Abstract

Henri Fayol has traditionally been reputed as a leading French industrialist of his day who pioneered the development of early management theory in the classical management school tradition. However the influence of his ideas has spread far beyond his shores and the school of thought with which he has been stereotyped. This study reflects upon his complex professional profile, his interdisciplinary disposition and his unique and lasting contributions to contemporary management theory and accounting practices. These are reviewed with respect to the diversity of theoretical perspectives for which his ideas were arguably prescient. His unique orientation and contributions are also traced to their emergence in various contemporary aspects of accounting, management control, budgeting and financial management. The international durability and pervasiveness of his theories are reflected in parallels between the industrial and market environment of his day and the global environment within which management and accounting is conducted today.