Machiavellian machinations : a way through crisis management?

Machiavellian ideology is considered by some to be appropriate to modern enterprise. It offers advice and decisive discourse on leadership. We revisit Machiavelli's arguments and examine these in the lights of management theory. Crisis is the result of external and internal developments and may emanate from technological, economic, human and social sub-systems. We comment on topics Machiavelli has offered advice and which are perceived pertinent to preventing, or leading to, organizational crisis. These topics include takeover, change, alliances, governance and leadership principles. The best way to manage organizations is not through corrupting best management practice with Machiavellian principles but to foster visionary well-communicated business practices. Thus, leadership focuses on preventing many crises from occurring. There is need to develop corporate capabilities to manage crises. Machiavellian principles are ill-equipped for this task.