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••
Contents VII
Part 2 Planning
Quantitative Module: Quantitative Decision-
Chapter 4 Making Decisions 90 Making Tools 122
How do Managers Make Decisions? 93
Payoff Matrices 122
What Defines a Decision Problem? 93
Decision Trees 123
What is Relevant in the Decision-Making Process? 94
Break-Even Analysis 124
How Does the Decision Maker Weight the Criteria and
Analyze Alternatives? 94 Linear Programming 125
What Determines the Best Choice? 96 OueuingTheory 127
What Happens in Decision Implementation? 96 Economic Order Quantity Model 127
What is the Last Step in the Decision Process? 97 Endnotes 129
•••
VIII Contents
Chapter 5 Planning and Goal Setting 130 How Do Managers Manage Resistance
What Is Planning and Why Do Managers Need to to Change? 172
Plan? 133 Why Do People Resist Organ izational Change? 173
Why Should Managers Formally Plan? 133 What Are Some Techniques for Reducing Resistance to
What Are Some Criticisms of Formal Planning and How Organizational Change? 173
Shou ld Managers Respond? 134
WHAT REACTION DO EMPLOYEES HAVE
Does Forma l Planning Improve Organizational
TO ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE? 174
Performance? 135
What Is Stress? 174
What Do Managers Need to Know about Strategic
Management? 135 What Causes Stress? 175
What Is Strategic Management? 136
How Can Managers Enco urage Innovation
Why Is Strategic Management Important? 136
in an Organization? 178
What Are the Steps in the Strategic Management Pro-
How Are Creativity and Innovation Related? 179
cess? 137
What's Involved in Innovation? 179
WHAT STRATEGIES DO MANAGERS USE? 139 Managing Technology in Today's Workplace I Helping
Innovation Flourish 180
Corporate Strategy 139
How Can a Manager Foster Innovation? 180
Competitive Strategy 140
How Does Design Thinking Influence Innovation? 182
Functional Strategy 140
What Is Disruptive Innovation and Why Is Managing it
What Strategic Weapons Do Managers Have? 141 So Important? 183
Making Ethical Decisions in Today's Workplace 143 Making Ethical Decisions in Today's Workplace 183
How Do Managers Set Goals and Develop Plans? 144 What Is Disruptive Innovation? 183
What Types of Goals Do Organizations Have and How Do Why Is Disruptive Innovation Important? 184
They Set Those Goals? 144 What Are the Implications of Disruptive Innovation? 184
Classic Concepts in Today's Workplace 146 Knowing: Getting Ready for Exams and Quizzes
What Types of Plans Do Managers Use and How Do They Chapter Summary by Learning Outcome 186 • Discussion
Develop Those Plans? 147 Questions 186
What Contemporary Planning Issues Do Managers Applying: Getting Ready for the Workplace 187
Face? 150 Experiential Exercise 188 • Case Application #7-
How Can Managers Plan Effectively in Dynamic Defeating the System 189 • Case Application #2- The
Environments and in Crisis Situations? 151 Next Big Thing 190 • Case Application #3 Time to
How Can Managers Use Environmental Scanning? 152 Change? 191 • Endnotes 192
Managing Technology in Today's Workplace I Using
Social Media for Environmental Scanning 152 Chapter 7 Managing Entrepreneurial
Knowing: Getting Ready for Exams and Quizzes Ventures 194
Chapter Summary by Learning Outcome 154 • Discussion What Is the Context of Entrepreneurship and
Questions 154
Why Is It Important 197
Applying: Getting Ready for the Workplace
What Is Entrepreneursh ip? 197
I
Management Skill Builder Being A Good Goal
Is Entrepreneurship Different from Self-Employment? 198
Setter 155 • Experiential Exercise 156 • Case
Classic Concepts in Today's Workplace 199
Application #7- Fast Fashion 157 • Case Application #2-
Mapping a New Direction 158 • Case Application #3- Who's Starting Entrepreneurial Ventures? 199
Using Tech to Sel l Pizza 159 • Endnotes 161 Why Is Entrepreneurship Important? 200
What Do Entrepreneurs Do? 201
Chapter 6 Managing Change and
Innovation 164 WHAT HAPPENS IN THE ENTREPRENEURIAL
PROCESS? 202
What Is Change and How Do Managers
Exploring the Entrepreneurial Context 202
Deal with It? 167
