“For an in-depth study of the pros and cons of a bossless environment, I found a new book, "Why Managers Matter," by management scholars Nicolai Foss and Peter Klein. These authors provide inside details of recent management experiments, as well as historical data from both successful and failed traditional companies. They also look ahead to forecast what you should expect. Here are a few of their key points:
Workers today are more educated and aware of options.
Office jobs and communication technology have evolved.
Leadership and hierarchy perform strategic functions.
Rewards for results versus work requires monitoring.
Outsourcing and working from home needs coordination.
Market evolution is not the same as company success.
“In summary, I am supportive of the trend toward delayering, reducing the number of managerial layers, and managerial training for those interested in that role. It's always positive to foster self-management for all employees, and to delegate operational decisions to the lowest levels. Your challenge is to make this all work for you, and qualify yourself to be at the top of the hierarchy.”
