A middle management sandwich
I want to share an observation with you. People ask me if new things get started from the top or from the bottom. Is it executives or developers who get things started? How was it with maemo and Nokia’s open source work? The answer is that is started from both ends.
There are basically three kinds of people in a big corporation: company executives, middle managers, and then workers – in our context developers. Nokia is very fortunate because we have some really bright and innovative executives as well as many world class developers. So, even with our average middle management, we’re ok!
So what’s with the middle management then? There is this sandwich where the middle management (=cheese) is squeezed between the executives (=bread) and the developers (=bread). Picture this:
- A corporate executive has just red “The World is Flat” by Thomas L. Friedman. He is spiritually and emotionally engaged. He believes that all labor goes to India and that open source is the answer to the software crisis. He just learned that some guys in communities will do the work for free, and that we just need to use free software to get things done. Just do it! Party on!
- A developer has just participated debconf. He has not taken a shower after the trip. He believes that if we just use free software everything will be great. If problems arise the community will fix them. He believes he can get his driver ready with product quality for tomorrow – and if not, somebody will fix it soon. Just get it out. No worries!
- Now the corporate executive, the developer and a middle manager meet in a room. After two minutes it seems that the developer and the executive connect – they talk the same language and they agree at all levels. So it seems. The executive leaves the room saying to the middle manager: I totally agree with your developer. He is so bright. Now you just go and get things done his way. What’s stopping you?
In most cases the middle management does not have the luxury of being innovative or bright – they just need to get the products out. The middle management is under heavy workload, with unrealistic release schedules, managing primadonna engineers. These middle managers never initiate change or generate new ideas because they are too busy running arons. So the change never starts from the middle.
So I’ve come to the conclusion that you need crazy executives and religious developers to get things changed and new things started. And you need stubborn and boring middle managers to get things eventually done.
Ari, a middle manager
posted by Ari Jaaksi at 9:13 AM
17 Comments:
Who's your boss after the newest organization in Nokia? Is Internet Tablet team now part of devices or software and services?
NIce and realistic analysis. I'm in full empathy with you !
Fred
Why not just get rid of the middle management? They don't sound like they contribute anything, and appear to be a barrier to progress! ;)
Oh. Thank you.
A middle manager.
;)
Right on target! Thanks for the great post!
/Hampus
Dear anonymous,
you said
"Why not just get rid of the middle management? They don't sound like they contribute anything, and appear to be a barrier to progress! ;) "
Pls, read the post again.
I think by the winking smiley ;) that he was joking
Ari, nice to see you blogged about that sandwich concept you presented at the OSS2007 keynote !
It was an awsome presentation, in Limerick.
Nice read Ari!
Looking forward to the Q2 2007 update to my N800 :)
The scenario Ari describes is universal. I encountered it 20 years ago at Texas Instruments. Executives know they need to drive change to stay competitive. Workers are excited to implement change because it demonstrates their worth. Middle managers, however, instinctively protect the status quo. They fear change. It could cost them their job.
Ideally, then, the better corporate structure recognizes this. Cut out the middle layer, make work teams self-directed. TI tried this when our division pursued (and eventually won) the Malcolm Baldridge quality award. Middle management did their best to kill the initiative, until executives had enough (after 3 years of frustration) and forced the issue. Even then, middle managers passive-aggressively did their damndest to protect their turf. I ended up a casualty... not completely a bad thing because I like where I am now. ; )
Ari:
Management is about coping with complexity. Leadership, by contrast, is about coping with change.
---8<-------------------8<
A managerial culture emphasizes rationality and control. Whether his or her energies are directed toward goals,resources,organization
structures, or people, a manager is a problem solver. The manager asks: “What problems have to be solved, and what are the best ways to achieve results so that people will continue to contribute to this organization?” John P. Kotter
---8<---------------8<----------
We need middle managemtent in order
to deliver.
Maybe you are a leader and not a manager. You can't be both..
Personally, I think you are a leader :-)
You will let us know it, anyway.
Ari... where is the much promised Case for the N800? This was announced in January and is missing in action.
Please provide an update on this situation or are we to assume this is yet another promise from Nokia that fails to materalise, and is something Nokia no longer wish to discuss (think of an Osterich with it's head in the sand - that's Nokia when things don't go according to plan).
I agree, middle management is a tough place.
Sometimes it would be easier to do some of the work by yourself, but in long run it is better to push primadonna's to wanted direction. There are studies that middle management is the most stressfull place, since in executive level you create strategies and visions, while in a developer level you hopefully see what is expected from team. The middle management role is to route visions to something concrete, to create from fuzzy vision a clear roadmap. It is easier and simpler to be developer than middle manager.
IlkkaK
I am currently in a middle management, and I am thinking to return to write SW, it is is at least an honest job ;)
Any news on new n800 firmware Ari ?
Sorry Ari,
Could you, as the middle manager in charge, tell us unofficially if the next firmware is espected in a couple of days, a couple of weeks or a couple of months? Totally unofficial and unexact, but could we get SOME info about this?
helo there
I'm a middle manager and I feel the pain of getting squeezed. I have great people above and below me. The people above me have no idea what it takes to get something implemented, they just have great ideas. The people below me are good at executing, and sometimes have good ideas too, but again, no idea how to implement anything without direction. That's what middle management is for. But...both groups think they can live without you, when in fact, nothing would get done without you.
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