Identifying Opportunities and Possible Competitive
Why Do Organizations Need to Change? 168
Advantages 202
Who Initiates Organizational Change? 169
Starting the Venture 203
How Does Organizational Change Happen? 169
Managing the Venture HOW? 203
Classic Concepts in Today's Workplace 170
•
Contents IX
How Are Employees Provided with Needed Skills and Chapter 10 Managing Work Groups and Work
Knowledge? 278 Teams 310
How Are New Hires Introduced to the Organization? 278 What Is a Group and What Stages of Development Do
Managing Technology in Today's Workplace I Social Groups Go Through? 313
and Digital HR 279 What Is a Group? 313
What Is Employee Train ing? 279 What Are the Stages of Group Development? 313
Making Ethical Decisions in Today's Workplace 315
KEEPING GREAT PEOPLE: TWO WAYS
ORGANIZATIONS DO THIS 282
5 MAJOR CONCEPTS OF GROUP BEHAVIOR 316
Performance Management System 282
1 Roles 316
Compensating Employees: Pay and Benefits 284
2a Norms 316
What Contemporary HRM Issues Face Managers? 287 2b Conformity 317
How Can Managers Manage Downsizing? 287
3 Status Systems 317
What Is Sexual Harassment? 288 4 Group Size 318
How Are Organizations and Managers Adapting
5 Group Cohesiveness 318
to a Changing Workforce? 289
Classic Concepts in Today's Workplace 320
How Can Workforce Diversity and Inclusion
Be Managed? 291 How Are Groups Turned into Effective Teams? 321
What Is Workforce Diversity? 291 Are Work Groups andWorkTeams the Same? 321
What Types of Diversity Are Found in Workplaces? 292 What Are the Different Types of Work Teams? 322
How Does Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Affect What Makes a Team Effective? 323
HRM? 294 Managing Technology in Today's Workplace I Keeping
What about Inclusion? 295 Connected: IT And Teams 323
Knowing: Getting Ready for Exams and Quizzes How Can a Manager Shape Team Behavior? 327
Chapter Summary by Learning Outcome 296 • Discussion What Current Issues Do Managers Face
Questions 297 in ManagingTeams? 328
Applying: Getting Ready for the Workplace What's Involved w ith Managing Global Teams? 328
Management Skill Builder I Providing Good Feedback 297 When Are Teams Not the Answer? 330
• Experiential Exercise 298 • Case Application #1- Race Knowing: Getting Ready for Exams and Quizzes
Relations 299 • Case Application #2- Resume Chapter Summary by Learning Outcome 331 • Discussion
Regrets 300 • Case Application #3---Spotting Questions 331
Talent 301 • Endnotes 302
Applying: Getting Ready for the Workplace
Management Skill Builder I Developing Your Coaching
Professionalism Module: Professionalism and Skills 332 • Experiential Exercise 333 • Case
Employability 305 Application #1- Rx: Teamwork 334 • Case Application #2-
Building Better Software Build Teams 335 • Case
What is Professionalism? 305 Application #3 Employees Managing Themselves- Good Idea or
How Can I Show My Professionalism? 306 Not? 336 • Endnotes 337
Making Ethical Decisions in Today's Workplace 347 How Does Job Design Influence Motivation? 385
How Can an Understanding of Attitudes Help Managers Be Classic Concepts in Today's Workplace 386
More Effective? 348 What Is Equity Theory? 388
What Do Managers Need to Know About Personality? 348 How Does Expectancy Theory Explain Motivation? 389
How Can We Best Describe Persona lity? 349 How Can We Integrate Contemporary Motivation
Managing Technology in Today's Workplace I Increased Theories? 390
Reliance on Emotional Intelligence 351 What Current Motivation Issues Do Managers
Can Personality Traits Predict Practical Work-Related Face? 392
Behaviors? 351 How Can Managers Motivate Employees When the
How Do We Match Personalities and Jobs? 353 Economy Stinks? 392
Do Personality Attributes Differ Across Cu ltures? 354 How Does Country Culture Affect Motivation Efforts? 392
How Can an Understanding of Persona lity Help Managers How Can Managers Motivate Unique Groups of
Be More Effective? 354 Workers? 393
What Is Perception and What Influences It? 355 Making Ethical Decisions on Today's Workplace 394
What Influences Perception? 355 How Can Managers Design Appropriate Rewards
