. Organizational Structure and Change (maps to Chapters 8 & 18)
11. Human Resource Management (maps to Chapter 10)
12. Diversity in Organizations (maps to Chapter 11)
13. Leadership (maps to Chapter 12)
14. Work Motivation for Performance (maps to Chapter 13)
15. Managing Teams (maps to Chapter 14)
16. Managerial Communication (maps to Chapter 15)
17. Organizational Planning and Controlling (maps to Chapter 16 but I don’t use this one)
18. Management of Technology and Innovation (maps to Chapter 17 but I don’t use this one)
I like that the OpenStax textbook has Chapter 3 on the History of Management as I do cover this topic and have used other resources as a supplement to my current textbook.

The OpenStax Management textbook reading level is a good fit for my students and the examples are modern and relatable to my students who live in a large U.S. city. The PDF and iOS application versions are colorful and easy to read with inviting graphics, tables and illustrations. I find the textbook a great substitute for the publisher versions I have used or reviewed. My department also uses the Cengage textbook by Daft and I have considered books by Pearson, Wiley and Sage.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

I found zero issues with the accuracy of the book with respect to the management concepts or discussion of organizations and leaders outside the typical lionization of the largest companies and most famous founders. This text has a modern approach and due to the ethical discussions in each chapter does a nice job of helping students to critically examine today's examplar companies (like Uber) who also have had several management problems. I would single out the coverage of Uber in this text as it raises points that I have brought up in my lectures as a counterpoint to coverage in other older editions of books.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The book's corporate examples are very relevant in terms of industry and sector coverage and the timeliness of the cases presented. Attempts are made to include multiple geographies and diversity in the examples of managers and leaders. It has a very fresh feel to it as I sampled each chapter and the boxed features are particularly relevant and useful teaching tools.

Clarity rating: 5

The language is very clean, clear, and precise. The prose is lucid and accessible. The jargon is defined and summarized at the end of the chapter as this language is key management language the student is expected to master in the course. The multiple examples and illustrations provide the needed context.

Consistency rating: 5

I see no issues with consistency. The book defines key terms and uses them throughout the book. This helps with its clarity. This is rarely an issue I encounter outside very specialized courses that cover newer material with few textbooks available.

Modularity rating: 5

The modularity is on-par with the best textbooks. Both a detailed and a short table of contents are included and I find these essential when designing my course, particularly when adapting to asynchronous online classes. This textbook is VERY modular and would be easy to adapt to my summer and accelerated versions of my course.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The chapters are very logical and clear.
The level of coverage is longer than very short textbooks and is not missing any key concepts that I cover in a 15-week course. My current textbook has greater coverage, but nothing essential is lost in this version and I am finding by editions 12-15 the larger textbooks are getting a bit bloated to ensure they have everything any instructor might want which can lead to longer reading time for my students.
I like these three in-text examples of how to apply each chapter's concepts very much:
Ethics in Practice
Managing Change
Managerial Leadership
There are others that are useful around sustainability and entrepreneurship but I would not use all of them.

These sections are very helpful for my students when reviewing what they learned:
Concept Check
Key Terms
Summary of Learning Objectives
Chapter Review Questions
Finally, I like having three choices of cases and exercises that I might use in-class or as homework.
Management Skills Application Exercises
Managerial Decision Exercises
Critical Thinking Case

Interface rating: 5

Very easy to navigate. The information is organized very well in each chapter. However, students may be losing their ability to read as I did so attention should be paid to supporting software such as video and interactive elements that gamify key concepts and their application. As an example Exhibit 2.6 has a very easy to follow ethical decision tree. The lines are a bit faint but the overall impact is very clear. Shading might help with tables, but this might also hamper screen readers so I understand there is a balance to consider when using colors.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I found no grammatical errors. This is a great final product. The writing is clear and concise.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

The first photo is very white. This sets the tone for the book and might send a signal to my students who are mostly students of color. I understand the orchestra metaphor, but the next version could seek out a more diverse group of performers. The second photo is of Howard Shultz, CEO of a company I respect, but again a message may be coming through. By chapter 2 there is a photo in Asian country and more diversity so the book appears to have made an effort and the company and leader examples overall are diverse and include multiple cultures. The graphics of people are more diverse than the photos.

The one area of concern would be the lack of adaptive online teaching support tools such as LearnSmart/Smartbook and the interactive exercises. These tools greatly increase my student engagement and my 10 years of classroom observation and research shows that my busy, working students typically read less than 25% of a textbook if I don’t require weekly reading with graded quizzes and assignments based on the material from the textbook. The performance on my cumulative, closed-book proctored final exam questions based on the textbook has increased from a class average of 69-71% to about 80% by using the adaptive learning and interactive tools on a weekly basis.
As a result, it will be hard to eliminate those tools from my course. If my student behaviors shift and I could expect them to read each week I could easily adopt this textbook. Alternatively, if OpenStax created similar software tools then I could also make the change.

