Crazy days call for crazy ways? Narrating Tom Peters

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer a critical review of the work of Tom Peters.

Design/methodology/approach

Notes a degree of narrative experimentation in the works of Tom Peters. Offers a narrative typology to describe this narrative change, suggests a number of reasons for this narrative experimentation and outlines topics for future research in this area.

Findings

The paper suggests that Peters' narrative experimentation reflects twin frustrations. Namely Peters' frustration with the short‐term orientations and innate conservatism of the US business élite and peripheralization in Corporate America.

Originality/value

The paper proposes an original narrative typology for the examination of Peters' work and suggests directions for future research.

Citation

Collins, D. and Watkins, C. (2006), "Crazy days call for crazy ways? Narrating Tom Peters", Management Decision, Vol. 44 No. 5, pp. 658-673. https://doi.org/10.1108/00251740610668905