How Do Managers Judge Employees? 356 Programs? 395
How Can an Understanding of Perception Help Managers Managing Technology in Today's Workplace I Individualized
Be More Effective? 358 Rewards 396
Knowing: Getting Ready for Exams and Quizzes
HOW DO LEARNING THEORIES EXPLAIN Chapter Summary by Learn ing Outcome 398 • Discussion
BEHAVIOR? 359 Questions 399
1 Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory 380 How Do Leaders Help Followers? 419
2 McGregor's Theory X and Theory Y 381 What Is Leadership Like Today? 420
3 Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory 381 What Do the Four Contemporary Views of Leadership
4 McClelland's Three-Needs Theory 383 Tel l Us? 421
Making Ethical Decisions in Today's Workplace 423
How Do the ContemporaryTheories Explain What Issues Do Today's Leaders Face? 424
Motivation? 384 Managing Technology in Today's Workplace I Virtual
What Is Goal-Setting Theory? 384 Leadership 425
••
XII Contents
Why ls Trust the Essence of Leadership? 427 Applying: Getting Ready for the Workplace
A Fina l Thought Regarding Leadership 429 Management Skill Builder I Being A Good Listener 463
Knowing: Getting Ready for Exams and Quizzes • Experiential Exercise 464 • Case Application #1-
#Ath letesusingTwitter 464 • Case Application #2- Banning
Chapter Summary by Learning Outcome 430 • Discussion
Questions 431 E-Mail. Banning Voice Mail. 465 • Case Application #3-
Anytime Feedback 466 • Endnotes 467
Applying: Getting Ready for the Workplace
I
Management Skill Builder Being A Good Leader 431
• Experiential Exercise 432 • Case Application #1 -
Part 5 Controlling
" Success Theater" at General Electric 433 • Case Application
#2- Developing Gen Y Leaders 434 • Case Application
Chapter 15 Controlling Work and Organizational
#3 Investing in Leadership 435 • Endnotes 436
Processes 4 70
What Is Control and Why Is It Important? 473
What Is Control? 473
Chapter 14 Managing Organizational and Why Is Control Important? 473
Interpersonal Communication 440
WhatTakes Place as Managers Control? 475
How Do Managers Communicate Effectively? 443
1 What Is Measuring? 475
How Does the Communication Process Work? 443
Making Ethical Decisions in Today's Workplace 476
Are Written Commun ications More Effective Than Verbal
Classic Concepts in Today's Workplace 478
Ones? 445
2 How Do Managers Compare Actual Performance
Is the Grapevine an Effective Way to Communicate? 445
to Planned Goals? 478
How Do Nonverbal Cues Affect Communication? 445
3What Manageria l Action Can Be Taken? 479
Classic Concepts in Today's Workplace 446
What Should Managers Control? 480
What Barriers Keep Commun ication from Being
When Does Control Take Place? 480
Effective? 446
How Can Managers Overcome Commun ication
Barriers? 449 KEEPING TRACK: WHAT GETS CONTROLLED? 482
Keeping Track of an Organization's Finances 482
TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGERIAL Keeping Track of Organization's Information 483
COMMUNICATION 451 Keeping Track of Employee Performance 484
Networked Communication 451 Keeping Track Using a Balanced Scorecard Approach 485
Mobile Communication 452
What Contemporary Control Issues Do Managers
Managing Technology in Today's Workplace I Office of Confront? 486
Tomorrow 454 Do Controls Need to Be Adjusted for Cultural
What Communication Issues Do Managers Face Differences? 486
Today? 455 Managing Technology in Today's Workplace I Monitoring
How Do We Manage Communication in an Internet Employees 487
World? 455 What Challenges Do Managers Face in Controll ing the
How Does Knowledge Management Affect Workplace? 487
Commun ication? 457 Knowing: Getting Ready for Exams and Quizzes
What Role Does Communication Play in Customer Chapter Summary by Learning Outcome 492 • Discussion
Service? 458 Questions 492
How Can We Get Employee Input and Why Should Applying: Getting Ready for the Workplace
We? 458 Management Skill Builder I Disciplin ing Difficu lt Employees 493
Making Ethical Decisions in Today's Workplace 459 • Experiential Exercise 494 • Case Application #1 -
