A childhood that was rarely happy -- An eager, fearless mind -- What shall we do with our girls? -- Very unusual privileges -- The great milepost and turning point -- The Speaker of the House of Representatives -- To I.L.B. -- Self-realization and service -- Ward 17 -- Substitutes for the saloon, schools, and suffrage -- Private funds for public purposes -- My beloved centres -- The functions, financing, and control of community centers -- The war years -- The new state -- Not neighborhood groups but an integrative group process -- Too good a joke for the world -- Creative experience -- Professional transition, personal tragedy -- You have been extraordinarily helpful to executives -- I am almost at the same moment happy and unhappy -- Prepared to go or stay with equal graciousness.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 583-603) and index.

Description based on print version record.

Mary P. Follett (1868-1933) brought new dimensions to the theory and practice of management and was one of America's pre-eminent thinkers about democracy and social organization. The ideas Follett developed in the early-20th century continue even today to challenge thinking about business and civic concerns. This biography of Follett illuminates the life of this intriguing woman and reveals how she developed her farsighted theories about the organization of human relations. Out of 20 years of civic work in Boston's immigrant neighbourhoods, Follett developed ideas about the group basis of democracy and the foundations of social interaction that placed her among leading progressive intellectuals. Later in her career, she delivered influential lectures on business management that form the basis of our contemporary discourse about collaborative leadership, worker empowerment, self-managed teams, conflict resolution, the value of inclusivity and diversity, and corporate social responsibility.