Comments

Today is a sad day. Peace to you, Peter.

Posted by Bret at November 11, 2005 6:09 PM

It´s been a big surprise for me. All of us involved with Consultancy and Management are in debt with Peter Drucker.

Posted by Felix Gerena at November 11, 2005 6:50 PM

Its very very sad to note Drucker's demise. Infact, I had posted a very short & sweet write-up on Drucker on my blog http://ksriram.blogspot.com/ Hope u enjoy reading it.

I truly believe that knowledge is a process of piling up facts; wisdom lies in their simplification and Drucker's principles & concepts in management is a testimony to SIMPLICITY.

Posted by K.Sriram at November 11, 2005 8:57 PM

This is a sad day. Peter Drucker has been my mentor since I first read "The Effective Executive" in 1979. I owe more, professionally, to him than any other man.

His substance, his clarity, his vision will not soon be repeated.

May he rest in peace with God, whom he knew well.

Posted by Joe Ely at November 11, 2005 10:51 PM

It is a sad day. May his soul rest in peace.
ujwal

Posted by ujwal at November 12, 2005 1:50 AM

Peter Drucker - a fabulous man / legend - lucky for us that he lived well into his 90's. He was the main man when I got my MBA in 1990 - hope his family is at peace with his passing - God bless.

Posted by Sean at November 12, 2005 9:57 AM

A life well-lived! We honor your contributions Mr. Drucker.

Posted by Walter White at November 12, 2005 11:07 AM

I had the privledge of hearing him speak in late 2003 and he was as crystal clear and profound as ever. One of my favorite and wisest things he said was that it's not the product or service that is the starting point for management, but what the customer considers value. VERY profound... and why I got into marketing...

Posted by Mike at November 12, 2005 3:35 PM

Wow. I guess that's a John Denver term. But indicative of my generation. Peter Drucker was about it. He changed the world.
He changed my world. Thank you.

Posted by patty fair at November 12, 2005 8:14 PM

In no way wishing to be unduly pissy... what's the deal with the pseudo mournfest?

It's not as if we knew the dude personally. And hell, given his age, it's hardly unexpected.

'He lived, he died - and did some really good stuff'... let's nod to his strength and move on.
Personally, I'm carrying this from him...
------------
If you believe in yourself, perform solo.
Jobs are too risky, I call them 'dangerous liaisons.'
My greatest strength as a consultant is to be ignorant and ask a few questions.
Since you can work masterfully with only a handful of clients, you must choose the best.
------------

So, what specifically did others get from him?

Posted by gulliver at November 13, 2005 4:31 AM

I think Gulliver's comment about a "mournfest" misses the point: we're simply taking the opportunity to mark the passing of an extremely important and influential person. But his last question is a good one. Read, "What Makes An Effective Executive" in HBR (reprinted several times). With all due respect to this site's host and many others, I think it's the management essay I'd single out as, "If you read nothing else, read this." I have the checklist copied out and acting as the front page in my organiser. It's the most concise, insightful and useful management essay I've ever read.

Posted by Mark JF at November 13, 2005 5:33 AM

Gulliver asks ...'What did others get from him?' - well I got some pretty long books written by Mr Drucker. He is hugely credible and is fondly spoken of by all today's great management gurus. I want to acknowledge the passing from this world of a 'legend of management' who has joined God after a long and very influential life. If there is a need for good consulting advice in that special place - make sure you leave enough for the rest of us when we join you please Mr Drucker :-)

Posted by Trevor Gay at November 13, 2005 2:09 PM

Rest in peace, Peter Drucker.

I wonder who will be ascending to his throne of being the number one living management guru. Tom Peters, Jim Collins, or Michael Porter?

Posted by Art Cray at November 13, 2005 2:39 PM

"It's not as if we knew the dude personally. And hell, given his age, it's hardly unexpected"

What we mourn, more than the passing of an individual, is the passing of an individual who:
1. Inspired
2. Challenged
3. Enlightened
and much more.

Expressing sorrow at his passing has nothing to do with whether we knew him personally or not. Those who knew him personally will express personal sorrow in their own personal ways.

This outpouring of grief is at our own loss, the loss of someone we looked up to.

Who cannot mourn the loss of a leader?

Deepak

Posted by Deepak Morris at November 13, 2005 2:50 PM

Joe Ely, you and me both. Effective Executive was my favorite; I read it shortly after being assigned to the Pentagon. It was, in effect (or in fact?), the first management book I read other than biographies.

Art Cray, no one "ascends to the throne" when an Issac Newton or Sigmund Freud or Albert Einstein dies. They invented their thrones, and thence "retire" them when they leave. So, too, Drucker in our world.

As to "mournfests," the fact is that everyone who manages anything owes PD a debt. It's less the specific ideas, and more that he effectively created and legitimized the study of the craft of management.

Posted by tom peters at November 13, 2005 3:46 PM

Art – an interesting question.

I suspect all three have legitimate claims to be regarded as number one 'living guru' but that is really just an academic argument isn’t it? All three bring 'different' gifts to the table in my view. We should welcome all three and indeed many more who are less well known at present on the world stage. There is more to be gained by having rich variety rather than one ‘right’ view in my opinion. I certainly do not feel qualified to comment about who is best. What is to be gained in any case by ranking three people who all have incredible knowledge? Why do we have to have a number one?