How Do We Have Civil Conversations in the Hea lthyFast Food? 495 • Case Application #2- lf You Can't
Workplace? 459 Say Something Nice, Don't Say Anyth ing at All 496 • Case
Application #3-Goals and Controls 496 • Endnotes 498
How Does Workplace Design Affect
Commun ication? 460
Why Should Managers Be Concerned w ith
Operations Module: Managing Operations 500
Commun icating Ethical ly? 461
Knowing: Getting Ready for Exams and Quizzes What Do I Need to Know About Operations
Chapter Summary by Learning Outcome 462 • Discussion Management? 500
Questions 462 What Is Operations Management? 500
•••
Contents XI 11
1 How Do Service and Manufacturing Firms Differ? 501 What Are the Obstacles to Va lue Chain Manage-
2 How Do Businesses Improve Productivity? 501 ment? 508
3 What Role Does Operations Management Play in a What Contemporary Issues Do Managers Face in
Company's Strategy? 503 Managing Operations? 509
What Is Value Chain Management and Why Is It 1 What Role Does Technology Play in Operations
Important? 503 Management? 510
What Is Value Chain Management? 504 2 How Do Managers Control Quality? 510
What Are the Goa ls of Va lue Chain Management? 504 3 How Are Projects Managed? 513
How Does Va lue Chain Management Benefit Fina l Thoughts on Managing Operations 517
Businesses? 505 Endnotes 517
How Is Value Chain Management Done? 505
What Are the Requ irements for Successful Value Chain Glossary 519
Management? 505 Index 526
This Eleventh Edition of Fundamentals of Management with MyLab Management covers
the essentials of management in a way that provides a sound foundation for understanding
the practical issues facing managers and organizations. The focus on knowing and apply-
ing the theories of management remains, while now also highlighting opportunities to de-
velop employability skills. Fundamentals of Management with MyLab Management offers
an approachable, streamlined, realistic emphasis around what works for managers and what
doesn't with the ultimate goal to help students be successful.
To improve student results, we recommend pairing the text content with MyLab
Management, which is the teaching and learning platform that empowers you to reach
every student. By combining trusted author content with digital tools and a flexible learning
platform, MyLab personalizes the learning experience to help your students learn and retain
key course concepts while developing skills that future employers are seeking in potential
employees. From Mini Sims to Personal Inventory Assessments, MyLab Management helps
you teach your course your way. Learn more at www.pearson.com/mylab/management.
•
XIV
Preface xv
Globalization
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••
Preface XVII
CVS Health Corporation announced in early 2018 that it wou ld stop "materially"
altering the beauty images used in its marketing materials that appear in its stores
and on its websites and social media channels. 35 Although the change applies to
the marketing materials it creates, the drugstore cha in has also asked global brand
partners including Revlon, L'Oreal, and Johnson & Johnson to join its effort.
The company will use a watermark the "CVS Beauty Mark" on images that
have not been altered. What does that mean? You're seeing real, not digitally This text tackles tough issues such as
modified, persons. The person featured in those images did not have their size, globalization/anti-globalization, having civil
shape, skin or eye color, wrinkles, or other characteristics enhanced or changed. conversations, anti-bias, and ethical dilemmas-
The company's goal is for all images in the beauty sections of CVS's stores to giving students an accurate depiction of the busi-
reflect the "transparency" commitment by 2020. Not surprisingly, there are pros ness environment today.
and cons to this decision. And not surprisingly, there are ethical considerations
associated with the decision.
Discussion Questions:
5 Striving for more real istic beauty/body image ideals: Who are potential
stakeholders in this situation and what stake do they have in this decision?
