Question: A fundamental contradiction relating to individual freedom lies at the heart of management practice. Management seeks to influence and control everything (actions, performance, quality, learning, culture and values) as part of the freedom to manage. Control is seen as a basic feature of successful entrepreneurs, but how far is it legitimate to seek to control everything; that is to get our own way in all matters? Similarly, we might think that our personal values are at the core of our identity. They are something we try to develop in ourselves, to preserve and to use when we evaluate others, including our managers. Thus, as individuals we fight against conformity, but as managers we promote conformity. Surely this is hypocritical - we want to be free but to control the freedom of others.