Human and Organisational Factors : Fad or not Fad?

Abstract : In this chapter, I take a step back in order to add some elements of discussion by embedding human and organisational factors within a broader historical and sociological context that has so far not been available in the literature. The reason for doing so is that there is a proliferation of various methods, ideas and models in this area. By comparing this phenomenon with the development, over the past two to three decades, of a management market in which consulting companies, business schools and publishers constitute the main actors and institutions, it is shown that human and organisational factors can also be described through similar patterns. I conclude the chapter with a suggestion that one important task for industries and regulators might be to help clarify expectations considering this diversity.