6 From a generic viewpoint, how do ethical issues aff cLde_cision._makina? Lo this._
specific story, what potential ethical consideration
by CVS to stop altering beauty images and start usi1
..,. I ~ IO
Experiential Exercise
A new Employability Skills Matrix at the end of Chapter 1 provides students with a visual guide
to features that support the development of skills employers are looking for in today's business
graduates, helping students to see from
the start of the semester the relevance of EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS MATRIX
the course to their career goals. Critical Thinking Communication Collaboration Knowledge Social
Application and Responsibility
Analysis
Classic Concepts in Today's
Workplace
./ ./ ./ ./
Making Ethica l Decisions in
Today's Workplace
./ ./ ./ ./ ./
Managing Technology in
Today's Workplace
./ ./ ./ ./ ./
Mylab: Write It, Watch It,
Try It
./ ./ ./
Management Skill Builder-
Practicing the Skill
./ ./ ./
Experiential
Exercise
./ ./ ./
Case
Application 1
./ ./ ./
Case ./ ./ ./
Application 2
Technological advances have made the process of managing an Just how much control a company should have over the private
organization much easier.30 And technological advancements have lives of its employees also becomes an issue. Where should an
also provided employers a means of sophisticated employee moni- employer's rules and controls end? Does the boss have the right to
toring. Although most of this monitoring is designed to enhance dictate what you do on your free time and in your own home? Could
Managing Technology in
worker productivity, it could, and has been, a source of concern over your boss keep you from engaging in riding a motorcycle, skydiving, Today's Workplace describes
worker privacy. These advantages bring with them difficult ques- smoking, drinking alcohol, or eating junk food? Again, the answers how managers are using
tions regarding what managers have the right to know about em- may surprise you. Today many organizations, in their quest to control technology to monitor employee
ployees and how far they can go in controlling employee behavior, safety and health insurance costs, are delving into their employees' performance, looking at ways
both on and off the job. Consider the following: private lives.
to have a more efficient and
• The mayor of Colorado Springs, Colorado, reads the e-mail mes- Althoug h controlling employees' behaviors on and off the
job may appear unjust or unfair, nothing in our legal system
effective workplace.
sages that city council members send to each other from their
homes. He defended his actions by saying he was making sure prevents employers from engaging in these practices. Rather,
that e-mai ls to each other were not being used to circumvent the the law is based on the premise that if employees don't like the
state's "open meeting" law that requires most council business ru les, they have the option of quitting. Managers, too, typically
to be conducted publicly.
rlP.f P.nrl thP.ir ;ir.tions in tP.rms of P.ns1Jrina 011r1litv nrorlIJr.tivitv
xx Pre f ace
PAGES 1
skills necessary for future career success. cuntrol, en1ot i.111ol d1~n11,.1..,. and moUona.l rMJionse. Each
.i cnn bed ~lop~<! and nhonce,a bot ft 1" es an
End-of-Chapter Management Skill Builder helps students move from merely knowing
concepts to actually being able to use that knowledge.
The skill-building exercises included at the end of each chapter help you apply and use
management concepts. We chose these skills because of their relevance to developing man-
agement competence and their linkage
to one or more of the topic areas in this Management Skill Builder I UNDERSTANDING CULTURE
book.
An organization's culture is a system of shared meaning. When you understand your organization's culture, you know, for example,
whether it encourages teamwork, rewards innovation, or stifles initiative. When interviewing for a job, the more accurate you are at
assessing the culture, the more likely you are to find a good person-organization fit. And once inside an organization, w1derstand-
ing the culture allows you to know what behaviors are likely to be rewarded and which are likely to be punished.48
• One new case (unlimited vacation time) • New material on having civil conversations in the workplace
• Two updated cases (Gravity Payments, Patagonia) • New material on workplace design
• Added ''Topic'' to Case Apps • New Experiential Exercise
• Highlighted different employability skills in each case • One new case (anytime feedback)
• Two updated cases (athletes and Twitter and eliminating
Chapter 13 e-mail)
• Added ''Topic'' to Case Apps
• Rewrote box feature questions to focus on skills
• Highlighted different employability skills in each case
• New Being Ethical box
• New material on toxic bosses
• New Experiential Exercise Chapter 15
• Two new cases (General Electric, L' Oreal) • Rewrote box feature questions to focus on skills
• One updated case (developing Gen Y leaders) • New Being Ethical box
• Added ''Topic'' to Case Apps • New Experiential Exercise
• Highlighted different employability skills in each case • Two new cases (Chipotle, Tesla)
• One updated case (positive feedback)
Chapter 14 • Added ''Topic'' to Case Apps
• Rewrote box feature questions to focus on skills • Highlighted different employability skills in each case
• New material added to discussion of emotions and
communication Managing Operations Module
• Reworked visual spread
• New presentation of material as a module
• Added discussion of alternate reality (AR)
lnstructorTeaching Resources
This program comes with the following teaching resources.
