The 'ManagemANT' Breakfast, Professor Jonathan Bacon, 25th Feb 2011

Much of our professional life is deeply marinated in a culture of strong management, but would things improve if management were removed? Jonathan Bacon, Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Sussex, has found clues in recent research into ants - creatures which are management free, yet famously successful. 'Swarm intelligence' of the ant colony emerges as a result of interactions between each ant and its neighbours. Much human activity is also management-free, the result of multiple interactions. Examples come from the internet, Wikipedia, the growth of cities and of course, networking events. At this special breakfast, in partnership with the Brighton Science Festival, Jonathan explores whether we really need managers...