An EPUB-based text— Organizational Management: An Introduction to Managing People —is not a futuristic fantasy but a practical next step. By leveraging reflowable interactivity, multimedia case studies, and accessible design, the EPUB format transforms an introduction to people management from a passive reading exercise into an active managerial rehearsal. We call on management educators to demand EPUB-native texts from publishers and to begin authoring their own using open tools like Pressbooks.
As organizational management pivots towards hybrid work and digital-first cultures, the introductory textbook "Organizational Management: An Introduction to Managing People" must evolve. This paper critically examines how the EPUB file format transforms the delivery of core people management concepts—motivation, leadership, team dynamics, and performance appraisal. We argue that EPUB’s reflowable text, multimedia integration, and accessibility features allow for a more situated learning experience compared to static PDFs or print. The paper concludes with a blueprint for instructors to leverage EPUB-specific affordances to teach managing people effectively. As organizational management pivots towards hybrid work and
This paper addresses a specific gap: the underutilization of the format in introductory organizational management courses. While EPUB is standard in literary fiction, its application in business education remains nascent. We propose that an EPUB-based text titled Organizational Management: An Introduction to Managing People can revolutionize how students encounter foundational theories (e.g., Maslow’s Hierarchy, Theory X/Y, Contingency Theory). The paper concludes with a blueprint for instructors