Acknowledgments
Writing and publishing a textbook requires the talents of a number of people whose names
never appear on the cover. We'd like to recognize and thank a phenomenal team of talented
people who provided their skills and abilities in making this book a reality. This team
includes Kris Ellis-Levy, our specialist portfolio manager; Claudia Fernandes, our senior
content producer; Carlie Marvel, our senior product marketer, Nicole Price, our field mar-
keting manager; Stephanie Wall, our director of portfolio management; Nancy Moudry, our
highly talented and gifted photo researcher; Lauren Cook, our talented digital media whiz
who co-created the ''Bust The Myth'' videos; and Kristin Jobe, associate managing editor,
Integra-Chicago.
We also want to thank our reviewers past and present for the insights they have
provided us:
Thank You!
Steve, Mary, and Dave would like to thank you for considering and choosing our book for your
management course. All of us have several years of teaching under our belt, and we know how
challenging yet rewarding it can be. Our goal is to provide you with the best resources avail-
able to help you excel in the classroom!
STEPHEN P. ROBBINS received his Ph.D. from the University of Arizona. He previously
worked for the Shell Oil Company and Reynolds Metals Company and has taught at the
University of Nebraska at Omaha, Concordia University in Montreal, the University
of Baltimore, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, and San Diego State
University. He is currently professor emeritus in management at San Diego State.
Dr. Robbins's research interests have focused on conflict, power, and politics in
organizations, behavioral decision making, and the development of effective inter-
personal skills. His articles on these and other topics have appeared in such journals
as Business Horizons, the California Management Review, Business and Economic
Perspectives, International Management, Management Review, Canadian Personnel
and Industrial Relations, and the Journal of Management Education.
Dr. Robbins is the world's best-selling textbook author in the areas of management
and organizational behavior. His books have sold more than 10 million copies and have been
translated into 20 languages. His books are currently used at more than 1,500 U.S. colleges and
universities, as well as hundreds of schools throughout Canada, Latin America, Australia, New
Zealand, Asia, and Europe.
For more details, see stephenprobbins.com.
MARY COULTER (Ph.D., University of Arkansas) held different jobs, including high
school teacher, legal assistant, and city government program planner, before completing
her graduate work. She has taught at Drury University, the University of Arkansas,
Trinity University, and Missouri State University. She is currently professor emeritus
of management at Missouri State University. In addition to Fundamentals of
Management, Dr. Coulter has published other books with Pearson including
Management (with Stephen P. Robbins), Strategic Management in Action, and
Entrepreneurship in Action.
When she's not busy writing, Dr. Coulter enjoys puttering around in her flower
gardens; trying new recipes; reading all different types of books; and enjoying many
different activities with husband Ron, daughters and sons-in-law Sarah and James and
Katie and Matt, and most especially with her two grandkids, Brooklynn and Blake, who
are the delights of her life!
•
XXIV
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
—Assez, nous sommes dans la maison de Dieu, mesdames, dit
Élisée en frappant un coup avec sa béquille. Comportez-vous avec
décence et respect les unes vis-à-vis des autres comme le
commande la très sainte doctrine.»
Ces paroles ramenèrent le recueillement et la tranquillité que la
véhémence de propos de quelques-unes avaient gravement
compromis, et les tristes heures continuèrent à couler, partie en
mendiant et gémissant, partie en priant et bâillant.
Maintenant il convient de dire que l’absence de la seña Benina et
de l’aveugle Almudena n’était pas tout à fait accidentelle ce jour, et
pour l’expliquer il est nécessaire de faire mention d’un fait dont il est
indispensable de donner l’explication dans cette véridique histoire.
Ils partirent tous deux à quelques minutes d’intervalle, comme
nous l’avons dit; mais comme l’ancienne s’attarda un petit instant à
la grille, pour parler à Pulido, l’aveugle marocain la rejoignit et ils
prirent ensemble le chemin des rues San-Sebastian et Atocha.
«Je me suis arrêtée à parler avec Pulido pour t’attendre, ami
Almudena. J’ai besoin de te parler.»
Et, le prenant sous le bras avec une sollicitude câline, elle le fit
passer d’un trottoir à l’autre. Ils gagnèrent rapidement la rue des
Urosas et, s’arrêtant aux coins pour éviter les passants et les
voitures, elle commença de lui parler ainsi:
«J’ai besoin de te causer, parce que toi seul peux me sortir d’un
grand embarras; toi seul, parce que toutes les autres connaissances
de la paroisse ne me servent à rien. Comprends-tu? Les uns sont
égoïstes, des cœurs de pierre: celui qui a quelque chose, parce qu’il
a quelque chose, et celui qui n’a rien, parce qu’il n’a rien. Au total,
les autres laisseront quelqu’un mourir de honte s’il ne mendie point,
et, si l’on arrive à tendre la main, ils se réjouiront de voir une pauvre
mendiante à bas.»
