Since the inception of modern progressive management in the late 1800s, its creators and devoted practitioners have persistently encountered disinterest among corporate executives despite its wide-ranging benefits. The newest form of progressive management, Lean management, also suffers from executive disinterest. Why? Decades of effort to understand executive disinterest yielded no new insights - until now. Triumph of Classical Management solves a major business problem that has endured for more than 100 years. It provides a comprehensive explanation for why executives reject Lean management. It also provides practical solutions for how to gain acceptance for Lean management and an alternative. The findings can also be applied to other types corporate transformation efforts.