Issues of Deception and Complicity: Replies to the Commentaries on “Management Theory: Jungle, Myth, or Hoax?”

I begin this reply to the commentaries on Willmott (2025) by noting the broader contemporary relevance of the hoax metaphor. Then, in my replies to the five commentaries, I seek to engender deeper insight and mutual understanding of the use of the hoax metaphor, including concerns about institutions of liberal democracy raised by Schwartzkopf (2026). In the spirit of Willmott (2025), points of convergence and disagreement are identified through dialogue and critique (Barney, 2020). A concluding section reflects on the significance of the hoax metaphor for how “grand challenges” are addressed. All quotations in my replies are drawn from the commentaries.