Almudena tourna son visage vers elle, et l’on pourrait dire qu’il la
regarda, si regarder c’est diriger les yeux sur un objet, les poser sur
lui, alors que non la vue, mais d’une certaine façon l’attention et
l’intention, aussi soutenues qu’inefficaces à voir, se posent seuls sur
quelqu’un.
Lui pressant la main, il lui dit:
«Amri, tu sais qu’Almudena te servira, lui, comme un chien; Amri,
dis-moi tes affaires.... Fais-moi part.
—Descendons, nous causerons en cheminant. Tu vas chez toi?
—Je vais où tu voudras.
—Il me semble que tu te fatigues. Nous marchons trop vite: veux-
tu que nous nous asseyions un moment sur la petite place du
Progrès pour que nous puissions causer tranquillement?»
Sans doute, l’aveugle répondit affirmativement, car cinq minutes
après on les voyait assis l’un à côté de l’autre sur le socle de la grille
qui entourait la statue de Mendizabal. Le visage d’Almudena était
d’une laideur expressive, brun citron, avec la barbe rare et noire
comme l’aile du corbeau; sa caractéristique était surtout la grandeur
démesurée de la bouche, qui, lorsqu’il souriait, affectait une courbe,
dont les extrémités, repoussant les poils flottants des joues,
semblaient se mettre à la recherche des oreilles. Les yeux étaient
comme deux plaies sèches et insensibles rongées par des plaques
sanglantes; la taille moyenne, les jambes torses; sa stature plutôt
élevée était diminuée par la démarche ordinaire des aveugles et par
l’habitude de rester de longues heures assis sur le sol avec les
jambes repliées sous lui comme font les Mauresques.
Il était vêtu avec une propreté relative, avec décence tout au
moins, car ses habits, quoique vieux et pleins de taches, ne
présentaient point de trous ou de déchirures qui n’aient été recousus
ou recouverts par un rapiéçage intelligent. Il était chaussé de
souliers noirs usés, mais parfaitement protégés par des coutures et
des pièces très habilement posées. Le chapeau en forme de
champignon dénotait les efforts de dilatation subis en passant sur
différentes têtes avant d’arriver à celle qu’il recouvrait, qui ne serait
peut-être pas la dernière, mais les bosses du feutre n’étaient point
telles qu’elles ne pussent protéger le crâne qu’elles avaient mission
de défendre. Le bâton était dur et lisse; la main avec laquelle il
l’empoignait était nerveuse, très colorée en noir à l’extérieur, tirant
sur l’éthiopien, la paume blanchâtre avec une couleur et des
délicatesses qui la faisaient ressembler à une peau de morue
fraîche, les ongles bien coupés; le col de la chemise le moins sale
que l’on pût imaginer dans la misérable condition et l’état de
vagabondage où vivait le misérable fils du Sud.
«Il faut pourtant que nous y arrivions, Almudena, dit la seña
Benina, en ôtant et remettant dans sa poche son mouchoir comme
une personne troublée et nerveuse qui veut s’éventer la tête. Je suis
dans un grand embarras, et toi, rien que toi, peux m’en tirer.
—Dis-moi ce que c’est....
—Que comptais-tu faire ce soir?
—Dans ma maison, moi beaucoup à faire: moi laver linge, moi
coudre beaucoup, rapetasser beaucoup.
—Tu es l’homme le mieux nippé qui existe au monde. Je ne
connais pas ton pareil. Aveugle et pauvre, tu arranges toi-même tes
petites affaires; tu enfiles une aiguille avec ta langue aussi
rapidement que je le peux faire moi-même avec mes doigts; tu
couds dans la perfection; tu es ton tailleur, ton cordonnier, ta
blanchisseuse.... Et après avoir mendié le matin à la paroisse,
l’après-midi dans la rue, tu trouves encore le temps d’aller un petit
instant au café..., content de ce que tu n’as pas, et s’il y avait au
monde une justice, et si les choses étaient disposées selon la
raison, on devrait te donner un prix..., brave garçon; pourtant, voilà
ce que c’est, je ne te laisse pas travailler ce soir, parce qu’il faut que
tu me rendes un service.... On garde ses amis pour les grandes
occasions.
