Bringing a fresh perspective to the evaluation of management problems, this book scrutinizes the influence managers have on employees' understanding. It considers how managers use ideas and visions to frame their employees' internalized understanding of the external rules and instructions that govern their work. The book brings an interpretative perspective to the question of individual and group competence and looks at how this is linked with understanding. The book refers throughout to international case studies and considers the cross-cultural impact on management and understanding at work.