In the business world, managers are always looking for answers to administrative problems.  Trade magazines, seminars, and journals bring the latest trends promising simple answers to complex problems (Miller, 2002). These fads in business can at times have unintended effects on organizations.  An organization can be change for the better or worse. Fads in business share some similar qualities that make them easily identifiable (Miller, 2002).

               Most fads are very easy to understand, easy to apply, use buzzwords, and apply to multiple organizations (Miller, 2002).  They often promise extraordinary results, great customer service, more motivated staff, and greater productivity (Miller, 2002).  Universally a fad is relevant to all business organizations (Miller, 2002). Fads often present themselves as new ideas, when in fact they are often long-standing management practices, re-implemented in a different manner (Miller, 2002). Fads do not have empirical evidence to support their claims (Miller, 2002).

               Many of the latest fads in business have legitimate business practices and techniques that a leader can find useful, but they fail to provide longstanding effects in an organization (Daft, 2013). One reason for this is the leaders try to find a quick fix’s to organizational problems and only learn the very surface of new ideas in leadership (Miller, 2002).  Often times fads used in companies can have negative impacts that the manger does not intend, because of this sallow approach to applying organizational theory (Daft, 2013). After the novelty of the new ideas wears off the lack of substance is easily observe and the idea is abandoned (Miller, 2002). One common problem with frequently changing management techniques is staff loses motivation, because they believe this is just the next trend and will not last (Daft, 2013). Applying management trends without truly understanding them can be detrimental to a company because of the time and expense used in training staff is wasted (Miller, 2002).

               Management fads can have some positive effects on business.  Often, new trends in business provoke thought and discussion about leadership (Miller, 2002). Most management trends do have some substance (Miller, 2002). If a manager takes the time to truly, learn the management theory or trend it could improve his or her skills as a leader (Miller, 2002). Management fads help organizations question the status quo and poor business practices (Miller, 2002). Novel management trends create excitement and motivation, which is necessary for any positive change within an organization (Miller, 2002).

               Management fads can have positive impacts on an organization if leaders keep in mind a few hard and fast truths. A manager should read and learn as much about a management tool as possible prior to applying it (Miller, 2002). When a leader learns about any new trends in business he or she should read and learn about new techniques from multiple books, journals, speakers and educational venues (Miller, 2002). Leaders should understand that a management trend should be used as, a tool to create intended results, but solid company values should be the foundation of any corporation (Miller, 2002).  Any tool that is used within an organization should add value or it should be discontinued (Miller, 2002).