—Que t’arrive-t-il?
—Une affaire épouvantable. Je n’en vis plus. Je suis si
malheureuse que, si tu ne me secours pas, je n’ai plus qu’à me jeter
du haut du viaduc... C’est comme je te le dis.
—Amri..., pas te jeter.
—C’est que j’ai un malheur si grand, si grand, qu’il paraît
impossible que j’en puisse sortir. Je vais te le dire d’un trait pour que
tu puisses en sentir de suite le poids: j’ai besoin d’un douro....
—Un douro! s’écria Almudena, exprimant par la subite gravité de
sa figure et l’énergie de l’accent l’épouvante que lui causait
l’importance de la somme.
—Oui, mon fils, oui..., un douro, et je ne puis rentrer à la maison
si je ne l’ai pas préalablement avec moi. Il est indispensable que j’aie
ce douro; parle, il faut le sortir de dessous les pierres, le trouver
n’importe comment.
—C’est beaucoup, beaucoup, murmurait l’aveugle, le visage
baissé vers la terre.
—Ce n’est pas tant, observa l’autre, cherchant à tromper sa
peine par des idées optimistes. Qui n’a pas un douro? Un douro, ami
Almudena, le premier venu l’a.... Donc, peux-tu me le procurer, oui
ou non?»
L’aveugle murmura dans son langage étrange quelque chose
que Benina traduisit par le mot «impossible», et lançant un profond
soupir, auquel Almudena répondit par un autre non moins profond et
non moins pitoyable, elle se plongea un instant dans une
douloureuse méditation, regardant alternativement la terre et le ciel,
et la statue de Mendizabal, ce seigneur de bronze foncé qu’elle ne
connaissait point, ne sachant point d’ailleurs pour quel motif on
l’avait mis là. De ce regard vague et distrait, qui est le propre des
moments de grande préoccupation, et comme un tour anxieux de
l’âme sur elle-même, elle voyait passer d’un côté ou de l’autre du
jardin des gens pressés ou nonchalants. Les uns devaient avoir un
douro, les autres allaient le chercher. Elle voyait passer des garçons
de recette de la Banque avec leur sacoche à l’épaule; des charrettes
avec des bouteilles de bière ou de limonade gazeuse. Dans les
boutiques entraient des gens pour acheter et ils ressortaient avec
des paquets. Des mendiants déguenillés importunaient les passants,
des chars funèbres portaient au cimetière des gens à qui rien
n’importait plus des douros. Avec une rapide vision, Benina passait
en revue les coffres-forts de toutes ces grandes boutiques, des
beaux appartements de toutes les maisons, des bourses de tous les
passants bien vêtus, et elle avait la certitude qu’à aucun de ces
heureux de la vie il ne manquait un douro.
Ensuite elle songea que ce serait une rude folie de se présenter
dans la maison voisine des Cespedes en les priant de lui faire la
faveur de lui donner un douro, même si elle le demandait à titre de
prêt. Sûrement ils se moqueraient d’une si absurde prétention et la
mettraient promptement à la porte.
Et nonobstant, il lui paraissait naturel et juste que quelque part où
un douro ne représentait qu’une valeur insignifiante on le lui donnât
à elle, pour qui cette somme représentait une valeur immense. Et si
cette monnaie si anxieusement désirée passait des mains qui en
possèdent beaucoup d’autres dans les siennes, on ne noterait pas
une altération sensible dans la répartition des richesses et tout
suivrait son cours, les riches toujours riches, elle toujours pauvre, et
toujours misérables tous les autres de sa condition. Puisqu’il en était
ainsi, pourquoi ce douro ne venait-il pas dans ses mains? Quelle
raison y avait-il pour que vingt personnes passant ne se privassent
d’un réal et que ces vingt réaux réunis ne tombassent pas par un
chemin naturel dans sa poche? Voyez comme les choses de ce
monde sont mal arrangées! La pauvre Benina se contenterait d’une
goutte d’eau, et devant le grand réservoir du Retiro elle ne pouvait
l’obtenir. Comptons bien, ciel et terre; l’aqueduc du Lozoya perdrait-il
quelque chose si on lui prenait une goutte d’eau?
IV