For instance I recently had the pleasure of seeing both Michael Porter and Gary Hamel. I thought Professor Porter was technically superb but I have to say I almost fell asleep because the subject and the delivery – to me - were boring. Sorry but that is my view. On the other hand Professor Hamel was lively and entertaining and seemed very knowledgeable. I remembered more of what he said.

Although I have yet to see TP in action I personally have no doubt Tom is best of the lot based on the videos we have seen and the audio recordings we have all heard. But I accept that is only my opinion.

Let’s just celebrate the fact we live in a time when we can glory in the wonders of hearing from all of them so easily rather than try and rank them.

Posted by Trevor Gay at November 13, 2005 6:10 PM

Peter Drucker was one of the first business authors I ever read and it has impacted my entire business career and my thinking and how I approach management. I am grateful for his contributions.

The only other business guru that has influenced my thinking as much is the estimed Tom Peters.

Posted by Tim Stay at November 14, 2005 3:05 AM

Mr. Drucker,
We celebrate your work and your life.
Rest in eternal peace.

Posted by lem at November 14, 2005 7:19 AM

Playfully...

>...he effectively created and legitimized the study of the craft of management.

So then, is this a site about 'management'? or 'life-changing work'? There again, undertaken appropriately, management is life-changing work...

-----
Management means, in the last analysis, the substitution of thought for brawn and muscle, of knowledge for folkways and superstition, and of cooperation for force. It means the substitution of responsibility for obedience to rank, and of authority of performance for the authority of rank.
-----

'Arrogant - so what?'... my 'mournfest' point is well-intentioned: please don't just chime-in with a 'me too, I'm sad' remark and then return to the cubicle... instead, let's USE what the guy said and did to great purpose and integrate it into our daily life.

Posted by gulliver at November 14, 2005 8:05 AM

gulliver:

1) "...let's USE what the guy said and did..." - a great point to bring up and I couldn't agree more.

2) "Mournfest" - bad taste, bad judgement. You recognised it might be "unduly pissy" and most people find it so.

Sometimes, you have to make a point in a controversial way to get things done. Sometimes, you make a point in a controversial way and all people talk about and remember is the controversy. I can't help but think your original posting would have been just as effective if it had gone, "I didn't know the man but he exemplified TP's 'He lived, he died - and did some really good stuff' quote and these are my favourite takeaways - what are yours?"

Posted by Mark JF at November 14, 2005 8:26 AM

The amazing thing about Peter Drucker - born in Vienna [fabulous place to visit] - escaped from fascist Europe early on - is that his design and ideas were about the USA free enterprise model - and more:

... he envisioned/promoted freedoms and free markets as a KEY way to make fascism / communism / terrorism obsolete.

The merchantile fascism of China is an example - eventually it will fit the free enterprise / democracy model that is most uplifting for human beings - Peter Drucker lives on - and viva TP for living the dream.

Posted by Sean at November 14, 2005 9:26 AM

"The best way to predict the future is to create it."
Peter Drucker

What could be a better epitaph?

Posted by Mike at November 14, 2005 9:34 AM

With much of the comment-traffic now having moved onto the more recent entry, in the dieing embers of a burned-out thread I'll tie-off any loose ends I left and move on. Should anyone so desire, contact me off-forum and I'll happily cover any remaining ambiguities.

[Oh - and how I wish we still had the forum-format where posts can be duly initiated and considered rather than a line of brief me-too responses.]

Responding to Mark JF's (had you been contactable I'd have done this privately; you don't, so here goes...) points of:

>Gulliver's comment about a "mournfest" misses the point: we're simply taking the opportunity to mark the passing of an extremely important and influential person.

and

>"Mournfest" - bad taste, bad judgement. You recognised it might be "unduly pissy" and most people find it so.

No point was missed - I selfishly made my own: 'can we not do better than this?'. That goes to the root of your 'mark the passing' comment. Please, let's do it meaningfully - rather than simply add to the grand parade of facile remarks - something I tried to guide with my 'this is what I got - how's about others' cue intended to get folk thinking and remembering (or, for newbies, to go check-out the guy's work).

And no, I don't consider it either bad taste or judgment. If this were Stepford, maybe. But it ain't - and continuing the effort to spark meaningful dialog, I post as I think - unfiltered. None of those sad-etc remarks add a damn thing to the wealth of human knowledge in shared circulation. My guide is simple: if you can, say/write something which helps inspire others find neat stuff'. It's that 'expose yourself to the best things humans have done and then try to bring those things into what you are doing' thing from Jobs. And, in stating 'Microsoft have no taste' he was damn right - whomever felt/feels sleighted. 'Truth trumps tosh...' sometimes you have to just oh-my-gosh right-out and say what you're thinking.

Mark, you write eloquently - a talent which escapes me. So then, you be Cary Grant and I'll play the short fat bald guy from NYPD Blue. The issue to me is more one of 'from good intent, speak openly and honest'. But please, excuse me, perhaps I've been over-influenced by 'Embracing Chaos' - yeah, maybe - let's blame Valerio.

;-)

g

Posted by gulliver at November 14, 2005 2:00 PM

Peter away…It is so sad, and it is so hard to believe, however I know that the impact of this extraordinary man will be on the modern management for many, many years, and his name will remain our pacemaker forever, Peace to you my only teacher. My favorite book from Drucker’s books is "The Practice of Management"

Posted by Ziad at November 23, 2005 3:26 AM