Over the last 30 years a number of approaches have evolved that can be grouped under the banner of “practice theories” (Reckwitz 2003, p. 282). These practice theoretical approaches suggest a new examination of management. From a practice theoretical perspective management appears as a historically specific aggregate of practices, discourses and technologies. A practice theoretical understanding of management displays a rejection of the theorypractice- differencel a feeus on permanent and incremental change located within practices and an explicit integration of the material and technological context of management. In order to speil out this understanding. the article drafts three aggregates of management: At the beginning of the 20th century management appears as a project of rationalization. From the 1970s on it takes the shape of a project of gaining legitimation. Currently it develops into a group of practices probing reflexivity. Therefore, in our argument practice theory accomplishes two things: Firstly, it represents the theoretical development that is currently reorienting management research. Secondly, it constitutes a framework allowing to take a new look at hitherto existing conceptions and realizations of management.