In defense of middle management

Article Abstract:

The middle layers of management in corporations serve several useful functions. Middle management is the basis of managerial capitalism and improves business efficiency by controlling transactions previously handled by intermediaries. Problems attributed to middle management are really contradictions within the larger organization: the gap between planning and implementing policies, conflicting organizational needs for efficiency and flexibility, and the problem of coordinating decisions at the middle level of management. Contradictions can be resolved by recognizing that management is not a question of doing the impossible but selecting the best choice among limited options, setting priorities, establishing middle management social networks, and building closer ties with production workers.

Middle managers

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Common sense staff reduction

Article Abstract:

Corporate reorganization requires a considerable investment in training, altered management systems, and different organizational roles. The costs and benefits of these changes must, therefore, be weighed before management undertakes reorganization. The basic decentralization and increase in lower-level autonomy impacts all parts of the organization. The business objectives of the company must be furthered in a reorganization, but the ability of top and bottom levels to assume the responsibilities of the middle level must also be assessed. Good candidates for flat structures with few hierarchical levels are organizations in which quality is important and those with highly developed management information systems.

Management, Corporate reorganizations, Layoffs

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Jerks at work

Article Abstract:

Stressful work experience occur when difficult people and 'jerks' stand in the way of one's goals and disturb the sense of self-worth. The difficult people provoke one's stress responses. Jerks are ego-centered and manipulate others to satisfy personal goals. Difficult people can be handled by analyzing their behavior pattern and adjusting one's communication behavior to produce a desired response or reaction. Jerks cannot be changed by the behavior of others, but personal stress can be reduced by assertive yielding tactics. A sense of personal control is then possible in a long-term relationship. Tactics are given for managing the behavior of several types of difficult people.

Interpersonal relations

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