Drucker, Peter (Ferdinand)

(1909–2005) Writer and management consultant, born in Vienna, Austria. 

 Managing Knowledge Means Managing Oneself    by Peter F. Drucker

In a few hundred years, when the history of our time will be written from a long-term perspective, it is likely that the most important event historians will see is not technology, not the Internet, not e-commerce. It is an unprecedented change in the human condition. For the first time -- literally -- substantial and rapidly growing numbers of people have choices. For the first time, they will have to manage themselves. And society is totally unprepared for it. More..

Civilizing the City     Peter F. Drucker:

Only the social sector, that is, the nongovernmental, nonprofit organization, can create what we now need, communities for citizens -- and especially for the highly educated knowledge workers who increasingly dominate developed societies. One reason for this is that only nonprofit organizations can provide the enormous diversity of communities we need -- from churches to professional associations, from organizations taking care of the homeless to health clubs -- if there are to be freely chosen communities for everyone. The nonprofit organizations also are the only ones that can satisfy the second need of the city, the need for effective citizenship for its people. Only social-sector institutions can provide opportunities to be a volunteer, and thus enable individuals to have both a sphere in which they are in control and a sphere in which they make a difference.

The 20th century, now coming to an end, has seen an explosive growth of both government and business -- especially in the developed countries. What the dawning 21st century needs above all is equally explosive growth of the nonprofit social sector in building communities in the newly dominant social environment, the city. More...

Peter F. Drucker: The Shape of Things to Come

An Interview with Peter F. Drucker

People always seem to be responding to change after it has happened. What advice do you give on how to anticipate change? Look out the window. Literally. You know how painters are traditionally taught painting? The teacher places a flower vase, which looks deceptively simple to paint, on the table and tells the youngster to paint the vase. The teacher comes and looks at it and says turn around, bend down, look at what you have painted upside down through your legs. That is the traditional way to teach to see.

So look at our assumptions about technology or markets -- suppose the opposite were true. Is there any evidence? Challenge your assumptions. This is basically looking at the vase upside down. Make yourself capable of doing this by building organized abandonment into your system. By asking yourself every few years, If we weren't doing what we now do, would we want to start doing it? And if the answer is "probably not," then maybe it isn't the right thing to do anymore. This is not very difficult. It's a habit more than a skill. But it's a habit you have to practice. More...

 Thought Leaders Forum:
More on Peter F. Drucker

Peter F. Drucker (1909-2005) was a teacher, writer, and adviser to senior executives for more than 50 years. Author of 39 books, including his upcoming release Effective Executive in Action, he was honorary chairman of the Leader to Leader Institute and Clarke Professor of Social Sciences at the Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California. (11/2005) Complete biography with thought leaders' comments

Isaac Newton

The goal of this project was to create a learning object that would allow students to discover and explore the complex mind of Isaac Newton through the primary source materials principally available in the Research Collections area of McMaster University’s Mills Library. By combining images, audio, animations and interactive segments, the application gives students a sense of Newton’s multifaceted mind. It also provides an appreciation of his achievements in mathematics and physics and introduces Newton’s diverse interests in theology, religion and philosophy.

From the early 1900’s, learn about GM’s history in the United States and throughout the world. » Learn our story   Alfred P. Sloan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia  Alfred P. Sloan       William C. Durant   Books    A multimedia celebration of 100 years of Ford Motor Company history From a revolutionary idea to a global family of brands, a brief history   The story of a man, a historical milestone and his legacy      100 years of Ford Motor Co.  From the Detroit News Auto-- Jun. 9, 2003 Our Server only     History of Toyota
A Short History of Japanese Luxury Cars Tracking the short, but incredibly successful reign of Japanese luxury marques in the U.S.
Mercedes-Benz History. More Than 100 Years of Tradition.   About IBM   History    Company Overview 1962 Company founded with opening of first Wal-Mart in Rogers, Ark.       Our History        Mack Site            Mack History Chicago Auto Show History Chicago Auto Show History Concept Cars Historical Ads Description: This website contains links to historical ads from five main subject categories: Beauty and Hygiene, Radio, Television, Transportation, and World War II. These subjects were chosen for their broad popular appeal and proven interest to students, faculty and researchers. Browsing database allows you to explore each of the main categories, along with its subcategories Coca-Cola Television Advertising Home Page At The Library Of Congress. Fifty Years of Coca-Cola Television Advertisements: Highlights from the Motion Picture Archives at the Library of Congress Also Inventing Entertainment    At The Library Of Congress. Prolific inventor Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) has had a profound impact on modern life. In his lifetime, the "Wizard of Menlo Park" patented 1,093 inventions, including the phonograph, the kinetograph (a motion picture camera), and the kinetoscope (a motion picture viewer). Edison managed to become not only a renowned inventor, but also a prominent manufacturer and businessman through the merchandising of his inventions. The collections in the Library of Congress's Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division contain an extraordinary range of the surviving products of Edison's entertainment inventions and industries. This site features 341 motion pictures, 81 disc sound recordings, and other related materials, such as photographs and original magazine articles. Cylinder sound recordings will be added to this site in the near future. In addition, histories are given of Edison's involvement with motion pictures and sound recordings, as well as a special page focusing on the life of the great inventor. Posters, WPA ~ 1936-1943 By the People, For the People: Posters from the WPA, 1936-1943   Emergence of Advertising in America, 1850-1920   At Duke University   Bell, Alexander Graham ~ Papers ~ 1862-1939 Alexander Graham Bell Family Papers at the Library of Congress   Berliner, Emile ~ Early Recording Industry ~ Multiformat ~ 1870-1956 Emile Berliner and the Birth of the Recording Industry   Daguerreotype Photographs ~ 1839-1864 America's First Look into the Camera: Daguerreotype Portraits and Views, 1839-1864   Factories, Westinghouse ~ Films ~ 1904 Inside an American Factory: Films of the Westinghouse Works, 1904   Morse, Samuel F. B. ~ Papers ~ 1793-1919 Samuel F. B. Morse Papers at the Library of Congress, 1793-1919   Nineteenth-Century Periodicals ~ 1815-1900 The Nineteenth Century in Print: Periodicals   Transportation, Global ~ Photographs ~ 1894-1896 Around the World in the 1890s: Photographs from the World's Transportation Commission, 1894-1896   Work and Leisure ~ Films ~ 1894-1915 America at Work, America at Leisure: Motion Pictures from 1894-1915   Wright Brothers ~ Multiformat ~ 1881-1952 The Wilbur and Orville Wright Papers at the Library of Congress From the  Newman Library  Digital Collection Panorama: From 18th Century Spectacle to 21st Century Immersive Media Wonder Drawn from an article by Professor Alison Griffiths.