Reviewed by Ashli Ree, Professor, Middlesex Community College on 5/30/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

At first, eighteen chapters may appear overwhelming to cover in one semester. After reviewing the chapters and topics though, this would provide an opportunity to cover different chapters as needed. I have read other management textbooks in a very linear format, starting with history and covering the four management functions in order. This textbook allows more flexibility in teaching and learning.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The content is accurate and error-free. I was delighted to see a chapter on entrepreneurship with focus on small businesses. It is true that larger organizations have more teams to manage, but I do have many students with interests in starting a small business or start working at a small to mid-size company.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

This textbook has both timeless content (e.g., history of management) and more recent topics (e.g., corporate social responsibility). In addition to having many well-known companies as examples, it was great seeing Malden Mills captured in servant leadership section because many of my students are from Lawrence, MA or have been there from living in New England. The content often becomes more meaningful for students when they can connect with it.

Clarity rating: 5

The content is easy to follow and accessible for students. I have used a different OER textbook for Intro to Business courses and the format is similar.

Consistency rating: 5

After a chapter or two, it will be fairly clear for students to understand how the chapters are set up.

Modularity rating: 5

The clear format of this textbook makes it easy for me to assign sections and for students to find the sections. Sometimes, in other textbooks, there are images or text boxes in the corner of a page and I have seen students missing them. This is much more straight forward, top to bottom, and left to right.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

I find the chapters and topics non-linear, but definitely not random. The order appears logical and purposeful to keep students engaged.

Interface rating: 5

As my students often use different devices, I also tested this textbook using different devices. There were no navigation problems.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I did not notice any grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

More in "International Management" and "Diversity in Organizations" chapters, the textbook covers many current issues affecting both individuals and organizations. Students often come having different knowledge on various topics. The learning content having historical facts, examples of different interpretations, and even topics that go beyond the surface level, will hopefully lead to students developing diverse thinking.

The learning outcomes I have often seen in other textbooks are statements so students often read them and accept them as is. I appreciated the learning outcomes written as questions. I believe this will lead to students exploring for answers and different options as they read the textbook.

Reviewed by Steve Custer, Associate Professor, Oakland City University on 3/28/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The Principles of Management text is very comprehensive in that it covers a wide ranging amount of material. Actually, I was quite impressed with the depth provided to each content area. The terms and assorted exercises at the end of each chapter provide an excellent review of topics.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Upon inspection, no errors were observed by this reviewer.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Many current real-world examples of management are supplied throughout the text to accentuate the subject matter. Particularly, illustrations covered organizations such as Amazon, McDonald's, Hasbro, and Uber.

Clarity rating: 5

The text was presented in a logical fashion and was very easy to read and comprehend.

Consistency rating: 5

The text consistently covered all aspects of management and was careful to include ethical considerations in every chapter.

Modularity rating: 5

The content was well assembled and could be referenced in many different class formats, which this reviewer found extremely beneficial. Also, the tables, pictures, and examples further enhanced the credibility of the content.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The subject matter was well organized and chapter topics can be easily retrieved from the table of contents in either an online version or a PDF.

Interface rating: 5

No interface issues were experienced by this reviewer on multiple occasions on a variety of devices- tablet, laptop, or desktop.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

This reviewer did not observe any grammatical issues.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

This reviewer did not notice any offensive or insensitive material.

Overall, this reviewer found this text to be packed with great information about management issues. Along that line, it seemed that the text could function as the main text in a management course or as a supplementary resource as well. Moreover, the chapter content identified its course learning outcomes at the outset and circled back around to drive home key issues in corresponding chapter summaries. In light of the importance of assessment in today's educational climate, this feature was particularly noteworthy.

Reviewed by Regina Schinker, Director of Instructional Development , Trine University on 6/1/19

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

True to the nature of OER, I was searching for material on managerial decision-making and I primarily focused on Chapters 1 - 3 of this textbook (with special attention to Chapter 2). Chapter 2 is quite comprehensive on the topic of managerial decision-making and meets my needs as a course developer and instructor. It appears the entire textbook addresses a vast number of management topics thoroughly. I look forward to returning to this textbook in the future as I develop additional courses.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The content is accurate and unbiased.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Much of the content is foundational and timeless. The real-world stories taken from business and industry incorporated into the chapters are powerful; linking concepts to reality. Necessary updates to the real-world examples should be relatively easy to implement. As a course developer that intends to use this textbook for a variety of courses, I am hopeful that the examples in the textbook will be continuously updated to remain as valid illustrations of concepts in practice.

Clarity rating: 5

The textbook's writing style is understandable, durable, and straightforward. The content flows easily and should be agreeable to a wide audience.

Consistency rating: 5

Consistency is a strength of this textbook. The structure of the chapters is arranged nicely around the learning outcomes (formatted as questions at the beginning of each chapter). This framework is consistent throughout the entire textbook. The alignment of the learning outcomes to the subsequent text is clear as the reader progresses through the chapter(s).

Modularity rating: 5

The chapters are configured nicely with sections of foundational content, business and industry examples (stories), Concept Checks, exhibits, tables, and end-of-chapter reviews and activities. The modularity of the text brings a nice variety to the reading.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Again, the organization of the chapters has created relevant and applicable content.

Interface rating: 5

Navigation was effortless and I did not encounter any display errors.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I did not find any grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The content of this book is inclusive of a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds.

This textbook is rich in content. I am looking forward to returning to the textbook as I create future courses on management. I appreciate the effort the authors put into this textbook's formatting and relevancy. This is a rich tool for all management instructors.