4 ms·

That's not been my experience at all. What I've seen is that top management far too often prioritizes short term (i.e. quarterly) profitability above all else.

That's not been my experience at all. What I've seen is that top management far too often prioritizes short term (i.e. quarterly) profitability above all else. And poo flows down hill. Middle management is stuck in the "middle," as it were - unable to meaningfully impact decisions but being held responsible for carrying them out and taking all the heat for them.

adventured 3y ago
That's a fairly accurate take imo, as systems like middle management ultimately operate based on what incentives you feed them over time. Middle management is hired by and incentivized by the structures the top management installs (from HR to pay to morality & culture). If your middle management sucks, it's because your top management are setting priorities that drive that outcome.
- simonh 3y ago
  I'm bottom tier management so I work with middle management directly a bit. All of this is just the organisations Ive been in, I'm sure there are every possible kind. Top level management is often driven by short term incentives, they want dramatic big bang 'transformative change', while middle management is largely in it for their career. So they're pressurised for short term goals, but their actual career stability and advancement depends on middle to long term success. What's really important is making sure the signal from the ground level gets to middle management. A lot of reporting process and bullshit is because middle management want to understand what the heck is going on and that's the only reliable way they have to get information. So politely and as constructively as possible go to them and tell them what you think they need to know. I'm not guaranteeing they will listen to you, but if you don't try then all they will have is reporting spreadsheets.
varelse 3y ago
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4 ms·

That's not been my experience at all. What I've seen is that top management far too often prioritizes short term (i.e. quarterly) profitability above all else.

by jaredhallen 3y ago

adventured 3y ago
That's a fairly accurate take imo, as systems like middle management ultimately operate based on what incentives you feed them over time. Middle management is hired by and incentivized by the structures the top management installs (from HR to pay to morality & culture). If your middle management sucks, it's because your top management are setting priorities that drive that outcome.
- simonh 3y ago
  I'm bottom tier management so I work with middle management directly a bit. All of this is just the organisations Ive been in, I'm sure there are every possible kind. Top level management is often driven by short term incentives, they want dramatic big bang 'transformative change', while middle management is largely in it for their career. So they're pressurised for short term goals, but their actual career stability and advancement depends on middle to long term success. What's really important is making sure the signal from the ground level gets to middle management. A lot of reporting process and bullshit is because middle management want to understand what the heck is going on and that's the only reliable way they have to get information. So politely and as constructively as possible go to them and tell them what you think they need to know. I'm not guaranteeing they will listen to you, but if you don't try then all they will have is reporting spreadsheets.
varelse 3y ago
[dead]