Middle Managers Middle Management Essay - 1,870 words

As the manufacturing industry of the economy began to decline in the 1970 s and 1980 s, the service type companies springing up everywhere. The ranks of white-collar middle managers made strides up the corporate ladders, and filled thousands of The stock market crash of October 1987 brought industries to a spiraling halt. Businesses, such as, airlines, financial services, and manufacturing were all descending. Suddenly all those things that organizations had counted on in the past, such as, stable market conditions, domestic competition, and the confidence to control In the late 1980 s news of corporate axing in the middle management ranks became all to familiar. Companies began to delayer their hierarchies, downsize, and rightsize their business.


Organizations, once praised for lifetime employment found themselves defending their stature in the marketplace and hacking away at thousands of jobs, particularly those in middle management. Middle managers prior to these layoffs had been the watch dogs of the organization. Their focus was internal, they were concerned with making the operation seamless. They monitored costs, identified variances, and solved operational problems. They did not focusing on the external environment that affected the organization. Those actions were left to senior management, who had the answers to the many challenges and questions faced by the organization.


They resolved most issues and drew their own conclusion on what was plaguing the business. For those middle managers who were lucky to keep their jobs, operating a lean operation meant broader responsibilities, larger spans of control, slower career growth, and few upward mobility opportunities. All of this for far less job security. Senior managers expected more and different things from them which middle managers were Today, most observers would agree that the old division of work no longer applies. Indeed, the overly rational, control model has been abandoned in favor of learning theory as a basis for describing how strategy is created. Operating personnel were the first to recognize the need for change.


It was a middle manager, however, who was able to provide the knowledge and perspective to facilitate a successful solution. Strategies dont develop full-blown from the minds of top managers or anyone else. Rather, strategies develop over time through different decisions and actions made by middle managers. Todays middle managers are focusing on strategy, they have moved from growth and control to innovation and customer responsiveness.


The economy and environment has become that of global competition, demanding customers, and ever changing technology. Middle managers have to focus on strategic planning, new organization structures, and technology changes. In order to achieve goals, managers must possess the capabilities, characteristics, and ability to change in the new Managers need to recognize that the old models of competing in markets has changed, and it has put high demands on the way organizations compete. In order to stay in business, managers have to create capabilities for their organizations. Strategies have become focused on influencing industry standards and entering nontraditional markets. Organizations have created relationships with suppliers, customers, and competitors.


It has made the middle managers job difficult because he / she is dependent on others. While this has become a challenge, it has also helped organizations to better influence resources. Businesses today are based on invisible assets, such as, competencies, brands, and reputation. These are an organizations intellectual property. It is difficult to protect this type of property, and it has become an important roles for middle Middle managers must be able to quickly help the organization if skills, attitudes, behavior and business models change. Managers create motivation and energy for employees, so they understand the importance of the changes.


In addition, organizations must have a shared agenda. The agenda should not just be shared with employees, but also with customers, suppliers, and investors. The view of the future must be impressive and motivational. Middle managers must have certain characteristics in order to be an efficient and effective managers. The issues of cultural acceptance, strong training beliefs, and ethical behavior are key factors for the middle manager. Managers need to recognize that other cultures may not share the same values and beliefs as their own.


Having the ability to understand these cultural differences will give the middle manager an advantage in business. Organizations have become global, and in order to remain competitive its important to understand the history, religion, and language of other cultures. In order to keep up with technology both managers and workers have to be exposed to new ideas, technologies, and business practices. Managers must seek opportunities for continuous education. Managers need to create a system of standard values and behaviors for the global organization. In addition, they must hold themselves accountable for higher standards of excellence.


Having the business knowledge, performance commitment, concern and interpersonal skills are important in helping develop others. There are many outdated business practices. Middle managers should recognize these practices and strive to break through them in order to create the new organization. The time of managing supply levels, prices, and profits are no longer the focus for middle managers. The consumers and marketplace are now where managers focus their attention.


Its not important to change business practices in an existing market, but to create new practices. Businesses are being reinvented continuously. Reinvention is defined by multiple changes in the organization performed simultaneously. Reinventions are unlikely to be achieved if middle managers dont strive to meet the ever changing business conditions. Logistics are taking the center stage in the overall competitive strategy of organizations. There are no longer boundaries betwe ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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Essay Tags: middle managers, business practices, middle management, senior management, front line

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